A Season of Rebuilding: Lessons from the Book of Acts - Part 5
By Kam Cook
Stephen Ministry Coordinator
In Acts, we see basic principles being applied to specific situations in the context of problems. Previous lessons from the book of Acts include:
Lesson #1 – God’s Plan for us
Lesson #2 – Trust in God
Lesson #3 - Living the Teachings of Jesus
Lesson #4 - Forgiveness
5th Lesson - Living in Community
Community means “unity with,” but living in unity is often difficult because different members have many divergent thoughts and beliefs. When the early Believers bound themselves together, it wasn’t long before dissension fomented in their midst. The early church had to reconcile its Jewish heritage and its Roman cultural and political environment. Unbelief among the Jews and the abandonment of ritual observance by the Gentiles threatened to compromise the integrity of the nascent church. The new believers eventually created a new community, neither wholly Jewish nor wholly Gentile, based on a division of labor determined by the Believers’ individual gifts. The Apostles were best able to serve by preaching and converting. Seven deacons were selected, some to serve by supporting members with real human needs such as hunger, housing, and medical care; others were chosen to serve by organizing and administrating the works of the community.
Meaning of this Lesson- In Acts, divisions and differences are recognized. Luke recorded the failures as well as the successes, the bad as well as the good, in the early church. Life during Biblical times reportedly centered around Community. Our lives today seem so much more fragmented, separated, and divisive. But the Mission is the same: Love the Lord wholeheartedly and love each other the same.
Next week we will consider renewal and a new sense of purpose in the HHBC community.
If you are having trouble with living in unity and need help coping with the challenges of everyday life, our Stephen Ministers have been trained to prayerfully guide you through the turmoil. For more information on how Stephen Ministry can provide you with confidential one-to-one lay pastoral care, contact Referrals Coordinator Peggy Williams at (478) 719-3340 or via email.
Recognizing that God is the ultimate Cure Giver, the Mission of the Highland Hills Baptist Church Stephen Ministry is to serve God and bring Christ’s healing love to individuals who are experiencing life’s challenges through confidential, non-judgmental, one-on-one Christian care.