In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, Pastor Lee Cummings delivers a word from Acts 6 on turning growing pains into growing gains. Acts 6:1-7 (ESV) “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.” Growth always comes with problems, pain, and opportunity Anything that is growing is also adjusting In Acts 6, the Church was exploding with growth and the presence and power of God There is no perfect church, just perfecting churches Gods standard is not perfection, but grace Grace is God’s empowerment – He’s giving us grace where we are and taking us to a new level of glory Growth and expansion always reveal weaknesses, problems, and points of pain The Church was experiencing persecution from the without, warfare from beyond, and tensions from within Problems and pain are not evidence that God is not “present” in a church, it is often the catalyst for further growth and expansion for the Church and the Gospel HOW TO TURN GROWING PAINS INTO GROWING GAINS: 1. Defend unity 2. Protect priorities 3. Delegate ministry responsibilities God’s math for His people: - Use addition and multiplication for disciples - Use division to reveal the false and subtraction to prune them The devil’s math: - Use addition and multiplication for disease and dissension - Use division among brothers and subtraction to prune the truth The Church and Gospel prospers in spite and even because of the struggle and suffering The Church grew from “added” in Acts 5:14 to “increasing” in Acts 6:1 to “multiplied” in Acts 6:7