Chapter 6

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1 . The core of Christian

is service.

Acts 6:1-4 But 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 our time in prayer and teaching the word.” (NLT)

Seeing a need and taking

is the bedrock of serving.

Putting others first is what Jesus

…
His whole life and even in His death.

We should approach every service opportunity in the same manner
as Stephen: “It’s not about me, and if this is how I can serve the
body of Christ, I’ll

do it.”

2 . God does His greatest work through

people.

Acts 6:5a Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit)… (NLT)

1 Peter 5:6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. (NLT)

Humility

us against the influences of the world.

1 John 2:15-16 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. (NLT)

3 .

into the Holy Spirit.

Acts 6:8-10 Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people. But one day some men from the Synagogue of Freed Slaves, as it was called, started to debate with him. They were Jews from Cyrene, Alexandria, Cilicia, and the province of Asia. None of them could stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. (NLT)

In every situation, we need the

of the

Reveal Answer

Reveal Answer

to
respond the right way.

4 . Christians are a contradiction to the

.

Acts 6:12, 15 This roused the people, the elders, and the teachers of religious law. So they arrested Stephen and brought him before the high council…At this point everyone in the high council stared at Stephen, because his face became as bright as an angel’s. (NLT)

brightly in dark places!

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. (NLT)