Sermon Tone Analysis

Today we are going to pick back up with our study of the book of Acts.

We spent a long time in this book last year but then stepped away from it for a while to cover some other things that I felt God was telling me we needed to talk about.

But now it’s time to get back into this history of how the church began.

Now we’ve got quite a bit of the book left and there is a lot of stuff to talk about in the section of the book that remains, so I don’t know if we will be able to finish it before my transfer this summer, but we’re going to get as far through it as we can in the time we have remaining.

And then maybe the chaplain that follows me can pick up and finish out whatever remains.

So we need to remember where we are.

INTRODUCTION

INTRODUCTION

1.

In , Luke described the commission Jesus gave to His apostles...

apostles...

a.

What - To be witnesses to Him

a.

To be witnesses to Him

b.

Where - In Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth

2. Thus far in his historical account, Luke has described how the commission was fulfilled...

commission was fulfilled...

a.

In Jerusalem -

b.

In all Judea and Samaria -

3. The rest of Luke's account focuses on the ministry of the apostle Paul...

Paul...

a. Saul of Tarsus, former persecutor of the church, now apostle to the Gentiles

Gentiles

b.

It’s in this section of the book of Acts where we truly see the gospel taken "to the end of the earth"

the end of the earth"

Now if you’ll recall, we finished up the last message that we had in with the story of Peter being rescued from prison, yet again, and then Herod’s death because he did not give glory to God and then Barnabas and Saul and John Mark return to Jerusalem.

We pick up at the beginning of chapter 13

Barnabas and John Mark (), with a special call by the Holy

[His first journey began soon after returning to Antioch of Syria with Barnabas and John Mark (), with a special call by the Holy Spirit...]

Spirit...]

I. THE CALL OF BARNABAS AND SAUL

I. THE CALL OF BARNABAS AND SAUL

A. THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH...

1. Started by men from Cyprus and Cyrene, by way of Jerusalem -

11:19-21

2. Strengthened first by Barnabas alone, then later by Barnabas and Saul -

11:22-26

3. Blessed with a number of prophets and teachers -

3. Blessed with a number of prophets and teachers -

a. Barnabas, a Levite from Cyprus -

b. Simeon called Niger ("black"), presumably a black African, possibly Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus' cross cf. ; , or possibly the Ethiopian official that Philip baptized in -

possibly Simon of Cyrene who carried Jesus' cross - cf. ;

23:26;

c.

Lucius of Cyrene, also from North Africa - cf.

d.

Manaen, brought up with Herod the tetrarch (this was the same Herod who is referred to as Herod Antipas, he was the man who killed John the Baptist and who tried Jesus) - ;

who killed John the Baptist and tried Jesus) - ;

e. Saul, from Tarsus in Cilicia - ;

B. THE CALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT...

1. Came as they worshiped the Lord and fasted -

2. The Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work He had for them -

2. The Spirit told them to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work He had for them -

He had for them -

3. With fasting, prayer, and the laying on of hands, they are sent on their way -

on their way -

[And so Barnabas and Saul are "sent out by the Holy Spirit" ().

As we continue in the book of Acts we’ll follow them as they make their way to the island of Cyprus.

But for today, allow me to share some observations from these few verses we’ve focused on this morning.]

Our next study will follow them as they make their way to the island of

Cyprus.

But for the rest of this study, allow me to share...]

II.

SOME OBSERVATIONS

A. THE DIVERSITY OF THE CHURCH...

1.

Note the racial, cultural and social diversity of the five prophets and teachers

prophets and teachers

2. Two from North Africa, one from Cyprus, one from Cilicia, one from Palestine

from Palestine

3. One was raised with royalty, another was wealthy, another a rabbi

rabbi

4. Isn't this the way churches should be? - cf.

; ;

3:26-28;

;

5. Churches should reflect our oneness in Christ, not our society's divisions (e.g., white churches, black churches, Hispanic churches); unless language differences are too great

5. Churches should reflect our oneness in Christ, not our society's divisions (e.g., white churches, black churches, Hispanic churches); unless language differences are too great

divisions (e.g., white churches, black churches, Hispanic

churches); unless language differences are too great

B. THE PRINCIPLE OF SYNERGY...

1. Synergy: the working together of two things to produce a result greater than the sum of their individual effects

greater than the sum of their individual effects

2. Two (or more) working together can accomplish more than their working separately

working separately

3. Jesus believed in the principle of synergy -

;

;

4. Barnabas believed in the principle of synergy -

5. The Holy Spirit believed in the principle of synergy - ,

,

6.

We do well to support teams of two or more, not just individuals working alone

working alone

C. THE PRACTICE OF FASTING...

We’ve talked about this principle before when we did the series of sermons last year on the Spiritual Disciplines.

Fasting is something that is expected and is mentioned fairly often int he Bible.

1. Jesus said His disciples would fast, and taught them how to fast -

;

- ;

;

6:16-18

6:16-18

2. The church at Antioch fasted -

2. The church at Antioch fasted -

3. Elders were appointed with prayer and fasting -

3. Elders were appointed with prayer and fasting -

4. Paul wrote of spouses fasting and prayer during periods of separation -

separation -

4. Paul wrote of spouses fasting and prayer during periods of separation -

5. Fasting in conjunction with prayer is suitable in the life of the Christian and the church

the Christian and the church