Acts 6:1-7 As the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek speaking believers complained about the Hebrew speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the Word of God, not running a food program. And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility. Then we apostles can spend time in prayer and teaching the Word.”
Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen [a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit], Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch [an earlier convert to the Jewish faith]. These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted too.
Rapid growth will always bring challenges like?
Circle the three qualifications that were needed to serve.
As believers look after one another the apostles could…
How were these seven men commissioned into service?
What are the results of everyone doing their service?
1 Corinthians 12:7-13 A spiritual gifts is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice: to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another; and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles; and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
The human body has many parts, but the parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.
Who receives a spiritual gift and for what reason?
Who gives the spiritual gifts and decides who gets what?
In our church body do we all share the same Spirit?