Sermon Notes

The Situation – Who is going to sort this out? ~ Acts 6:1

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.

• Compassion Sunday is a call to recognise the world’s ongoing needs. Even now, in 2025, many people still lack necessities like food, clothing, and shelter. We are reminded of the urgent realities before us.

• Jesus acknowledged the ongoing reality of poverty and need, saying, “The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me” (Matt 26:11).

• In Acts 6, the pressing need was the daily distribution of food, organised by the church to assist widows.

• Among the early church, Greek-speaking Jews (Hellenists) felt overlooked in favour of Hebrew-speaking Jews (Hebraic), and they brought this concern to the Apostles.

What do you see?

Do you see needs in the world, your community, or among your family and friends? How will you respond? Will you only identify the issue, as occurred in the early church, or will you seek how God may equip and use you to help address it? 

Three Take Home Points 

Don’t forget to look within for the solution – Acts 6:2-3

Desire to be full of The Holy Spirit & Wisdom – Acts 6:3

Determine to see growth and change – Acts 6:7

Questions

1. When the church was to look for deacons (servants) to assist the Apostles in ministry, they were to choose men who were marked by a good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and full of wisdom (Acts 6:3). Why do you think those particular qualities were so important for church ministry?
2. Discuss examples of what it really means to be full of The Holy Spirit and wisdom? (See verse 3)
3. It can sometimes be difficult to find people to fill the leadership roles in the church. Why do you think that is?
4. What does the apostles’ approach to resolving the complaint among the Hellenistic and Hebraic Jews teach about conflict resolution within the Church?
5. How can we channel complaints and constructive criticism into constructive solutions within our church?
6. What are the similarities and differences between the role of deacon in the early church and the role of deacon in churches today?