THE POTENTIAL IN EVERY PROBLEM, ACTS 6

Icebreaker: Please share an instance when you were facing a problem but managed to “turn the lemons into lemonade”, figuratively speaking.

Read Acts 6:1-7

I. FIND THE OPPORTUNITY IN EVERY PROBLEM

1. What problems did the early church encounter? (6:1)
2. What were the possible pitfalls of mishandling the problems?
3. What were the opportunities in the problems? (6:2-4)

II. DEFINE THE PRIORITY – MINISTRY OF THE WORD & PRAYER

4. What solutions do the Apostles address? (6:2,4)
5. How does this focus them and the church on the proper priorities?
6. What should our focus be when looking for solutions within the church?

III. PEOPLE OF CHARACTER BECOME SOLUTIONS

Read Ephesians 4:11-17
7. What were the spiritual characteristics required for the solution? (Acts 6:3-5)
8. How are these spiritual characteristics developed and by whom? (Ephesians 4:11-12)
9. What are the goals of the solution? (Ephesians 4:13-14)
10. What are the proper outcomes beyond feeding the widows? (Acts 6:7; Ephesians 4:15-17)
11. How does being a follower in Christ necessitate moving from being a spectator to getting involved in the ministry of the church?
12. What characteristics do you possess or want to develop to be part of the solution that challenges the body of Christ?

IV. CHARACTER SHOWS UP IN YOUR CONVERSATION AND COUNTENANCE.

Read Acts 6:8-15
13. Stephen is now put to the test outside of the body of Christ. What opposition did Stephen have to face? (6:9)
14. How did the passage describe Stephen’s countenance in the midst of opposition? (6:8,10)
15. What did the opposition resort to and how did Stephen respond? (6:12-15)
16. What did Jesus promise when we face opposition? (Luke 12:11-12 or 21:12-19)
17. What kind of opposition are you facing? How would others describe your countenance in the face of opposition?
18. How can we be like Stephen, full of faith, full of the Holy Spirit, full of grace and full of power, the next time we face opposition?