Early Days of The Church JSS3 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

FRAUD IN THE CHURCH

The early church experienced significant internal problems as the church continued to grow. There were members who committed fraud within the community, for example, the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple sold a piece of property, and although they pretended to give all the proceeds to the church, they secretly kept part of the money for themselves. However, they falsely claimed to have donated everything. This act of deceit displeased God, and He punished both of them with death.

The incident with Ananias and Sapphira is recorded in Acts 5:1-11. The apostle Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, knew what Ananias and Sapphira had done. When Ananias came to Peter with his offering, Peter confronted him, saying that Ananias had lied not just to man, but to God. Ananias immediately fell dead. Later, his wife Sapphira also lied about the amount they had given, and she too fell dead. This event instilled great fear among all who heard about it, and it was a warning to the early Christians about the importance of honesty and integrity.

LESSONS

1. Lying to God: Lying to the Holy Spirit is a serious offense.
2. Punishment for dishonesty: God punishes those who engage in fraud and dishonesty within the church.
3. Reverence for God: Christians must approach God and His work with fear and reverence, avoiding any form of deceit or dishonesty.

THE APPOINTMENT OF SEVEN DEACONS

As the early church continued to grow, the apostles faced increasing challenges in managing the needs of the community. The apostles were focused on prayer and the ministry of the Word, so they appointed seven deacons to help with administrative tasks, especially the distribution of food and care for the needy. This is recorded in Acts 6:1-7.

The Hellenists (Greek-speaking Jews) had complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. To resolve this issue, the apostles instructed the believers to choose seven men who were full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to take on this responsibility.

The seven deacons were:

1. Stephen
2. Philip
3. Prochorus
4. Nicanor
5. Timon
6. Parmenas
7. Nicholas (a convert to Judaism)

These seven men were prayed for and had hands laid on them by the apostles, ordaining them into service. They were tasked with ensuring fair distribution of food and taking care of the practical needs of the believers, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and teaching.

QUALITIES OF A DEACON

The qualities of the seven deacons can be summarized as:

1. Full of the Holy Spirit: The deacons were spiritually mature and guided by the Holy Spirit.
2. Wisdom: They possessed practical wisdom to handle the affairs of the church.
3. Good reputation: They had a good standing among the people and were known for their integrity.
4. Servanthood: They were willing to serve the church in humility.

EVALUATION

1. Why were seven deacons chosen by the apostles?
2. List three qualities of a deacon.