ST NICOLAS, NEWBURY

HOME GROUP QUESTIONS

FROM SUNDAY 8 JULY 2007

ACTS 6:1-7 - WILLING WAITERS

Read Acts 6:1-7

There is a racial dispute going on here. What groups were involved and why? 6:1-2
These two people groups had different places of origin and their first languages were different.
The Grecian Jews were Jews who spoke Greek and knew little or no Aramaic. They were Jews of the Dispersion, a population migration of a previous generation who had settled in Jerusalem. With what amounted to a refugee heritage, it is likely that they had an unusually large number of widows in need of practical help.
Hebraic Jews were of Palestinian origin. Unlike the Grecian Jews whose first language was Greek, the first language of Hebraic Jews was Aramaic.
(All of them, though, would have spoken at least some Greek as it was the language of the Mediterranean at that time.)
There had always been rivalry between these two groups in the Jewish culture. How should things have changed now they were Christians? See Galatians 3:26-27.

Does their dissatisfaction seem reasonable? How was it dealt with? Acts 6:2-4.
Is dissatisfaction always wrong? What might God's view be? See, for example, Exodus 16:2-8.  
Brainstorm some things that make you feel dissatisfied. Why do they make you feel that way? Is there anything you can do about it, or do you expect someone else to always come to your aid? (Galatians 6:2)

In this particular case in Acts 6 some of those appointed as 'willing waiters' were from the very sub-cultural group who were feeling badly done by. (We know this from the names listed, as some are of Greek origin.)
Can you think of times in your own life when dissatisfaction has proved to be a catalyst for good?
Have you ever found yourself being the answer to your own prayer?

Look again at verse 2, in combination with 1 Corinthians 12:27-31.
How far do you think we devise a pecking order in terms of who does what in the church today?
How far is it valid to use the systems and values of our culture? See also, Mark 10:43-45.
How might we create a community that values 'every member ministry'? What does Acts 6:6 tell us about affirmation?

What sort of 'qualification' do you expect church leaders to have? Again, how far are we influenced by our culture? What was the requirement here? (Acts 6:3).
How would you identify someone as being 'full of the Spirit and wisdom'?

In a time of prayer you might like to concentrate on the gifts your group has to offer, or for people you know at St Nicolas with particular responsibilities.

Helen Wilkinson
8 July 2007