Acts 6
Generally, when it comes to Acts 6:1-7, some Christians think that Luke’s intention is to record for us the beginning of the office of the deaconate. That’s what I used to think and guilty as charged, I had the tendency to gloss over it since that’s all there is to the short passage, really. That the early Church was pressed and needed some orderliness so that the apostles could focus solely on Word and prayer.
Recently, because of the need to preach from this passage, I did a new look at the Old Book. And I came away with a greater and renewed appreciation that Luke did more than just recording the first instance of deaconate. The overarching principle I believe is that each has a ministry and the Church can grow spiritually only when people undertake their ministry so that those in leadership position can fulfill their primary ministry – that of the Word and Prayer.
Event the suggestion that the church seek out seven spiritual men tells us that all ministry are spiritual by nature. The oft mistaken notion that only pastors are “called to the ministry” whereas the rest of the membership carries on with their secular life so-called. Nothing can be more devastating than that! God has a ministry for all of us, and the idea of the passage tells us that the Church can grow only when work is shared by all, and all members need to learn to be spiritual so that the attitude and lifestyle matches the ministry rendered to God that it might be acceptable in His sight.
Will elaborate more. . . .
