Don't run away from the conflict, solve it!
Dr. Roberto Miranda
(Audio: Spanish)
SUMMARY: In Acts 6, we see the election of the first deacons in the early church. The church was growing, and there was a problem of neglecting the Greek widows in the daily distribution of food. The Apostles decided to choose seven men of good testimony and full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to take care of this work. The proposal pleased the crowd, and they chose seven deacons, including Stephen, who would later be martyred for his faith. The problem arose because the church's social justice work created division between the Jews of different cultural backgrounds. The multi-ethnic church had to work hard to maintain harmony and fairness. Conflict is natural and to be expected in any human group, but what's important is how we navigate and resolve conflict according to biblical patterns. Conflict can be a great opportunity for hidden things to come to light and be resolved, and if resolved properly, relationships can become stronger than ever.
The speaker discusses the importance of handling conflict in a biblical manner within the church. Communication and honesty are emphasized, as well as the need for an atmosphere of openness where problems can be addressed before they become destructive. Solutions should align with the values of the church and be governed by patience, love, and tolerance. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of being generous and sometimes suffering loss for the sake of God's blessing. The Apostles' approach to solving the problem in Acts 6 is highlighted, including their choice of qualified individuals and establishing clear requirements for those chosen. Finally, the speaker encourages individuals to prepare themselves to serve the Lord and to understand that every Christian has a calling and purpose in the church.
The church should be filled with people full of the Holy Spirit and God's wisdom who are ready to attend to needs within the church community. The church should be a place of harmony, healthy communication, and problem-solving. Everyone should be committed to being good listeners and communicating truth in love. We should welcome and resolve problems, treating each other with respect and care. We pray for the spirit of harmony, communication, and problem-solving to be present in our church.
The speaker discusses the importance of handling conflict in a biblical manner within the church. Communication and honesty are emphasized, as well as the need for an atmosphere of openness where problems can be addressed before they become destructive. Solutions should align with the values of the church and be governed by patience, love, and tolerance. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of being generous and sometimes suffering loss for the sake of God's blessing. The Apostles' approach to solving the problem in Acts 6 is highlighted, including their choice of qualified individuals and establishing clear requirements for those chosen. Finally, the speaker encourages individuals to prepare themselves to serve the Lord and to understand that every Christian has a calling and purpose in the church.
The church should be filled with people full of the Holy Spirit and God's wisdom who are ready to attend to needs within the church community. The church should be a place of harmony, healthy communication, and problem-solving. Everyone should be committed to being good listeners and communicating truth in love. We should welcome and resolve problems, treating each other with respect and care. We pray for the spirit of harmony, communication, and problem-solving to be present in our church.
I invite you to go to the book of Acts, in Chapter 6, we are going to continue our study and I want to read verses from 1 to 7 that tell us about the election of those first deacons in the life of the early church. It says here:
“…In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there was murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews because the widows of those, that is, of the Greeks, were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the 12 summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not fair that we leave the word of God to serve tables, look therefore, brothers, among you 7 men of good testimony full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to whom we entrust this work. And we will persist in prayer and in the ministry of the word. And the proposal pleased the whole crowd and they chose Esteban, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolás Proxélito de Antioquia, whom they presented before the Apostles, who praying laid their hands on them and the word of the Lord grew and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. And also many of the Jewish priests obeyed the faith…”
“…In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there was murmuring of the Greeks against the Hebrews because the widows of those, that is, of the Greeks, were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the 12 summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not fair that we leave the word of God to serve tables, look therefore, brothers, among you 7 men of good testimony full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to whom we entrust this work. And we will persist in prayer and in the ministry of the word. And the proposal pleased the whole crowd and they chose Esteban, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolás Proxélito de Antioquia, whom they presented before the Apostles, who praying laid their hands on them and the word of the Lord grew and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem. And also many of the Jewish priests obeyed the faith…”
