Recapture: Servant hood

Recapture: Servant hood

Acts 6:1 It starts by saying that the church was growing. the number of disciples was increasing

There is also an accusation of favoritism
In the early days of the church, as with now, part of the church’s role was to help feed the needy and hungry.
This first verse simply explains what some of the activity of the early church looked like.
- But in the complaint of favoritism, it comes to light what the real problem was.
- While the church was growing, more people were not stepping up and serving.

It’s not so much that favoritism was taking place, as there weren’t enough people serving to help everyone in need.

Verse 2 By starting this verse with “The twelve” it becomes clear that the original 12 Disciples were still the ones doing the serving.

While it may be cool to get your food served to you by the Great Apostle Peter it is not very practical for sustained church growth.

The 12 Disciples quickly realize what the real problem was, not enough people to serve.
- They give no attention to the accusation of favoritism.
I love what the end of this verse says. “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Still a good word for us today.
So why were there not enough people serving here in this scene in Acts?
It’s important to see that author Luke pointed out it was that the Hellenistic Jews where the ones complaining.
- Hellenistic Jews were people who practiced the Jewish faith but while still holding on to their Greek Culture.
  - They were not native-born Jews so to speak.
  - But they held on to their Greek culture to such an extent that this how they became known.
- They had converted to a form of Judaism, but they had not fully given themselves to God and were still holding on to their Greek Culture.
- But now they have become Christians and are in the church, but still identified as Hellenistic.
- Their Greek Culture is what they are still known by and for.
I wonder if the same is true for us today?
Here is the irony in this passage, It’s the Hellenistic believers that are the one complaining that their widows were not being served, yet they didn’t offer to help with serving.
- They just expected someone else to do it.
- That’s not the mind of Christ.
John 13:12; Romans 12:6; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 6:7; 1 Peter 4:10