Oakwood Community Church
Unstoppable Service - Acts 6:1-7
Locations & Times
Oakwood Community Church
11209 Casey Rd, Tampa, FL 33618, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Acts 5:1
“BUT a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
“BUT a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
Acts 5:17
“BUT the high priest rose up, and all who were with him, and filled with jealousy, they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.”
“BUT the high priest rose up, and all who were with him, and filled with jealousy, they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.”
Acts 6:1
“Now in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.”
“Now in these days, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.”
Acts 2:45
“They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need.”
“They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need.”
Acts 4:34
“There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold to the apostles.”
“There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold to the apostles.”
Main Point:
Considering the many needs of the church, God expects all believers to serve.
Considering the many needs of the church, God expects all believers to serve.
God expects all believers to serve.
1. We should all serve faithfully. (v.1-2)
2. We should all serve intentionally (v.3-4)
3. We should all serve with a godly character. (v.5-6)
1. We should all serve faithfully. (v.1-2)
2. We should all serve intentionally (v.3-4)
3. We should all serve with a godly character. (v.5-6)
1. We should all serve faithfully.
* Gaps in the flow of ministry affect the fruitfulness of the ministry.
* Gaps in the flow of ministry affect the fruitfulness of the ministry.
1. We should all serve faithfully.
* Main theological reason why more people don’t serve and do so faithfully is because we all are predisposed to first serve ourselves.
* Main theological reason why more people don’t serve and do so faithfully is because we all are predisposed to first serve ourselves.
Matthew 16:24
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
When you OBEY, you OPEN yourself to God’s special blessing.
2. We should all serve intentionally.
Acts 6:2
“And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.’”
Acts 6:2
“And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, ‘It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.’”
* They should serve intentionally in the sweet spot of their spiritual gifting.
* God has uniquely gifted each of us to fulfill certain roles with greater ability and fruitfulness!
* God has uniquely gifted each of us to fulfill certain roles with greater ability and fruitfulness!
Romans 12:6-8
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
“Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
2. We should all serve intentionally.
* You should serve according to the grace gift God has given you.
* When we fill a role that doesn’t fit our gifting, it limits the fruitfulness of our effort and the joy we have in doing it.
* You should serve according to the grace gift God has given you.
* When we fill a role that doesn’t fit our gifting, it limits the fruitfulness of our effort and the joy we have in doing it.
1 Corinthians 12:21-26
“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable...But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
“The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable...But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
* Our unity in diversity is what makes us special and powerful!
3.We should all serve with godly character
Acts 6:3
“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit, and of wisdom.”
Acts 6:3
“Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit, and of wisdom.”
1 Timothy 3:8-10
“Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.”
“Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.”
3. We should all serve with godly character.
* The fruitfulness of our spiritual gifts is determined most by the faithfulness of our spiritual walk.
* The fruitfulness of our spiritual gifts is determined most by the faithfulness of our spiritual walk.
* The greatest gift you can give someone is not you, but God through you!
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
* We must have a greater focus on growing our godliness than on exercising our giftedness.
* You will never normally be alone with God until you’ve gone through the abnormal work of working Him into your daily schedule.
God expects all believers to serve.
1. We should all serve faithfully.
2. We should all serve intentionally.
3. We should all serve with a godly character.
1. We should all serve faithfully.
2. We should all serve intentionally.
3. We should all serve with a godly character.
Acts 6:7
“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”
“And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.”