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TITLE:  THE ANTIOCH MODEL: A HIGH IMPACT CHURCH

 TEXT:  ACTS 11:19-30

INTRODUCTION: (1) THERE IS MUCH TRUTH IN THE HUMOROUS ADAGE THAT SOME PEOPLE MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

* OTHERS WATCH THINGS HAPPEN.

** WHILE STILL OTHERS ARE LEFT WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED.

*** NOW WHAT IS TRUE OF INDIVIDUALS IS ALSO TRUE OF CHURCHES.

**** SOME CHURCHES ARE MODELS, AGGRESSIVELY TRAINING AND AGGRESSIVELY REACHING OUT WITH THE GOSPEL TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON THE WORLD.

(2) OTHER CHURCHES ARE CONTENT TO FOCUS INWARD AND PAY STAFF PEOPLE TO DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY WHILE LAY SPECTATORS PAY FOR THE WORK TO BE DONE.

* STILL OTHERS HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THEIR MAIN MANDATE IS AS A CHURCH AND ARE CONTENT TO EXIST AND MEET THEIR BUDGET, MAKING AN IMPACT ONLY ON THEIR MEMBER’S SOCIAL LIVES.

** WELL, IN ACTS 11 WE SEE THE START OF A MODEL CHURCH, A HIGH IMPACT CHURCH FOR THE GLORY OF CHRIST.

*** IN FACT, ACTS 11:19-30 INTRODUCES TO US A LEADERSHIP TEAM AND A CONGREGATION THAT GOD USED TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

**** AND THIS CHURCH IS THE ANTIOCH CHURCH, THE FIRST BEACHHEAD OF CHRISTIANITY IN THE PAGAN GENTILE WORLD.

(3) NOW THIS CHURCH WAS NOT A PARKING LOT BUT A LAUNCHING PAD.

* IT WAS AN EQUIPPING OUTREACH CENTER, IT WAS A HIGH IMPACT RESOURCE PROTOTYPE CHURCH THAT UNDERSTOOD ITS MISSION.

** WE’LL FIND OUT TODAY THAT THIS CHURCH HAD AN IMPRESSIVE BEGINNING. FOR IN ACTS 11:21 IT RECORDS THAT “A LARGE NUMBER WHO BELIEVED TURNED TO THE LORD” UNDER THE MINISTRY OF GREEK SPEAKING JEWS WHO FLED JERUSALEM FOLLOWING STEPHEN’S MARTYRDOM.

*** THE ANTIOCH CHURCH GREW DRAMATICALLY UNDER THE TEACHING OF BARNABAS AND PAUL.

**** IT WAS IN ANTIOCH THAT THE NAME CHRISTIANS WAS FIRST GIVEN TO THE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST IN ACTS 11:26.

(4) THE ANTIOCH CHURCH SENT OUT PAUL AND BARNABAS ON THEIR FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY IN ACTS 13:1-4.

* THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH WAS BURDENED TO KEEP THE GOSPEL AS A GOSPEL OF GRACE AND NOT OF WORKS, IN ACTS 15.

** BUT OF ALL THE FACTORS THAT MADE THE ANTIOCH CHURCH STRONG, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT WAS ITS SUBMISSION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.

*** FOR BOTH THE LEADERS IN ACTS 11:24 AND ACTS 13:9 AND THE CONGREGATION IN ACTS 13:2&4 OF THE ANTIOCH CHURCH WERE SPIRIT FILLED.

**** THEY WERE UTTERLY DEPENDENT ON THE SPIRIT, WHO ENERGIZED EVERY PHASE OF THEIR MINISTRY.

(5) AND WHAT MARKS A SPIRIT-FILLED CHURCH?

* A SPIRIT FILLED CHURCH MAY BE DEFINED SIMPLY AS ONE WHOSE MEMBERS WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD.

** THEY USE THEIR GIFTS AND TALENTS AND RESOURCES THROUGH THE CHURCH TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS.

*** AND SINCE GOD REVEALS HIS WILL IN SCRIPTURE, A SPIRIT FILLED CHURCH MUST BE DEEPLY COMMITTED TO THE WORD OF GOD AND ITS SUFFICIENCY.

