II. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH
Subject:
The Church.Theme: Being a "Missionary Church."
Purpose: To see the long reaching effects of mission work
Text: Acts 11:19-30
I. INTRODUCTION:
The city of Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire; behind Rome and Alexandria, Egypt. This city had around 250,000 people during the time that Paul and the others were organizing a church there. It was located in Syria and was established in 300 BC by the Greeks and named after Antiochus. During New Testament times, this was Rome's capital for that part of the world. One street that went through it had colonnades on each side and was paved with granite. It was noted for it's pagan worship and disgusting, perverted religious rites and ceremonies. Despite all of this, the most mission minded, most effective church that may have ever existed was established here during it's hay-day.Today Antioch (Antakya) is a city in Hatay province in southern Turkey. Situated on the banks of the Orontes River about 22 km (14 ml.) from the Mediterranean, Antioch has a population of 124,443 (1990). Its economy depends on olives and tobacco.
II. THE CHURCH AT ANTIOCH.
A. The Origin Of The Antioch Church.
1. The Jerusalem Church was indeed united.
(a). Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
(b).
But they were not doing the one thing that is the very purpose of a church. What was the very last thing the Lord Jesus Christ told them to do?(c).
Matt. 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.2. They did not do what the Lord told them to do, so what did the Lord do? He brought or allowed persecution upon His church---
Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.3. Let us look at the results of this persecution---
Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. 20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.4. Let us look at the results of this preaching---
Acts 11:21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.5. The Jerusalem Church hears of this so they sent Barnabas
(with authority) to investigate--- Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.6. Barnabas soon recognized that this job was bigger than one man could handle---
Acts 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.7. This was the origin of the church at Antioch.
B. The Antioch Church Was Evangelistic In Spirit.
1. Evangelism is the proclamation of the Gospel.
(a). Logically and chronologically it is the first duty of Christians.
(b). It aims to convey to the lost a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Look at the effects the Gospel had on the city of Antioch.
(a). The Gospel was preached.
(b). People were saved.
(c). A church was organized.
(d). The Gospel continued to be preached and people were added to that church.
3. The Gospel challenged and changed the morals of many people in that city.
(a). That was accomplished with out picketing, demonstrating or protesting; they simply evangelized the people of that city.
(b). That is the cure for all that afflicts any society at any time.
C. The Antioch Church Was Liberal In Giving.
1. Acts 11:28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
2. A heart that has been evangelized and warmed by grace is generous to the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ.
3. The financial problem of any church is a spiritual one.
4. Antioch was not a rich church, but they knew they had to do something; there were brothers that were in need.
5. There was a couple of other things they also knew.
(a). God did not withhold from us His Son;
(b). And no matter how little we might be able to send, God could make it more than suffice.
(c).
(d). In the hands of man that would be lunch for the small boy that brought it; but in the hands of God it would feed as many as were in need with an abundance left over.
D. The Antioch Church Was Missionary In Practice.
1. Missions inevitably will flourish in an evangelistic and giving church.
(a). There are three links in this chain: evangelistic, giving liberally, and missionary.
(b). If you find the first two you will find the third.
2. Missions is the charter of Christianity.
(a). Those are our marching orders.
(b). Go into all the world; win souls and organize churches.
3. There are six all’s contained in our mission.
(a). All power is given to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and he was the one who commissioned us.
(b). All the world is where we are to go.
(c). All nations are who we are to evangelize.
(d). All things whatsoever the Lord commanded us is what we are to teach.
(e). Alway or All days is how long the Lord will be with us.
(f). I could also add to this without doing any damage to the Scriptures, "ye" is plural; therefore "You All" (Y’all) is who the commission was given to.
4. The mother church did not take the commission serious.
(a). The first Gentile church was to be the first foreign missionary church.
(b). Here is a lesson for us.
5. Missions originated with the Holy Spirit.
(a). Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
(b). A church that is not missionary is resisting the Holy Spirit.
(c). A church that is Spirit led, will be active in mission work.
6. The Antioch church was missionary at home and abroad.
(a). They helped the mother church when they took up the offering for the "poor saints at Jerusalem."
(b). They ordained and sent men to the foreign field--- Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
7. Most of the true Baptist churches today can trace their heritage to this church at Antioch.
E. The Antioch Church Was Sound In Doctrine.
1. They preached and practiced church authority.
(a). We just read it in Acts 13:24 where they ordained their ministers.
(b). These ministers reported back to their authority--- Acts 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled. 27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
(c).
Also see Acts 15:30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:2. They were independent or autonomous.
(a). Jerusalem exercised no authority over them in the conference in the 15th chapter of Acts.
(b).
3. They were congregational in their government---
Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. 2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. 3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.4. They withstood the "works for salvation" men that came out from the Jerusalem church..
(a). Notice I did not call them brothers.
(b). We would do well today to check out missionaries and preachers regardless which church they come from or which Baptist preachers they claim to know.
(c). This is precisely why I demand that no one gets into my Pulpit unless I have invited them.
5. It would be most difficult to find a better church model than Antioch although Thessalonica would be close.