A.D.D. In the Church:

Acts 6:1-7 page 763

Avoiding Diversion and Dissention

Satan’s 3 Tactics for Defeating the Church

• Persecution• Disruption of community through

hypocrisy• Diversion through dissention

(1) The Problem: People’s Needs Were Not Being Met

• Prejudice is a sin• This was a legitimate need• Diversion is not good–Diversion of the apostles from their

called ministry–Diversion of the church from its ministry

OF THE CHURCH• Helping the needy is not the central

mission of the church (Acts 1:8; Mt 28:18-20; 2 Cor 5:17-21), though it was seen as a responsibility of the church (1 Tim 5:3-16; Gal 2:10)

(2-6) The Solution: Structure, Biblical Organization of the Church

Elders: 1 Tim 3:1-7; 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; Eph 4:11-16 p.815; 1 Peter 5:1-4

• Pray: James 5:14-15• Teach the Word: Jer 23:29; Isaiah 2:3;

55:10-13; Rom 1:16; 10:17-18; 1 Th 2:13; Heb 4:12-13; 1 Pe 1:23-25• Leadership

Deacons: Leaders in a Ministry 1 Tim 3:8-13

• They have authority• They are specially commissioned• They have high qualifications–Character–Full of the Spirit–Full of wisdom

Every Believer is a Minister: 1 Cor 12-14; Rom 12:3-8

• Passion answers the “where” question – where do I serve?• Gifting answers the “what” question

– what do I do when I serve?• There is a difference between

specific calling and general service

(7,1) The End Result of Biblical Organization: The Church Grows!