Acts 6:1-7

Chosen to Play

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I had been waiting for this moment the entire game. I was in the fifth grade, and I was on our fifth grade basketball team – the Summit Wildcats. I had made the team, but I wasn’t one of the starting five. In fact, I didn’t get much playing time. We had won several games. It was the end of the season, and our first tournament game had started. I had been sitting most of the game. I really wanted to play. I remember thinking, “If only the coach would choose me.” And during the second half, the coach looked over at me and said “Get ready to go in.”

I couldn’t believe it. He actually chose me. It was my time – my defining moment. I was so excited and nervous at the same time. The buzzer sounded, and I immediately got out up and went onto the court and positioned myself next to a player from the other team. The ball was thrown in bounds. Immediately the ref blew the whistle, and it was as if time stood still. I couldn’t believe it. I looked around and realized that I was the sixth man on the floor for my team. I was so excited about being chosen, that I didn’t pay attention to what I should have been doing.

Acts 6

The story we are looking at today in Acts took place at a defining moment in the formation of the early church. It is all about a group of individuals who realized that they needed to pay attention to what they should be doing.

The book of Acts is really an historical record of the formation of the early Christian church. You can learn a lot about what the early Christians were committed to and the challenges they faced.

In Acts 2:42-47, we read that there were certain things the early Christians devoted themselves to like the apostle’s teaching, fellowship, sharing meals, praying, and sharing all that they had. They worshipped together and gave to anyone in need. And each day their number grew.

By Acts 6, we read that the number of people who believed rapidly multiplied. The church was spreading. But the problem with this multiplication was that it brought challenges. Growth/multiplication always brings challenges.

Multiplication brings challenges.

If you are going to take seriously Christ’s call to go and make disciples, to lead others into a growing relationship with Christ, then it means multiplying.

Multiplication can be messy because it involves people – people with different backgrounds, sometimes from different cultures, different religions. You are talking about dealing with people who may not look you do, believe like you do, or behave like you. It is so much easier to say let’s just take care of ourselves.

Soon we read that there were rumblings of discontent.

People from different backgrounds and cultures were becoming Christ followers. Some had grown up Jewish. Others had not. There were people who were becoming Christ followers who had no Jewish heritage. Some didn’t even speak the Hebrew language.

The people (church) began to ask: What are we going to do with people who don’t understand our Jewish customs or speak our language? Are we going to accept them? Are we going to reach out to them? Are we going to care for them? Are we going to demand that they must look and act like us?

By Acts 15, this becomes such a major issue that the early church had to call a special meeting. There were those who were saying that if you are going to be a Christ follower you need to adopt all of the Jewish customs and traditions including circumcision – talk about high qualifications for membership.

In the book of Acts, we find that the church had to decide, “What do we really believe? What kind of people are we going to be?”

Challenges reveal who you are and what you believe.

Endurance Champions: During the past couple of months, I have been involved in helping with our children’s ministry. This past month our theme has been – The Amazing Race. We have been talking about endurance and each week we have had stories of people who face adversity.

• Michael Jordan – stories about people like Michael Jordan who was cut from his basketball team as a kid, yet ended up being what some claim to be the greatest basketball player of all time.
• Erik Weihenmayer – who was Connecticut’s second ranked wrestler in his weight class, he has made 50 skydives, climbed five mountains including Mt. Everest …And he did all of that blind. Erik had to start over when he went blind. He started over when his mom died. He started over when he was turned down for jobs because he was blind. He started over every time he had to make up for not being able to use his eyesight. But he didn’t give up.”
• Bethany Hamilton – who at the age of 13 lost her arm due to a shark attack, but it didn’t destroy her courage, her dream, her faith in Jesus. Still a well accomplished and respected surfer.

Challenges reveal who you are and what you believe.

Challenges can be positive or negative – how you handle...

• Loss of job or getting a new job can reveal who you are and what you believe.
• Struggling financially or being blessed financially can reveal who you are and what you believe.
• Losing someone you care about or having a newborn baby can reveal who you are and what you believe.
• Dealing with pain from a difficult situation with no opportunity to reconcile can reveal who you are and what you believe.
• Having an opportunity to reconcile a relationship can reveal who you are and what you believe.

Challenges reveal who you are – strengths, areas of growth.

Challenges reveal what you believe – who you trust, what you are willing to give up, what you are willing to do

The early church had made a commitment to care for those in need including the poor and widows. At some point while the church is rapidly multiplying, the Greek speaking Christians felt like the widows who were Hebrew Christians were treated better than the widows who were Greek Christians. This favoritism may or may not have been intentional, but it sure was felt.

The people were faced with a defining moment: What do we really believe about caring for those in need? Do we really believe we should care for people in need no matter their background? In Acts 6, the early church realized that if they really believed they should care for those in need, then they couldn’t rely on the apostles or leaders to do everything. Other people needed to contribute. As they looked around, they realized that there were people among them who had different gifts and abilities that could be used by God. Some had the ability to teach while others had the ability to administrate things like a food program. So they chose people among them to serve.

Pastor Illustration: When I meet someone outside of this setting, one of the questions that I inevitably get is, “What do you do?” I actually dread that question, because when I say I’m a pastor or a minister, it usually brings this awkwardness to the conversation. In fact, people will often immediately shut down the conversation. It is like they don’t know what to say or how to react. They have some perception about the role of pastor. Maybe they are afraid I am going to preach at them.

People have all kinds of perceptions concerning who or what a pastor should be. One of the fears that we have as a pastoral staff is that it can be easy for people to expect that the pastoral staff should do all the work. After all, they get paid. What else do they do with their time? People sometimes fail to realize that part of what it means to pastor is to shepherd or care for people so they can grow in their relationship with God. Part of what it means to pastor is to help people hear God’s call to serve and to then accept that call.

