The Selection of Servant Leaders Acts 6:1-7

We have come to another exciting study in the book of Acts, namely, the choosing or selection of the seven servant leaders.   In chapter 5, we discussed that there was defection in the church due to the lying of Ananias and Sapphira with regard to how much they had received in selling their property (Acts 5:1-11).  The early church was certainly a power church, but it also had its problems.  One of Satan’s classic stratagem designed to disrupt the church is division.  The other stratagem employed by Satan to disrupt the church is persecution.

The early church did not begin as an organization, but as an organism.  The organizational aspect of the church arose because of a need to direct the ministry of the body in a more effective manner.  The church is both an organism, as well as an organization.  The church had been faithful in proclaiming the gospel and the church was growing; however, a problem arose, for verse 1 says: “When the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews.  The murmuring began on the part of the Greek-speaking Jews that were against the Aramaic- speaking Jews because the Greek-speaking Jews’ widows felt that they were being neglected in the daily ministration.

Faced with this serious problem in verse 1, the apostles knew that their priority was the ministering of God’s word (v. 2).  Hearing of the issue, the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, “It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.”  It is a wonderful ministry of serving tables, but the apostles were saying that their God-ordained priority was ministering the word of God!  In addressing this problem, seven servant leaders were selected.  These men are commonly called deacons, but they were more than deacons because two of these men became powerful witnesses for Christ.

In verse 3, the qualifications for the selection of these servant leaders were: (1) they were males; (2) they should be believers; (3) they were men of honest report; (4) they were men full of the Holy Spirit; (5) men who were wise in making good judgment and decisions.  Notice that the church recommended the seven men, but the apostles approved of the seven men, for the text says: “Whom we may appoint over this business.”  In addressing this need, the apostles were adamant in their assertion that their priority of studying God’s word and prayer.   The names of the seven servant leaders are given in verse 5.  Of the seven men chosen, two of them, Stephen and Phillip, will become powerful witnesses for Christ.  After the church had chosen the seven, the apostles “prayed for them and laid their hands on them” (v. 6).

In verse 7, there was an increase in the word of God.  In this age we need more servant leaders who are interested in God’s word being increased.  As servant leaders, we have a great charge to serve this present age –

A charge to keep I have,

A God to glorify,

Who gave His Son my soul to save,

And fit it for the sky.

To serve the present age,

My calling to fulfill:

Oh, may it all my pow’rs engage

To do my Master’s will!

Jesus Christ, the ultimate Servant Leader demonstrated to us by word and example how to serve, for Mark 10:45 says: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Certainly, the Lord demonstrated how a servant leader should humble himself as he serves, in that verses 5-8 of  Philippians chapter 2 says:  “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”