July 21, 2024 - Acts 6:1-15
July 21, 2024
Acts 6:1-15
Lessons Learned
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. Persecution of the apostles led to more people becoming followers of Christ (disciples).
2. Hellenistic Jews were Jews that had been living in a Greek culture and spoke the Greek language.
3. The ‘Hebrews’ of verse one were Jews rooted in traditional Jewish heritage and culture.
4. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28
5. The first book of the New Testament that was written: James written between 42-47 AD.
6. The gospels were written:
Matthew 50-65 AD
Mark 55-65 AD
Luke 58-65 AD
John 89-95 AD
7. Freedmen were a group of Jewish slaves who had been freed by Rome and had formed their own synagogue in Jerusalem.
8. Satan uses people within the church to stir things up.
9. Satan uses people outside the church to oppose the gospel.
10. The pastor can't do all the work that needs attention. He needs the church body working alongside him taking care of details allowing him time for prayer and ministry of the Word.
11. Effective ministers of God's work must spend time in prayer.
12. When conflicts are dealt with in the power of the Holy Spirit, unity is restored opening the way for God's word to spread.
13. Stephen's faithfulness in caring for the widows preceded him being given the more public role of performing signs and wonders.
14. The church needs to keep in focus its purposes:
Worship
Evangelism
Fellowship
Discipleship
Ministry
15. Application:
Conflicts have solutions.
Everyone who serves in the church is to be controlled by the Holy Spirit.
Scripture teaches you to, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim 2:15 (KJV) so that you are “...ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)