Thursday, July 28, 2022

Acts 6:1-7

Acts 6:1-7 

  A few things to note in here -- first of all, there was a daily distribution.  From the very beginning, the church was caring for widows and those in need.  It's been a part of the life of the church from the start, to care for one another, particularly those with less.  And it's daily -- not just on special occasions.  When some people pray for daily bread, sometimes there are others who help them receive it.  The church has always been known for this, even for caring for people outside of the church.
  Second, the importance of preaching and serving.  The church can't simply be one thing or another -- it needs to be both, but not everyone is great at both, so labor is divided to ensure people's gifts are used appropriately.
  Finally, notice that prayer is emphasized, too.  It's not just preaching -- that should be rooted in prayer.  
  Faith is never something you do once and then walk away.  It's a consistent action, comprised of people with different gifts doing different things, caring for ourselves and one another, vertically focused on God but also horizontally caring for one another.

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