Series: Encounter
Sermon Recap
Acts 11 introduces us to a church that
understood the gospel was not meant to stop with them. As believers were
scattered because of persecution, they carried the message of Jesus with them
and began reaching people who were different from them. The church in Antioch
became a picture of what happens when ordinary believers take the gospel
seriously: people hear the good news of Jesus, lives are changed, disciples are
made, and sending is celebrated.
But the story didn’t stop with them. Barnabas
arrives and sees the grace of God at work. He encourages the believers to
remain faithful, then goes to find Paul (Saul) and brings him to Antioch.
Together, they spend a year teaching and discipling the church. The result is
significant: the disciples are called Christians for the first time.
A healthy church doesn’t simply gather
people, it reaches one more, makes disciples, surrenders everything, and sends
people out.
Acts 11:19-30
[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. (ESV)
Acts 13:1-3
[1] Now there were in the church at Antioch
prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. [2] While they were
worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me
Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” [3] Then after
fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. (ESV)
Discussion Questions
- What stands out to you most in Acts 11:19-30 and Acts 13:1-3?
- Which of these five Upstate Church Commitments most challenges you right now? Why?
- Why do you think it can be difficult to share the gospel with people who are lost?
- Who is one person God has placed in your life who needs to hear the gospel?
- How can we speak truth to someone without losing grace?
- What’s the difference between helping someone attend church and helping someone follow Jesus?
- Who are you intentionally discipling?
- What makes surrender difficult for you?
- Why would sending out some of their key leaders require faith?
- What is one specific step God is asking you to take this week?
Closing Thoughts
The believers in Antioch were willing to
reach people who were different from them, speak the truth with grace, invest
deeply in discipleship, give generously to meet needs, and ultimately send
their own people to take the gospel somewhere else.
We should ask ourselves:
Who is the “one more” God may be putting in
front of us?
Who needs to hear the gospel from us?
Who needs someone to patiently help them
follow Jesus?
And what might God be asking us to surrender
so that someone else can encounter Christ?
END
No comments:
Post a Comment