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RE Verse reading–Acts 6:8-15, 7:1-60 (day three)  “Yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him.”  (7:57)  He is the first martyr.  He will not be the last.  Stephen’s death at the hands of an angry mob reminds us of the terrible and deep opposition toward Christ that squats in the heart of people on this planet.  It is not us they resent.  It is Him.  Luke 19:14 gives words to their fury.  “We do not want this man to rule over us!”  Check Stephen’s sermon for evidence that he understood this defiant opposition.  Even people who say they love God still often resist His will.  We make excuses.  We refuse to follow.  Mark Twain said, “There is nothing as irritating as a good example”  Presented with the implied rebuke of a godly life, the world predicatably reacts.  It was true for Jesus.  It will be true for us.

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:8-15, 7:1-60 (day two)  “Then the hight priest asked Stephen, ‘Are these charges true?’ ”  It would have been easy to side step the charges.  They were, afterall, false (cf vs 13)  Stephen could have simply denied the accusations and preserved his life, but he didn’t because his goal was the salvation of his accusers rather than his own safety.  His attitude reminds me of a man who probably traced his own awakening back to this event.  In Romans 10, Paul writes, “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation”.  With similar passion, he writes in 1 Corinthians, “I have become all things to all men so that I may by all means win some”  Like Stephen and Paul, life becomes a very different thing when the goal is salvation for others rather than safety for us.  In this grand enterprise, we seize opportunites, we accept the risks.  We are playing to win!

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:1-15, 7:1-60 (day one)  “You stiff-necked people! . . .You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit”  (7:51)  It was a terrible moment.  A moment of truth.  Stephen was preaching his synagogue sermon (the one for which he was killed).  He had traced Jewish history from Old Testament to present moment with this conclusion–the Jewish nation (as a whole) had always resisted the Holy Spirt, and with devastating results.  The word is antipipto.  It literally means “to fall against, to oppose even if the opposition means falling yourself”  Similar to what the Lord says to Paul in Acts 26:14.  “Why do you kick against the goads?”  Why do you continue to fight, even when it becomes clear that your resistance is hurting you?  Good question.  Sad question.  Why do people continue to resist God, even when it means destruction?  What is it about a full surrender to God that raises such irrational, stubborn resistance in our sinful hearts?

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:1-7, 11:27-30 (day seven)  “The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea”  (11:29)  A word easily missed.  Very meaningful when not.  The disciples determined that they would do something to help.  Even if they could not do MUCH (according to their ability) they would do SOMETHING.  They were determined.  The word in Greek is horizo. (like horizon)  It meant to draw a line, make a mark.  In the case of money, it meant to “mark off” or “ear mark” funds for special use.  It is something that takes place in the individual heart.  Luke is clear that “each” of the believers made this decision.  None of us can be corporately effective unless we are individually sacrificial.  It is an indication of the Holy Spirit.  When followers of Christ hear of a need, we volunteer to do something about it.  Inspiring story!  May the Lord make us determined to serve.

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:1-7, 11:27-30 (day six)  “And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples”  (6:2)  A very practical lesson.  The twelve called the church together and they came!  Like a business meeting –only with more people.  To avoid the fracturing effects of rumor and racial prejudice, a decision was required.  The Apostles knew that they needed the full support of the congregation.  The solution (in an age before E mail or “The Table”) was to call a meeting.  As a Pastor, I know this territory well.   Significant challenges are ahead for FBC.  Wonderful opportunities!  But after prayer and seeking the guidance of the Lord,  the next thing that we will need is to meet together and unite our hearts re. God’s direction for us.  October 28 is one of those “all-together” moments.  The annual “State of the Church” congregational meeting allows an opportunity for our whole family to to think together.  When called together will you come?

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:1-7, 11:27-30 (day five)  “Now during those days. . .the Hellenists complained. . .because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food”  (6:1)  There is an application here for the modern church.  While all widows in the ancient world were not AARP eligible, the majority were and the church felt responsibility for them.  Was it actual discrimination or just the perception?  Not sure.  What is clear is that the church had a plan to meet these needs.  Paul later gave the conditions under which a widow should be “put on the list”.  Wise management will be required but the example is clear.  I am grateful for Julie Webster. . .I am grateful for the FBC Deacons. . .I am grateful for the FBC Aging Team (Judy Vasil and Barbara Warnock and volunteers). . .  I am grateful for Larry Soape and the Senior Adult Sunday School classes and workers. . . for all those who help us care for Senior Adults.

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:1-7, 11:27-30 (day four)  “We. . . will devote ourselves to prayer and to the serving of the word” (6:4)  I do not believe what is often said about this verse–the suggestion that being “devoted to prayer” is a task unique to preachers.  “You guys work the food program.  We will pray and preach” is the implied translation of the Apostles words.  Perhaps we would accept this division of labor if this text were all we had.  The rest of the Bible, however, rings with the call to prayer for EVERY believer.  “Pray without ceasing”, says Paul to the Thessalonians. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)  “If my PEOPLE (not my preachers) will humble themselves and pray. . . Better to interpret the familiar words in Acts 6 as a commitment by preachers to pray (in preparation for their work of service) and all others to do the same.  No exemptions here.  Nothing else will prepare us for Spiritual service.  We are ALL to be devoted to prayer.

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:1-7, 11:27-30 (day three)  “The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem”  (6:7)  Strange word.  Fascinating.  Instructive.  We speak of spreading icing on a cake or spreading fertilizer on a lawn, but spreading God’s word?  The picture is of something in one place and then several. . .one heart and then many.  Applied to God’s word it describes the exanding circles of people who are hearing God speaking.  Note the means by which this takes place.  When a congregation faces it’s problems honestly and prayerfully and in practical unity, people “hear” the Lord’s voice!  Amazing.  Our influence in this community may have as much to do with how we work together to find and do God’s will as with what we preach.  Problems are inevitable.  How we face them is clearly a Spirit-led and people-blessing choice.  As we listen to the Lord and love each other, the word of God keeps spreading.

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:1-7, 11:27-30 (day two)  “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait tables. . .will we devote ourselves to prayer and serving the word.”  (6:2, 4)  It is not apparent in English, but in vs 2 and 4 Luke uses the same word to describe two kinds of service.  The word is diakonos (deacon–to serve).  An action rather rather than an office, at least in this instance.  In vs 2 the call is to serve (diakonos) tables.  In vs 4 the call is to serve (diakonos) the word.  Notice the similarity?  No matter what our assignment is in the Kingdom we are all (always) called to humility.  None of us is higher or lower.  Our essential assignment is the same–to seek the Glory of God and the good of others.  “The greatest among you will be the servants” said the Lord in Matthew 20:26.  Different assignments–the same heart.  We are all called to be “small d” deacons.

RE Verse reading–Acts 6:1-7, 11:27-30 (day one)  “Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task. (6: 3)  Many people believe this narrative marks the beginning of the deacon ministry.  While not called deacons (Greek deaconos, “servant”) in this story, the pattern is beginning to emerge.  There were (and always will be) MANY necessary tasks in the life of a church that  ministers will not have skill or time to care for.  To these tasks are called dedicated men who serve the Savior alongside the ministers.  It is not hard for me to speak on this subject.  For over 25 years I have witnessed the valuable contribution that Deacons make to the life and ministry of a New Testament church.  I have been priviledged to serve with them.  They have provided me the opportunity to pray and preach! I thank God for the deacons I have known.