Growth of the Early Church

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A Growing Congregation and Its Challenges

Acts 6.1-3
February 28th 2016

Milk
Alright, the apostles have left the council, beaten and commanded not to even say the name Jesus. They did not comply. And the body of believers grew – so much so that something happened – a thing which happens whenever a group grows – there were complaints among the flock. I am going to preach today as I was overwhelmed by the Spirit when I prepared this message for today. May God be with us that we can all hear, learn, and grow. So let’s read – Acts chapter 6 beginning at verse 1.

Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

Addressing Murmuring in the Community

Okay back to verse one. We don’t know how much time has passed from the last verse of chapter five and the first verse of chapter six but some amount has come between them. (read verse 1)

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

As the numbers of believers increased so did the opportunity for division. Luke says there arose a murmuring. The Greek for murmurming is an onomonopea in my opinion – and it is one of my favorite Greek words “GONG GOOSE MUS.” Take a group of people who all believe the same thing, but have them break up in different camps over something petty and what do you get? A Gong Goose mus – like a bunch a cackling Geese grudgingly honking over the apparent injustice.

The English words murmur or murmuring was used twice as much in the BOM as it is in the New Testament, so those of you who have come out of Mormonism have undoubtedly heard lessons built around the term. For good reason. People murmur. Its our fleshly nature.

The complaint in this situation was that there had been partiality among the distribution of goods to the widows who were Hebrew over the widows that Luke describes as “Grecian.” Now, has the Gospel been extended to the Gentiles yet? Not yet. So when Luke says that there was apparent favoritism being shown to the Hebrew widows over the Grecian we know that this must mean widow Jews from Greece who had accepted Christ. The word Luke uses does not typically describes inhabitants of Greece but simply those who have adopted the customs of the Greeks, mostly language.

So, from Pentecost we know that there were all sorts of people upon whom the Holy Spirit fell. At this point a division occurred between those Jews who (in the least) spoke Greek and those Jews who probably spoke Hebrew or Aramaic. Those who spoke Hebrew probably lived in and around Palestine, and those who spoke Greek lived among the gentiles and who also read the Old Testament from the Septuagint translation (which was in Greek) rather than from the Hebrew translation. It’s quite possible that those who spoke Greek had also embrace a number of other Greek customs. We learned before that these were called Hellenists, which is translated in English to Grecians.

Natural Divisions Among People

When you put human beings in a room, and some are white and some are black, the NATURAL order of things is separation. When you put human beings in a room where some speak Greek and others speak Hebrew your gonna have division. Remember the forces at work in the minds and hearts of these early believers from each group.

The Jews of Palestine

Cultural and Linguistic Divisions in the Early Church

would probably pride themselves greatly on the fact that they dwelt in the land of the patriarchs, (which was the land of promise) that they spoke the same language which their fathers spoke and that they were constantly near the temple and that the language was the original language. LOTS OF REASONS FOR THEM TO ADOPT ATTITUDES OF PRIDE, right?

But on the other hand, the Jews from other parts of the world might naturally feel somehow inferior because they were not associated with all of this.

So they may have been more Suspicious Jealous Or envious of their brethren

This might have made them more likely to charge their brethren with partiality or of looking down on them, and of course of not being equitable with the distribution of goods. Take note – these were Christians who had an abundance of the Holy Spirit fall upon them. They were Christians living with men who not only knew and were taught of Christ, but were living oracles!

And yet their flesh continued to reign. Take heart from this if you too, in your walk, retain vestiges of pride or insecurity. We are human beings. We are prone to suspicion, pride, and envy.

Striving for Unity Amidst Differences

And like the early church, we do not refrain from gathering together. Instead, we gather with all of our propensities and we LEARN to let the Spirit of love govern. When differences arise (and they always will, just by nature and sometimes by evil influence) we pray for more of the Spirit, and appeal to the Christian ethos of longsuffering, patience, kindness, meekness to see us through.

