The Hurdle of Neglect
Sermon Title: The Hurdle of Neglect
Sermon Text: Acts 6:1-7
Sermon Purpose: To call hearers to participate in the effective care of the disciples, in order to produce dynamic church growth.
Sermon Proposition: There are 4 steps to providing proper care of the disciples.
I. The obstacles of proper care of the disciples. V.1-2
D. The obstacle of misplaced priorities in the church. V.2
“A church racked by conflict finds its message lost in conflict, and its energy dissipated.”
II. The organization of proper care of the disciples. V.3-4
A. The plan of leadership selection leads to proper care of the disciples. V.3
Acts 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
5. Men full of wisdom.
Numbers 27:16 "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, 17 "who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd." 18 And the LORD said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; 19 "set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. 20 "And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient. 21 "He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire before the LORD for him by the judgment of the Urim. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, he and all the children of Israel with him -- all the congregation." 22 So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation. 23 And he laid his hands on him and inaugurated him, just as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
1 Chronicles 12:32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;
B. The prioritizing of leadership services leads to proper care of the disciple. V.4
a. Prayer must permeate a pastor’s sermon preparation.
b. Pray that people will apply the truth he teaches them.
c. Pray to be a pure channel through which God’s truth can flow to his congregation.
Romans 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, 10 making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.
Philippians 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,
Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
1 Corinthians 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
1 Corinthians 9:26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Acts 19:9 But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
Acts 20:18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: "You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 "serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 "how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Timothy 4:11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
“A young man once said to the gifted expository preacher of God’s Word Donald Grey Bornhouse, “I’d give the world to be able to teach the Bible like you.” Looking him straight in the eye, Dr. Bornhouse replied, “Good because that’s exactly what it will cost you.”
III. The officials of proper care of the disciples. V.5-6
A. The unity of the selection empowered the church. V.5a
B. The uniqueness of the selection empowered the church. V.5b
C. The umpires of the selection empowered the church. V.6
IV. The outworking of proper care of the disciples. V.7
A. The word of God spread and was effective in winning converts. V.7a
B. The number of disciples multiplied greatly in the community. V.7b
C. The priests in the temple were obedient to the faith. V.7c