“Unity in Diversity”
Acts 11:19-30
Intro: Read “First EZ Church”
For many of us, this is our idea of a church. Some of you might have even been scrambling for a pencil to jot down the address. But the truth is, often our churches are not what God designed for them to be. This morning, we want to look at the church at Antioch in the book of Acts, and see the pattern this church left for us to follow.
Read Acts 11:19-30 - Pray
The book of Acts records the start of the early church. It shows the disciples going from huddling together in Jerusalem, to being filled with the Holy Spirit, and taking the good news out to Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts of the earth. Here we see the church that got started in Antioch. What can we learn from the church in Antioch?
I. There are lessons for us as individuals.
A. God saves people of all races and backgrounds.
Antioch is a Greek town, north of Damascus. We see it mentioned in Acts 6:5 that one of the first 7 deacons in the church, Nicholas, was from Antioch. As the church at Jerusalem came under persecution, the believers spread through Asia Minor. A group came to Antioch, shared the gospel, and a great number believed. Already in chapter 10 we see that Peter sees the Gentiles converted. When the church at Jerusalem hears about it, they send Barnabas to Antioch to report to them what has happened. he reports back that God’s word has truly changed the hearts of those at Antioch.
Far too often we limit God. We tend to think that God is the God of white-skinned, white-collar, middle class, working Americans. But that is far from the truth. Red, and Yellow, black, and white: Each one is precious in God’s sight. And we need to be praying for all to come to faith in Christ. Next week is a special speaker, Doug Johnson, who will be sharing with us how God is at work throughout the world bringing people to himself.
Do you work with someone of a different nationality? Tell them about Christ. Do you have a neighbor who has a different skin color? They need to trust in Christ too! Let’s learn from the church at Antioch that each person is precious to the Lord.
B. God uses individual’s spiritual gifts to build up the church.
Who is it that the church at Jerusalem sends to Antioch? Barnabas. Now, who is that?
Back in Acts 4 we see Joseph from Cyprus coming and selling a field and giving the money to the church. What an encouragement he was. So much so, that everyone started calling him Barnabas, the “Son of Encouragement”. He was one who was blessed with the ability to encourage others.
When the Christian-killer Saul of Tarsus is converted, he goes to Jerusalem, but no one wants to go near him. Who ends up befriending him? Barnabas, the encourager. He brings him to the disciples, and a great many are converted through Saul, now called Paul, and his ministry.
So, what does Barnabas do when he comes to Antioch. Look at verse 23 - When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Even here among the new believers he uses his gift on encouragement.
We see later, when Barnabas and Paul are traveling, the question arises over whether to give John Mark another chance. After all, he let them down once. What does Barnabas do? He offers encouragement to Mark and takes him along with him.
What is it that God has prepared you do do in ministry? We are reminded that each of us has something we can offer in service to the Lord. Some can teach, some can preach. But God uses some to give, some to offer encouragement, some to make phone calls to pray with others. And each of our gifts are important in the body. Let’s remember that each of us has something to do.
We also learn from the church at Antioch that
C. We work together in building up the church.
Barnabas is an encourager. He comes, sees what God has done, and offers encouragement. Yet, he sees the new believers need to grow. So in verse 25 we see him leaving to go to Tarsus to find Paul. Acts 9:22 tells us that Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. Galatians 1 tells us Paul was personally taught by Christ. What a powerful partner in ministry. Barnabas leaves Antioch to go find Paul and bring him back. Together they spend the next year building up the people there.
Realize that I have my limitations. There are many things I don’t know. There are many things that I cannot do. This church does not rest on my shoulders; if it did, it would be very limited. But rather, God uses all of us working together to conduct the work of the ministry of this church.
God desires to have each us us work together. How have you been working in the church? You might say, “you can’t blame me, I haven’t done a thing.” And that’s exactly the problem. We need people to teach SS classes; we need people to sing and play; we need people to work in the nursery; we need people to be passing out these Jesus videos; we need people to be faithful witnesses at work and in their neighborhoods. We need to all work together to build the church.
D. Our lives should identify us as followers of Christ.
As we go on in verse 26, we see the disciples are first called Christians at Antioch. The term “Christian” or “little Christs” was a nickname given to them because of the way they modeled the Christian lifestyle. I can remember in public high school people would call me “the preacher” - because they knew I took a stand for God. The question each one of us needs to ask is “Do others see Christ in my life?”
Not only are there lessons from the church at Antioch for our lives as individuals, but there are
II. Lessons for us as a Church.
A. We need to be a witnessing church - Throughout the book of Acts, we see the church grow and grow and grow. God said “I have set before you an open door.” He said “he would build the church.” He desires to see it grow. Sometimes we just get in the way.
God chooses to build his church by using us as his witnesses. How faithful are we at being witnesses for our Lord? God will build his church as we tell others the gospel.
We aren’t responsible for whether others believe or not: God will take care of the results. But we need to do our part in faithfully witnessing. That’s one of the reasons the Jesus video is such a great tool. Someone who might not even listen to you for two minutes at their door, will take a video and sit for an hour and a half to see the message of the gospel. Let’s be active in witnessing for our Lord.
B. We need to be a discipling church.
The church at Antioch had sound teaching. Paul and Barnabas spent a year with them teaching them. In Acts 15 we see some teachers came to Antioch trying to spread false teaching; it was confronted immediately. This was a church that had a strong love for truth.
In later years in Church History, Antioch was a key city in the development of the church.
How are we doing in knowing the truth of God? It’s not a question of what I know as pastor. And I admit that I only have limited knowledge. But each of us is to be rooted and grounded in the truth of the word of God. If a Mormon or Jehovah’s Witness came to your door, would you be able to defend from Scripture what you believe to be true? We need to study to show ourselves approved before God.
C. We need to be an integrated church - accepting those of all races.
We see the early church starting with Jews, including Samaritans, including Greeks, including former assassins in Paul. The church embraces all who came. At Antioch we see the same thing. In 13 we see In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. Here is Barnabas, from Cyprus, Simeon, called Niger, or the “black man” - maybe the same Simon from Cyrene who carried the cross of Christ. We see Manaen, having ties to a wealthy education. We see in Acts 8 an Ethiopian being converted and going back to his homeland to spread the gospel. This is a multi-ethnic church.
Now, I don’t believe we need to start a “bussing program” to bring in those of other races. But as they come, we need to welcome as brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s not put up walls of prejudice. Let’s embrace them in love.
D. We need to be a worshiping church.
In 13:1-3 - we see this church with many strong teachers, and they spend their time in worship of the Lord. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
They spent much time in worship of the Lord. In Acts 6 in the question over the dispersion of the food, the disciples chose 7 deacons to take care of this. They said, We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
As a church, worship needs to be a central focus for us.
E. We need to be a sending church
Antioch is a church with a passion for sending others out. As they meet together, God calls out Paul and Barnabas. The church then commissions them to service. In each of their three mission trips, they start at Antioch to go out.
Look in 13:4 where they go first: Cyprus. That was Barnabas’s home town. Many times when we decide to witness for God, he sends us back home to our family and friends first.
Remember the Maniac of Gadara who wanted to go along with Jesus: Jesus sent him back to his home to be a witness. Remember the woman at the well: she went back to her home town to be a witness.
Let’s not just look at this church being people who witness individually. Let’s ask, how can we help others be involved in being faithful witnesses. The goal is not to just preach the word on Sunday morning, but every day to have those from this church faithfully going out spreading the good news of God’s salvation.
Concl: The church at Antioch was amazing: different races and nationalities melded together into a giving, ministering, caring, accepting, sending body. They were “little Christs.” They didn’t just happen to be this way. It took effort. It took individuals doing their part. It was a stretching experience. But they maintained their unity in the midst of diversity. Let’s learn from the church at Antioch to be all that we can be so that God’s kingdom may grow and that God may receive the glory.