Here, the Greek-speaking Jews accused the Hebrew-speaking Jews of treating their widows preferentially with regard to the distribution of material support. Were they guilty? Could be. Maybe not. But the fact that there was a dispute signaled the apostles that things were getting too big for them to manage – and so they took action.

Now, some historians believe that the actual distribution of the common goods to the people was placed in the hands of the Hebrew believers and this is why the cry of unfair was heard. Mosheim is one of those who puts this forth.

The idea is it was only when the people chose men from their own group that this inequality was appeased. We don’t know.

Addressing Inequality and Spiritual Growth

But I would like to make this observation – for whatever its worth. The root of the problem here, in my estimation, was these believers, at this stage in their walk, were still carnally driven, and not trusting in the Lord by the Spirit. This is not easy to teach because I am well aware of our physical needs in life, and how we are living in a world that requires food, and clothes and money to survive.

Here in the early church times were really really rough materially. So to criticize their clamoring and arguing over material support is kind of pathetic on my part. But the principle I hope to share here is if we are able to rise above the fear of not having enough, IF we can trust that God will provide for us and our families – even when others are taking our share for themselves – and IF we can patiently allow others to actually take advantage of us – there is a peace, and a personal spiritual growth, and an otherworldly calm that transcends this place that cannot be obtained in any other way.

So, there was an accusation of preferential treatment. (verse 2)

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”

We know that when it says the Twelve it speaks of all the original eleven and Matthias who was elected by lot under Peter’s leadership making apostle number twelve.

Anyway, these apostles called forth the multitude of the disciples. It’s doubtful – highly doubtful – that they called all who had believed since Pentecost – that would have been a number in the thousands and a number scattered all over by this time. But they probably gathered a large group of believers out of Jerusalem – maybe those who had first-hand knowledge in the matter or those who were the most active among all believers, and they said to them:

“It’s not reasonable” (in the King James) but out of the Greek “it's not agreeable or pleasing or proper” for us to “leave the word of

The Role of Ministry and Service in the Church

God, (the preaching and teaching of the Good News that they had been called by Jesus to share as first-hand witnesses of all He said and did) . . . “It’s not proper, in light of this call, that we should concern ourselves with the distribution of alms in the church.” Or as the King James puts it, to “serve tables.” The Greek is “dee-ak-o-neo” be a servant or an attendant or to wait upon . . . “trap-ed-za” a table where food is served, or money is counted. And here we have the first application of the term deacon, derived from the term “dee-ak-o-neo,” a waiter or server of tables.

The term, “dee-ak-anos” in Greek means nothing more than a servant, someone who attends to the material needs and wants of others. In the early church (and even in the body today) there was “ministration” and there was “administration.” Both extend from the Greek word DEE-A KONIA and so both are related to serving, bringing what is needed, providing, waiting on.

Personal Call to Ministry

Here at CAMPUS I am the primary Minister – meaning I am responsible for distributing and waiting and providing for people instruction, teachings, lessons, and insights. It’s not that all of us are not called to ministry in our own right, and to provide teachings and instructions to others. But at CAMPUS this is what I do. It’s what I am called to be and do and when I get involved in other matters that exist outside of serving up instruction, I am moving away from the most reasonable course of service.

Some of you may notice that I am not really big on socials, or mid-week events for fellowship, and Derrick can attest that I am not inclined to the details toward the material operations of what we do. Why? I know I am called to do what I do – and I try and put all of my time and efforts to preparing and presenting instructional materials in this cause. This is what the apostles were saying here. They were saying, we were specifically called and trained by Jesus to focus on the spiritual matters of the Church . . . and it's not good that we spend our time doing the work of dee-ah-konea.

Now, it's not that I am not personally responsible to do deeaknonea work as an individual Christian to others. I am. I believe it is important for me to serve the needs and wants of others materially as an individual believer. And I do this as often as opportunities arise. These opportunities work hand in hand with my call to teach as I often learn important lessons through my direct involvement with helping others.

