“Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:3-4
“One of the first things the disciples did following the resurrection of Jesus was to increase their number and to ensure that food and care were given to all those in need. They elected deacons specifically to help the community care for and serve those who had no advocates. This, too, is our work. We are to be people who love our neighbor and share what we have. Christian communities living into God’s mission will reveal to the world around them excellence in service. Service is the act of incarnating the gospel of Good News.”
C. Andrew Doyle in A Generous Community: Being the Church in a New Missionary Age (New York: Morehouse, 2015) 32.
The generous service of Christians toward caring for the physical needs of people was likely the greatest form of evangelism in the first century. They did this without minimizing their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. How much time and church resources should be allocated to offering such services? This is a question many of my students are asking. To read further on this topic from a biblical studies perspective, check out a blog I wrote recently entitled: “Four Church Budgeting Insights from the Early Church”.