Lessons From Antioch
Notes
Transcript
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Three lessons from Antioch
In verses 19-21, we see that even though persecution and heartache are painful,
Trials Can Provide Opportunity For Christ’s Mission
Trials Can Provide Opportunity For Christ’s Mission
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
Persecution, upon initial observation, seems to be a terrible and painful thing.
It is. It lessens the enjoyment of our human experience.
But for us, in Christ, as Christ church. We must remember that God’s primary goal for us as Christians is for us to be worshipers of Him who multiply ourselves by making more worshipers of Him.
We derive our complete enjoyment in him and call others to do the same.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Remember, the mission matters most.
We see how, in the midst of pain, suffering, trials, and persecution, the scattered church kept the mission front and center.
We should too!
This Coronavirus situation....
It is an opportunity for Christ’s mission.
The civil unrest and uncertainty...
It is an opportunity for Christ’s mission.
Any transition or change these current circumstances may bring...
They are an opportunity for Christ’s mission.
How do we seize the opportunity?
We do what they did when they were scattered.
“speaking the word” - sharing our hope in Christ with others. Proving that our joy isn’t dependent upon health, a politician, or an economy.
“ preaching the Lord Jesus” - We invite others to trust in our King. We tell them they can have the same joy and help that we have in these uncertain times.
Our times may be uncertain, but our savior is not!
I love how the text describes how God responded with their faithfulness to Him and His mission despite their circumstances...
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
Seizing the opportunity trials bring can lead to the blessing of God.
Trials Can Provide Opportunity For Christ’s Mission
Trials Can Provide Opportunity For Christ’s Mission
In verses 22-26, we see that sometimes, In order to bring the church to where it needs to go,
God Will Use Multiple Builders
God Will Use Multiple Builders
The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
The Jerusalem Church heard of what God was doing through normal believers preaching the gospel.
God wasn’t just using the main church leaders like Peter, John, and James.
He was using ordinary, faithful believers who were scattered.
And in so doing, the church was thriving everywhere. Especially in Antioch.
But, when Barnabas recognized the amazing work of God in Antioch, he also recognized that he needed help in order to do what God wanted to do in the church.
So he goes to get Saul.
And then, they began to build together. Work together.
But it’s important for us to recognize that Barnabas understood something important.
Barnabas and the apostles did not hold a patent on church growth.
Sometimes, in order for a church to get to where God intends for it to go he will use different people. Not the original people. Or maybe the original worker will take a support role.
I’m sure the original preachers in Antioch were still around.
But God intended the next phase for the church in Antioch to be led by Saul and Barnabas.
It’s not a competition. All are participating in working on what God is building.
In 1st Corinthians, Paul rebukes the church in Corinth for losing sight of this reality.
They were forming factions.
“I follow Paul, I follow Apollos, I follow Peter.”
He says Christ is not divided like this. Jesus is using all of them. And ultimately, God is responsible for how strong the church gets.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
“I follow Pastor Caleb”
“I follow Pastor Dave”
“I follow Pastor Pisick”
Any time there are changes to church leadership or even new partners working with current leaders, we can’t lose sight of the fact that Jesus is king of His Church.
Builders, shepherds, and leaders in a church are merely temporary instruments serving the permanent king!
And sometimes those builders, shepherds, and leaders need to step aside when God leads them to. Sometimes they need to go to Tarsus and bring the next builder back so he can step in.
When this happens, the church needs to ask: Do we really believe that God is the one who gives the growth?
Do we believe that this church is dependent upon this person? Or is it dependent upon God?
Do we believe that God can use a Saul to continue building what former preachers laid the foundation for?
This is were it is about to get real for you First Baptist Church.
In verses 22-26, we see that sometimes, In order to bring the church to where it needs to go,
God Will Use Multiple Builders
God Will Use Multiple Builders
Even though location can separate believers...
Christ’s Church Is One Body
Christ’s Church Is One Body
Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Here we see the church of Jerusalem building up the church in Antioch.
We hear a warning for the entire church. This warning leads the disciples to all participate in helping one another.
Here are some things they didn’t do:
They didn’t store up for themselves food.
Instead, they gave generously.
They didn’t store up for themselves ammunition or swords.
Instead, they trusted God’s provision in providing church community and leadership for an upcoming time of trouble.
Maybe some of you have seen some viral “prophetic” words online. To me, these viral prophetic warnings are more “American dream” than Christian.
Let me quickly give you a bit of a prophetic warning regarding viral “prophetic” warnings.
When a, so called, “prophetic warning” is followed by instructions that contradict the prophetic warnings found in this book, be weary of them. Don’t put your full trust in them.
I’m not saying that all things that are “prophesied” regarding events are not going to happen. I don’t know that. But I am telling you that there are many “so called” prophetic words that need to be tested.
Test them the way the Bereans do in Acts 17
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Does what this person is telling me to do match what God tells me to do?
Specifically,
Regarding our commitment to the entire body?
Regarding our commitment to the mission of Jesus?
Regarding our commitment to heaven?
Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Luke 12 warns us not to put your trust in what you can store up for yourself here.
And even this text we are reading shows us that churches should care and share with each other when prophetic words are given.
But, notice how the prophetic words given here cause the Antioch church to strengthen their bond with the other churches throughout their region.
“So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”
They didn’t just hunker down and say:
“every family for themselves!”
“Get your swords to protect your stuff!”
“Be afraid because your quality of life is at risk!”
They realized how interconnected they really were.
They are “one body”.
The church is meant to care for one another.
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Even though location can separate believers...
Christ’s Church Is One Body
Christ’s Church Is One Body
Summation
3 Lessons from Antioch
Trials can provide opportunity for the mission.
God will use multiple builders.
Christ’s Church is one body.