Sunday Evening June 14, 2015

1. Heritage Addition church of Christ
by Jim Bradshaw
Sunday Evening, June 14, 2015
Acts 6:1-7

2. Joh 4:35 NKJV Do you not say, 'There are still four
months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to
you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they
are already white for harvest!

3. A Growing Church Faces Problems
1. Most Problems Come from Within
2. Many Complain that the church is not doing enough for
the young, old, young married, singles, widows, etc.
3. Problems often come when church is growing:
a) “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples
was multiplying, there arose a complaint,” (Acts 6:1).
b) Personal experience.
4. In Acts 6 the Hellenistic widows were being neglected
a) “A murmuring” KJV (6:1)
b) We murmur – singing, preaching, attendance, elders,
etc.

4. A Growing Church Has Priorities
1. Leaders must lead!
a) Act 6:2-3 NKJV Then the twelve summoned the
multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable
that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
(3) Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you
seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit
and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this
business;
b) The Apostles took action, but let the disciples handle
the task.

5. A Growing Church Has Priorities
2. Was the work to take care of the Hellenistic widows not
important?
a) “It is not desirable…” Acts 6:2
b) Act 6:4 NKJV but we will give ourselves continually
to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

6. Eph 2:19-22 NKJV Now, therefore, you are no
longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens
with the saints and members of the household of
God, (20) having been built on the foundation of
the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself
being the chief cornerstone, (21) in whom the
whole building, being fitted together, grows into a
holy temple in the Lord, (22) in whom you also
are being built together for a dwelling place of
God in the Spirit.

7. Joh 21:15-17 NKJV So when they had eaten breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do
you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes,
Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed
My lambs." (16) He said to him again a second time,
"Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to
Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to
him, "Tend My sheep." (17) He said to him the third
time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter
was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do
you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know
all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to
him, "Feed My sheep.

8. 1Pe 5:1-3 NKJV The elders who are among you I
exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the
glory that will be revealed: (2) Shepherd the
flock of God which is among you, serving as
overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for
dishonest gain but eagerly; (3) nor as being lords
over those entrusted to you, but being examples to
the flock;

9. Act 20:17 NKJV From Miletus he sent to Ephesus
and called for the elders of the church.
Act 20:27-29 NKJV For I have not shunned to
declare to you the whole counsel of God. (28)
Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the
flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers, to shepherd the church of God which
He purchased with His own blood. (29) For I
know this, that after my departure savage wolves
will come in among you, not sparing the flock.

10. 2Ti 4:1-5 NKJV I charge you therefore before God
and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living
and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: (2)
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of
season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all
longsuffering and teaching. (3) For the time will
come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but
according to their own desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap up for themselves
teachers; (4) and they will turn their ears away
from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (5)
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions,
do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

11. A Growing
Church Needs
Everyone Involved
Act 6:3 NKJV Therefore, brethren,
seek out from among you seven men
of good reputation, full of the Holy
Spirit and wisdom, whom we may
appoint over this business;
Notice the leaders (Apostles) set the standard and
the number of men
Remember the advice given by Jethro to
Moses in Exodus 18:13-24
Act 6:5 NKJV And the saying pleased the whole multitude.
And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy
Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and
Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

12. A Growing Church WILL Increase the Word of God
Act 6:4 NKJV but we will give ourselves continually to
prayer and to the ministry of the word."
Elders – Prayer – Ministry of the Word -- Shepherds
Preachers – preach the Word
Deacons – minister to the needs of the flock –
benevolence, sick, youth, old, widows, worship, etc.
Members MUST be involved

13. A Growing Church WILL Increase the Word of God
Act 6:7 NKJV Then the word of God spread, and the
number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem,
and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
1. We should never leave the word of God to do it our way.
2. There is nothing more important than proclaiming the
Gospel.
3. Only in the Truth, can the church increase, John 17:17-21.
4. We might just be surprised, what happens when we do
things God’s way.