A. INTRODUCTION:
1. The church in Jerusalem was mostly Jewish (Acts 2:5-11).
2. Jesus commanded they preach to all people in every nation (culture) and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:18-19).
3. Persecution forced them to carry out the Great Commission. “At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria” (Acts 8:1).
a. Philip, a deacon had great results in Samaria (8:4-8).
b. Peter expanded the gospel to Cornelius household (Acts 10:1 ff).
c. Individual believers ministered in Antioch (11:19-20).
4. Antioch of Syria.
a. Fourth largest city in the Empire.
b. Gateway between the goods from the east, selling in Mediterranean world.
c. Cosmopolitan city. “A large number of Gentile believers turned to the Lord” (8:21).
B. INTRODUCTION OF MINISTRY IN ANTIOCH
1. The Jerusalem church heard and had questions. “The church at Jerusalem heard . . . sent Barnabas” (11:22).
2. Barnabas:
a. Traditional rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-25).
b. Owned land in Cyprus, sold and donated (4:36-37).
c. Broke Old Testament law (Deut. 18:1-2). “No land . . . LORD is their inheritance.”
d. From backslider to trusted follower.
e. Special ministry to underdog (Acts 9:29, stood up for Saul of Tarsus).
3. Barnabas ministry:
a. When he arrived . . . saw evidence of God’s blessing (11:22).
b. His name meant motivator. “Barnabas (which means son of encouragement)” (4:36).
c. Barnabas, “encouraged the believers to stay true” (11:23).
d. Motivated believers to reach the unsaved, “many added” (11:24).
4. Barnabas realized he needed:
a. A spiritually gifted teacher.
b. Someone who was grounded in the Old Testament.
c. With insight into the New Testament ministry of Christ, i.e., Messiah.
5. Results. “Believers were first called Christians” (11:26).
a. Not in Jerusalem with emphasis on Jesus, i.e., death.
b. Now in Antioch, where Paul emphasized Christ indwelling (Gal. 2:20).
C. INGREDIENTS OF WELL-ROUNDED ANTIOCH CHURCH
1. Evangelizing in Samaria, Phoenicia, and Cypress. “Jews only” (11:19), but in Antioch, “unto the Greek” (11:20). Two results:
a. “The hand of the Lord was with them” (11:21).
b. “Great multitudes added” (11:21).
2. Manifesting the presence of Christ. The church is called “body of Christ” (Eph. 1:21-22).
a. Institutional presence, “Two or three gathered . . . in My name . . . I am there” (Matt. 18:20).
b. Indwelling presence.
c. Physical presence in heaven.
d. Omnipresence, everywhere at all times.
e. What can you feel, His manifest presence.
3. Growing. Everything God created will grow . . . plants, animals, birds, insects, human bodies. What about the church growing? New believers (members), knowledge, spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:31), maturity.
4. Assembling. A church is ekklesia, i.e., ek – out, kaleo – to call. We are called away from the old life and called to a new walk with Christ. How is this done?
a. They “cleaved to the Lord” (11:23).
b. They “assembled together” (11:26).
c. They “added to the Lord” (11:24).
5. Teaching. Paul’s spiritual gift was teaching “for a full year teaching large crowds” (11:26). This was Paul’s calling, “Saul My messenger to the Gentiles” (Acts 9:15).
6. Giving:
a. Gave sacrificially, “according to their ability, determined to send . . . Judea” (Acts 11:29-30).
b. Cross-culturally, “take to . . . the church in Jerusalem” (11:30).
7. Sending. The church gave its best to go. “So Barnabas and Saul were sent out . . . to Cyprus” (13:4).
D. LESSONS TO TAKE AWAY
1. Overcome all negative attitudes of racism as the early church did.
2. God loves all people in all cultures, and we must pray and send.
3. Never let good works or secular programs substitute the gospel.
4. Open church door and heart to all people with all kinds of needs.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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