Problems in the Church: "The source of opportunity for explosive growth"
Acts 6:7 “So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted too.”
This text comes right after there is a problem within the Church. The problem comes from the growth that they have experienced within the church and there are some widows that are not getting their share of food. The leaders respond to the problem and search for a solution; they keep their focus and time on teaching and praying but identify a group of 7 to begin to deal with the food distribution problem in the church. The result of solving this problem is that the church experiences another period of significant growth and even Jewish religious leaders become followers of Jesus Christ.
This is a great lesson as to the fruit that comes by recognizing a problem and responding to the Holy Spirit in solving the problem that comes from growth. As churches grow there are always significant issues that come to surface as a result of the growth. The temptation is to ignore them, leave them be, or to just try to keep peace instead of acknowledging the problem exists and asking God for guidance in solving the problem. This text teaches me today that when we hit the problem head on and allow God’s grace to guide to a solution it always makes room for another significant growth period within the church.
Lord, thank you for the reminder today that there are always problems that arise through the growth of the church. This text helps me to remember that when a problem arises it must be confronted and acknowledged; the worst thing we can do is gloss over the problem and pretend it doesn’t exist all because we want to remain comfortable. Give me the grace today to see the problems that are preventing the next period of growth; give me the grace to acknowledge the problem and rely on your grace for a solution. May this movement make space for another period of growth that would give birth to another phase of ministry growth. Amen!
Problems are really opportunities for the next phase of explosive growth!
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