Lesson Date: July 10, 2011

Focal Scripture Passage: Acts 6:1-15

AIM: To lead adults to understand that church members should be involved in the church’s ministry, and to commit themselves to serving God through their church regardless of the consequences.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Before class: Be sure to read the commentary in the Sunday School Teacher Book so you can explain the things mentioned in steps 2 and 5 below.

When class begins: Read the following silly story^[1] to the class:

   Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Peter Anybody, and Joe Nobody were neighbors, but they were not like you and me.  They were odd people and most difficult to understand.  The way they lived was a shame.  All four belonged to the same church, but you would not have enjoyed worshiping with them.

   Everybody went fishing on Sunday or stayed home to visit with friends.

   Anybody wanted to worship but was afraid Somebody wouldn't speak to him.  So guess who went to church – uh, huh – Nobody.

   Really, Nobody was the only decent one of the four.  Nobody did the visitation.  Nobody worked on the church building.  Once they needed a Sunday School teacher.  Everybody thought Anybody would do it, and Anybody thought Somebody would do it.  And you know who did it? That's exactly right – Nobody!

   It happened that a fifth neighbor (an unbeliever) moved into the area.  Everybody thought Somebody should try to win him for Christ.  Anybody could have made an effort.  You probably know who finally won him: Nobody!

Read the lesson aim to the class.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1.     Review.

a.      Briefly review the things that took place in Acts 1 – 5.

b.     Remind the class that the disciples were bold in their witness, in spite of the opposition they faced.

c.      Also remind them that the Jerusalem church had grown very quickly and was very large.

2.     Dissension Within the Church.

a.      Ask a volunteer to read Acts 6:1 to the class.

b.     Ask: “What was the problem?” (the Grecians felt their widows were being neglected). 

c.      Using information in the Sunday School Teacher Book (page 32), explain who the Grecians and the Hebrews were.

d.     Remind the class that there was no welfare or government assistance in those days, and there were very few jobs for women.  Widows were supported by their families or by the church (1 Tim. 5:3-16).

3.     The Apostles Told the Church to Select Seven Godly Men to Meet this Need.

a.      Read Acts 6:2-4.

b.     Ask: “What did the apostles tell the church in verse 2?” (it wasn’t right for them to leave the ministry of the Word of God to serve tables).

c.      The apostles told the church to select seven men to minister to the widows.

d.     Ask: “What qualifications did the apostles require of the men who were to be chosen?” (they were to be honest, filled with the Spirit, and full of wisdom).

e.      Ask: “According to verse 4, what were the apostles going to do?” (devote themselves to prayer, study, and preaching).

f.      Tell the class that this action set an important precedent for the church.  Pastors cannot possibly perform all the ministries required within the church so church members must get involved or the church’s ministry will be extremely limited.

4.     The Seven Men were Chosen and Ordained to their Task.

a.      Read Acts 6:5-7.

b.     Tell the class that the early church chose seven men; they set them apart and commissioned them to do the work of the ministry.

c.      Ask: “According to verse 7, what was the result of delegating this ministry?” (the church grew tremendously, including many Jewish priests who were saved).

d.     The church implemented a systematic, orderly method of carrying out their ministry.

e.      When God’s people seek to minister to one another in an orderly, organized fashion, God blesses.  That is why we carry out our ministry through the organized system called the Sunday School.

5.     Stephen was Arrested.

a.      Read Acts 6:8-10.

b.     Stephen, one of the seven, didn’t just serve tables.

c.      Ask: “How does verse 8 describe Stephen?” (he was full of faith and power – Acts 1:8).

d.     He preached the gospel and the Lord did miracles through his ministry.

e.      Certain Jews opposed Stephen and disputed with him.

f.      Based on information in the Sunday School Teacher Book (page 33), explain the identity of those Jews.

g.     In spite of their hatred, those who opposed Stephen could not resist his preaching or the power of the Holy Spirit upon him.

6.     Stephen was Brought Before the Sanhedrin.

a.      Ask a volunteer to read Acts 6:11-15.

b.     Stephen’s enemies conspired against him and brought him before the Sanhedrin.

c.      Explain that the Sanhedrin was the ruling council of the Jews, and remind the class that this is the same group that tried Jesus, and before whom Peter, John, and the other apostles had already appeared (Acts 4 and 5).

d.     Ask: “What kind of witnesses did they bring to testify against Stephen?” (false witnesses).

e.      They accused Stephen of speaking against Moses, God, the Temple, and the Law.

f.      Ask: “When the Sanhedrin looked upon Stephen, how did he appear?” (his face looked like that of an angel).

g.     Charles H. Spurgeon once told some young ministers he was training, “When you talk about heaven let your face light up with a heavenly glory.  When you tell about hell, your everyday face will do.”[2]

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Review the lesson by asking the class what problem the early church faced at the beginning of the lesson (dissension and hurt feelings concerning the ministry to the widows).  Ask the class how the church solved this problem (they appointed godly men to take care of the widows so the apostles could focus on the Word of God and prayer).  Ask: “What happened when the church took the task of ministering to the widows off the apostles and gave that task to seven godly men?” (the impact and extent of the Word of God’s reach grew tremendously; in fact, many of the Jewish priests were saved).

Tell the class that the church will not function properly without the involvement of all of its members.  That is the way God designed the church (1 Cor. 12:3-11; Eph. 4:11-16).  Say: “If you are a church member but you are not involved in ministry through your Sunday School class or some other ministry within the church, then you are holding back the progress of the church.”  This is one reason we function through the Sunday School: the Sunday School allows many people to be involved in the church’s ministry, while also getting that ministry done in an efficient manner.

Tell the class we must be prepared for opposition when we serve the Lord.  Stephen was serving widows, spreading the gospel, and was God’s instrument for doing miracles.  Stephen was doing good things, but people got mad at him.  Ask: “Have you ever been involved in doing something good, but somebody got mad at you?”  That can certainly happen as we try to minister to others through the church.

Ask: “Are you willing to serve God through your church, regardless of any opposition you might face?”  Lead a closing prayer of commitment.

 

CONCLUSION: Do anything you can to help your class members get involved in the ministry of your class.  Ask everyone to read Acts 7 this week and to answer the questions in their Sunday School Member Quarterly.  Remind the class that next Sunday is the beginning of the South Georgia Bible Conference.  We will not have Sunday School next Sunday: the morning session of the Bible Conference begins at 9:00.  The next time your class meets together will be July 24 when you will study Acts 8.