Untitled Sermon (35)
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19 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. 20 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. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 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, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 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. 27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 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). 29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
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19 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.
Antioch- a crossroads of culture and trade… Antioch in Syria. Because of the persecution, they spoke the word to Jews.
Antioch was crowded, cosmopolitan.
Many languages spoken there, but the one universal language was greek.
Christ was the greek work for Messiah, the anointed one. The followers of Jesus were known as messianists, or Christians… see vs. 26.
20 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.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
Barnabas is sent to Antioch to confirm the reports, and to see to it that proper protocol and training were being followed.
23 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,
Barnabas saw untrained, uneducated, a mishmash of everyone coming to the Lord and teaching and preaching after they did so.
Revival.
24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.
Barnabas’ humility and faith allowed him to see the grace of God at work among these people.
barnabas saw a need, and he saw the need to build roots in these people… he knew saul could do that.
25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
the reason Barnabas brought Saul to Antioch was that a great number of non-Jews were becoming believers. Unlike the ‘circumcision party’ we noted in 11:2, Barnabas seems to have taken what had happened in Caesarea as a firm sign that there was now an open door for non-Jews to be welcomed in to full fellowship alongside Jewish believers.
26 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.
27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
28 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).
At once, the Christians in Antioch do not say to themselves, ‘How shall we survive?’, but ‘How can we help those who will be in a worse position than ourselves?’ And so they resolve to send help to Jerusalem; and it is Barnabas and Saul who are chosen to take the money they collect.
29 So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
What matters far more is, of course, that the church should always be open to the cry of the poor, from whatever quarter it comes, and should always be ready to respond by sending its best help and its best people. The first ‘Christians’ were not just known as ‘the king’s people’. They were known as people who, precisely because that ‘king’ was Jesus himself, were committed at the deepest level to giving themselves in love to one another and to all in need.
30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
Bottom line:
The Message of the Gospel Multiplies the Mission
The Message of the Gospel Multiplies the Mission
Mission doesn’t look for an idea it fulfils a need.
35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Message of the Gospel Multiplies the Mission
The Message of the Gospel Multiplies the Mission
Mission doesn’t serve itself, it serves a spiritual need.
If your mission strokes your ego it is probably not God’s mission.
If your mission fulfils a need in your life it is probably not God’s mission.
If your mission makes you feel good, is easy to fulfil, and requires no commitment whatsoever, it is probably not God’s mission.
Jesus always sends his disciples and his church to meet a spiritual need. It may begin with some obvious physical need, but the end game is the spiritual condition of those being served.
The Message of the Gospel Multiplies the Mission
The Message of the Gospel Multiplies the Mission
Mission is always everything about Jesus and nothing about me.
26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27 John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.” 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.