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Ask someone… Have you ever met with opposition while trying to do the right thing? How did it make you feel? (You might want to refer them to the calculator hook example if it is suitable, don’t spend too long on this question)

In Acts 6, we will see how Stephan met with opposition while trying to serve God, and how he dealt with it.

Read Acts 6

Get one of the youth to summarize the story for you. This will let you know that they are listening.

Did you notice anything strange about the passage? Most of us would not think twice about picking table waiters. Anyone should be able to do it. Yet the believers selected their table waiters with much care.

What were the minimum requirements the disciples had for the table waiters?

Your answer:

One reason why the seven servers had to be filled with the Spirit and wisdom was because authority came with their responsibility - they would become 2nd in command after the 12 disciples. Can you think of other reasons why the task of waiting on tables requires Spirit and wisdom? (v3)

Your answer:

Stephen met with opposition while he was trying to do God's work. Did that stop Stephen from doing God’s work? Why was he able to stand up against his persecutors?

Your answer:

Now we know the real reason why the Seven needed to be filled with the Spirit and wisdom. He needed the wisdom to stand up against his persecutors. There is a more important question. Why did Stephen persist in doing God’s work? Why not stop – or run away?

The answer is simple. God’s work was and still is important. So must do it. Why again? Because it is commanded of us.

By waiting on tables, the seven were fulfilling the greatest of God's commandments. Do you know what those commandments are? (I think any student who knows this deserves to be congratulated)

You answer: Matt 22:36-40.
How are you fulfilling God's greatest commandments? Do you think you could wait on tables? Why or why not? What else do you think you could do?

Maybe some of us have never considered what we can do for God before – or we think that whatever it is, it won’t be easy. But that shouldn’t stop us from doing what we were created to do (Eph 2:10).

Stephen met with opposition but that didn’t stop him from doing the right thing because he was full of wisdom. We should ask God to bless us with this wisdom too. (James 1:5)

Did you ask for it? Yay!

Here is some wisdom we can receive from God’s word:

Prayer was more important to the disciples than acts of service such as waiting on tables (v4). We should not replace our relationship with God with a relationship with God’s work. Instead we should try to express ourselves both upward and outward. This is in-sync with the first and second commandments. We love God first and then also his people.

The preaching of the word was more important to the disciples than waiting on tables (v2). This suggests that spiritual needs are more important than physical needs. Just as we don’t forget to eat 3 meals a day… how can we forget to pray?

Lastly, notice the word ‘So’ in verse 7. If we receive this wisdom and do God’s work… can there be any doubt that the word of God will spread?