Malcolm Cox

This week I answer a question from my friend Chen. He is wondering what light Acts 6 sheds on the issue of serving where we are not gifted. 1. Churches always have problems Internal – 5.1ff; External 5:17ff; Internal 6:1ff; External 6:8ff Luke is telling Theophilus, and the Spirit is reminding us that church is messy, but God is at work in it all. 2. Healthy leaders know their limitations Looks like the Apostle had overseen this need up to now, Acts 4:35 Now understand it is beyond them Given the cultural tensions, they may not be the right people to ‘solve’ the issue – they are all Jewish, of course 3. Leaders look for solutions Apostles do not indulge in shaming or blaming They set the parameters: full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom They involve the people 4. A Spirit-led church will prioritise those with the need The ‘whole group’ (v5), i.e. Jews and Greeks chose the people The men chosen all had Greek names Love and humility is in action 5. Problems need the right kind of person, not the person with t