"THE BOOK OF ACTS"

Lessons From Antioch (11:19-30)

INTRODUCTION
  1. A wonderful example in New Testament times was the church in Antioch of Syria...
    1. Begun by disciples who had been in Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-21
    2. Where disciples of Christ were first called "Christians" - Ac 11:26
  2. The church in Antioch of Syria would later...
    1. Serve as Paul's starting point for his three missionary journeys - Ac 13:1-3
    2. Send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem to resolve the issue of circumcision - Ac 15:1-2

[In our text for this lesson (Ac 11:19-30), we can glean from the church in Antioch of Syria several things that are worthy of emulation. Let's start with...]

  1. HOW TO START A CHURCH
    1. CHURCHES CAN BEGIN IN VARIOUS WAYS...
      1. Paul started many churches through his missionary journeys - e.g., Ac 14:21
      2. Others start when a person or family moves to an area where there is no church
      3. Sadly, today many churches begin as a result of division
    2. CHURCHES START BEST WHEN CHRISTIANS "SWARM"...
      1. Like bees swarming from one hive to begin another
      2. The church in Antioch began when disciples came from Jerusalem - Ac 11:19-20
      3. Today, "church plantings" most often succeed when several families begin a new work

      [What is often needed to for more churches are not just more preachers, but more families willing to be the nucleus of a new work, whether locally or abroad. From the church at Antioch, we can also learn...]

  2. HOW TO BE A STRONG CHURCH
    1. MANY CHURCHES HAVE MEMBERS WHO PROFESS FAITH...
      1. They may love to assemble and express their faith in praise
      2. They may even confess their faith to friends and neighbors
      3. But sometimes their faith is not accompanied with true repentance
    2. ANTIOCH WAS COMPOSED OF PENITENT BELIEVERS...
      1. They "believed and turned to the Lord" - Ac 11:21
      2. They turned from sin, and turned to the Lord (an indication of true repentance)
      3. More than mere confessors, they were true converts - e.g., 2Co 7:10-11

      [A church made up of penitent believers who became such through "godly sorrow" will be a strong, vibrant church. From the church at Antioch, we can learn...]

  3. HOW TO BE A GROWING CHURCH
    1. BY PREACHING THE LORD JESUS...
      1. They were "preaching the Lord Jesus" - Ac 11:20
      2. Today, some preach the "church", almost to the exclusion of preaching "Christ"!
        1. Consider much of the evangelistic tools we sometimes use:
          1. Which stress "undenominational Christianity"
          2. Or focus on the "NT pattern for the church"
        2. What can be the result of such preaching?
          1. People may be converted to the idea of the church, rather than to the Lord Jesus!
          2. Extent of faithfulness may be limited to church related activities (e.g., attendance)
      3. We need to be sure that we preach the Lord Jesus!
        1. In other words, proclaiming that Jesus is Lord - cf. Mt 28:18; Ac 2:36; 10:36
        2. The result of preaching Jesus as Lord?
          1. They will be faithful disciples in all things that Jesus taught - Mt 28:19-20
          2. People will then be converted to Christ, as well as to His church!
    2. WITH THE HAND OF THE LORD...
      1. At Antioch, "the hand of the Lord was with them" - Ac 11:21
      2. Without Divine help, we can never have the right kind of growth
        1. It is God who opens doors of opportunity - Col 4:3
        2. It is God who gives the increase - 1Co 3:5-7
      3. With God's help, we should expect growth
        1. That is the nature of the kingdom - Mt 13:31-33
        2. Where there is little or no growth, something is amiss!
    3. WITH THE AID OF TEACHERS...
      1. Like Barnabas, who encouraged them by word and example - Ac 11:22-24
      2. Like Saul, who together with Barnabas taught a great many people - Ac 11:25-26

      [Preach Jesus as Lord, pray for God's helping hand, utilize those able to teach, and a church will grow! Finally, we learn from the church at Antioch, when faced with an impending crisis...]

  4. HOW TO BE A GENEROUS CHURCH
    1. ACCORDING TO ABILITY...
      1. The prophet Agabus foretold of a famine to come upon the world - Ac 11:27-28
      2. The disciples gave according to their ability - Ac 11:29
      3. Which is all that God asks of any congregation - 1Co 16:2; 2Co 8:12-14
    2. WITH DETERMINATION...
      1. To send relief to the brethren in Judea - Ac 11:29
      2. To send via trusted messengers (Barnabas and Saul) - Ac 11:30; cf. 1Co 16:3
CONCLUSION
  1. The church at Antioch was where disciples of Christ were first called Christians - Ac 11:26; cf. Ac 26:28; 1Pe 4:16
  2. For reasons we have considered, they are certainly worthy of our imitation! - cf. Php 3:17