Delegating Ministry

March 22

(Acts 6:2-4 NIV) ““So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. {3} Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them {4} and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.””

(1 Corinthians 12:4-12 NIV) “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  {5} There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. {6}There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. {7} Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. {8} To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, {9} to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, {10} to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. {11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. {12} The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.”  

(Ephesians 4:7-11 NIV) ““But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. {8} This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." {9} (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? {10} He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) {11} It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers…””

As the church grew, needs multiplied. To meet those needs, the apostles delegated the hands- on caring ministry to other gifted and mature believers. They would not be sidetracked from preaching the gospel. This may sound like a lack of compassion to us, but their compassion was in their delegation. They recognized a legitimate need, but personally meeting that need was not their primary calling. They had not been called to run a feeding program for the hungry. Their commission was to make disciples of all nations and teach them to obey the Lord. There was no written gospel at that time. The words of Christ were in their hearts and needed to be shared while they were still alive. Their calling was to prayer and to the ministry of God’s word. They demonstrated compassion and wisdom by delegating the ministries that were outside of their calling. We would be wise to do the same. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Church Growth and Factions

March 21

(Acts 6:1 NIV) “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.”

(James 1:27-2:1 NIV) “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.”  

The rapid growth of the early church brought with it some problems. The church was called to compassion, and began to provide food for widows who had no other source of income. But in the distribution of that food, some widows were being favored over others, based on their nationality. And so we see, that from the very beginning, the church has struggled with favoritism and factions -- factions which place the emphasis on what group you belong to, rather than on what Lord you belong to. Favoritism is not a product of our times, but of our human nature -- and God calls it a sin. The apostles did not ignore this complaint, but took positive and creative action to see that legitimate needs were met. If the church today is to grow biblically, it must not show favoritism for one group over another. In fact, factions are usually a key factor in the slow death of churches. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

Day After Day

March 20

(Acts 5:42 NIV) "Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."

(Psalm 61:8 NIV) “Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill my vows day after day.”

(Psalm 96:2 NIV) “Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.”

The apostles were beaten, threatened with death, and publicly disgraced, but they went right back out the next day and witnessed to the power of the gospel. Day after day, they shared the good news. Day after day, they sang the praises of Jesus. Day after day, they proclaimed His salvation in their church, and from house to house. Day after day, they put the cause of Christ above their personal well being. This is our calling as His disciples. Never stop telling the story that God has come to Earth. The Creator stepped into His creation. His name is Jesus, and He came to redeem our lives and save our souls. Healing and wholeness are found in His name. Forgiveness flows from His grace. His mercy and love are available to all who believe God, and confess that Jesus is Lord. Day after day, the apostles never stopped proclaiming this message. Neither should we! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Found Worthy

March 19

(Acts 5:41 NIV) "The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name."

(James 1:2-4 NIV) "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, {3} because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. {4} Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

(1 Peter 4:12-16 NIV) "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. {13} But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. {14} If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. {15} If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. {16} However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."

If we were flogged for sharing our faith, most of us would probably file a police report and a lawsuit. The apostles didn’t do that. They rejoiced that they had been “counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” They were beaten for preaching the gospel, and praised God for the honor. Being publicly disgraced was acceptable to them, as long as it was disgrace for the Name of Jesus. Many times today, we are disgraced for bad behavior. There is no cause for joy in that. Don’t confuse the trouble you go through because of foolish disobedience, for the persecution of the faithful. But we are blessed if we suffer ridicule and disgrace for our witness to the Name of Jesus. So if you have been verbally flogged and ridiculed of late, stop whining and start praising God. You have been found “worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” You have made the Lord’s Honor Roll. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day