Atos 6

Atos 6

Chart from Jensen's Survey of the NT - used by permission THE EXPANDING WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED CHURCH Acts 6:1 Now at this time while the disciples were increasing [in number], a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the [native] Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving [of food]. (NASB: Lockman) KJV Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Heb, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number Acts 6:7; 2:41,47; 4:4; 5:14,28; Ps 72:16; 110:3; Isa 27:6; Jer 30:19 a complaint arose 1 Cor 10:10; Heb 13:1; James 4:5; 5:9 on the part of the Hellenistic Jews Acts 9:29; 11:20 against the native Hebrews 2 Cor 11:22; Php 3:5 because their widows were being overlooked Acts 9:39,41; Dt 24:19-21; 26:12; Job 29:13; 31:16; Isa 1:17; Ezek 22:7; Mal 3:5; Mt 23:14; 1 Ti 5:4,5,9; Jas 1:27 in the daily serving of food Acts 2:45; 4:35 Acts 6 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE FIRST CHURCH CONTROVERSY: CHURCH GROWTH, GROWING PAINS Let's review - Jesus had instructed the disciples to be His witnesses beginning in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8+) and we see four major divisions... The witness at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47) The witness by Peter and John (Acts 3:1-4:31) The witness of the Apostles (Acts 4:32-5:42) The witness of Stephen (Acts 6:1-8:3) The devil has tried to destroy the infant church by persecution from without, then by deception within and now seeks to sow seeds of dissension within. Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number - Where there is life there is growth! Most translations add "number" (not in Greek text). Luke does not say for sure but this statement presumably reflects the "time" just described when the apostles were preaching and teaching in the Temple and from house to house (Acts 5:42). The prioritization of proclamation of His Word would certainly account for the number of disciples increasing. Notice that this is the first use of the term disciple in the book of Acts. Even more important note that in context Luke uses mathetes to refer to believers, followers of Christ. In fact the most common name given to the followers of Christ in the book of Acts is disciples. Some say that since disciple is not used after Acts, it is not an appropriate name for believers in general and some even say that it is reserved for believers who are more committed and attain a higher level of maturity. Luke refers to ALL the believers as disciples, and does not single out a special group. And by the way, what is the "Great Commission?" Our Lord clearly commanded us to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...." (Mt 28:19+). It is not an accident that the only verb in the Greek that is a command (aorist imperative) is make disciples. Believers are disciples according to Jesus! Disciples (3101)(mathetes from manthano = to learn) describes one who learns from another by instruction, and includes the idea of one who intentionally learns by inquiry and observation (cf inductive Bible study). The point of calling the believers disciples is to emphasis that becoming a Christian is not just a momentary decision for Christ (which sadly for men is just that - momentary - a profession but not a possession of Christ within), but is a lifelong pursuit of Christ-likeness, learning to live like Jesus lived! So although the word disciples is not used after Acts, clearly this term is still an accurate description of all true believers, those who are genuine followers of Christ. Luke's uses of mathetes in Acts - 30x in 28v - Acts 6:1; Acts 6:2; Acts 6:7; Acts 9:1; Acts 9:10; Acts 9:19; Acts 9:25; Acts 9:26; Acts 9:38; Acts 11:26; Acts 11:29; Acts 13:52; Acts 14:20; Acts 14:22; Acts 14:28; Acts 15:10; Acts 16:1; Acts 18:23; Acts 18:27; Acts 19:1; Acts 19:9; Acts 19:30; Acts 20:1; Acts 20:30; Acts 21:4; Acts 21:16 Notice that in this passage Luke changes his "Biblical mathematics" from addition (Acts 2:41, Acts 2:47, Acts 5:14) to multiplication (so to speak)! Since Luke gives no specific number here, we only know that the Church is growing by quantum leaps. A growing church will experience growing pains, or perhaps better referred to in this context as "growing growls (murmurings)." This passage thus gives us an axiom principle, growth always causes tension. And the devil knows "mathematics" so that when God sets out to multiply, the devil steps to divide! Sometimes he uses doctrinal differences. In the present case the problem was not doctrinal but functional! We need to be sure we are not ignorant of the devil's schemes. And remember that sometimes what seem to be the smallest differences can grow into the largest problems (see illustration below). Perhaps your church is not a big church like Jerusalem but that is not what is important. Pastor Adrian Rogers says "Now, there's nothing wrong with a small church, and there's nothing so necessarily great about a big church. Bellevue Church is a big church, but we don't always go around talking about the size of our church. Nobody wants to come to something just because it's big. I don't think that Bellevue Church is a great church because it's big, I think it may be a big church because it's great, but not vice versa. Some of the greatest churches on this earth are small churches. But, I'll tell you something: there's something wrong with a church, big or small, that's not growing if it's surrounded by lost people. Because, dear friend, our mandate—our mission—is to reach souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. If we're not reaching them, then we're not doing what we're told to do.I heard of an artist who was commissioned to paint a portrait, or paint a picture, of a dead church. They thought that he would show a church with the roof sagging and with weeds in the yard. They thought he would show a church with the upholstery tattered and the carpet raveled, but he didn't. He showed a gorgeous building—fresh paint, sparkling windows, wonderful carpet, elegant-looking, moderate-size crowd. They looked so well fed, so well healed, and everything was just right. And the person said, "Why, that doesn't look like a dead church to me." He said, "Look closer at the picture." And, he looked more closely, and he could see cobwebs in the baptistery. That, my friend, is the portrait of a dead church—a church that is not multiplying.Listen, a church will glow and grow or it will dry and die. It will evangelize or it will fossilize, but it will not stand still. Now growth is not easy; growth is not automatic. Growth—you have to plan for it; you have to pray for it; you have to work for it; and you have to cultivate and water something if you want it to grow. But still, God must give the increase. Spiritual growth is the product of spiritual life, and numerical growth is the product of spiritual growth. And so, I believe that God's plan for this church—for any church—is to be fruitful and multiply. In these days, you know, there are people who are so spiritual, and they say, "I just don't believe in numbers." Well, God is interested in numbers. Verse 1: "And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied..." Some people just use little phrases like that to excuse their lack of spirituality or their laziness. Dear friend, where there is healthy life there's growth." (How to Turn Your Problems into Possibilities) A T