Power and Privilege
Audio Recording
Sermon Outline
Speaker: Rev. Tim Chang
Sermon Series:
Acts 6:1-7 (ESV)
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Sermon Outline
Each of us has varying degrees of status, influence, power, and privilege. But what matters is if we’re using these things rightly.
1. The Danger of Power and Privilege
Verse 1: a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution
2. The Healthy Use of Power and Privilege
Verses 2-3: And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples... Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.”
3. The Beautiful Outcomes
Verse 7: And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
Prayer of Confession
Most holy and merciful Father, we confess to you and to one another, that we have sinned against you by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not always had in us the mind of Christ. You alone know how often we have grieved you by wasting your gifts, by wandering from your ways. Forgive us, we pray you, most merciful Father; and free us from our sin. Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen.
Questions for Reflection
What connected with you from the sermon or the passage?
Describe the kind of influence, status, power, and privilege you have regardless of magnitude. Where is this evident and how does it play out?
In what ways might you have privilege but it is not as prominent as you think? Have there been moments when your privilege was exposed?
Share an example of how you've experienced power used in healthy ways. If you're comfortable, share an example of how you've experienced power used in unhealthy ways.
How might God be calling you to continue Jesus' ministry of validation and repair? What might this look like for you?