We are at a defining moment for Newark Naz. That is what this series has been about. If we are going to continue to lead more people to Christ, then we must multiply. (Williams Street: If we are going to stay committed to this neighborhood and overcome barriers like limited seating and parking, then we must multiply – one church, multiple locations.) It is not about this location. It is not about Willliams street. It is about answering the question: What do we really believe about leading more people to Christ?

• What do we really believe about caring for more kids and families?
• What do we really believe about helping more people feel connected or part of a community?
• What do we really believe about caring for people in this neighborhood?
• What do we believe about caring for people in other neighborhoods – your own?
• Are we willing to “go” to other places to lead more people to Christ?

These are questions that we must answer.

Multiplication brings challenges. Those challenges will reveal who we are.

Challenges reveal who we are and what we believe.

We say we are about celebration, community, and call. Is that what we believe? The reality is that if we really believe in those things, if you really believe in those things, then it means realizing you have been chosen to serve. Each of us has gifts and abilities that can be used by God.

It is not up to a select few to do everything. Some think that in a larger setting, you must have plenty of people serving which is inaccurate. You have been chosen to serve…to be the hands of Christ – on Williams street, at Real Life, the Firehouse, your own neighborhood, your workplace, your school. Sometimes we need to understand that even at our workplace it is more than punching a time clock or receiving a paycheck. We have been chosen to be the hands of Christ.

Metaphor - Slides:

The hands that you see are actually the hands of people who serve.

• Mike Zarnosky – is married to Jeannie and he has two children. He owns his own business and works with home theater systems and home automations. About two months ago, he started serving by working with preteens (5th/6th) graders in our children’s ministry. Such a critical age in the life of kids. Information in your worship folder about this ministry. He is developing ways for 5th/6th graders to serve and to develop leadership skills. When asked, why do you serve, he said, “I could sit back, but I serve because of what God has done for me. I have a heart for 5th/6th graders. It is amazing to see how God can use you.”
• Terry Loughman – is married to Pat, has two kids and three grandchildren. Terry has been working for 34 years at Lukehart Heating. In 2002, he lost his leg. He has a prosthetic leg. In the face of his adversity, he still has realized he has been chosen to serve. He serves behind the scenes with our buildings and grounds maintenance ministry by helping with painting and doing work on things like our furnaces. Terry’s son and daughter in law are also serving. When asked why he serves, Terry said, “The Lord has always been there for me. That is why I choose to answer the call to serve.”
• Josie Clay – is currently working at three jobs – YMCA, a construction company, and as a server. She has been serving by leading preschoolers in worship. When asked why she serves, she said, “I love to work with kids. I want to help influence them to grow and mature in Christ.”
• Josh Maccombs – is a student at OSU Newark majoring in middle childhood education. He works at OSU Newark, and is serving kids in our children’s ministry. He has also been serving with other young adults who are starting a small group for young adults. But for the past 2 years he has been leading a ministry to the campus community at OSU Newark outside of this setting. Serving is more than just serving at Williams street or at Real Life. For some it may be serving people in our community. When asked why he serves, Josh says “It helps me to focus on other people’s needs rather than my own.”
• Vivian Sharpless – has been attending Williams street for 4 years. She has a daughter and 2 grandchildren. During the week she volunteers at a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center that is part of Licking Memorial called Shepherd’s Hill. She also serves at our food pantry, and she serves as a greeter every Sunday. She serves with an incredible amount of joy. She always has a smile. When asked why she serves, Vivian says, “I Love the Lord. I like to work behind the scenes, and I love to meet people. This is my way to serve God.”

We could talk about so many others like the ones you saw in the video who are using their hands to serve. We celebrate those today. Some families are serving together. I could tell you able one family whose dad serves on the connect team, mom serves in the bridge, and three teenage daughters serve in the children’s ministry. There are stories of teens who are serving and preteens who are serving. There needs to be more parents who are willing to teach their kids that they are chosen to serve by their example, and more kids who are willing to teach their parents that they are chosen to serve by their example.

There are so many places to serve. I wish I had time to tell you about the many places. Some places are completely behind the scenes. Some are directly dealing with people. Some are at a specific location, while others are serving people in the community. Some involve helping in a parking lot, or behind an information desk, or behind the scenes gathering resources for teachers.

Remind:

• Discover Your Call – class to sign up
• Insert with a list of ministries and contact information – call leaders – Can you imagine if these leaders received calls from people this week who accept the call to serve.
• Connection Card

What is so incredible about each of these hands that are serving is that you discover that part of their worship is serving God.

You cannot adequately worship God unless you come to the place where you realize that you have been chosen to serve, and you are being the hands of Christ.

The way you serve God, the way you use your hands is part of your worship. If we were to take a picture of your hands today, where would they be serving? How are your hands worshipping God? How are you being the hands of Christ to others, in your neighborhood, in the community, you work place, school?

Closing: In Acts chapter 6, we find that people were chosen to serve and there was a special time of prayer for them. You have been chosen to serve. Realize Christ loves you, but he has also chosen you for an important position. In closing, we thought it would only be appropriate to have a prayer of dedication for those who have realized that they are chosen to serve.

• Current leaders and people involved in ministry: You could serve here, at Real Life, or in our community. Your gift could be giving, or maybe you are serving in a way that nobody knows.
• People willing to serve: You realize you are chosen to serve. You may not know where or exactly what that means yet, but you are committed to finding out by attending class or contacting a ministry leader.)

Invite you to come forward. Stand in front or in the aisle. Come as a family.

Prayer of Dedication

Song: Take My Life

As you leave today, remember you are chosen. You have been chosen to serve, and to be the hands of Christ.