Serving the Body of Christ

But like the early Apostolic church here, at CAMPUS there are others who fill the role of dee-akonos – so I don’t have to. Derreck and Denita stepped in and have fulfilled this role like you cannot believe. And I KNOW that they were created by God – as individuals and a couple – to do exactly what they do. And we have others too who could be called Dee-akonos among us. Kathy Maggie is a deacon here at CAMPUS. Merle Hodel, Linda Cassity, Seth Moder, Wendy Jenson, Mike and Jan Lake, Jed Casper – Mary, and Cassidy and Delaney – I would consider them full-time deacons here in this part of the Body. And then there are others of you who step in and do whatever part the Lord has called you to do. All functioning parts of the body.

But remember something really important when we start talking about calls and roles in the Kingdom of GodGod’s spiritual reign—fulfilled and present, not political or future. – the most significant roles and calls are not necessarily those that are the most seen, attractive, or prevalent. We cannot ever be guilty of esteeming one member more important than ANY other.

1 Corinthians 12:
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, (E-ORE)“Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body;” is

The Body of Christ

16 And if the ear shall say, “Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body;” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: (Listen to this now) 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

Do you know what he is saying? He’s saying that the parts of both the human body AND the Body of Christ that are the most attractive and present – the face of them both – are NOT nearly as important as the ugly, squishy liver or gray matter between our ears. In other words those who are seen and appreciated most in the body are not nearly as important as those things that are unseen – like the stomach and kidneys etc. So all play a role. All play a part. And those who do nothing apparent or seen of Man but behind the scenes are acting or praying or supporting Him and His cause in some manner are often far more necessary than those that are seen – so we can’t get puffed up.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

Paul continues (and it's toward the most amazing conclusion) – verse 24: 24 For our handsome parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (Now listen to what he says) 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet . . . (LISTEN – and yet, he says) . . . I shew unto you a more excellent way.

A More Excellent Way: Agape Love

And guess what comes next? 1st Corinthians chapter 13 – the Manual on Christian LOVE. He has described all the parts of the Body of Christ, which we are, and he has delivered important points relative to us in it as members. He gives us an order of different body parts that are present and thriving and operative in it “first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” Then he asks:

29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly (the Greek is Zeeloo and means to either warmly support or wrongly envy – so we know here it means warmly support) the best gifts: and yet . . . (LISTEN – “and yet,” he adds) . . . I shew unto you a more excellent way.

“A more excellent way? A more excellent way than a body of apostles, prophets, teachers, miracles, gifts of healings, helps, Governments, and diversities of tongues??” What could this MORE EXCELLENT WAY BE? Since the Bible was not written in chapter and verse our answer lies in the next chapter of 1st Corinthians – 1st Corinthians chapter 13.

And what is this chapter all about? Agape loveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty.. Agape love is THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY. We have taken these roles mentioned here by Paul that were necessary to the governance of this early church – this church where Greeks and Jews were warring with each other over material distributions and claiming favoritism, and he tells us, listen: God

Early Church Roles

has put the church together with a bunch of roles and offices to handle and inspire and assist each other. But this does NOT mean all of these roles and ways are needed in our day and age. There is a better way, he says; In fact, speaking of all these early church roles, Paul said in Ephesians chapter 4 beginning at verse 11

11 “And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The More Excellent Way

I strongly suggest that where the apostles established deacons to oversee the material distributions of the Church in that day that it was good and necessary for their situation, and for their times, and for their day. But if love was able to abide and thrive the need for specifically called deeakanos would have been unnecessary. This is why Paul says to the believers at Corinth, “Yes, God has given all these parts and roles, receive them warmly, but yet . . . Let me show “you a more excellent way.”

In other words “INSTEAD of relying and looking at apostles and prophets and Evangelists and pastors and teachers as being the ultimate form of doing church and living in the Body together, let me explain to you the MORE excellent way. And then he begins to articulate this more excellent way, and says in 1st Corinthians 13:

1st Corinthians 13:1 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

Unity of the Faith

And then he describes what this love looks like. (beat) I ardently propose – ardently – that we can, will, possibly even have, come to a “unity of the faith” – the place where apostles and prophets, tongues, teachers, etc., are no longer necessary – when we allow LOVE to reign over the things we have formerly allowed to divide us. I am convinced that with the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, the priesthood, the Law, the Nation of Israel and all things of the former economy, that God has opened the way for true love, which comes by and through conversion to Christ, to exist. And when it doesn’t its because we have stepped BACKWARD in our faith not forward.

