Handling Church Problems God's Way

Scripture: Acts 6:1-5

Today we continue our series. We will see that growing congregations will experience “growing pains.”

•  Growing Pains, (Acts 6:1-5)

•  The Complaint, (v. 1)

1. ( v. 1a ), “Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number”
a. Satan's two previous attacks (inside/outside the church) has not slowed the church's growth!
1) ( Acts 2:41 ), “So then, those who had received his words were baptized, and there were added….”

2) ( Acts 2:47 ), “…praising God and having favor with all the people, and the Lord was adding….”
3) ( Acts 4:4 ), “Many of those who heard the message believed; and the number of men came to be about five thousand.”
4) ( Acts 5:14 ), “… multitudes of men and women, were constantly being added to their number.”

5) God is blessing His people, but Satan is always looking for opportunities to foment trouble!

2. ( v. 1b ), “…a complaint arose on behalf of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews”
a. The church began as a multi-national congregation ( cf. 2:5 ), “Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem….”
1) Division in the church, no matter the cause, is always wrong!
2) ( Gal. 5:19-20 ), “Now the deeds of the flesh… disputes, dissensions, factions… shall not inherit….”

3. ( v. 1c ), “…because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food.”
a. Remember, brethren were donating their money to the church so all needs would be met, ( 4:L36-37 ).
1) Yet here we see a racial/cultural divide between these two groups of God's people.
2) I don't believe it was malicious. It seems to have been an over-sight ( “…overlooked…” ).
3) God's people, however, have an obligation to help each other, ( Gal. 6:10 ), “So then, while….”
b. So, how are God's people supposed to take care of complaints like these when they arise…?

•  The Council, (vs. 2-4) What steps should God's people take to handle problems when they arise?

1. Step #1: Be aware that there is a problem, ( v. 2a ), “And the 12…,” (apostles).
a. Leaders (on any level; national, family, church) cannot solve problems they don't know they have!”
1) “Well, if he were any kind of leader, he would be aware of what's going on in the church!!!”
2) Only God is all-knowing. Communication makes a difference in families, nations, churches.
3) Once aware of a problem we must act, ( Matt. 5:23-24 ), “If you are presenting your offering before the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering
before the altar; first be reconciled to your brother, then come and present your offering.”

2. Step #2: Handle problems as openly as they are known, ( v. 2b ), “…summoned the whole congregation of disciples”
a. If there is a problem between just a couple of brethren, then they should handle it privately, ( Jms. 5:16 )
b. But if the problem affects the entire congregation, then it needs to be dealt with openly.
1) Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is an example of how to handle congregational problems.
2) ( 1:10-11 ), “Now I exhort you, brethren, that you all agree, and there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. For I have been informed….”
3) Paul's letter to Philemon shows how to handle private matters, ( Philemon 10 ), “I appeal to you for my child, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, Onesimus….”

3. Step #3: Recognize that others cannot your problems, ( v. 2c ), “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in
order to serve tables.”
a. People have today developed an “Entitlement Mentality,” expecting others to solve their problems!
1) Notice how many are expecting the government to “bail them out” & make their lives better.
2) Yet in the government, as in other areas of life, God has given us this responsibility!

b. Someone once asked Jesus, “‘Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.' But Jesus said, ‘Man, who made me a judge or an arbiter over you?'” ( Lk. 12:13-14 ). Jesus is teaching us to say, “Not My Job!”
c. The apostles had been commissioned by God to take care of the spiritual needs of the early church.
1) Today, elders have a similar responsibility, ( Heb. 13:17 ), “Obey your leaders and submit….”
2) They accomplish their task through the proper use of God's word, ( Eph. 4:11-13 ), “And God gave some… until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature , to the measure of the stature of the fullness that belongs to Christ.”

3) Leaders can get side-tracked by getting caught up in everyday issues. This pushes their primary function to the wayside. This is a huge mistake (if they allow it to happen!).

4. Step #4: Use the tools God has provided to solve your problems, ( v. 3 ), “But select from among you, brethren, 7 men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.”
a. The kind of individuals whom God can use are those who are first devoted to Him.
1) “Good reputation” : These are men of proven character and are beyond reproach.
2) “Full of the Spirit” : Focus of his life is upon God and the things of God, ( cf. Rom. 8:5-7 ).
3) “Wisdom” : Knows God's word and properly applies it, ( cf. Matt. 7:24 ).
b. Notice that the elders did not solve their problem but they suggested a means through which the people could themselves solve the problem. Good leaders do not dictate but rather guide and direct.
c. The apostles gave the people 3 things everyone needs to have to accomplish any task…
1) Authority: “You select” – the people, not the apostles, were authorized to make the decision.
2) Responsibility: The responsibility/job of these 7 men was to feed the widows!
3) Accountability: apostles would hold them accountable, “whom we may put in charge of this task.”

•  The Conclusion, (6:5)

1. ( v. 5a ), “And the statement found approval with the whole congregation”
a. The leaders had challenged God's people to solve this problem by providing direction & guidance.
1) They help the people see themselves as part of the solution!!!

2. ( v. 5b ), “…and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch.”
a. What may not be obvious to us (yet true nonetheless) is that all of these men have Greek names!
1) Not only do godly people trust in godly leaders; but we see godly leaders trust in the people.
2) Notice the apostles are willing to trust in a complaining minority.
3) Yet this entire problem worked out for the betterment of the church (never raised again!).

b. Is God able to bless His people when they handle problems in this same fashion??!
1) ( v. 7 ), “And the word of God kept on spreading; and the number of disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.”
2) We should all strive to maintain such a godly unity – ( quote Gal. 3:28, 26-27 )!!!