"A Study of the book of Acts" by Neal Pollard - Part 4
About this episode
Neal Pollard explores Acts chapters 6-8, discussing challenges faced by the early church and Stephen's pivotal role in addressing them.
June 28, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class This episode is a sermon-style study through Acts chapters 6–8, centering on Acts 6:1–7 and tracing a recurring pattern in the early church: success invites new problems, and God’s people must respond biblically. Neal walks the congregation through the first of four challenges in these chapters, examines subsequent disputes that arise as the gospel moves outward, and previews Stephen’s pivotal defense in Acts 7. Topics covered include the practical complaint of the Hellenist widows being neglected, the apostles’ wise response of discernment and delegation, and the appointment of seven servants—Stephen, Philip, Procurus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas (a proselyte of Antioch)—who are prayed for and commissioned. The sermon highlights the apostles’ priority to devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word, the laying on of hands as dedication (and possibly the impartation of gifting in the first-century context), and the resulting fruit: continued numerical growth and many priests turning to faith. The episode then follows the ripple effects of that growth: Stephen’s ministry among the Greek-speaking Jews, the disputes and…
People in this episode
Host: Neal Pollard
Topics covered
- early church challenges
- Acts chapters 6-8
- Stephen's defense
- apostolic ministry
- gospel outreach
- Hellenist widows
- numerical growth
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: the book of Acts
Places: Antioch
More episodes of Cumberland Trace Church of Christ (Formerly Lehman Ave Church of Christ)
- June Questions and Answers Service by Hiram Kemp and Neal Pollard
- "What We All Have in Common with Barabbas" (Mark 15:1-15) by Hiram Kemp
- Men of the New Testament: "Barnabas" by Barrett Hammer - Part 3
- "Live for Jesus, Not Yourself" by Hiram Kemp
- "Mastering the Mind" by Neal Pollard
- "A Study of the book of Acts" by Hiram Kemp - Part 3
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