A Serving Community Acts 6:1-7 Let us pray… It is my privilege to preach God’s word with you this morning. I have recently taken over Alpha from Revd Peter. I am thankful for his leadership and guidance for the past three years. He has brought a renewed sense of fun, hospitality and vigour to the Alpha ministry. On 25 Aug 2018, we had our Alpha Intro dinner. God brought many members of the Cathedral to come together and serve. A Serving Community Acts 6:1-7

We had people welcoming guests

Members came to help with décor Monica, Linda fried 400 pieces of chicken

We have members preparing and serving the food.

We have hosts to make guests feel welcome

There is a sense of unity, love and generosity There is a sense of unity, love and generosity. I can imagine that it had a similar spirit 2000 years ago during the days of the early church. The early church was growing and attractive. Thousands were added to the number of early Christians. There were signs and wonders, and many wonderful things. However, things were not as rosy or smooth sailing as we expected. Last Sunday, Revd James Harding preached that the church faced persecution when the Apostles were arrested by the Jewish leaders. In spite of the opposition, the apostles and early believers remained faithful and obedient, and did not cease preaching Jesus as the Christ. However, as the early church grew, it also faced an internal problem as recorded for us in Acts 6. What problem was this? There was jealousy among the distribution of goods among the church members. Act 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. The Hebrews were those Jews more inclined to embrace Jewish culture and were mostly from Judea. The Hellenists were those Jews more inclined to embrace Greek culture and mostly were from the Diaspora (from all over the Roman Empire). To oversimplify, Hebrews tended to regard Hellenists as unspiritual compromisers with Greek culture, and Hellenists regarded Hebrews as holier-than-thou traditionalists. There was already a natural suspicion between the two groups, and Satan tried to take advantage of that standing suspicion. Thankfully, the Apostles were wise and they turned this problem into an opportunity for ministry and service to God. As a result, the early church became an attractive serving community.

A Serving Community Responds to the needs of the people Recognises that all can contribute Respects diversity Releases blessings Rejuvenates kingdom growth I would like to highlight 5 lessons from the early church in Acts 6. I pray that that St Andrew’s Cathedral especially the 8 am congregation will be an attractive serving community for God and His people. Responds to the needs of the people Recognises that all can contribute Respects diversity Releases authority and responsibility Rejuvenates kingdom growth

1. Responds to the needs of the people The first lesson is that the early church responded to the needs of the people. The Apostles were quick to assemble the whole church and address this issue. Act 6:2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples… They did not ignore and avoid this problem. They did not divide the church or throw out the complainers. They respond to it honestly and honourably. They gathered the whole church and called for a solution. I am thankful for the new ministry BMW (befriending migrant workers) which started because they see the growing visitors of people from Myanmar who gather on our cathedral grounds. We can choose to react negatively or respond positively to this issue. The BMW ministry reached out to the visitors and some have signed up for our English classes and even attend the Myanmar service at the Cathedral New Sanctuary. An attractive serving community is quick to respond to the needs of the people. 1. Responds to the needs of the people

2. Recognises that all can contribute The second lesson is to recognize that all can contribute. When the Apostles said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. They were not being arrogant that the task of serving tables is beneath them. Rather, they were saying that every member of the church can serve and contribute. The Apostles were actually humble and honest to say that they needed help with this issue. The Apostles decided that the work of building the church can be shared with the whole community of believers. All of us have different gifts and talents. Not all can teach, preach or lead. We need members who have the gifts of hospitality, administration, and much more. Alpha is a wonderful example of this participation by every member. If you ask me to cook for Alpha, I doubt people will come back the following week. I am thankful for the Alpha hospitality team who provides refreshments to the guests. An attractive serving community recognizes that all of us can contribute to God’s kingdom. Act 6:3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 2. Recognises that all can contribute

The third lesson is a serving community respects diversity. Even though the Apostles were mostly Hebrews, they did not show prejudice by siding the Hebrew widows or dismissing the complains of hellenistic Jews. They addressed the issue openly and respectfully. In turn, the early church which was mostly Hebrew did not show show prejudice in the choice of the seven men. They were Stephen, Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus. They all had Hellenistic names and even one is a Greek from Antioch. It was admirable that the early church selected Greek speaking leaders to serve the community in particular the Hellenistic widows. An attractive serving community rejects prejudices and respects diversity. As the church of Jesus Christ, we must serve people regardless of their ethnicity, social or economic status. I am grateful for the early British missionaries who came to Singapore in the 18th century to serve not only their fellow countrymen but also the local Asian population. They came to starts schools, hospital and churches for the local community. In 1858, REV. WILLIAM T. HUMPHREY, then the Resident Chaplain of St Andrew’s church encouraged the congregation to support local catechists to reach out to the Asians living in Singapore. Today, we are enjoying the fruit of their unprejudiced service of love to our forefathers. An attractive serving community rejects prejudices and embraces diversity. Act 6:3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. Act 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." Act 6:5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 3. Respects diversity

The fourth lesson is to release blessings to serve. In Acts 6:6, we read that the Apostles prayed and laid their hands on these seven men. They were commissioned by the Church with the authority and responsibility to serve the community and take care of the widows. The Apostles blessed these men with God’s guidance and anointing to serve the church effectively and powerfully. In turn, these seven men blessed the community and the widows. An attractive serving community releases blessings for people to serve God. A serving community supports and prays for its members to serve and bless others. It has a ripple effect of blessing one another and the world. I am thankful for the Cathedral community for blessing and praying for me. Years ago, you released blessings upon my life which allowed me to give my life to God. I am thankful for your prayers of blessings which enabled me to serve the children as a children worker, the youth as a youth pastor and now as a deacon. Your blessings have enabled me to bless God and His people. I pray that we continue to release blessings so that many more Cathedral members can be a blessing to God and His people. Act 6:6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. 4. Releases blessings

5. Rejuvenates kingdom growth Lastly, an attractive serving community rejuvenates kingdom growth. Act 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. All of these started because of a complain about the distribution of food to the widows. The apostles and church responded graciously and amazingly which led to the appointment of these seven deacons. This is my prayer for the Cathedral that through our service to God and for one another, we bring about kingdom growth. Friends, would you respond to God’s invitation to serve and contribute to the body of Christ? Would you allow yourself to be used by God to grow His kingdom on earth? Let us be a serving community. 5. Rejuvenates kingdom growth

A Serving Congregation Responds to the needs of the people Recognises that all can contribute Respects diversity Releases blessings Rejuvenates kingdom growth