Listen

This proposal pleased the entire community. They selected Stephen, a man endowed by the Holy Spirit with exceptional faith, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. The community presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. God’s word continued to grow. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased significantly. Even a large group of priests embraced the faith.

Acts 6:5-7

Think

I don’t know about y’all, but I was kind of on the edge of my seat with this passage wondering how it was going to end. I have been in group projects before where not everyone agrees on who should lead and how they do it. But as the passage tells us, the community agreed with the disciples’ plan and were able to come together and agree on seven men to carry out the needs of the church. Keep in mind that although this scripture refers to only men, all people regardless of gender can serve God and the church. God’s BIG community should reflect diversity in its congregation and its leaders.

What we find in this passage is that leaning into a BIG community and allowing each person to minister through their strengths grows faith. We cannot grow faith on our own. Our faith grows when we are one in Christ, not when we are separate.

Meg Rooney

Pray

God, you love my strengths, weaknesses, and everything in-between.

Remind me to be my authentic self with my community and grow my faith alongside the Body of Christ.

Amen.

Go

Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us.

Frederick Buechner in Wishful Thinking (1973)