**** THE WORD MUST BE ITS AUTHORITY AND OPERATING MANUAL AND SO THE CHURCH WILL BE A TEACHING CHURCH AND EQUIPPING CENTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUTREACH FOR THE PURPOSE OF GLORIFYING OUR GREAT GOD.

(6) AND ANTIOCH WAS THAT KIND OF CHURCH. AND BELOVED THAT’S THE KIND OF CHURCH WE WANT TO BE.

* A HIGH IMPACT, EQUIPPING, EVANGELIZING, DOCTRINALLY SOUND, ESTABLISHED, RESOURCE, GREAT COMMISSION CHURCH.

** AND FOR 20 YEARS THE LORD HAS BEEN WORKING TO DEVELOP US INTO THAT KIND OF CHURCH THROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES AND THROUGH VERY GOOD TIMES THE LAST 4 YEARS.

*** IT HAS BEEN REFINING US AND MOLDING US AND WE’VE NOT ARRIVED, WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO.

**** BUT I CAN HONESTLY SAY WE ARE ON THE PATH. I’VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY OPEN DOORS BEFORE US AS A CHURCH.

(7) AND I PRAY THAT IF THE LORD TARRIES, THAT OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS WE WILL BE FOCUSED ON THAT PATH AND COMMITTED TO BEING AN ANTIOCH CHURCH, A WORLD OUTREACH CENTER THAT IS NOT A PARKING LOT (WHICH LOOKS PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW) BUT A LAUNCHING PAD.

* AND BY GOD’S GRACE, I WANT TO GLEAN SOME PRINCIPLES FROM THE BOOK OF ACTS THAT COMMUNICATES THIS ANTIOCH MODEL, WHICH IS THE TITLE OF OUR MESSAGE TODAY, “THE ANTIOCH MODEL: A HIGH IMPACT CHURCH.”

** AND UNDER THAT TITLE I WANT TO LOOK AT 5 THINGS ABOUT THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH.

*** THE GENESIS OF THIS CHURCH, THE GROWTH OF THIS CHURCH, THE GENEROSITY OF THIS CHURCH, THE GREATNESS OF THIS CHURCH AND THE GROUNDING OF THIS CHURCH.

**** AND WE’LL BEGIN TODAY BY LOOKING AT THE GENESIS OF THIS CHURCH, LOOK AT ACTS 11:19-21 PLEASE.

I. THE GENESIS, (READ ACTS 11:19-21)

A. NOW THIS PASSAGE PICKS UP WHERE ACTS 8:4 LEFT OFF DISCUSSING THE EFFECT OF THE PERSECUTION IN CONNECTION WITH STEPHEN’S MARTYRDOM.

* AND THAT PERSECUTION, LED BY SAUL OF TARSUS, SCATTERED THE JERUSALEM CHURCH ALL OVER.

** IN OTHER WORDS, UNDER THE SOVEREIGN WORK OF GOD, THE SALT FROM THE JERUSALEM SALT-SHAKER WAS SPREAD OUT OVER ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA AND NOTE TO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH, JUST AS THE LORD COMMANDED IN ACTS 1:8 (READ IT).

*** NOW AS YOU STUDY THE BOOK OF ACTS, YOU SEE THIS UNFOLD, THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST BECOME WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, THE FIRST CHURCH AND THROUGHOUT ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH, THE ANTIOCH CHURCH.

**** AND THAT IS THE PLAN OF GOD, THE GREAT COMMISSION IS FULFILLED BY PLANTING, ESTABLISHING AND MULTIPLYING CHURCHES.

1. AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS NOW HERE IN THE GENTILE WORLD OF ANTIOCH SYRIA, WE SEE THE BEGINNING, THE GENESIS, THE START OF A CHURCH IN ANTIOCH THROUGH THE PERSECUTION OF THE CHURCH AT JERUSALEM.

* FOR A LARGE NUMBER WHO BELIEVED TURNED TO THE LORD. AND HERE WE HAVE THE BEGINNINGS OF AN ASSEMBLY OF BELIEVERS WHO WILL TURN INTO A CHURCH.

