Vision is seeing the masterpiece while you’re still mixing the paints. God wants a church that is learning, loving, worshipping and witnessing. Have you undergone changes in your church and life? It can be dramatic and hard to accept. At the start of a new church year it is important to review things. Growth and blessing for the early church brought three significant challenges.

1 – Unity is challenged (vs. 1)

There were conflicts now there are many people in the church. Some people were being overlooked. There are always different groupings in every larger church.

• Unity is not conformity. There can unity along with diversity.
• Unity is God given, but needs to be nurtured. There are things which threaten unity such as power struggles, ego and gossip. Unity is nurtured by listening, dealing with issues and forgiveness. We need to bring ourselves constantly under God’s Word and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
• Vision unites. The church is to glorify God, help believers and bring others to Christ. We don’t want to raise the drawbridge. The church is to bridge the gap. The church needs organisation and structure but it is not a business to make money but to save lost people. We need to look individually at our own commitment to God and His church.
• Vision divides if people are overlooked.

2 – Priorities are challenged (vs. 4)

• Priority of the Word. The apostles recognised that their priority was to teach God’s Word. It was important to keep your relationship with God.
• Priority of prayer. If prayer is missing then the church is about business rather than God and helping people. Prayer is the engine room of the church.
• It’s about health, not growth.
• Necessity of change. The church will introduce elders and deacons.

3 – Leadership is challenged (vs. 2, 3 & 6)

• Discussion. There was teamwork.
• Accountability. The leaders were accountable to the church.
• Inclusion.
• Roles. Elders and deacons.
• Ownership.

Conclusion – further blessing vs. 7.The challenges were real and the church continued as it needed to grow to carry out the growth of God’s kingdom. How can you play your part?

Categories: Acts