Day 314/365- Acts 6:7

"Doing more together"

So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too. (Acts 6:7 NLT)

In order for God's kingdom to grow & God's people to carry out his mission, we need all hands on deck. We typically think about church as a place we go to & a pew we sit on. But rarely does it enter into our minds or lives that we ARE the church. That church is not a location or a building but a people.

We see this very truth displayed in the early church. Because of the rapid growth of the body, physical needs were being neglected. But the apostles could not do everything. They were focused on prayer & the Word & nothing needed to compete with that. So the church appointed several men to help with waiting tables & serving these widows. These were godly men, full of the Holy Spirit. (Does our hospitality team have the same requirements?)

And the result is amazing! The message continues to spread and many more people come to Jesus. Now, the implication from this verse is that these men waiting tables, were a catalyst for growth of the kingdom.

To put it another way, more people come to know Jesus when more people work together. The more the church works together, exercising gifts & the fruits of the Spirit, the more the mission of God is accomplished.

In order for this to happen, leaders need to seek to include the whole body in the work & mission of the church. Leadership is essential & clearly defined in the NT but that doesn't exclude the need for everyone to be involved. The pastors are not paid employees of the church but should be facilitators of equipping & ministering. The more the church does together, the more the mission of God is extended.

Also, no task is too menial. Even serving food expands the kingdom. Meeting physical & spiritual needs should be the focus of our church, not just inside but especially outside the four walls.

There are three questions that help us know how to plug into God's kingdom work through his church.

(1) Where am I passionate?

What do I love doing? How can I use what I love to further God's mission? We may already love doing something that God can use for his glory.

(2) Where am I gifted?

What unique gifts have I been given by God? How am I using this to further his mission? What do I offer the body that is unique? How can I partner with other people like me & unlike me to do the work of the kingdom?

(3) Where am I needed?

This is the biggie. We often just want to work where we are passionate & gifted but I've yet to meet a children's worker who is passionate about dirty diapers!

In Acts 6, the men were chosen because of need, not necessarily because of passion or giftedness. Being on mission with God is not about us. We will receive greatly but we are not at the center, he is. So what is the greatest need in my church or city that I can engage that will further the mission of God? Needs in the world?

Whenever we see the need, we should go fill it!