** NOW LET ME TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND GIVE YOU SOME BACKGROUND ON WHY THIS CHURCH WILL BECOME SUCH A STRATEGIC CHURCH.

*** ANTIOCH OF SYRIA WAS LOCATED ABOUT 300 MILES NORTH OF JERUSALEM (GO TO THE FIRST MAP).

**** NOW ANTIOCH OF SYRIA NOT TO BE MISTAKEN WITH ANTIOCH OF PISIDIA WAS ONE OF 16 ANTIOCHS IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, BUT ANTIOCH OF SYRIA WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.

2. FOR IT WAS A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA WITH A POPULATION OF HALF A MILLION, IN FACT ANTIOCH WAS RANKED AS THE THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE OF THAT DAY, FOLLOWING ONLY ROME AND ALEXANDRIA (GO TO PICTURE NO. 2).

* ANTIOCH WAS NOTED FOR ITS CULTURE AND COMMERCE SINCE MANY TRADE ROUTES PASSED THROUGH IT AND IT WAS A PORT CITY.

** SO IT WAS A STRATEGIC CITY THAT WOULD BE USED TO REACH OTHER GENTILE AREAS AND SO BECAME A BASE OF OPERATIONS FOR PAUL’S MISSIONARY JOURNEYS.

*** NOW MOVING ON THIS CHURCH WILL REALLY TAKE OFF AND GROW AND THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT AS WE MOVE ON TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH, LOOK AT ACTS 11:22-26.

II. THE GROWTH, (READ ACTS 11:22-26)

A. NOW THE NEWS OF A LARGE NUMBER OF GENTILES BEING CONVERTED REACHES JERUSALEM AND THAT CHURCH DECIDES TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO INVESTIGATE.

* AND THE PERSON WHO IS SENT IS A MAN NAMED BARNABAS, A GODLY MAN, FOR IN V. 24 IT SAYS HE WAS A GOOD MAN AND FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND FAITH.

** AND ACCORDING TO V. 23, BARNABAS SAW THE GRACE OF GOD AT WORK WITH THESE BELIEVERS AND HE REJOICED AT THAT.

*** WHICH REMINDS US THAT THE GRACE OF GOD MAY BE INVISIBLE, BUT ITS EFFECTS ARE READILY SEEN.

**** AND CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS WERE BROUGHT TO THE LORD. THIS CHURCH WAS REACHING OUT TO ITS COMMUNITY TO BEGIN WITH, IT’S JERUSALEM.

1. AND THE HARVEST WAS TOO VAST FOR BARNABAS TO HANDLE ALONE, SO HE WENT FOR HELP.

* AND THE BEST POSSIBLE MAN FOR THE JOB WAS SAUL OF TARSUS WHO BECAME PAUL OF TARSUS.

** SO BARNABAS WENT TO TARSUS, CAUGHT UP WITH PAUL AND BROUGHT HIM TO ANTIOCH.

*** AND THESE TWO GIFTED MEN FORMED A POWERFUL MINISTRY TEAM.

**** THEY FACED THE DAUNTING TASK OF SHEPHERDING A LARGE NUMBER OF NEW BELIEVERS IN A HOSTILE PAGAN ENVIRONMENT.

2. AND WHAT WAS THEIR SOLUTION? WHAT WAS THE MAIN THING THEY NEEDED TO DO?

* WELL, ACCORDING TO V. 26 THEIR SOLUTION WAS FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR TO MEET WITH THE CHURCH, FOR IT IS NOW CALLED A CHURCH IN V. 26, AND DURING WHICH TIME THEY TAUGHT CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS.

** AND UNLIKE MANY IN TODAY’S CHURCH, THEY KNEW THE MOST URGENT NEED WAS TO BE TAUGHT THE WORD OF GOD.

*** AND IN MASS MEETINGS OF THE ANTIOCH CHURCH, BARNABAS AND SAUL DID JUST THAT, THEY WERE TEACHERS AND EQUIPPERS SO THE BELIEVERS AT ANTIOCH WOULD BE EQUIPPED TO DO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, EPHESIANS 4:11-15 (READ THEM).

**** NOW GOING BACK TO ANTIOCH, BARNABUS AND PAUL WERE TEACHERS, EQUIPPERS AND THEIR EXAMPLE IS AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH TO FOLLOW.

3. TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD IS AT THE HEART OF THE CHURCH’S MINISTRY. AND JUST SO YOU DON’T THINK I AM STRETCHING TOO MUCH OUT OF THIS TEXT, NOTE THAT AT THE END OF PAUL AND BARNABAS’ FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY, AFTER BEING DISPATCHED BY THE CHURCH OF ANTIOCH TO GO TO JERUSALEM, THEY REPORT BACK TO ANTIOCH AND HERE’S WHAT IT SAYS IN ACTS 15:35.

* ACTS 15:35 – “BUT PAUL AND BARNABAS STAYED IN ANTIOCH, TEACHING AND PREACHING WITH MANY OTHERS ALSO THE WORD OF THE LORD.”

** NOW PAUL AND BARNABAS PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF HERE IN ACTS 15:35, DOING WHAT? TEACHING AND PREACHING…THE WORD OF THE LORD.

*** AND AGAIN TEACHING THE WORD OF GOD IS AT THE HEART OF THE CHURCH’S MINISTRY.

**** IN FACT, THE APOSTLES IN ACTS 6 MADE CLEAR THAT TEACHING THE WORD IS THE HIGHEST PRIORITY OF CHURCH LEADERS IN ACTS 6:3&4 (READ THEM).

4. AND AS WE GO BACK TO ANTIOCH IN ACTS 11 FROM JERUSALEM IN ACTS 6, THE PRIORITY IS STILL THE SAME, TEACH AND PREACH THE WORD, BE INVOLVED IN ORDERED LEARNING OF THE WORD.

* AND BARNABAS AND PAUL DID THEIR JOB WELL. FOR MOST LIKELY THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH MENTIONED IN ACTS 13 WERE PROBABLY THEIR DISCIPLES.

** AND THEN LAST OF ALL BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, NOTICE IN ACTS 11:26 THAT “THE DISCIPLES WERE FIRST CALLED CHRISTIANS IN ANTIOCH”.

*** AND NO DOUBT THEY WORE THAT NAME AS A BADGE OF HONOR, ALTHOUGH INITIALLY IT WAS INTENDED TO BE USED AS A PHRASE OF DERISION MEANING, “OF THE PARTY OF CHRIST”.

**** BUT THEY WERE OBVIOUSLY NOT ASHAMED TO BE CALLED BY THAT NAME BY THEIR ACTIONS THAT FOLLOW, WHICH LEADS US TO OUR THIRD POINT TODAY, THE GENEROSITY OF THIS CHURCH, LOOK AT ACTS 11:27-30.

III. THE GENEROSITY, (READ VV. 27-30)

A. NOW OVER THE NEXT 3 POINTS, I NEED TO BE BRIEF TO FINISH THE MESSAGE TODAY.

* SO LET ME SAY IN A SUMMARY, THE JEWISH CHURCH AT JERUSALEM RECEIVED AN OFFERING FROM THE GENTILE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH.

** AND THE REASON FOR THIS OFFERING WAS THAT THERE WAS A FAMINE IN ISRAEL AND THE JERUSALEM CHURCH WAS HIT HARD.

*** SO THE ANTIOCH CHURCH RESPONDS AND EACH BELIEVER GAVE IN PROPORTION TO HIS MEANS, AND THE CHURCH SENT THIS OFFERING OF MONEY BY THE HANDS OF BARNABAS AND SAUL TO THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH AND JERUSALEM.

**** AND ACTS 12:25 RECORDS BARNABAS AND PAUL’S RETURN TO ANTIOCH AFTER FULFILLING THEIR MISSION OF HELP.

1. ACTS 12:25 SAYS: “AND BARNABAS AND SAUL RETURNED FROM JERUSALEM WHEN THEY HAD FULFILLED THEIR MISSION, TAKING ALONG WITH THEM JOHN, WHO WAS ALSO CALLED MARK.”

* SO BARNABAS AND SAUL FULFILL THEIR MISSION AND RETURN TO WHAT APPEARS TO BE THEIR HOME CHURCH.

** BUT THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS, THE ANTIOCH CHURCH SAW A NEED FINANCIALLY AND MET THE NEED.

