What modern church tasks might distract from prayer and ministry of the word? Acts 6:2—A Timeless Warning “So the Twelve summoned all the disciples and said, ‘It is not acceptable for us to neglect the word of God to serve tables.’” The apostles refused anything that would pull them away from prayer and the ministry of the word. The principle still stands: essential spiritual duties must not be eclipsed by pressing, even good, activities. Everyday Ministry Mazes—Modern Tasks That Crowd Out Prayer and the Word • Administrative overload: endless emails, policy drafts, insurance forms, budget spreadsheets • Facility management: roof leaks, HVAC issues, landscaping contracts, security systems • Program addiction: maintaining a calendar packed with concerts, sports leagues, holiday extravaganzas • Fund-raising machinery: capital campaigns, sponsorship drives, grant writing, merch tables • Social-media whirlpool: content creation, comment moderation, analytics, livestream troubleshooting • Committee congestion: overlapping boards, task forces, strategic planning retreats • Tech troubleshooting: projector bulbs, software updates, copyright licensing, Wi-Fi dead zones • Event catering logistics: menus, food-handler permits, décor coordination, clean-up crews • Crisis management: PR statements, legal consultations, reputation monitoring • Community partnerships: paperwork for city permits, coalition meetings, inter-agency protocols • Counseling backlog: appointment scheduling, documentation, referral networking None of these are sinful; many are necessary. Yet any can edge out the irreplaceable core—unhurried prayer and robust teaching of Scripture. Scripture Echoes Reinforcing the Priority • Luke 10:41-42 — “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. But only one thing is necessary.” • Mark 1:35-38 — Jesus leaves crowds to pray, then preaches: example of guarded priorities. • 1 Timothy 4:13-15 — “Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.” • 2 Timothy 2:4 — “No soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs.” • Colossians 4:2 — “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Guardrails—Practical Ways to Keep First Things First • Delegate wisely: empower deacons, teams, and trusted volunteers, following the Acts 6 model. • Schedule immovable blocks for prayer and study; treat them like the most critical appointment of the week. • Simplify the calendar: prune programs that lack clear, disciple-making fruit. • Adopt “scripture-saturated” meetings: even administrative gatherings begin and end with the Word and prayer. • Train replacements: multiply Bible teachers and prayer leaders so dependence isn’t on one or two people. • Evaluate technology: use tools that save time, not consume it. • Remember audience of One: success is faithfulness before God, not perpetual motion before people. When prayer and the ministry of the Word stay central, every other task finds its rightful place—and none of them steal the heart of the church from its Lord. |
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