Scripture Reading: Acts 6:1-4

Local Church Problems

Intro.
1. Local church a family; brothers & sisters in Christ Jesus; children of God, 1 Tim. 3:14-15.

2. Like any family, problems will arise in l. church. When they do we can do one of four things:

a. Ignore them (stick heads in the sand).

b. Run away from them (can’t address & overcome the problem).

c. Increase the problem thru inflammatory words & actions (impure motives).

d. Discuss them with open minds, open Bibles & a prayerful, reverent & loving attitude, Eph. 4:1-3; Phil. 2:1-4.

3. God expects His children to meet the challenges before us; to live & serve each other in love & unity, 1 Cor. 1:10; 12:25; 1 Jno. 4:20-21.

4. To solve problems we must know the CAUSE of the problem (treat the cause, not the symptoms of the problem).

5. Acts 6:1-7 – Helps us to identify potential problems & overcome them (the challenge became a blessing to the church).

I. CHALLENGE OF COMPATIBILITY, Acts 6:1; Eph. 2:13-22 (Isa. 11:6-9).

A. Great Challenge: Many Different People Becoming One in Christ.

1. All different: Our personalities, moods, behavior, likes & dislikes vary tremendously!

2. Yet, we are to be one, Rom. 12:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:25-26.

3. Some say “impossible,” yet … Jno. 17:20-23; Rom. 15:5-6.

4. Those who love Jesus won’t be incompatible for long, 1 Jno. 4:10-11.

B. How to Meet this Challenge.

1. Make others higher priority than ourselves, Phil. 2:3-4; Acts 6:1, 5.

a. “Others, then self”; Not “self, then others” (Jesus, Matt. 20:28).

b. Selfishness is sin & causes hurt feelings, blinds to the needs of others, causes indifference, hatred, jealousies, lack of trust…

2. Forgive one other, Matt. 6:14-15.

3. Remember our common relation, Gal. 3:26-29.

II. CHALLENGE OF COMMUNICATION, Acts 6:1. (Two related problems)

A. The Failure to Communicate, 6:1.

1. We don’t have trouble communicating when we choose to do so.

a. They communicated: Complaining & grumbling, 6:1.

b. We too often talk about instead of with, Matt. 18:15; 5:23-24.

c. “Too much talk and not enough talk.” (Jas. 1:19-20)

2. We must talk with each other to overcome any problem.

B. Communicating the Wrong Information.

1. Christian are interested in truth/facts; not hearsay, gossip, backbiting, 1 Tim. 5:13.

a. Creates barriers, Prov. 16:28.

b. Gossip is disorderly conduct, 2 Ths. 3:11.

2. In Acts 6:1-7, when right things were communicated the challenge was met & the problem solved.

3. Speak truth: We are members of each other, Eph. 4:25.

III. CHALLENGE OF CONVERTEDNESS, Acts 6:3.

A. Lack of Conversion Means Satan is Still in Control of One’s Life, cf. Acts 5:1-5, 7-9.

1. “To turn, to turn about, turn towards” (Vine); a turning or change from one state to another.

2. Conversion is a change of heart, life, & relationships; of values, goals, objectives & conduct, Acts 3:19; 26:20. (Heart cleansed, Acts 15:9; Life changed, Rom. 6:4; New relationships Gal. 3:26-28.)

B. Our Conversion Shows in:

1. What we serve, Rom. 6:16-18; 1 Ths. 1:9.

2. What is our first concern, Matt. 6:33 (Phil. 3:7-11).

C. Test Ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5):

1. Do materialism & carnal things control me instead of obeying God? (1 Cor. 3:1-4; 1 Jno. 2:15-17)

2. Do I hold grudges & fail to forgive? (Eph. 4:32)

3. Do I fail to repent? Do I seldom/never pray? Do I plan to disobey God?

4. Solution: These attributes, Acts 6:3-5. Result: Acts 6:7.

Conclusion

1. This church can meet & overcome every problem we will face when we love the truth & love one another with the desire to learn from God’s word & a commitment to obey Jesus.

2. Be an asset to this church:

a. Be compatible (one) in Christ,

b. Communicate truth to each other, and

c. Be converted to Christ.

3. Live in faith, love & mercy.