*** AND IN APPLICATION, THE NEED TODAY IN OUR JERUSALEM, JUDEA AND SAMARIA IS NOT PHYSICAL FROM FAMINE, BUT SPIRITUAL FROM A FAMINE OF THE WORD.

**** AND GENEROUS GIVING OF OUR FIRST AND BEST SHOULD BE GIVEN THROUGH THE LOCAL CHURCH TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING WORK AND THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

2. AND IT TAKES MONEY TO EQUIP, TRAIN AND HELP OTHER CHURCHES AND TO HELP ESTABLISH ANTIOCH CHURCHES AROUND THE WORLD AND TO PLANT CHURCHES ON THE MISSION FIELD.

* AND WE WILL GIVE YOU A PROPOSAL, A DESIRE OF OUR HEART AT OUR CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION MEETING TODAY WITH OUR MISSIONS BUDGET WHICH WILL COMMUNICATE THE VISION WE HAVE TO BE AN ANTIOCH CHURCH.

** AND IT WILL TAKE GENEROUS SACRIFICIAL GIVING FOR THAT TO BE ACCOMPLISHED AND YOU HOLD THE KEY TO WHETHER THAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT YEAR AS WE CALL YOU TO PUT CHRIST FIRST IN YOUR GIVING THROUGH A COMMITMENT TO GIVING.

*** WELL, AS WE GO BACK TO ANTIOCH, THEY WERE A GENEROUS CHURCH AND MET THE NEED OF THE JERUSALEM CHURCH WHICH WOULD HAVE GONE A LONG WAY AND BREAKING DOWN THE WALLS BETWEEN JEWS AND GENTILES IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. THIS WAS A GREAT CHURCH.

**** WHICH LEADS US TO OUR 4TH POINT TODAY, THE GREATNESS OF THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH, TURN TO ACTS 13 WHERE WE’LL LOOK AT VERSES 1-4.

IV. THE GREATNESS (READ ACTS 13:1-4)

A. NOW IN SUMMARY, THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH WAS A GREAT CHURCH BECAUSE IT WAS A SENDING CHURCH, A SELFLESS CHURCH WITH A PLURALITY OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS THAT MINISTERED TO THE LORD, FASTED AND PRAYED.

* AND BECAUSE OF TIME, LET ME SAY THIS CHURCH WAS OBEDIENT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT’S CALL OF PAUL AND BARNABAS AND SENT THEM OUT ON THEIR FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

** NOW UNDERSTAND UP UNTIL NOW, THE JERUSALEM CHURCH HAD BEEN THE CENTER OF MINISTRY AND PETER WAS THE KEY APOSTLES THROUGH ACTS 1:12.

*** NOW THINGS START TO SHIFT IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, PAUL WILL START TO BECOME THE KEY APOSTLE AND ANTIOCH IN SYRIA WOULD BECOME A MINISTRY HUB, A CENTER OF MINISTRY.

**** AND THINK OF THE SACRIFICE OF THE ANTIOCH CHURCH. THEY WERE WILLING TO SEND OUT THEIR TWO BEST TEACHERS AND LEADERS TO PLANT NEW CHURCHES AND ESTABLISH THOSE CHURCHES IN THE FAITH WHICH WOULD PRODUCE THAT CYCLE OF PREACHING, PLANTING AND ESTABLISHING OTHER CHURCHES.

1. OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MAIN MANDATE OF THE CHURCH TO MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, TO BAPTIZE AND TO TEACH.

* THEY WERE COMMITTED TO ACTS 1:8 AND IT’S FULFILLMENT, THEY WERE A CHURCH THAT UNDERSTOOD IT’S MISSION AND IT’S FOCUS WAS UPWARD AND OUTWARD.

** THE LEADERS MINISTERED TO THE LORD AND UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH PRAYER AND FASTING SENT OUT TWO OF THEIR BEST ALONG WITH JOHN MARK ACCORDING TO ACTS 12:25 AND ACTS 13:5.

*** AND ANTIOCH WOULD BECOME A BASE OF OPERATIONS FOR PAUL AS HE WOULD BE SENT OUT BY THEM, RETURN AND REPORT BACK TO THEM IN ACTS 14:26-28 AT THE END OF THEIR FIRST MISSIONARY JOURNEY.

