Acts 6 Commentary
Check the qualification for service on the ‘tables’! The bar is quite high. And who is more qualified (going by these requirements) than the apostles? But their hands are full!
A church leader does well to know when his hands are full. He should look at the complaint objectively and never ignore it. Not all complaints are malicious.
The apostles acknowledged the availability of well-qualified individuals to handle the problem. They didn’t impose the ‘seven’ on the believers, rather, they engaged the saints and everyone was happy at the end of the day.
They explained their situation. It wasn’t top secret. Everyone was involved in the solution.
Yes, the church experienced genuine problems to warrant a split, going by today’s faithless standards. But when the Holy Spirit guides the church, wisdom and foresight are never in short supply.
‘Tables’ are important but they remain a support ministry. Ministry of the Word takes the top spot! But you must hear God and get instructions for the assignment. Prayer becomes an indispensable element of the ministry of the Word.
A highly qualified top manager for a low-key department? You wonder if this department is low-key! We probably need to revise our language. They are all vital but one task stands out…this sounds better!
Stephen is one of the seven. He is the first recorded martyr in the early church. Martyred for what? Not for waiting on the tables but for the ministry of the Word! We probably need to revise and re-orient our departments or task groups in the church.
The food department, the ushering department, the music department, the missions department, the children department, the operations department. We will have managed the church well when all these departments are firing, so we think! Churches with more functional departments are admired! But that’s how we have partitioned our efforts. Worship is for the worship team and evangelism is for the evangelism department. Ponder.
This chapter teaches us yet another important point: a management problem may exist amid great anointing and manifestation of the working of the Holy Spirit. A management problem is solved by management – by spirit-filled and faith-soaked men and women.
The ‘tablemen’ worked on housekeeping matters. It appears they did so after the ministry of the word. It appears they all attended the ministry of the Word and settled down into different task groups at the camp. Apostles for general oversight, the ‘tablemen’ for food, the ‘chairmen’ for chairs in the auditorium, the deco team for deco, the doorkeepers for security, ushering for order…
See how this housekeeping back at the camp affects the ministry of the word! Verse 7.
Our ‘tableman’ Stephen performs “great wonders and signs among the people”. He is not stopped because he is not in the Miracles department or Deliverance department. No one orders him to ‘stick’ to the Tables Department! We should love the fact that out there (off camp), we can be everything under the guidance of the Spirit! Leave the pastor alone. There is a pulpit and more work out there for everyone!
There are many lessons for church leaders in this chapter. We can only advertise!
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