Acts 6 "The Missional Church"

Acts 6 – Brandon Hatmaker “The Missional Church”
Friday, April 18, 2008



“In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word." – Acts 6:1-4

Two themes are evident right out of the hat in Acts 6. The first is the wisdom behind delegation and team. There are so many needs that can slip through the cracks as a body of believers grows, needless to say in attempting to meet the needs of an entire community.

The second theme I see is strategic in how to meet those needs. Ironically, it also ends up meeting some spiritual needs of the body as well.

Traditionally in a church, the pastors organize and plan out a ministry event to meet needs. Maybe it’s a mission trip or a volunteer day at the local orphanage. They work like crazy to get people involved, signed up and show up. The project comes to a close and we all go home to our comfy houses. This might be the last time we do anything until our next trip or event.

What Luke is saying here in Acts 6 is that the people of the church need to be meeting needs on a regular basis and to not wait on the key leaders to do it. He’s introducing a key aspect of the missional church. That it's a lifestyle not just an event. However, people taking initiative will rarely happen unless the pastors lead people to do it. As leaders, we need to recognize that. It’s not a natural step for most of us who grew up in church. But, this is the textbook example of what it means to live missionally. Mission events are necessary and great for equipping and expanding the exposure of serving (especially for those who haven’t done it much), but the goal is for us to get to a point where we do it because it’s a part of our lives. We integrate it. We plan it. We live it. Where we are.

Then, lives served would be changed. And I guarantee that lives serving would be changed as well.

Father, make me more aware of the needs around me. It's so easy to get focused on those who I am already in relationship with or do church together with. Help me to serve those who I gain nothing from. Help me to do so without expectation of return. Give me an increased passion for meeting the needs for the outcast, the abandoned, the sick, and the neglected. Teach our churches to do the same.