The Model Of The Antioch Church - part 2

Last week:

Started looking at The Model of the Antioch Church

v. 19-21 reveal the Establishment Of The Church.

Men from Cyprus and Cyrene preached the gospel in Antioch.

Many saved.

There was no program sending people to evangelize.

There was no 10 year plan to plant a church.

Just passionate people sharing the gospel.

Now that there are believers in Antioch, what’s next?

Discipleship In The Church

Read Acts 11:22-26

There are 3 things that take place to bring about Discipleship In The Church.

The Church Sends Barnabas

These new Christians needed more than just conversion.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations

We are called to have discipleship relationships.

Disciple = one who seeks to learn from another

More intimate than mere knowledge acquisition

A disciple seeks to become like his/her teacher… modifying one’s entire lifestyle.

Discipler = one who is obedient to the Great Commission

Love people like Jesus

Tell people about Jesus

Teach people about Jesus

Show people how to live for Jesus

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Bottom-line:

A discipler is a Christian

All Christians are diciplers (good or not)

John MacArthur

You're not a discipler because you went to Bible school. You're not a discipler because you went to seminary. You're not a discipler because the church pays you to do it. You’re not a discipler because you joined a missionary organization. You are a discipler because you're saved.

The Church of Jerusalem understood the need for converts to be instructed.

Barnabas = son of encouragement (cf. 4:36)

Thought of highly by the church:

Good man

Full of the Holy Spirit

Full of faith

The first thing he does: rejoiced in the grace of God

The gospel was spreading

People were being saved

Are we rejoicing in the salvation of lost souls?

The next thing: exhorts them to remain faithful

Not skeptical about their profession

Not doubtful of their profession

Encouraging concerning their profession

Believers… particularly me… can be judgmental of a person’s profession of faith.

Especially celebrities

Especially large movements

Shameful

Our desire ought to be that they remain faithful.

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Read John 15:1-4.

Be a Barnabas to other believers. Encourage them to remain faithful.

The Lord will sort out those who are genuine believers and those who are not.

Barnabas Went And Got Saul

Barnabas was winning people to Christ (cf. verse 24)

More sheep required more shepherds

More disciples required more disciplers

Barnabas sought out Paul to help him in ministry.

Barney vouched for Paul in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 9:27)

Paul is a learned man (cf. Acts 22:3)

Paul is a passionate man Philippians 3:6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Paul and Barnabas taught the church at Antioch.

They weren’t just disciple makers, they were disciple teachers.

Read Hebrews 5:12-14

All Christians should be teachers

Shameful that long-time believers are not

The primary purposes for the local church:

Grow in the knowledge of God (Col 1:9)

Be equipped for the work of ministry (Eph 4:12)

The Church Was Built Up

in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians

Testimony to the ministry of Paul and Barnabas

Testimony to the faithfulness of the believers

This is not a one man show.

Just as Barnabas sought help from Paul, we need to help one another

Are you a faithful man? Are you a faithful woman?

Our faithfulness is seen when we are utilizing the gifts that God has given us in order to build up the church.

Can’t do that if we are not with the church

Hebrews 10:24–25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

The Pastor has Elders to help share the load in the local assembly

The Elders need the church to share the load in the local community

2 Timothy 2:2 what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

One-to-One Bible Reading

Evangelistic oriented

Discipleship oriented

Non-believers, young believers, and mature believers

Lord,

It is our desire to see you equip and use FBS for your glory!

Help us to grow in our knowledge of You.

Help the Elders to equip the saints with your Word.

Help the mature believers to build up the younger, less mature believers.

Convict us of the need to come together as a church, to build one another up in the faith.

Help us to stir one another up to good works

Help each of us to reach our community with Your love and Your Word.

This is our prayer, for your glory to be seen and the gospel to be made known in Shapleigh.

Amen.