#11 | Take Time to Think
Read: Acts 6:1-15
Meditate on your own:
- What do you notice about the issue in v.1-6 and how it was handled?
- What does the author seem to highlight about Stephen? Compare with Luke 21:12-18.
- What verse/phrase stands out to you?
- What truth about God or mankind do you think you can draw from this?
- Where do you see other parts of the Bible saying the same thing?
- What are the implications of that truth? What would be opposite to that?
- How is this good news, both for you and for others? Who needs to hear it?
- What does this reveal about your own heart? What do you need to repent of? What do you need to ask God for?
Consider
Have you ever wondered what your pastors do all day or felt like they should be doing more? Have you ever asked what they should be doing all day? The apostles had to answer those same questions. The church in Jerusalem was bursting at the seams as thousands of new believers were brought in from various ethnic backgrounds. As it grew, Hebrews (native Jews who were from the land of Israel) began to neglect the Hellenists (Greek speaking Jews who were from the other parts of the Roman empire). This was a serious problem that threatened the unity of the church and needed to be addressed quickly and decisively by the apostles.
However, in solving the issue, they didn’t just dive in and do it themselves. Certainly, that would solve everything, right? Plainly, no. The apostles recognized that they needed to devote themselves to “prayer and the ministry of the word.” In their words, “It would not be right to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.” If they took up waiting tables, the immediate problem would be solved, and the widows would no longer be neglected. However, the apostles understood that “man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” and by waiting tables, they would be neglecting to give the church the word of God, and the church would starve for lack of true food (Matthew 4:4). Further, they knew there were other people “who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.”
As the apostles gave themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word, people like Stephen were empowered to rightly exercise their gifts to build up the church. If more people were going to be saved, and if the church was going to grow up in maturity, then the apostles needed to give all their time to prayer and the ministry of the word. In this, the Jerusalem church models what is true for every church. The health and growth of the individual members that make up a local church depends on their pastors being devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word. However, it also depends on those same members exercising their gifts to meet needs and build up the church.
As you think about your church,
pray that your pastors would be devoted to prayer and the ministry of the word.
Then, think about what you can do to build up the church, even if it is as simple as distributing food.
Pray:
Use the acronym IOUS, turning the prayers of the Psalmist into your own.
Incline my heart to you and not to prideful gain or any false motive!
Psalm 119:36
Open my eyes to behold wonderous things out of your Word.
Psalm 119:18
Unite my heart to fear your name.
Psalm 86:11
Satisfy me with your steadfast love.
Psalm 90:14
