Check out all the previous Acts readings here.
Acts Reading Plan | Week 5 | Day 5
Prayer
In John 11 Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” Pause for a moment. Breathe in, and now breathe out slowly. Read that again. Jesus is alive and he’s ready to meet with you. Say a prayer asking Him to meet with you.
Bible Reading: Acts 6:1-7
Read these verses three times slowly.
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. 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 and sisters, 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.”
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Reflection & Questions
Today, we read of a very practical problem that arose within the church. The logistics of managing a church of thousands was enormous. One example was a group of widows who were missing out on the daily distribution of food. Widows were unable to work and were dependent upon others for provision.
The apostles’ approach to this problem is significant. They did not jump in and take care of it. To do that would mean neglecting the ministry of the word. They knew they couldn’t teach the people and pass out bread. They selected others, who were also full of the Spirit, to tackle the problem. This principle remains the same to this day. It is right for some of the church to be set aside for teaching. It would not be right for them to take care of the practical needs of the church. The church would suffer for lack of teaching if that was the case. The Holy Spirit has given each believer gifts to use as they serve in the church so the church might be built up (1 Peter 4:10-11).
At Crossroads, our TAG Teams are where people step up in various roles to serve others in and outside of the church. Whether it be in Production, Groups, Outreach, Next Gen (to name a few) these teams make it possible for the church to exist! TAG stands for Together Advancing the Gospel. If you aren’t serving on a TAG Team – jump in today! Check out the opportunities at crossroadsgrace.org/tag or talk with our TAG Director, Glo Fuentes-Swift, at 209-239-5566.
- Do you know the gifts that the Spirit has given you? You can take a gifts assessment to get an idea at crossroadsgrace.org/spiritual-gifts-assessment
- If you’re not on a TAG Team, consider joining one! If you’re already on one, how can you continue to grow in your role to serve others inside and outside the church?
Prayer
Talk to God in response to the reading today. Thank God for those that teach us at Crossroads, that they would continue to preach the worldly powerfully and boldly. Thank God for our TAG Teams and ask Him to continue to send more people to serve the ever growing congregation.
Worship Song
You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:
Check out more Bible Reading Plans here.
Questions?
Ed Applegate
