首批执事
使徒行传六章1至8节
1那时，门徒增多，有说希腊话的犹太人向希伯来人发怨言，因为在天天的供给上忽略了他们的寡妇。
2十二使徒叫众门徒来，对他们说：我们撇下神的道去管理饭食，原是不合宜的。
3所以弟兄们，当从你们中间选出七个有好名声、被圣灵充满、智慧充足的人，我们就派他们管理这事。
4但我们要专心以祈祷、传道为事。
5大众都喜悦这话，就拣选了司提反，乃是大有信心、圣灵充满的人，又拣选腓利、伯罗哥罗、尼迦挪、提门、巴米拿，并进犹太教的安提阿人尼哥拉，
6叫他们站在使徒面前。使徒祷告了，就按手在他们头上。
7神的道兴旺起来；在耶路撒冷门徒数目加增的甚多，也有许多祭司信从了这道。
8司提反满得恩惠、能力，在民间行了大奇事和神迹。
信息分享
初期教会不久亦出现了一个小问题。部分信徒认为自己遭到忽略，认为使徒关心另一群信徒胜于关心他们。我们无从知道事实是否正如他们所说，抑或只是他们心存妒忌。在教会的相交生活中，许多纷争都是源于妒忌。
那么，使徒如何处理这个问题呢？首先，他们召集全体信徒一起去面对问题，他们说：「我们必须正视问题，想办法去处理它，不能任由情况继续下去。」于是，他们建议教会选出七位信徒来负责每天膳食的分配安排。结果，教会经由选举，选出七位有美好榜样的信徒来担任这项工作。请留意第3节，他们对被选出来的人有甚么品格要求呢？
被教会选出来负责某项工作的信徒，都要全心全意地把工作做好，因为他是为基督而作。许多基督徒都没有好好履行自己的责任，经常要别人敦促才勉强完成工作。又或当他们完成了工作之后，受到称赞或取得功劳的却是别人，他们便很容易产生妒忌，与其他信徒出现不和，因而损害了教会的事奉。
你在教会承担甚么事奉岗位？你有否尽忠职守，全心全意地把工作做好？你是用事奉基督的心态来作，抑或凭自己的喜好而作？你知道神在地上如何赏赐忠心为祂作工的人吗？就是让他有更多事奉的机会！当神晓得祂可以信任你，祂就会让你有更多服侍祂的机会。然后，到我们将来上天堂，祂就会对我们说：「你这个又良善，又忠心的仆人，做得好！现在可进入我的家来享受快乐了！」
THE FIRST DEACONS
Acts 6: 1 – 8
1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.
2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,
6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.
7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
Message
A problem arose in the early church over a very small matter. Some people thought someone else was getting more help from the apostles than they were. We have no way of knowing whether this was actually so or whether they were just jealous. So many times jealousy is the real reason behind other differences in a church fellowship.
How did the apostles handle this problem? First of all they called the church together and said, ‘We must face this matter and do something about it. We can’t let it go on as it is.’ They then suggested that the church appoint seven men to look after the giving out of the food day by day. The church voted, and seven fine men were chosen for this work. Did you notice verse 3 which tells us what kind of men they were to be?
Any person appointed to do a particular work in a church has a very real duty to do that work in the best way he can and to do it as unto Christ. Too often Christians do not do what they are asked and then do not like to be reminded about it. Or if others are praised or thanked for what they have done, then it is so easy to allow jealousy to come into the heart and mind and spoil our Christian service.
What is your special service in your church? Are you doing it faithfully and in the best possible away? Are you doing it as unto Christ? Or are you doing it when you feel like it? Remember the reward God gives here on earth for faithful service for Christ, is more work! When he finds he can trust he gives you other opportunities to serve him. Then when we get home to heaven, he adds these words, ‘Well done good and faithful servant. Enter into my job here in my wonderful home.’