Here’s the sermon for my “Preaching’s Priority” Acts 6:1-7 sermon, preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville.
“Priority of Preaching” Acts 6:1-7
Intro: Nehemiah built Jerusalem wall faced many challenges: getting to Israel, resources, enemies slandering & threatening.
-Also faced internal challenges: nobles refusing to serve, oppression of poor, compromise from with community
-John Stott notes: Early Church faced challenges from outside and inside.
–Outside: Jewish Religious Leaders trying to silence them, threats, imprisonment.
–Inside: internal challenges within the community threaten the advance of God’s Church.
–Today: Internal challenges within threaten to hinder the preaching of the gospel!
-Jesus has called his people to be on mission by proclaiming Jesus=PRIORITY of preaching.
-We’ve seen: apostles are committed to preaching the gospel, even in the face of persecution!
-Today, we see a challenge to keep preaching from within: Other good tasks can get in the way!
-We can lose what God wants us to prioritize for other things.
-How will God deliver his people from this, so that the gospel will continue to be preached?
-Will good things get in the way of the right thing and stop the church from advancing and preaching the gospel?
M.I.: God helps his church keep the priority of preaching through the provision of people to share in the work of ministry.
-WE go astray when we lose PRIORITY of preaching the gospel
-But GOD PROVIDES for His church through other Christians to help share in the ministry
RELEVANCE:
-We face the same challenge today as Christians: good things can hinder us prioritizing and practicing preaching
-Christians have the same opportunity to address this challenge: join in serving for the advance of the gospel!
M.I.: God helps his church keep the priority of preaching through the provision of people to share in the work of ministry.
2 P’s!: 1. Priority of Preaching (1-2); 2. Provision of God (3-7)
1st P: PRIORITY OF PREACHING (1-2)
-In life there are many good things to do, but it is important we prioritize the right things.
-Imagine, driving a car & only focusing on music & ignoring putting gas in the car? Would u get where u need to be?
-Imagine wanting to be a great baseball player but only focusing on have right cleats for your feet…
-Imagine I wanted to be a godly father but never read the Bible or prayed with my children…
-Imagine I wanted a healthy marriage, but never spent time with my spouse…
-AS THE CHURCH ADVANCES, God’s people must keep preaching the gospel a priority.
-Other good things matter (community, feeding poor, caring for widows)
-But we can’t strive for these things at the expense of PREACHING the gospel.
-PREACHING must remain a PRIORITY for the church.
A Time of Growth (6:1a): 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number
-Lots of people are becoming Christians!
-REMEMBER context: apostles are committed to preaching the gospel, even in the face of persecution.
-The church grows and kingdom advances as the gospel is preached.
-There is no substitute. We must keep preaching the gospel
-Sunday mornings; in relationship with others.
A Danger from within Threatens the Church (6:1b-2)
A situation from WITHIN the church that threatened mission of preaching the gospel.
-Problem Within (READ 1a):
-2 Groups of Christians both Jewish: Hellenist—Greek speaking & Hebrew—Aramaic/Hebrew
-Hellenistic widows were “being neglected in daily distribution”
-System in place to provide financially/food for widows
-For some reason, Hellenist (Greek-speaking) group is being neglected.
-What will the apostles do?
-An Even Great Problem Arises Because of the First Problem (READ 2)
-“twelve… said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.”
-Apostles were called to preach God’s Word and bear witness to Jesus
-This ministry to widows—good ministry—was hindering preaching of God’s Word. -SAME TODAY: We must keep the main thing—preaching God’s Word—the main thing.
-Pastors especially are called to faithfully devote hours in the week to sermon prep and prayer.
QUESTION: Does our culture value preaching of God’s Word?
-We must value and prioritize it, and come on Sunday morning eager to hear God’s Word preached. –NOTE: Mercy min still important (Aspirin, FMSC), but not at expense of God’s Word preached
APPLICATION:
-Pray that we as a church keep preaching God’s Word and evangelism (sharing God’s to the lost) a priority
-Pray for me as a pastor, that I would practice evangelism more faithfully, and you lead you well in this.
-Pray for our church, that we grow in sharing the gospel with others: (Summer fellowship rhythm)
2nd P: PROVISION OF GOD (3-6)
How will the apostles deal with this internal challenge that is threatening the advance of the gospel?
*God helps his church keep the priority of preaching through the provision of people.
-The apostles (and pastors/elders/deacons) are not the only called to minister.
-All Christians play a role in the kingdom and work together to see God’s work accomplished today
-BEHOLD: SOLUTION from the Spirit-filled apostles (READ 3-4)
–SOLUTION (3-4): others serving: “pick out from among you seven men… whom we will appoint to this duty.”
-Possible origin of the Deaconate
-2 Office of Church: Elder and Deacon
-CCF: 1 Year from now have deacons/deaconesses in place.
-Importance of character: men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom
-More important charisma or mere competency
-This informs us as we seek others to help in the work of ministry.
-Apostles are Freed up to preach and prayer! (v 4)
APP: 1. Give thanks to those who already serve: John, Paul, Aynsley, nursery, Lord’s Supper, slides, Diego, Denise
2. Acknowledge need: As Wilkins leave, and as we move forward as a church, we need others to step up and serve.
-Financial Leader, worship leader, deacons, future elders, Worldview Curriculum Sunday School Leaders
-Pray for John as he tries to finish his elder candidacy this Fall.
-Pray for us as plan to constitute in January.
-Pray for wisdom in raising up leaders and delegation.
*GOSPEL-DRIVEN MOTIVATION TO SERVE: Saved to love, serve others for the advance of God’s kingdom.
SIN: Leads us to selfishness and a refusal to serve others: we live for our own kingdom.
-Cancer of consumerism: what can I get out of church? What can you give me?
JESUS: Lord of glory came, and came serving: Phil 2:5-11.
-Now we take on the attitude of Phil 2:1-4.
-Further, now we have a glorious task of seeing the gospel proclaimed.
-We serve and preach the gospel because we see the truth: CHRIST is PRECIOUS!
God’s Provision through People (6:5-6)
-God’s provision through seven godly individuals (5-6) –NOTE: Stephen and Philip (will be mentioned again)
-God’s provision was through believers stepping up to serve and lead others.
OBSERVE: God’s faithful and kind provision.
–SAME today. I often feel this way on a Sunday—praise God for His people serving and helping.
M.I.: God helps his church keep the priority of preaching through the provision of people to share in the work of ministry.
A 3rd P! POWER of GOD’S WORD (6:7)
-Word of God continued to increase (7a) And the word of God continued to increase,
-Apostles freed up to preach the gospel!
-Number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem (7b) and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem
-Church grows as more hear and respond to the gospel.
-It good to serve our neighbor, but there is no replacement to the gospel.
-Great many of the priests became Christians! (7c) and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
-How delightful and encouraging after reading of persecutions and Pharisees in gospel accounts
-This is God’s marvelous and beautiful grace, transforming hearts.
-Gospel is different than mere church attendance or religion.
NAPERVILLE: God’s Word is powerful and the gospel can transform hearts and lives of those who live here!
-Let’s pray, serve, and share the gospel, that—for God’s glory—others would come to faith in Christ!
CONCLUSION: Praise God for how He helps his church keep preaching the gospel and enables us to serve in love.
-May God’s word bear much fruit in our lives and in the lives of those around us!
