Team Work

GETTING STARTED

A good coach is someone who can rally his team to enthusiastically play the roles they have been most gifted in so the team can accomplish its goals. There is a reason offensive linemen don’t throw the football and the quarterback doesn’t block on running plays—those aren’t their strongest skills, and it wouldn’t be best for the overall effectiveness of the team for them to play those positions. It is the same in the life of the church. When each person plays his or her part, the church is most effective in accomplishing what God has called it to be.

  • What role are you playing in the church? How would you describe your fit and contribution?

READ THE WORD: ACTS 6:1-7 (ESV)

6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What was the issue that was causing concern in the church?
  2. What was the apostles’ greatest concern (vs. 2)?
  3. What solution did they find? What qualities were they looking for in those who would meet the need?
  4. According to verse seven, what was the result of having people in the right roles?
  5. How are you using your gifts, talents, skills, abilities, etc., to help the gospel continue to increase? In what areas might you be holding back and why?

RESPOND TO GOD

It was important that the apostles focused on what they were most gifted at, which was preaching the word. For them to serve widows was not beneath them; rather, it was not what they were most called and gifted to do. It would have hurt the church if the apostles did not obey God and use the abilities that the Lord had given to them. If we are obedient and serve God in the way he has gifted and called us, then the church will be most effective and will best glorify God. When we use our abilities for the Lord, then we help make a spiritual difference in people’s lives. It is amazing that God would use us in that way.

  • Thank the Lord that he is building his church as we serve side by side.