Sermon Text: Acts 11:19-30
Topic: Christian Education
Probing Question: Why should a church be educating people?
Key Word: reasons
Subject: reasons a church educates people
Aim: To help church members define four key reasons for Christian Education.
Sermon Title: The Best of the Best
INTRODUCTION
Illustration:
Top Ten Lists. The best hockey players. The best football players. The best performers. The best dressed. Now can you imagine what a top ten list for churches would look like. Who would it include? Would their be any contemporary churches on the list or would they all be from the New Testament period?
One church that would definitely be on the list would be the church at Antioch.
Transition:
Antioch is an excellent example of a church that had a heart for educating its people. The passage in Acts 11 gives us some key reasons why the Church needs to be involved in Christian education.
CONTENT
To Evangelize the Lost
Acts 11:19-21
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
Explanation
Many were scattered because of the persecution and spread the message of the gospel to whereever they went. However, the message was often given only to other Jews. At Antioch we see the gospel shared with the gentiles and with great results. The men of Cyprus and Cyrene were enthusiastic about their faith and put into practice what they had learned with incredible results.
Illustration
I recently read a story about a missionary in Africa who gave a Bible to an African man. When it was given to him, the man hugged it close and expressed great appreciation for the precious gift of God’s Word that the missionary had given him. But when the missionary saw him a few days later he noticed, much to his dismay, that the Bible looked like it was already falling apart, & that many of its pages were missing. The missionary asked him, "What happened? What did you do to your Bible? When I gave it to you I thought you considered it to be a treasured possession." The man replied. "Indeed, it is a very precious possession. It is the finest gift I have ever received. It is so precious that when I returned to my village I very carefully chose a page & tore it out & gave it to my mother. Then I tore out another page & gave it to my father. And I tore out another page & gave it to my wife. Finally, I gave a page of God’s Word to everybody who lives in my village." We may smile at that, but what a testimony! The message of God’s Word was so wonderful to him that he wanted to share it with everyone he knew!
Application
Evangelism happens best when Christians are enthusiastic.
To Encourage the Saved
Acts 11:22-24
22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.
23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
Explanation
When I look at this passage I can see God’s hand at work. God could see the need to send a man such as Barnabas to this new Church start. The first thing Barnabas does is rejoice and then he encouraged them. Barnabas saw God at work and could see the possibilities (the potential) of this new gentile church.
Illustration
Charles Osgood told the story of two ladies who lived in a convalescent center. Each had suffered an incapaciting stroke. Margaret’s stroke left her left side restricted, while Ruth’s stroke damaged her right side. Both of these ladies were accomplished pianists but had given up hope of ever playing again.
The director of the center sat them down at a piano and encouraged them to play solo pieces together. They did, and a beautiful friendship developed.
What a picture of the church’s needing to work together! What one member cannot do alone, perhaps two or more could do together-in harmony.
Application
Encouragement happens best when Christians can see the possibilities.
To Equip the Saints
Acts 11:25-26
25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;
26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Explanation
Barnabas was a man of vision. He saw the need to reach in and help ground these new converts in their faith. He was also aware that he was not able to do it on his own. So he sought Saul to come help him with the work at this new Church. They spent a year teaching the Christians at Antioch and were able to give them a foundation of faith that shined in their everyday lives. At Antioch is where the disciples were first called Christians.
Illustration
It is better to train ten people than to do the work of ten people. But it is harder.
Moody
Consider the difference between a strong and a weak cup of tea. The same ingredients water and tea are used for both. The difference is that the strong cup of tea results from the tea leaves’ immersion in the water longer, allowing the water more time to get into the tea and the tea into the water. The longer the steeping process, the stronger the cup of tea. In the same way, the length of time we spend in God’s Word determines how deeply we get into it and it gets into us. Just like the tea, the longer we are in the Word, the "stronger" we become.
Application
Equipping happens best when the church intentionally seeks to grow its members.
To Extend the Boundaries
Acts 11:27-30
27 Now at this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.
29 And in the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.
30 And this they did, sending it in charge of Barnabas and Saul to the elders.
Explanation
The church at Antioch was able to see beyond their own walls. They were able to reach out to those in need and strengthen the faith through cooperation. Education is a cooperative effort.
Illustration
In a Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn’t. "What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus. "These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they are nothing, but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold." "What channel do you want?" asks Linus. Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can’t you guys get organized like that?"
Application
Extending the boundaries happens best when Christians work cooperatively.
CONCLUSION
Four Key Reasons for Christian Education
1. Evangelizing the Lost: Evangelism happens best when Christians are enthusiastic.
2. Encouraging the Saved: Encouragement happens best when Christians can see the possibilities.
3. Equipping the Saints: Equipping happens best when the church actively seeks to grow its members.
4. Extending the Boundaries: Extending the boundaries happens best Christians work cooperatively.
INVITATION
Every time God’s word is preached a decision needs to be made. If God’s Spirit is speaking to you this morning don’t put it off. Procrastination is one of the devil’s best tools. If God has been speaking to you about giving your life over to him, let us celebrate with you. If you feel convicted and would like to recommit yourself, if God has been speaking to you about committing your life to full time ministry, if you feel God wants you to join with this church family don’t postpone your decision any longer let God’s Spirit begin to work fully in your life today.
