YOUTH STS LESSON 190 MURMURING IN THE EARLY CHURCH

MEMORY VERSE:

“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:14, 15).

TEXT: Acts 6:1-15

The experience of baptism in the Holy Ghost enabled the apostles to enjoy miracles of healing that brought them not only fame but exposure to persecutions from the Sanhedrin. In spite of this, they kept on preaching. On two different occasions, there had been mass conversion of sinners to the Lord through the preaching of Peter (Acts 2:41; 4:4). These were different from those that the Lord added to the church daily (Acts 2:46,47). The rate at which the church grew and converts won was more than the rate at which workers and leaders were trained to oversee the growth of the church.

This week, we want to study how this created an administrative problem for the leaders of the early church. There were new converts from both the Hebrews and the Grecians with which the leaders were never familiar at the beginning of their ministry. Hence, the Grecian widows were not in their daily routine of distribution. Thus, they became neglected. That generated concerns and murmuring among the Grecians. “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (Acts 6:1).

We need to see how the early church leaders solved this problem. Besides, we need to see their process of recruiting workers into the ministry and what kind of people were recruited. This would serve as an insight to all church leaders during church growth.

CRISIS RESULTING FROM AN EXPANDING MINISTRY

(Acts 6:1; Exodus 18:13-18; Matthew 9:37,38)

The cause of this crisis was very clear: “…When the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration” (verse 1). The numerical growth of the church is very important but it has its own dangers if the growth is not properly managed.

Question 1: What problem did the early church have due to rapid growth of the church?

Lack of proper management of the rapid growth led to murmuring and complaining within the church. In the same way, if the church becomes very large without a corresponding growth in her workforce, there would be lack of adequate attention for some sections of the church or a part of the congregation. This applies to both the mother-church and the district churches.

There will be many people in need of counselling or some material needs that the church leaders will never be able to reach even if they are willing to help. They will not just be able to discover them because there is so much to do by a few people. A similar thing happened after the children of Israel left Egypt. They had grown and multiplied in number such that only “…Moses sat to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening” (Exodus 18:13). His father-in-law told him the consequence of this stress-laden activity.

Besides, the fact that some people’s need would be neglected, even the minister’s health and family life is at stake if there are so much to do. “Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” (Philippians 2:14,15). Though there may be numerical growth in the fellowship and some needs of the members not met, it does not give the members right to complain and murmur. Murmuring is a great sin against God. Evidence of receiving the grace of God is the ability to endure some hardness while praying to God for a change.

Question 2: What can the church do to increase her workforce?

Jesus gave us the clue on how to increase the workforce of the church. “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

The church is to pray that God would send more labourers to His vineyard. As many more indicate their interest in the work of the Lord, there is the need to select the right kind of people.

CAREFUL RECRUITMENT FOR AN EXPANDING MINISTRY

(Acts 6:2-7; Exodus 18:19-23; 1 Timothy 3:1-10; Titus 1:5-9)

“Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (verses 2-4).

The apostles called the congregation together in order to address them. They advised that they should look out for some men who could be saddled with responsibility of giving out the food as it would distract them from prayer and the ministry of the word. They gave the qualification that is expected for anyone to be in the number of suitable work force.

Question 3: What basic qualifications must people who want to come into leadership in the church at any level have?

The apostles gave a very simple but important list of qualifications. Those to be chosen must be “men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom”. These, in other words, are salvation, sanctification and Holy Ghost baptism.

The word “wisdom” connotes training. There should be adequate workers training for the new and the old ones to function effectively. This was the counsel of Moses’ father-in-law to Moses (Exodus 18:19,20). The New Testament also stressed the importance of being careful while selecting leaders or workers. “And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless” (1 Timothy 3:10).

If the apostles could select the right people to the work, they would have time to do more important things which the Lord had appointed them to do. Moses was also told that, if he could delegate properly, he would live a peaceable life.

“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). The ministers and leaders in the fellowship must give themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. The effective minister is one who gives himself to prayer always. “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12). This is the only way to fulfil his ministry (Colossians 4:17).

Apart from prayer, the leaders should give themselves to the study of the word daily. The command is: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The basic teachings of the Scriptures must be known and understood clearly. This enables him to perform his duty adequately.

“And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them…” (verses 5-7).

This gave the apostles opportunity to concentrate on the ministry of prayer and the word. The result was “the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith” (verse 7).

Question 4: What is the result of getting the right people into the ministry as workers?

Regardless of the growth rate in any form, the church can experience continuous revival when its leaders do the right selection of workers. They will not be distracted from the life of prayer and the study of the word which will give them spiritual power and anointing that would make their preaching effective.

This will eventually lead to salvation of sinners and deeper insight in teaching which will lead to the edification of the believers. When Moses applied this method, he had time to focus on the essence of his ministry and the people’s needs were met. There was a long-term ministration; for “they judged the people at all seasons: the hard causes they brought unto Moses, but every small matter they judged themselves” (Exodus 18:26).

This means that there was no spiritual burnout as the case would have been if it had been only Moses. Though he had great anointing but he cried out: “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness” (Numbers 11:14,15).

Today, the Lord has need of you in the school and home fellowships, to visit and share the word with others. It should be a challenge to us as we see Philip, Stephen and others serving the Lord. Promise the Lord you will do your best from now. Great rewards await you now and in eternity. “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

COUNCIL ACCUSATION AGAINST GOD’S MINISTER

(Acts 6:8-15; 4:1-21; 5:17-20; 16:19-24; John 18:12-14; Acts 26:1-7)

“Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God” (Acts 6:9,11).

Stephen was both an active witness of Christ and an earnest defender of the faith. He was greatly used of God as a mighty instrument in the miraculous evangelistic ministry of the early church. However, his success caused some stir among the disciples of the Jewish religion who sought him out to vent their hatred for Christ upon him.

The power and wisdom of Stephen’s words proved too much for these Judaizers. They were unable to prove him wrong or make him retreat the claim of his faith. This was the fulfilment of Christ’s promise (Luke 21:12-15). Therefore, they fell back on the old scheme of the Pharisees to raise false accusations and witnesses against Stephen.

The people, elders and the scribes, were stirred up and Stephen was brought before the council. There, he stood for the gospel while the enemies opposed him. His accusers raised up false accusations against him.

Question 5: What accusations were levelled against Stephen?

“And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law: For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us” (verses 13,14).

There were four accusations raised against Stephen and they all bordered on blasphemy. The false witnesses alleged they heard him blaspheme sensitive issues among the Jewish people. These were Moses, God, the temple and the Law. Hence, the trial of Stephen was similar to that of Jesus Christ, His Master.

Question 6: What similarities do we have between the trials of Christ and Stephen?

Stephen was brought before the Sanhedrin, the council that tried Jesus (Matthew 26:3,4,57,59-62; Luke 22:54,63-65; John 18:12-14). There are similarities between the trials of Jesus and Stephen.

One, in both trials, false witnesses were used to achieve their purposes (Matthew 26:59-62; Acts 6:12-14). Two, both Jesus and Stephen were accused as blasphemers (Mark 14:63,64; Acts 6:11).

“And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel” (verse 15). The members of the council could not fail to notice the radiance and glow on Stephen’s face. This was the miraculous testimony of God to His servant. It was a testimony to his purity and sincerity.

Although Stephen was strengthened and encouraged by this divine approval, one could imagine how he felt before the council that charged him with offences he never committed and that these accusations carried capital punishment. However, Jesus had predicted these persecutions and prepared the disciples to expect them. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). We too should prepare for persecutions because the Bible says: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).