Sermon Tone Analysis

*Working Together*

*Acts 11:19-30                September 3, 2000*

 

*Scripture:*

 

*Introduction:*

 

          We learned recently, or realized recently, at a Campus Life meeting for the pastors of NW Chicago, that there is little sense of community spirit in the high schools here.

This is in regard to a search for whatever we can capitalize on to reach the kids in the schools.

Since many of the kids leave their own neighborhoods to go to a school outside their neighborhood, there is little sense of ownership there among them.

The question was whether the schools were the best place to try and reach these youth.

We decided to continue with the school concept since that is where the kids congregate.

Even if there is little sense of school spirit, at least that is where the kids gather.

And it appears that the city may be moving toward a return to a neighborhood high school concept.

This is important because it gives an added sense community accomplishment to go with whatever individual effort is involved toward achievement.

In short, we help each other to achieve or accomplish.

Just as there are many factors involved in establishing or building a community spirit in a school, so also in a church.

As a school is a local body of learning, a church is a local body of Christ-centered worship.

Remember the sense of school spirit when and where you grew up?

There were cheers for the local basketball team, the pep band, the road trips, the competition, the drama club, the science club, the assembly halls.

Team spirit is an effort many companies put forth for greater cooperation among employees and pride of mutual accomplishment also.

They have a budget for company logos on jackets and company picnics, etc.

You try to develop a sense of team spirit even in your own family when you work together on projects and take vacations.

Even more than all of these is the potential impact of a team spirit among Christians because we have the gift of the Holy Spirit.

He is the glue that holds us together in allegiance to the coach, Jesus Christ.

*Big Question:*

 

So what are the signs of a vibrant and effective community spirit in the life of the church?

During our sermon series in the Acts of the Apostles, we have been looking at a number of factors in the growth of the early church as it continues to excel in advancing the kingdom of Christ.

Last week we talked about overcoming personal prejudice.

This was a lesson Peter had to learn in order to carry out Christ's mandate to take the gospel to the gentiles such as Cornelius.

This week's passage in Acts 11:19-30 will focus even more on an expanded ministry to the Gentiles.

But it focuses on yet another way that the church is to be the church.

It involves a sense of community – a team spirit that enables those of us in the church to work effectively together.

*I.

Cycle One*

 

*          A.

Narrative (vv.

19-21)*

 

          Beginning with this passage, Luke is recording another new beginning in the worldwide program of the Church.

We are reminded of the words of Christ in the gospels where he tells us repeatedly that he has come to us regarding his desire to give us new wine, treasures, teaching, garments, commands, new life, and a new covenant.

Christ is in the business of making all things new.

(2Cor.

5:17)

          This will proceed until he comes again, sent by the Father in perfect time, and claims his kingdom as his own.

Since his kingdom is the True Church, it will continue to be renewed until he comes - then it will be perfected.

But this new beginning, or new thrust in the ministry of the Church, parallels what happened with the ministry of Philip and Peter in 8:4ff after the stoning of Stephen.

Indeed, this is the rest of that continuing story.

Some of those who were scattered in that persecution went as far as Phoenicia (country on the coast north of Tyre), Cyprus (large island in the eastern Mediterranean), and Antioch (major city in northern Syria north of Phoenicia and just northeast of Cyprus).

The first time we heard of Cyprus in Acts was in connection with Joseph (Barnabas), a Levite who sold a piece of property he owned there to give the money to the apostles for the use of the church in Jerusalem (4:36).

This was in contrast to the story about Ananias and Sapphira who were not honest with the Holy Spirit about their gift.

But the focus on this passage is the city of Antioch, the birthplace of the church outside Jerusalem.

We are told that these believers who were scattered far and wide spread the message wherever they went.

However, they told the message of Christ only to Jews.

I am reminded that the plan of God for the dispersion of the Jews fit perfectly into his program of providing a ready made staging area for the gospel beginning at the synagogues throughout the Roman empire.

But we are also told about some, perhaps even just a few, who went to Antioch to proclaim the good news there also among the Greeks.

We understand this to mean that they went there with the express purpose of bringing the gospel to the gentiles.

They not only came from across the sea in Cyprus, but they also came from great distance in Libya or Cyrene west of Egypt.

The Lord's hand was with them and a great many believed and turned to the Lord.

Indeed, I believe the Lord's hand was upon them to compel them to such missionary work.

They obeyed and thrust the church into a new arena of outreach and success.

We have seen the Christian movement shift from a predominantly rural setting in Galilee to an urban movement in Jerusalem and now to a cosmopolitan movement in Antioch.

Why did they choose Antioch?

Or better yet, why did God send them to Antioch?

          Antioch was a major outpost of the Greek empire of Alexander the Great, named after the kings of the Seleucid dynasty that followed his death.

It was now the third largest city in the Roman empire, having a population of up to 500,000, surpassed only by Alexandria and Rome itself.

It was the headquarters of Rome's Syrian legion.

It was the seat of the Roman province of Syria with a large Jewish population of anywhere from 22,000 to 65,000, with a large number of proselytes living there – that is, gentile converts to the Jewish faith.

It was an international commercial center and a quite cosmopolitan city where people were accustomed to many innovations.

It was a place where staid tradition was less important, but also where lax morals ran rampant.

In short, it was a place like Chicago, a melting pot for the world.

It was a place in which the world could be reached.

*          B.

Implication*

 

          The first sign of a vibrant and effective community spirit in the life of the church is grassroots involvement.

*          C.

Illustration*

 

*          D.

Application*

 

          The great thing of interest that we must note about this passage is that we are not given the names of any of those who responded to the Lord's call to go as missionaries to Antioch.

Since we are told where they come from, we are aware of the sacrifices they must have made to go to Antioch.

But since we are not told their names, we might assume that there was no famous leaders among them and no one who stood out among them as prominent.

Even though Acts does not give us names, we continue to receive from Acts many inspiring examples we can follow.

What we learn here from this unnamed group of pioneers in the first general attempt to carry the gospel to the Gentiles is that it was done by ordinary Christians who just went and shared the gospel.

Since there are so many of us who cannot claim to be exceptional, we are encouraged that the phenomenal growth of the church through the centuries has been through people just like us.

Jesus Christ came to establish a grass roots movement of truth and faith in the Living God.

And it works exactly because we are not exceptional.

There is no other way any of this could happen except by the grace and power of God.

It is our Lord Jesus Christ who is exceptional.

Certainly, any movement will have its great leaders – its famous and important people.

But the fact that this significant work was done by non-prominent Christians reminds us that the famous are not the most significant or most important people in the church.

Some of the most significant work for the kingdom has been done by unknown witnesses who are obedient to Christ right where they are and where they do not attract much attention.

Our task is to be faithful to what God calls us to do.

If that doesn't put our name forward on earth, we should not be bothered by it because our call is not that we should be known – it is that Christ be known.

Be encouraged where you are and with who you are as long as you are following his call.

You are part of an underground movement that is shaking the earth.

*II.

Cycle Two*

 

*          A.

Narrative (vv.

22-26)*

 

          Now we come to the other side of the issue about how God can use those who are famous.

They are famous because they are gifted.

Barnabas was one of these.

He had distinguished himself in the events surrounding Ananias and Sapphira, and he was the one who stood by Paul and his testimony about being called as the thirteenth apostle by direct revelation from Christ.

These unknown Christians in Antioch may have lacked the credentials for others to give them the validity they deserved in order to gain a wider hearing, or perhaps they lacked some necessary leadership gifts.

The Jerusalem church, hearing about the work in Antioch, decided to send help.