**** FOR ACTS 14:26-28 SAYS: “AND FROM THERE THEY SAILED TO ANTIOCH, FROM WHICH THEY HAD BEEN COMMENDED TO THE GRACE OF GOD FOR THE WORK THAT THEY HAD ACCOMPLISHED.”

V. 27 – “AND WHEN THEY HAD ARRIVED AND GATHERED THE CHURCH TOGETHER, THEY BEGAN TO REPORT ALL THINGS THAT GOD HAD DONE WITH THEM AND HOW HE HAD OPENED A DOOR OF FAITH TO THE GENTILES.”

V. 28 – “AND THEY SPENT A LONG TIME WITH THE DISCIPLES.”

2. NOW PAUL AND BARNABAS SPEND A LONG TIME WITH THIS CHURCH AS THEY REPORTED TO THEM ALL THAT GOD HAD DONE AND HOW THE LORD OPENED UP A DOOR OF FAITH TO THE GENTILES.

* BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THERE, IN ACTS 15:1-4 PAUL AND BARNABAS ARE DISPATCHED BACK TO JERUSALEM BY THE CHURCH, THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL TAKES PLACE.

** THEN THE JERUSALEM CHURCH SENDS PAUL AND BARNABAS BACK TO ANTIOCH WITH SOME OTHER MEN WITH AN OFFICIAL REPORT IN ACTS 15:22.

*** THEN IN ACTS 15:30 THEY DELIVER THIS LETTER TO ANTIOCH AND IN ACTS 15:35 PAUL AND BARNABAS STAY IN ANTIOCH AND TEACH AND PREACH THE WORD.

**** IN ACTS 15:36 PAUL AND BARNABAS START TO TAKE OFF FOR THEIR SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY AND HAVE A DISAGREEMENT OVER TAKING JOHN MARK, SO PAUL GOES ONE WAY, BARNABAS ANOTHER, TWO TEAMS ARE FORMED AND GUESS WHERE PAUL REPORTS BACK TO AT THE END OF HIS SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY IN ACTS 18:22&23.

3. TO THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH WHERE HE SPENDS SOME MORE TIME WITH THEM. AND AS THIS MAP SHOWS, PAUL BEGAN AND FINISHED HIS 2’D MISSIONARY JOURNEY FROM ANTIOCH.

* SO WHY WAS THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH A GREAT CHURCH?

** BECAUSE THEY WERE A SENDING CHURCH, A BASE OF OPERATIONS FOR PLANTING CHURCHES AND ESTABLISHING CHURCHES. (WE DESIRE TO DO THAT AND HAVE TWO OF OUR MEN AT TWO DIFFERENT CHURCHES TODAY IN NORTH OLMSTEAD AND DOVER).

*** AND TO BE A GREAT CHURCH, YOU NOT ONLY NEED TO BE A SACRIFICIAL CHURCH SENDING OUT SOME OF YOUR LEADERS, YOUR BEST, ALSO YOU NEED TO BE A GROUNDED CHURCH WHEN IT COMES TO THE GOSPEL.

*** WHICH IS OUR FIFTH AND FINAL POINT TODAY, THE GROUNDING, LOOK AT ACTS 15:1-5.

V. THE GROUNDING, (ACTS 15:1-5)

A. NOW AGAIN IN SUMMARY, JUDAIZERS CAME DOWN FROM JUDEA ADDING CIRCUMCISION AND KEEPING THE LAW TO THE GOSPEL, TEACHING A WORKS GOSPEL.

* BUT THE GOSPEL COMMUNICATES THAT WE ARE SAVED BECAUSE OF GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE BY CHRIST ALONE.

** AND THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH WAS GROUNDED ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT WHAT THESE JUDAIZERS AND PHARISEES WERE TEACHING WAS FALSE DOCTRINE.

*** FOR IN ACTS 15:2 THE BRETHREN OF THIS CHURCH DETERMINED TO SEND PAUL AND BARNABAS AND SOME OTHERS UP TO JERUSALEM, THE FIRST CHURCH, TO TAKE CARE OF THIS MATTER.