This day of which I speak was described in the Old Testament and supported by the New Testament apostles when they wrote of it and said in Hebrews 8:10:

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, (those days of material religionA fulfilled system of temples, rituals, and laws—replaced by direct spiritual relationship.) saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

The apostle John touches on this day and condition in the Body when he said:

1st John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as

The Role of Love in Spiritual Maturity

It hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Did you note that both of these passages mention that there is no need for teachers? That term in didaskolos and from it we get the English word didactic, which might be understood as someone who says: “This is how this is, and this is how that is NOT.“ But in the day when the Spirit reigns such instruction is unnecessary – and believers will not need a man standing over them delivering such instruction. Because we have the Spirit with us, and we have chosen to respond to each other in what Paul described as, “a better way.” LOVE.

Which fulfills the law, and therefore where there is love there is NO law. Show me a group of people who choose to love and I will show you a group of people who do not need apostles, prophets, Evangelists, teachers, or pastors. And such a people can exist when they promote and exhibit and appeal to love governing rather than external laws and instructions.

Moving On from Doctrines

This view is not new. It’s present and promoted in scripture and it moved the writer of Hebrews in chapter 6 to say some words that rock the world of material religionist today which are:
“Therefore . . .
. . . leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,
. . . let us go on unto perfection;
. . . not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,
. . . and of faith toward God,
. . . of the doctrine of baptisms,
. . . and of laying on of hands,
. . . and of resurrection of the dead,
. . . and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.”

Do you know what this is saying? It is saying that the presence of continued teachings (doctrines) surrounding “Christ, repentance, faith, baptism, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment” are evidences of spiritual immaturity . . . leave them BEHIND . . . Leave the need for apostles and prophets and Evangelists and pastors and teachers behind . . . and move on to perfection . . . which we’ve learned is LOVE!

The Attributes of Love

A love that is
LONG SUFFERING.
That is KIND
That do NOT envy
That isn’t Self-promoting
Or Arrogant
It’s a love that behaves
Is not self-serving
Isn’t easily provoked,
that doesn’t think evil;
Or rejoiceth in evil,
But is a love that has joy in truth
A love that bears all things,
believes all things,
hopes all things,
endures all things and
a love that never fails.

Move on and perfect this, live in it, by this, on this, through it, and we can put aside all the other stuff – all of it. Because God is love. And the deeper we draw into Him the more abundant the love we are – not the more abundant the love we possess. The more Love we are.

So the early church believers were having issues to love. The Hellenized believers' widows were apparently being short-changed by the Palestinians in some fashion and the Greek believers weren’t about to endure the injustice and the Palestinian believers were allowing this self-serving practice to continue. So they began to GONG GOOSE MUS Murmur.

The Apostles came together, said, We ought to focus on what we were called to do (verse 3)
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

I think it's important that we ask, Why didn’t Jesus establish this order of deacons along with calling the Apostles? I would think that if there is an established unshakable order that can never change in what we call “His Church,” that Jesus would have told them to call seven men who were chosen by the multitude of disciples?

The easy most reasonable reply is that the Apostles, under the direction of the Lord by the Spirit did what was necessary to their times and needs, that’s all. It’s not that deacons were wrong but neither does it mean that they are a concrete always must be present right either. It was a timely needed decision, and men were called. Called by who? The believers! The Apostles, probably accused somehow of having a hand in the preferential treatment of the Palestinian widows told the people to “look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” And we will

Christian Play Plans and Requirements

Continue on with this part of Christian history next week.

Announce Christian Play

Sorrow

Need actors – good ones. Set design. Lights. Graphic artist. Promotion. Ticket sales. Costume. Make-up. Plan to run for two weeks early fall. Casting call May. Rehearsals begin in summer.

The idea is this: