Innovated to Advance the Gospel - Part 2
Is an Entrepreneurial Mind-Set Good or Bad?
What’s the purpose of our church?
How do we innovate to continue to reach people?
Innovations at Antioch – A number of firsts
• The first innovation at Antioch was the establishment of the church
Acts 11:19 – Meanwhile, the believers who had been scattered during the persecution after Stephen’s death traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch of Syria. They preached the word of God, but only to Jews. (New Living Translation)
Acts 11:20-21 – 20 . . . some of the believers who went to Antioch from Cyprus and Cyrene began preaching to the Gentiles about the Lord Jesus. 21 The power of the Lord was with them, and a large number of these Gentiles believed and turned to the Lord. (New Living Translation)
• A second innovation at Antioch was establishing a teaching ministry
Acts 11:26 – When [Barnabas] found [Paul], he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) (New Living Translation)
• An unintended innovation at Antioch was it was there the disciples were first called Christians
• A final innovation was the initiation of the first intentional missional movement
Acts 13:2-3 – 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. (New Living Translation)
Are We a Movement or an Institution?
How can we sustain the institution without compromising the mission?