Hello All,
I hope you've had a chance to study some of the scriptures from the previous devotion, but now we are looking ahead to Session 2 of Made to Make a Difference entitled Poverty is a Priority. I hope you'll join us for Sunday School this week.
Turn to Acts 6 and read the 1st verse:
Let's observe what is taking place in this verse. It reveals two positive things are happening in the early church while at the same time a conflict has arisen.
What are the two good things and what is the conflict?
Who is the conflict between? What was the conflict concerning?
Here are some things you need to know. There was a kind of culture war going on among the Jews of the first century. It was sort of conservative vs. liberal, though that oversimplifies it. Some of them had adopted the Greek language and wore the fashions of the larger world culture. These were the “Grecian Jews.” Others viewed that as sinful, and they preferred to speak the Hebrew language, wearing the clothes and following the customs that Jews had followed for centuries.
So, church leaders were being accused of discrimination—not racial prejudice, but cultural. “You don’t like the way we dress or talk, so when it’s our turn to get food, you turn away and give more to the people you like.”
Now read Acts 6:2-4
Who were "The Twelve?" Who did they gather together?
What were the Twelve saying they needed to focus on? What was their solution to the problem at hand?
Read Acts 6: 5-6
How did the group deal with the suggestion?
Final Observation: Those chosen were are all Greek-style names, which suggests the Twelve had understood the complaint of the Greek-speaking widows and therefore chose people who “spoke their language.”
I hope you've had a chance to study some of the scriptures from the previous devotion, but now we are looking ahead to Session 2 of Made to Make a Difference entitled Poverty is a Priority. I hope you'll join us for Sunday School this week.
Turn to Acts 6 and read the 1st verse:
Let's observe what is taking place in this verse. It reveals two positive things are happening in the early church while at the same time a conflict has arisen.
What are the two good things and what is the conflict?
Who is the conflict between? What was the conflict concerning?
Here are some things you need to know. There was a kind of culture war going on among the Jews of the first century. It was sort of conservative vs. liberal, though that oversimplifies it. Some of them had adopted the Greek language and wore the fashions of the larger world culture. These were the “Grecian Jews.” Others viewed that as sinful, and they preferred to speak the Hebrew language, wearing the clothes and following the customs that Jews had followed for centuries.
So, church leaders were being accused of discrimination—not racial prejudice, but cultural. “You don’t like the way we dress or talk, so when it’s our turn to get food, you turn away and give more to the people you like.”
Now read Acts 6:2-4
Who were "The Twelve?" Who did they gather together?
What were the Twelve saying they needed to focus on? What was their solution to the problem at hand?
Read Acts 6: 5-6
How did the group deal with the suggestion?
Final Observation: Those chosen were are all Greek-style names, which suggests the Twelve had understood the complaint of the Greek-speaking widows and therefore chose people who “spoke their language.”