Spread the Good News

Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and

precious name that I pray, Amen. 19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Context

Today we are continuing our series through the book of Acts, if you haven’t already, please go ahead and read chapter 11 on your own and start working on chapter 12, because week after next that is where we will be going.

As I shared with you last week, a major theme of this book of the Bible, the Acts of the Apostles is that The Gospel (Meaning the Good News of Jesus Christ) was spreading wider and wider throughout the land. Now, we are moving more into the theme of it going to the ends of the earth, to people of all nations, tribes, languages, colors, what-have-you, different and new places as is correct. In today’s text, we move into a section that was happening most likely around the same time (but slightly after) the events that we read about last week, where Peter showed the church in Jerusalem that The Gospel of Jesus was for everyone and the time had come to think and act this way and rejoice in God’s great work.

A little bit of context though, to help you understand, is that the church in Jerusalem at this point had been widely dispersed. You see, after the death of Stephen (who was stoned and killed for his faith and commitment to Jesus), many Christians (but not the apostles) left the city. As they went, they took their new faiths with them, sharing it as they went along; because they knew that Jesus was the Christ, the messiah, the true God that we are to follow. Now these dispersed Christians, most of them would have only been believers for just a few days (perhaps months at the most) before they went out, after Stephen’s death. This shows us quite clearly, that it doesn’t take much to share your faith. You don’t have to be eloquent or well learned or even a professional. All you have to know is what Jesus did for you when He came into your life, and that through His blood (His sacrifice on the cross) He provided the payment for sin for anyone that would take it. In turn, as Jesus commands us, all believers, yourself included if you are a believer, Every believer is personally responsible to both know and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. With that, as you spread the Good News, there are some truths to know and do. So, let’s dive in and From the text, I want you to know these truths that you must do as you Spread the Good News.

Message

The first truth to know is: The Lord is with You. (19-21)

19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

These new disciples, who were displaced and dispersed because of the persecution coming to the early church, many of them went out, and found themselves in Phoenicia, Cyprus ( a large island in the Mediterranean sea) , and Antioch (300 miles north of Jerusalem). Many of these were caught in that old way that we read about last week, only keeping the Good News to the Jews. Others, though some of them; people from the island of Cyprus and the North African city of Cyrene found themselves in Antioch (which was at the time the 3rd largest city in the Roman Empire in modern day Turkey) and spoke to the Greeks as well. What did they do, they proclaimed the good news about the Lord Jesus. They told everyone that Jesus died for the remission (the removing) of sins and that everyone who took His gift of forgiveness could be forgiven and made whole before God. They shared their faith with anyone who would listen! Notice what else the text says, look at verse 21, 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. God was with them as they did His work, sharing their faith so that others could respond and receive The Lord Jesus. As a result of the Lord’s provision and their faithfulness to follow, a large number of people turned towards the Lord Jesus.

Let me ask you something. “Have you ever noticed that people have more boldness to do something when someone goes with them? A person is more willing to sign up for a challenge if a friend does it with them. A child is more willing to try the ride if a parent goes with them. An employee is willing to keep company policy on an issue if their employer backs them up. So it is with us and God. We are more willing to fulfill a task as people if we know that God is with us.”[1]Know this, The Lord is with us when we go about His mission for us, to Spread the Good News of Jesus.

Believer, this truth is for you as well; not just those believers at that time. Don’t believe me? Hear the words of the Lord Jesus, you know these words, it’s called the Great Commission. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of[e] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,[f] I am with you always,[g] to the end of the age.” Jesus told us, Jesus told YOU that He would be with us whenever we go and make disciples! Yes, when you do this, the Lord Jesus is with You! Praise God and Amen, because I know that when I trust in myself and my own power, I am unlikely and unable to do this (to make disciples). I wonder how many of the rest of us have that problem, that we take on fear instead of boldness to make disciples because we trust in ourselves and our abilities, instead of trusting in The Lord Jesus being their with us when we do it. I’m sure it’s quite a lot. So believer, put aside your pride! Making new disciples has nothing to do with you, your pride, your strengths, your weakness, your fear, instead it has everything to do with the greatness of God and your willingness to trust that The Lord is with you. So, do you trust Him? Do you trust Him? If not, why not? Discover why you don’t, ask Him to heal you and change you. Believe and repent believer. The Lord is with you.

The next truth to know and do as you is Spread the Good news is to: Remain true to The Lord (22-24)

22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord.

News about these new Greek (gentiles, your bible may say Hellenist) believers had gotten back to the church in Jerusalem. Remember, at the time the church in Jerusalem had been widely dispersed but the apostles had remained there. So, in order to raise up, encourage, and teach those new believers in Antioch; the church sent out Barnabas. Barnabas was, who as you will remember, his name means “son of encouragement” so, a very encouraging person and the right man for the job. When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he clearly saw that God’s grace was upon the people, they were believers; followers of the Lord Jesus. And he found great joy in what God had done there. So, Barnabas encouraged them and equipped them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, to be committed life long followers and believers of the Lord Jesus. Barnabas did this all as an act of faith and through the empowerment of The Holy Spirit, and in response to this, many people become followers of The Lord Jesus.

