Group Study Guide: Keeping Friction from Fracturing
Based on Acts 6:1-7

Icebreaker Question: Share a time when a conflict in a relationship (family, work, or church) was resolved well. What made the difference?

Introduction
This study explores how the early church navigated internal conflict and provides a biblical framework for handling friction in congregations today. We'll discover that problems are inevitable where there's growth, but godly solutions lead to greater impact.

Four Spiritual Laws of Local Church Work
Read Acts 6:1-7 together

The Four Laws:
1. Where there's life, there's growth.
2. Where there's growth, there are problems.
3. Where there are problems, there are godly solutions.
4. Where there are godly solutions, there can be further growth and God will be honored.

Discussion Questions:
* Have these four laws resonated with your experience in the church?
* Why do you think problems are inevitable in a growing, healthy church?
* How does this perspective change the way we view church conflicts?

Five Principles for Keeping Friction from Fracturing

Principle 1: FACE THE PROBLEM (Acts 6:1-2)

Key Point: A complaint arose about Grecian widows being overlooked in daily food distribution.

Wrong Ways to Face Problems:
* Finger-pointing and guilt-tripping
* Denying the problem exists
* Trivializing the issue
* Repressing/bottling up feelings
* Spiritualizing without taking action

Discussion Questions:
* Which wrong approach have you seen most often in church conflicts?
* Why is it tempting to avoid facing problems directly?
* What's the difference between praying about a problem and spiritualizing it?

Personal Reflection: Is there a problem in your congregation or relationships that you've been avoiding? What would facing it look like?

Principle 2: INVOLVE THE PEOPLE (Acts 6:3-4)

Key Point: The apostles wisely involved the congregation in selecting seven qualified men.

Qualifications Required:
1. Known commodities ("among you")
2. Seven men (team and individual responsibility)
3. Good reputation/integrity
4. Full of the Holy Spirit
5. Full of wisdom
6. Able to be set over the work

Discussion Questions:
* Why was it important for the apostles to stay focused on prayer and the Word rather than "waiting on tables"?
* How does this passage balance the roles of leadership and congregation?
* What do the qualifications for these servants tell us about how seriously we should take all ministry roles?

Application: What talents or abilities do you have that could be used to solve problems in your congregation?

Principle 3: AGREE ON THE PROCESS (Acts 6:5)

Key Point: "The saying pleased the whole multitude"

Discussion Questions:
* Why is agreement on the process as important as solving the actual problem?
* How can churches today build consensus when facing difficult decisions?
* The sermon mentions we shouldn't make secondary things primary (like debating whether these were "deacons"). What secondary issues tend to divide churches today?

Group Activity: Brainstorm together: What process should a church follow when facing a significant decision or conflict?

Principle 4: MAKE FOR PEACE (Acts 6:6)

Key Point: The apostles prayed and laid hands on the seven men, commissioning them for service.

Scripture References:
* Ephesians 4:1-3 - Make every effort to keep unity
* Romans 14:19 - Pursue peace and mutual edification
* 1 Thessalonians 5:13 - Dwell in peace with one another

Discussion Questions:
* What role did prayer play in resolving this conflict?
* Mike said, "I'd rather it be the devil that's got his feathers ruffled than everybody else in the church." What does this mean practically?
* When should we draw hard lines (over doctrine/morality) versus when should we pursue peace (over preferences/opinions)?

Personal Challenge: Is there someone in your congregation with whom you need to make peace? What's one step you can take this week?

Principle 5: GAIN WITH PURPOSE (Acts 6:7)

Key Point: Three "I's" - Impact, Increase, Influence

The Results:
* Impact: The Word of God continued to increase.
* Increase: The number of disciples multiplied greatly.
* Influence: A great company of priests became obedient to the faith.

Discussion Questions:
* How did solving this internal problem lead to external growth?
* Why would priests have been attracted to a church that handled conflict this way?
* What does this teach us about the connection between church unity and evangelistic effectiveness?

Shaping the Future: If our congregation handled conflicts biblically, what impact might that have on our community?

Key Takeaways
As a group, identify your top 3 takeaways from this study:
1.
2.
3.

Practical Application

Individual Action Steps:
Choose at least one action step to implement this week:
* Identify a problem you have been avoiding and schedule a conversation to address it
* Volunteer for a ministry role that helps meet needs in the church
* Pray daily for unity in the congregation
* Reach out to someone you've had friction with and pursue peace
* Ask church leadership how you can help solve a current challenge
* Other: _________________________________

Group Commitment:
What's one way our group can model these principles for the rest of the church?

