The Church often grows after its trials
Sparks Among the Stubble
English - May 03, 2020 18:00 - 10 minutes - 7.42 MB - ★★★★★ - 4 ratingsChristianity Religion & Spirituality Education orthodox church homilies christ christianity church Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Today we read a passage from the Acts of the Apostles Chapter 6 where 7 men were chosen by the people and ordained by the apostles to serve the widows within the early church community. In our day we face many challenges which are also opportunities for people to step forward and use their gifts for the upbuilding of the church.
"Notice, if you please, under what circumstances the number increased. It was after the trials—not before—that the number increased. And see how great is the mercy of God." St. John Chrysostom
"The change did not come through any statesmanship on the part of the Apostles, or as the result of any thought-out scheme, but rather through the rough pressure of outside circumstances. Events, that at first sight seemed hostile to its very life, proved to be the means of entrance into a fuller life. The old comfortable fellowship was shattered only that it might be enlarged." Bicknell, E. J. (1942). The Acts of the Apostles. In C. Gore, H. L. Goudge, & A. Guillaume (Eds.), A New Commentary on Holy Scripture: Including the Apocrypha (Vol. 3, p. 341). New York: The Macmillan Company.