Believers in Jerusalem Name Deacons to Serve the Needy

Based on Acts 6:1-7
 

POY! SKIT GUIDELINES:

• In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words.
• Most POY! skits require no practice in advance.
• Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants.
• Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along.
• It is not necessary to employ costumes and objects, unless the skit recommends such.
• It is not required to have an audience watch the skit. All present may participate.
• Scripture and paraphrases, if any, usually appear in bold.

PARTICIPANTS:

Disciple (Also serves as Narrator)
Widow
James

Prompter (Optional). Prompter shouts a brief line and Companions repeat it.
Companions (Optional): children and all adults who want to take part. Make sure Companions know who the Prompter is, and that they are to repeat Prompter’s words.

 SCRIPT:

DiscipleÂ	The Jerusalem church is in its infancy, and a complaint arises among us disciples. The apostle James is shepherding us and speaks about how it came about.
JamesÂ	We disciples of Jesus are increasing in number so fast, that it is hard for us to oversee everyone’s needs. Here comes a Greek believer now; she looks annoyed.
WidowÂ	Brother James, I and the other Greek women who are widows are often neglected when the daily food is distributed to the destitute. We appreciate the help, and surely need it, but the way the distribution is handled is not fair.
Prompter & CompanionsÂ	  Not fair! Not fair!
JamesÂ	I will mention this to the other apostles at once, and correct it, sister.
DiscipleÂ	The Twelve talk it over, and summon a meeting of the congregation.
JamesÂ	Brothers, it is not good for us apostles to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.
DiscipleÂ	All of us disciples consider this a good idea, and say, “Amen!”
Prompter & CompanionsÂ	  Amen! Amen!
JamesÂ	Choose persons who are full of faith and of the Holy Spirit.
DiscipleÂ	We chose Stephen, Philip, and others, all godly men, to serve as deacons.
JamesÂ	The seven new deacons, the first ever named by a Christian community, come  before us apostles; and after praying, we apostles lay our hands on them to impart God’s blessing and anointing for their task.
WidowÂ	Having appointed deacons solves our problem. Now we foreigners are getting our share of the food provided for us widows. God is good!
Prompter & CompanionsÂ	  God is good! God is good!
DiscipleÂ	Because of their obedience to the Lord and their fervent witnessing for Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit, the word of God keeps on spreading; and the number of the disciples continues to increase greatly in Jerusalem

DISCUSS:

What did deacons do in the first apostolic church?

(Good answer: Deacons dealt with physical needs. Some, like Stephen and Philip, also did pastoral type work, Acts 8.)

What type of person should serve as a deacon or deaconess?

(Good answer: Deacons were persons of good character, full of the Holy Spirit.)

(Comment: To handle material things for the Lord often requires as much discernment and help from the Holy Spirit as teaching does. In this sense, both ministries can be equally spiritual. In New Testament times, “elders” included both “overseers” and “deacons”.)