GOSPEL FAMILY MINISTRIES

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Acts of the Apostles: Chapter 6 (Daily Devo)

John Rogers

As the church was growing and people were increasing, more needs in the church were increasing as well. We learn from Acts 6 that there was a food ministry of the early church. But as the church was made up of men and women, still “hungover” from the power of sin, some people were being neglected in the daily distribution of food just because of where they were from.

The people started to complain. The apostles heard and validated their complaints. The problem had to be addressed. Everyone had to receive their food. But the apostles could not give up prayer and the ministry of the word to serve tables, although serving tables was a very important ministry. So they appointed deacons, or waiters.

The apostles appointed people to this job, but not just any person. This person had to be “of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom” in order to fulfill this duty.

Paul, in 1 Timothy gives qualifications a person must meet before they can be able to serve as a deacon. Why? Because the ministry of a deacon is so important. Deacons then, and deacons now, help the pastor(s) shepherd the church by allowing them to devote themselves to prayer and to the word of God.

Does your church have deacons? Do you see the value of their ministry? Might I challenge you this week to help your family see the blessing of your church government and leadership? Might I challenge you and your family to personally bless and thank the leaders of your church and to thank God for the leaders of your church?

Your leaders have been appointed to very important ministry. How can you bless them while you study about the first deacons this week in Acts 6?

I pray that you and your family will be refreshed with thankfulness for the leaders of your church this week.

John Rogers attends Connection Community Church (C3) in Rowlett. John serves as the Children's and Family Pastor and as an elder. John and his wife Chassidy are passionate about teaching good doctrine and stumbling along side parents to make disciples of children. They have two children: Sophia and Josiah.

Day 1: Acts 6:1-4

Weekly Catechism:

  • Q45: Is Baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
  • A: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. (bolded text for young children)

READ:

[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.” - Acts 6:1-4 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

  • Suggested Question: There are many different ministries in the church. But why is prayer and the ministry of the word most important? What do prayer and the word do?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

  • Suggested Prayer: Lord, thank you that the disciples did not give up the most important two ministries of the church. Thank you for prayer and the ministry of the word.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 2:  Acts 6:5-6

Weekly Catechism:

  • Q45: Is Baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
  • A: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. (bolded text for young children)

READ:

[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. - Acts 6:5-6 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

  • Suggested Question: The apostles could not do all of the ministry of the church, they called on specific people to help. We usually call these deacons. Why are deacons so important?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

  • Suggested Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for equipping the church with many servants and many members to do the work of ministry.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.
 

DAY 3: Acts 6:7

Weekly Catechism:

  • Q45: Is Baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
  • A: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. (bolded text for young children)

READ:

[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. - Acts 6:7 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

  • Suggested Question: Do you think the deacons helped the word of God to increase? What did the apostles not have to give up because deacons were appointed to help?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

  • Suggested Prayer: Thank you for the deacons of our church that help the pastor(s) devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 4: Acts 6:8-10

Weekly Catechism:

  • Q45: Is Baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
  • A: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. (bolded text for young children)

READ:

[8] And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. [9] Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. [10] But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. - Acts 6:8-10 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

  • Suggested Question: Even though the deacons were appointed to be servants, did they still get opportunities to participate in the ministry of the word?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

  • Suggested Prayer: Thank you for our deacons that minister to us with the word of God and with prayer.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.

Day 5: Acts 6:11-15

Weekly Catechism:

  • Q45: Is Baptism with water the washing away of sin itself?
  • A: No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. (bolded text for young children)

READ:

[11] Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” [12] And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, [13] and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, [14] for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” [15] And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel. - Acts 6:11-15 (ESV)

Teach/Talk: Talk about what you observe from this passage. What stands out to you? What can we learn?

  • Suggested Question: “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account” (Matthew 5:11).  According to these words of Jesus is Stephen actually blessed in this situation?

PRAY:

Pray through the text and for your family’s specific needs.

  • Suggested Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of being your disciple, even when the situation isn’t good.

SING:

Play or sing a family favorite worship song, hymn, or kids church song.