Working Together

Working Together

Bible: Acts 6:1-7

They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread (VV.6-7).

All the refugees coming to my town has meant the local churches have suddenly got a lot bigger! It’s been great to see the churches growing— but there have been some difficult things too. People already at my church need to learn how to welcome these newcomers as they try to get used to a new culture and new language. All this change can create some awkward
situations.

Misunderstandings and arguments happen everywhere there’s more than one person! Church is the same. If we don’t deal with the problems in the right way, bigger problems can come up. The early church in Jerusalem was growing well when a complaint came up that could have split the church into two groups. The Greek-speaking Jews (the Hellenists) had a problem with the Jews who spoke Aramaic. The Hellenist widows “were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food”
(ACTS 6:1). So the apostles told the church to “choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom” (V.3). The seven men chosen all had Greek names (V.5). In other words, they were Hellenists, members of the group with the problem. They would understand the situation better than some of the others in the church. The apostles prayed
over them and the church kept on growing (VV.6-7).Growth brings challenges, partly because it means more people, with
different backgrounds and ideas, trying to work together. But as we ask the Holy Spirit to help us, we’ll find ways to support one another in the church and show the world that we are united by our loving God.

GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO JUST JOIN TOGETHER WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS, BUT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH THEM.

Youth Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries