When a fledgling church bursting with thousands of new believers from every nationality and background imaginable faces its first internal crisis—Hellenistic widows being overlooked in the daily food distribution—no one has ever before navigated a situation like this. Rather than letting murmuring and dissension tear the young church apart, the apostles, fresh from prayer and the study of God’s Word, devise a Spirit-led plan that establishes the church’s leadership structure for the first time. The apostles remain devoted to prayer and the ministry of the Word while Spirit-filled men of good reputation are selected by the congregation and installed by the apostles to serve the practical needs of the people. When everyone does the job God has equipped them to do—whether preaching, serving tables, or running the audiovisual—the Word spreads, disciples multiply, and even priests come to obedient faith.
Scripture: Acts 6:1-7
