06: Appointment of the Seven Deacons and Stephen’s Arrest (Acts 6)
Chapter 6 shows how the Jerusalem church dealt with multicultural conflict within the church. By allowing Greek-speaking Jews to participate in ministry, the church continued to grow well. However, persecution was triggered by Jews from outside Palestine. They did not want the church to emerge within the Jewish community, not even as a Jewish sect. Eventually, the center of missionary ministry would shift from the Jerusalem church to the Antioch church, where Jews and Gentiles formed a multi-ethnic church. π Read Acts 6 Q1. What was the problem in the church? Answers π Greek widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. A similar problem could happen when a church grows, and people of different cultures and backgrounds join the church. At that time, we need the wisdom of good management. We should allow those who could represent each group of church members to participate in the church leadership. But we cannot ignore their qualification: of Spi...