**** AND IT SAYS IN ACTS 15:3 THAT THESE MEN WERE “SENT ON THEIR WAY BY THE CHURCH” WHICH CONTEXTUALLY GOING BACK TO ACTS 14:21 IS THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH.

1. AND TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, AT JERUSALEM, THE APOSTLES AND ELDERS CONFIRMED WHAT THEY BELIEVED, THAT SALVATION IS BECAUSE OF GRACE ALONE, THROUGH FAITH ALONE BECAUSE OF CHRIST ALONE.

* THAT WORKS CANNOT BE ADDED TO THE GRACE OF THE GOSPEL. AND THIS WAS COMMUNICATED BACK TO THE ANTIOCH CHURCH, THE CENTER OF GENTILE CHRISTIANITY IN ACTS 15:22.

** AND THIS COMMUNICATION, THIS LETTER IS READ TO THE CHURCH IN ACTS 15:30&31 WHERE IT SAYS: “SO, WHEN THEY WERE SENT AWAY, THEY WENT DOWN TO ANTIOCH; AND HAVING GATHERED THE CONGREGATION TOGETHER, THEY DELIVERED THE LETTER.”

V. 31 – “AND WHEN THEY HAD READ IT, THEY REJOICED BECAUSE OF ITS ENCOURAGEMENT.”

*** NOW WHY DID THIS CONGREGATION REJOICE? WELL, THEY REJOICED IN THE TRUTH BECAUSE THEY WERE A WELL GROUNDED CHURCH, WHAT WE WOULD CALL BIBLICALLY AN ESTABLISHED CHURCH.

**** AND AN ESTABLISHED CHURCH UNDERSTANDS THE GOSPEL OF GRACE AND IT’S TEACHING AND DOESN’T ADD WORKS AND DOESN’T WATER DOWN THE GOSPEL TO MAKE IT MORE PALATABLE FOR QUOTE “SEEKERS” WHICH IS A MISNOMER IN ITSELF.

2. BUT THIS CHURCH WAS GROUNDED IN THE GOSPEL AND IT’S MISSION WAS MANIFEST BY PAUL WHO WENT AROUND HELPING TO ESTABLISH OTHER CHURCHES.

* AND THIS GREEK WORD WHICH YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN LIT. MEANS TO ESTABLISH, TO STRENGTHEN, TO MAKE STABLE, TO PLACE FIRMLY, TO SIT FAST, TO FIX, TO STEADFASTLY SET.

** AND THIS GREEK WORD AND IT’S COGNATES (WORDS THAT ARE DERIVED FROM IT AND RELATED TO IT) TALK ABOUT PAUL’S DESIRE TO ESTABLISH, STRENGTHEN, SUPPORT AND STABILIZE EXISTING CHURCHES.

*** AND THAT WAS PAUL’S PURPOSE ONCE A CHURCH WAS STARTED, TO SEE IT FULLY ESTABLISHED.

**** IN FACT, QUICKLY FOLLOW THIS WORD AND IT’S COGNATES. IN ACTS 14:21&22 SAYS: “AND AFTER THEY HAD PREACHED THE GOSPEL TO THAT CITY AND HAD MADE MANY DISCIPLES, THEY RETURNED TO LYSTRA AND TO ICONIUM AND TO ANTIOCH.”

V. 22 – “STRENGTHENING THE SOULS OF THE DISCIPLES, ENCOURAGING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, AND SAYING, “THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS WE MUST ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”

3. NOW LOOK DOWN TO ACTS 15:41 – “AND HE WAS TRAVELING THROUGH SYRIA AND CILICIA, STRENGTHENING THE CHURCHES.”

* AND THEN IN ACTS 16:5 IT SAYS: (READ IT).

** IN ACTS 18:22&23 IT SAYS: “AND WHEN HE HAD LANDED AT CAESAREA, HE WENT UP AND GREETED THE CHURCH, AND WENT DOWN TO ANTIOCH.”

V. 23 – “AND HAVING SPENT SOME TIME THERE, HE DEPARTED AND PASSED SUCCESSIVELY THROUGH THE GALATIAN REGION AND PHRYGIA, STRENGTHENING ALL THE DISCIPLES.”

