In this sermon from our WIND + FIRE series, 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 opportunityAnything that is growing is also adjustingIn Acts 6, the Church was exploding with growth and the presence and power of GodThere is no perfect church, just perfecting churchesGods standard is not perfection, but graceGrace is God’s empowerment – He’s giving us grace where we are and taking us to a new level of gloryGrowth and expansion always reveal weaknesses, problems, and points of painThe Church was experiencing persecution from the without, warfare from beyond, and tensions from withinProblems 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 GospelHOW TO TURN GROWING PAINS INTO GROWING GAINS:1. Defend unity2. Protect priorities3. Delegate ministry responsibilitiesGod’s math for His people:- Use addition and multiplication for disciples- Use division to reveal the false and subtraction to prune themThe devil’s math:- Use addition and multiplication for disease and dissension- Use division among brothers and subtraction to prune the truthThe Church and Gospel prospers in spite and even because of the struggle and sufferingThe Church grew from “added” in Acts 5:14 to “increasing” in Acts 6:1 to “multiplied” in Acts 6:7

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