Prayer Focus

Pray together for:
* Wisdom to face problems biblically
* Unity in our church family
* Leaders who prioritize God's Word and prayer
* Courage to pursue peace even when it's difficult
* Growth that honors God and reaches the lost
* Specific conflicts or tensions in your congregation

For Further Study
* Acts 2:41-47 - The early church's unity and growth
* Philippians 1:3-11 - Having others in mind, heart, and prayers
* Ephesians 4:1-16 - Unity and maturity in the body of Christ
* James 4:1-10 - The source of conflicts and the path to peace
* Matthew 18:15-20 - Jesus' process for resolving conflicts

Closing Thought
"Where there's life, there's growth. Where there's growth, there's problems. Where there's problems, there are godly solutions. And where there are godly solutions, there is further growth—all to God's praise and glory."

How will you choose to respond when friction arises?

Next Week: Come prepared to share how you applied this week's lesson and any results you experienced.

—

5-Day Devotional: When Friction Threatens Unity

Day 1: Where There's Life, There's Growth
Reading: Acts 6:1-7; Colossians 2:19

Devotional: The early church experienced explosive growth—from 3,000 to possibly 20,000 believers. But growth brought unexpected challenges. Like those Canadian porcupines huddling for warmth, we need each other yet sometimes needle each other. Spiritual vitality always produces expansion, but expansion reveals weaknesses in our systems and relationships. The Jerusalem church faced a crisis: widows were being overlooked. Notice they didn't deny the problem or spiritualize it away. Growing churches aren't problem-free churches; they're churches that face problems with godly wisdom. Today, ask yourself: Am I contributing to my church's health and growth, or am I allowing friction to hinder what God is doing? Healthy organisms grow—and growth requires adaptation, humility, and grace.

Day 2: The Priority of Prayer and the Word
Reading: Acts 6:2-4; 1 Timothy 4:13-16

Devotional: The apostles made a crucial decision: "It is not reasonable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables." This wasn't arrogance—Paul himself gathered sticks for fires. This was about priorities. Church leaders must devote themselves to prayer and Scripture, or the entire body suffers. Satan's subtle strategy was distraction—getting the apostles away from their primary work. How often do good things become the enemy of the best things? The apostles didn't do everything; they did their assigned work with excellence. Consider your own life: Are you so busy with secondary matters that you've neglected your primary mission? Whether you're a parent, employee, or church member, identify what only you can do, and protect time for prayer and God's Word. Busyness isn't godliness.

Day 3: Involving Others in Kingdom Work
Reading: Acts 6:3-5; Ephesians 4:11-16

Devotional: "Look among yourselves and appoint seven men." The apostles wisely involved the congregation in solving the problem. Biblical leadership doesn't do all the work; it equips others for service. Notice the qualifications: known commodities, men of integrity, full of the Spirit, full of wisdom. Waiting tables for widows required the same spiritual maturity as preaching! No task in God's kingdom is insignificant. The whole multitude agreed—unity emerged from proper process and shared responsibility. God designed the church as a body where every member contributes. You're not a spectator; you're a participant. What gifts has God given you? How are you using them to serve others? Don't wait to be asked—look for needs and step forward with humility and readiness to serve.

Day 4: Making Peace in the Family of God
Reading: Acts 6:6; Romans 14:19; Ephesians 4:1-3

Devotional: "They prayed and laid hands on them." Prayer saturated this potentially explosive situation. The church chose peace over division, unity over faction. Paul later wrote, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Notice—it requires effort. Unity doesn't happen accidentally; we must pursue it intentionally. Yes, we separate from false teaching and immorality, but most church conflicts involve preferences, personalities, and hurt feelings. The devil smiles when God's people have ruffled feathers over insignificant matters. Stephen and Philip became well-known, but five others faithfully served in obscurity. All seven mattered equally. Today, examine your heart: Are you harboring bitterness, nursing grudges, or feeding gossip? Choose forgiveness. Pursue peace. The watching world needs to see Christians who love each other genuinely.

Day 5: The Fruit of Godly Solutions
Reading: Acts 6:7; James 3:17-18

Devotional: "The word of God increased, and the number of disciples multiplied greatly." When the church addressed problems biblically, explosive growth resulted—even priests surrendered to Christ! Imagine priests who had opposed Jesus now resigning their positions to follow Him. What changed their minds? Likely, they witnessed believers handling conflict with grace, truth, and love. The devil's schemes backfired. Where there are godly solutions, God receives glory and His kingdom advances. James writes that wisdom from above is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits" (3:17-18). This describes Acts 6 perfectly. Your congregation will face friction—guaranteed. The question is: Will friction fracture you, or will you respond with godly wisdom that leads to growth? When you face problems with faith, involve others humbly, and pursue peace relentlessly, God transforms obstacles into opportunities for His glory.