To remain true to The Lord, just like to remain true to anything implies something. It implies a commitment, it implies that you work at it, at no time in history has “remaining true” ever happened on accident. It takes work. Think about it, lets say you are a student just down the road at South Christian elementary school; as many of your children and some of you here today are. What and does it mean to remain a true student at that school? Well, for starters it means that you have to attend that school, and that you come often; often enough to not be in trouble about absences at least. It also means, that you have to be a student, that you have to learn from your teachers and then apply what you learn all throughout the week so that you can pass your tests on Friday. How do you do that, by studying, doing your homework, listening during class, and coming and taking your tests. Let me ask you, who can you say is a “true student” at south Christian elementary school? The person on the honor roll who rarely misses class? Or the person who came one day and never came again? Clearly, the answer is the committed student. The other either was or became a student somewhere else, or never became a student at all.

Beloved, remaining true to the Lord Jesus with devoted hearts is not something that just happens. Left to our own devises and our own works without purpose, you will lose that fight to flesh; which wants you to pursue your worldly wants and pleasures over honoring the true God of the universe. Yes, your flesh and your sin will war against you. I’ve never met a Christian and never will who did not Remain true to the Lord without effort. Because life is hard, sin is strong, and it calls you to step away from God, to step away from Jesus. But Jesus is stronger. He can and will and does equip the believer to pursue and have greater holiness in their lives. Through the empowerment of that wonderful gift that all believers have, God The Holy Spirit, you are empowered to do just that, to remain true to the Lord. The trick is, recognizing how to hear from and know that He (The Holy Spirit) is speaking to and working in and on you; and you get better at that by doing our next point, another point to know and do as you is Spread the Good news is to:

Commit to being a disciple (25-26)

25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.

Barnabas, being only one man and knowing that he was only one man, went to find another strong believer to help him raise up and encourage these new disciples. Just in these few words, we some really interesting turns and events. First, is that Barnabas would have been one of the main teachers/disciples of Saul (Paul) in his early faith life. Also, super interestingly, is that this whole dispersion where the Jewish-Christians had left Jerusalem; the reason these people were in Antioch, is largely because of Saul, the chief persecutor of The Church before his conversion! Now we see this guy ministering and teaching these people, the very group of people he was chasing after and teaching the Greeks to be followers as well! Look what they did, look what Barnanbas and Paul did, verse 26 says that they met with the church there and taught them. They discipled them! They not only made new believers in the Lord Jesus, but they raised up the believers there and taught them, they set them up for success in their faith lives. They made them disciples. From this group, it was now clear to the world, that these Jesus followers were not just another splinter or split group of the Jews, but they were something totally different. They were Christians (followers/ disciples of Jesus Christ), so the name was given to them.

Being a disciple, just like being a student. Isn’t just a one and done thing. No, being a disciple of Jesus has two phases. Making disciples has two phases. Yes first, to make a disciple someone must respond affirmatively that they are sinners who are separated from God and need the forgiveness that can only be received by accepting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This person is yes, then a disciple just as when someone enrolls in a school, they are a student there. However, the second part of being a disciple includes the continued work, the work where you learn and apply the truths of God to your life. So, to be a disciple means that you are a learner and follower of Jesus. To be a disciple of Jesus, that is a Christian, means that you have become a follower, you have become saved and then you follow Him, you learn about Him, you learn about what His truths mean in your life, and you apply to your life. That’s what Jesus means when he tells us to go and make disciples, He isn’t JUST talking about evangelism, He isn’t JUST talking about teaching and raising up, He is talking about both.

What then do made and committed disciples of Jesus Christ do? I’m Glad you asked. Committed disciples of Jesus do these things. They seek to gather regularly with other believers for the purpose of worship and receiving teaching (this is what you are doing right now if you are here hearing my words), they commit to personal and family times of devotion God throughout the week including: bible reading, prayer, and worship; they give their time, tithes, and talents for Kingdom use. They come underneath the God ordained teaching and authority of their local church’s elders (who in turn are to love you as Christ loves the church). They become disciples that in turn go out to make new disciples themselves……. These aren’t just “next level” expectations for Christians, these are base level expectations for even the youngest and newest believer. When a disciple quits doing or isn’t one of these. Something is critically and urgently wrong. Most often, either that person was not an honest believer/disciple themselves, that believer has been poorly discipled themselves, or they understand something The Gospel of Jesus Christ wrongly and thus cannot apply the truth’s of God in their lives (which can be found in your Bible’s) correctly. So, we must you must commit to being a disciple of Jesus Christ as you Spread the Good News, because correctly communicating the truth about Jesus is at stake.

Conclusion.

Beloved, hear me and hear my heart. It is my desire to see each and every one of you do and know these things as you go and share the Gospel. I want you to know that The Lord is with You. I want you to know and to Remain true to The Lord. I want you to Commit to being a disciple. Part of my job as your pastor, is to set you up for success on this journey. Because of this, I am working on a teaching series that I want everyone to participate in, the topic being on how to study your bible. I see all of your hunger to be able to do this, to dive more deeply into the Word of God. And I want you to be able to do just that, to be able to dive in and see and apply what God is saying to you through His word. I don’t have a date for when we will begin this, but I suspect it will be in the first half of this year, when I know everyone will be here and able to participate. Just like Barnabas and Saul did for these new believers in Antioch, so I too want to help you be set up for success in your faith lives, for the rest of your life. Because, we are all to go share and share the Good News, no exceptions. And a big part of sharing The Good News (the Gospel of Jesus Christ) is being able to see it and know it from inside the pages of the book; the bible. As we are all personally responsible to both know and share Jesus’ message of forgiveness of sins, our points today and this lesson series to come will be hugely beneficial for you. You aren’t going to want to miss it.

With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

[1]From https://illustrationideas.bible/god-is-with-us/