Variety of past lifestyles & values Diversity of ethnicity & cultures Definite Outward Enemy Attacks Possibility for Inward Dissension

Widow Care Biblical call to defend the vulnerable Newly-Christian widows were often abandoned by the Jewish community

A Communication Problem Grecian Jews: Spoke and Worshiped primarily in Greek Hebraic Jews: Spoke in Aramaic Worshiped in Hebrew

Whether there actually was favoritism or not, the Apostles knew the danger of dissension in the Church; so they addressed the issue right away!

Rather than lean on their authority and seize control over the situation personally, the Apostles recalled Jesus’ model of leadership… and delegated others to handle this.

Diakonia = Service or Ministry This term originally referred to the “table ministry” in Acts 6, but would later refer to Christian ministry work for a variety of needs.

Deacon Roles in the Free Methodist Church

Character Traits of a Deacon(ess): Honesty/Integrity “Servant’s Heart” Manages Home Respected Trustworthy Ethical Finances Addiction-Free

Stephen - Miracle Worker & Apologist Philip - Miracle Worker & Evangelist Procorus - Attendant of John & a Bishop Nicolaus - Convert to Judaism & Christianity Nicanor / Timon / Parmenas - No info

Reasons for laying on of hands 1.) Blessing (Gen. 48: 13-20, Mark 10:16) 2.) Commissioning (Num. 27:23, Acts 13:3) 3.) Healing (Mark 1:41, Acts 28:8) 4.) Imparting of Spiritual Gifts

AND… the church grew even more!!! Because of the quick action, along with the wise delegation of authority and responsibility to the Deacons from the Apostles, crisis was averted. AND… the church grew even more!!!

--------------------------------------------- One of the biggest roadblocks to church growth is a failure of Leaders to successfully delegate (or transfer) ministry tasks & duties to others. --------------------------------------------- Leaders won’t let go. Others won’t accept the “baton” of ministry.

Ministry Burnout

Mad Cow Symptoms: 1.) Disease lies dormant for months or years 2.) Disease has strong Physical/Mental effects 3.) Contamination easily spreads to others 4.) Disease is fatal

At Mount Sinai (shortly before receiving The Law from God), Moses’ father-in-law Jethro sees some unsettling warning signs of burnout in Moses… and gives him advice.

Exodus 18: 14-18 14 …“What is this you are doing for [to] the people? Why do you sit alone as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” 17 …“What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone.”

Exodus 18: 22-23 22  “Have [trustworthy men] serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you…that will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”

Numbers 11: 14-16 14 Moses said, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.  15 If this is how You are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me…” 16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people…”

Numbers 11: 16-17 16 … “Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you.  17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.”

God then faithfully grew His Church! The Apostles delegated tasks that could be done by others and focused on the “main things”: 1.) Prayer 2.) Gospel Ministry God then faithfully grew His Church!

“Prayer is the one thing a leader can’t delegate.” - Mark Batterson