‘When It All Comes Out In Church.’
1 Corinthians 11:17-19.
a) 1 Corinthians 11:17. Apostle Paul could not commend the Corinthian Church because when they came together it was not for the better but for the worse.
b) 1 Corinthians 11:18. Apostle Paul had heard about the disunity in the Corinthian Church and he believed the news that he had heard.
c) 1 Corinthians 11:19. At this stage in the maturing of the Corinthian Church there needed to be factions. In this way the people who were genuine Believers would be manifested and then the Church could continue to grow.
(Through this QT, When It All Comes Out In Church, I am reminded of the general Biblical principle that Church should be united in the Holy Spirit and that if True Believers have a disagreement they should be able to reconcile and everything will be resolved. In the Corinthian case it was different. This was a new Church and there were some factions in the Church that were not Believers at all. Through the factions the True Believers would be manifested and the trouble making factions would have to leave)
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‘How Deaconship Began.’
Acts 6:1-7.
a) Acts 6:1. The Church was rapidly growing in numbers.
b) Acts 6:1. The Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.
c) Acts 6:2. The Apostolic team called the entire Church community together.
d) Acts 6:2. The Message of the Apostolic team was clear and correct: "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.”
e) Acts 6:3. There needed to be selection of Deacons especially for the practical running of the Mercy Ministry of the Church and such like. The Biblical definition of the word “Deacon” is:-
1- One who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master.
2- A servant, attendant, minister. a deacon.
3- One who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use
f) Acts 6:3. Qualifications for appointed Deaconship:-
1- Good character.
2- Full of the Holy Spirit.
3- Full of Wisdom.
g) Acts 6:4. The Apostolic team would devote themselves to Prayer and Serving the Word of God to the Church.
h) Acts 6:5-6. The whole Church was pleased with this decision. They:-
1- Chose the people to be Deacons.
2- Had them stand before the Apostles.
3- The Apostles prayed for the seven Deacons.
4- Then the Apostles laid their hands on these seven.
i) Acts 6:7. As a result of this, God prepared the Church in Jerusalem for the next step:-
1- The Word of God continued to spread.
2- The number of Disciples increased greatly.
3- A great many of the Jewish priests became obedient to the Faith.
(This Second one shows me How Deaconship Began)
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Chris.
When officers are appointed in the Lord’s Church it is important that their lives measure up to the Biblical standard. The New Testament clearly states guidelines for the Church as to the appointing of Elders and Deacons in the Church, this standard also needs to be applied to lay people working in the Church too. Let us take heed to the Word of God.