*** AND BELOVED, MY POINT FROM ALL THESE VERSES IN ACTS AND OTHER ONES WE COULD LOOK UP IN THE CHURCH EPISTLES IS, THE WAY PAUL SAW THE GREAT COMMISSION BEING FULFILLED WAS BY SEEING CHURCHES FULLY ESTABLISHED.

**** FOR A FULLY ESTABLISHED CHURCH UNDERSTANDS IT’S MISSION. IT UNDERSTANDS THE GREAT COMMISSION, IT’S MAIN MANDATE WHICH IS NOT OPTIONAL.

4. THAT WAS PAUL’S METHOD, WHICH WAS GOD’S METHOD WHO ORDAINED THE CHURCH, TO PLANT OTHER CHURCHES AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS.

* IN FACT, PAUL’S EPISTLES ARE GOD’S BLUEPRINTS FOR ALL TIME FOR HIS CHURCH TO BE FULLY ESTABLISHED.

** AND OBVIOUSLY THE ANTIOCH CHURCH WAS A FULLY ESTABLISHED CHURCH.

AND IN SUMMARY AND IN WRAP UP: (1) OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS THAT IS OUR VISION AS PASTORS, AS ELDERS FOR THIS CHURCH, TO BE AN ANTIOCH CHURCH, A HIGH IMPACT CHURCH.

* OUR MOTTO FOR 2004 IS “MISSION 2004: HIGH IMPACT” – HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD.

** AND BELOVED, AN ANTIOCH CHURCH IS A SENDING CHURCH, A FULLY ESTABLISHED CHURCH, A GIVING CHURCH, A MISSIONS CHURCH, A TEACHING CHURCH, A CHURCH WITH MULTIPLE LEADERS AND A CHURCH THAT UNDERSTANDS THE GOSPEL.

*** AND FOR US TO BE THAT KIND OF CHURCH MEANS WE WILL HAVE TO BE FOCUSED ON OUR MISSION. WE MUST BE A CHURCH OF VISION, UPWARD AND OUTWARD FOCUSED.

**** AND QUITE FRANKLY IT WILL TAKE SACRIFICE FOR US TO BE THAT KIND OF CHURCH, BUT THAT’S WHAT THE LORD CALLS FOR, FOR US TO BE “LIVING SACRIFICES” IN ROMANS 12:1.

(2) AND BELOVED, QUITE FRANKLY, SINCE THIS IS THE CHURCH’S MAIN MANDATE, IT IS NOT OPTIONAL. WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE KNOW AND WHAT GOD HAS BEEN TEACHING US!

* AND HERE’S HOW IT CAN HAPPEN: NO. 1 CATCH THE VISION, COME TO OUR CONGREGATIONAL INFORMATION MEETING TODAY.

** NO. 2 PARTICIPATE IN THE ONGOING TRAINING PROCESSES THROUGH OUR ORDERED LEARNING. GET ON THE PATH TO WISDOM AND BEING ESTABLISHED.

*** NO. 3 PRAY FERVENTLY FOR THIS CHURCH AND THE ESTABLISHING OF IT AND FOR THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

**** NO. 4 USE YOUR GIFTS AND TALENTS THROUGH THE CHURCH. COMMIT TO ASSISTING IN THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES OF THE CHURCH, COMMITTING TIME AND RESOURCES TO HELP THE CHURCH BECOME INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE.

(3) AND NO. 5 GIVE GENEROUSLY OF YOUR FIRST AND BEST TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING WORK AND EXPANSION OF THE MINISTRY OF THIS CHURCH HERE AND AROUND THE WORLD.

* DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DON’T BE A SPECTATOR. PARTICIPATE, PRAY, PERSEVERE FOR THE PROGRESS OF THE GOSPEL.

** THE LORD HAS BEEN GOOD AND FAITHFUL OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS TO THIS CHURCH TO BRING US TO WHERE WE ARE, MAY WE GO FORWARD OVER THE NEXT 20 YEARS, LORD WILLING OR HOWEVER LONG HE ORDAINS, TO BE A HIGH IMPACT CHURCH FOR THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD.