“Raised and Released” – a message from Acts 6

This past weekend at Eastbrook, we concluded our preaching series entitled “Essential Church.” This series is the first of a three-part exploration of the Book of Acts this Fall, including “Ordinary People in God’s Extraordinary Work” and “Jesus, King of the Nations.”

This week in the series I looked at the beginning of Acts 6, where “The Seven” are set apart as a response to a tension within the early church between the Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews.

You can find the message outline and video below. You can access the entire series here. Join us for weekend worship in-person or remotely via Eastbrook at Home.

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“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” (Acts 6:1)

Family Tensions (Acts 6:1)

With all the good things, tensions still exist

Hebraic Jews and Hellenistic Jews: what is this tension?

The biblical ‘quartet of the vulnerable’ 

The distinctive Christian approach to the vulnerable

A Potential Resolution (Acts 6:2-6)

Bringing the problem to the family 

A potential resolution within the family

Different types of “serving”

Paying attention to the character of those raised up

Paying attention to the names of those raised up

The Unexpected (or Expected?) Outcomes of Navigating the Tension (Acts 6:7-8)

“The word of God spread”

“The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly”

Both the apostles and these new servants receive power from God

Living as God’s Family in Step with the Holy Spirit

To see

To love

To serve

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Dig Deeper

Exploring Faith

• What might have happened to the church if the apostles had tried to fill the tensions out of their own capacities?
• How does seeing the reality of the early church, both tensions and solutions, impact your journey to understand and believe?

Growing in Faith

• Ponder the description of those who were being looked for: “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.” In what ways might God be inviting you to grow in these areas yourself? 
• Where are you serving presently? What might it look like to step forward in new ways of service beyond what you are comfortable for the glory of God? 

Centered in Faith

• Who is someone in your sphere of influence who you might invite to take a step forward in faith and service for God’s glory and mission?
• Consider exploring a further resource, such as S.H.A.P.E.: Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life  by Erik Rees.