The Return to Antioch in Syria
Verse by Verse Study of the Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted
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HOOK
HOOK
DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE
It’s the 30th day of November— Monday!— Happy birthday to Ate Rubie Ancheta
Last Thursday here at “The Message” we looked at the things that took place when Paul and Barnabas was in Lystra and Derbe— when they thought that Paul and Barnabas are gods in human form [Barnabas as Zeus and Paul as Hermes] they brought them offering— Paul also healed a man lamed since birth in Lystra— and from these accounts we learned:
IT IS FAITH THAT HEALS SPIRITUALLY AND PHYSICALLY
I SHALL HELP PEOPLE TURN FROM THEIR WORTHLESS IDOLS TO THE LIVING GOD
Paul was dragged and left outside of the city thinking that he was dead— he got up and went back to the city and left with Barnabas to go to Derbe— now let’s see what happened to them afterwards when they went back to Antioch in Syria [Remember Pisidian Antioch and Antioch in Syria are two different places— you’ll see that in the map that I shared to you last week]— Open your Bible to ACTS 14:21-28— today we will be able to finish chapter 14
When studying the Bible, look for words that defines the CHARACTER of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit— keep an eye on COMMANDS to obey— good EXAMPLES to follow, and bad examples to avoid— PROMISES that you could claim— sins to CONFESS— CHALLENGES you encountered— and ENCOURAGEMENT to keep you going
READ ACTS 14:21-28
BOOK
BOOK
21 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. 24 After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25 and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
WHAT: The completion of Paul’s and Barnabas’ first missionary journey
WHERE: A brief stay in Derbe and went back the way the came— and from Attalia, they sailed back to Antioch in Syria— SHOW MAP
WHEN: Early church— first missionary journey [AD 40-66]
WHO: Paul, Barnabas, disciples, elders that they have appointed— the church in Antioch
WHY: To appoint Elders in each church
After a brief stop in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas concluded their first missionary journey by retracing their steps to strengthen the newly founded churches in Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, Perga and also perhaps in Attalia
LOOK
LOOK
STRENGTHENING THE DISCIPLES AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO REMAIN TRUE TO THE FAITH
Strengthening and encouraging the disciples— for them to remain true to the faith is key to personal growth and church growth— how do we strengthen them?— 2 PETER 3:18, 1 PETER 2:2, JAMES 2:26— Teach them knowledge about our Lord— begin with lite to heavy teaching— encourage them to apply what they learned
WE MUST GO THROUGH MANY HARDSHIPS TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Serving the Lord is very fulfilling though it comes with many difficulties— we have to endure hardships— ROMANS 5:3-5
PAUL AND BARNABAS APPOINTED ELDERS FOR THEM IN EACH CHURCH
I want you to know that they appointed Elders— they did not elected them— one aspect of strengthening the churches was installing proper leadership to care for the community— 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-12, TITUS 1:5-8
They committed to the Lord their appointed elders through prayer and fasting
After going to Pisidian Antioch, they went to Pampylia— and after they preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia [a port city]— from there, they sailed back to Antioch in Syria— upon their arrival in Antioch…
THEY GATHERED THE CHURCH TOGETHER AND REPORTED ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE THROUGH THEM
Reporting is an important part of church planting— keeping everyone inform of what the Lord is doing in our home churches is not just “responsible stewardship”, but also to encourage one another
In their report, they told the church in Antioch how God has opened the door of opportunities for the Gentiles [non-Jews] to come to faith— and then Paul and Barnabas stayed with the disciples in Antioch for a long time
Out of this devotional study today— we are taught or reminded three things:
Strengthen the disciples— teach and help them to apply what they learned
Appoint Elders— to care for the community
Report what God had done
Let me rephrase these in sentences that will be easier for us to remember
TOOK
TOOK
I WILL STRENGTHEN AND ENCOURAGE THE DISCIPLES TO REMAIN TRUE TO THE FAITH
I SHALL APPOINT ELDERS AND LEADERS FOR EVERY CHURCH THAT I PLANT
I WILL REPORT ALL WHAT GOD HAD DONE THROUGH ME
SING
SING
Anton Aquino— Your Heart Today