Taking Ground for the Kingdom

Faith has had a witness in this area for over 40 years.

The question we may be asking is, “Is Lake Charles better off because of our witness and our positive impact?”

Are we taking ground for the kingdom of God? When a church takes ground for the Kingdom that means that the influence of Jesus is evident in:

the lives

the homes

the businesses

the work

the atmosphere, etc. of a place!

We’re not trying to win the land or the money of the people. When we talk about taking ground for the Kingdom of God, we mean that we’re winning people to saving faith in Jesus Christ!

Our text this morning is Acts 11:19-26.

This section shows us how the early Christians, despite facing tough times, spread the message of Jesus far and wide.

Now, let's set the scene. The early church was under pressure. They faced persecution, which sounds scary, but it actually sparked something incredible. These believers, instead of being silenced, took the gospel – the good news about Jesus – to new places, even to those who were different from them. They didn't just stay comfortable with their own kind; they reached out to Greeks, crossing cultural lines. And guess what? People started believing in Jesus in big numbers!

Why does this matter to us? Well, it's like looking at a family album and seeing what our great, great, great grandparents did. It inspires us, right? The early church's mission is our mission too. They took ground for the Kingdom, and now, it's our turn.

We're part of this amazing story, and today, we're going to explore how we can keep this story going, making a difference just like they did. So, let's get ready to learn from their example and see how we can apply it to our lives today!

Read Text.

The Church in Action is Sharing the Gospel (19-21)

A. Scattering of Believers: Turning Challenges into Opportunities

Back in the early church days, following Jesus wasn't a walk in the park. It was tough, really tough. Believers faced persecution, which is a fancy word for being treated badly because of what they believed. This persecution was intense, and it caused them to scatter all over the place. But here's the twist: this scattering wasn't a defeat; it was like scattering seeds. Wherever these believers went, they took the story of Jesus with them. It was like the persecution, meant to stamp out the flame, actually spread the fire faster and further.

V. 19 - Antioch of Syria -

Population of over 1/2 million

3rd largest city in the Roman Empire

Impressive city - main street over 4 miles long

Only city in ancient world at the time that had its streets lighted at night

For us, would be the NYC of our day

Not only was an effective church grown there, but it became the church that sent Paul out to win the Gentile world for Christ.

“Preached” - common Gk word for “spoke”

V. 20 - Others went out as far as Antioch and evangelized Gentiles. “Hellenist” can also refer to Gentiles or “Greeks.” Obviously Luke is referring to that here, in contrast to “Jews.”

Kenneth Gangel notes that:

This aggressive evangelism by anonymous preachers throws our heavily-programmed modern church into stark and feeble contrast…… Never mind that God led them to one of the most wicked cities of the Roman world. They had a message to deliver—the good news about the Lord Jesus. Notice they didn’t preach a coming Messiah; that appropriately related to Jewish groups.

V. 21 - God blessed these sincere Christians who were willing to share the gospel so that a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

This new church plant exploded with growth as they aggressively take the gospel to the Gentiles.

They did all this in the face of opposition.

[B. Facing Our Challenges with Gospel Intentionality]

Obviously, we don’t face the same kind of opposition the early believers faced.

Today, it’s more like apathy. Just a few decades ago, people went to church because it was what was expected of them. It was culturally expedient. You went to church so your neighbors didn’t think bad of you.

Today, by and large, people in our community have full lives and don’t think about Jesus.

But human nature hasn’t changed. People still suffer from loneliness, broken homes, addictions, and a desire for their lives to count.

How can we face these challenges?

With what I call “Gospel Intentionality.”

This means we ask ourselves, “How can I show the love and truth of Jesus here?”

How can we show people why they might desire Jesus, and why it would be good for them, and then show them how all this is actually true.

Our challenge is, how can we actively be sharing the gospel everywhere we go.

[ILLUSTRATION] this week in the gym locker room with Mr. Rideaux.

Use up as many opportunities as we can. It's like we're scattering seeds of hope and love wherever we go.

The Power of the Lord was on the Early Church (21-23)

When we read about the early church in Acts, it's like reading a blockbuster movie script. People were turning to the Lord in droves, and it wasn’t just because the followers of Jesus were super persuasive or had a great marketing strategy.

First, they were aggressive in sharing the gospel with as many people as possible.

The church that does not intentionally share Jesus in their world becomes like a boat rowing around in circles. It may seem that they’re making progress, while in reality, they’re simply expending energy without reaching a destination.

We have to do the necessary work as Jesus commanded. But there’s more.

Second, the church grew because of something much bigger – divine intervention.

God was at work in a mighty way. His power was like the wind beneath the wings of the church, propelling it forward. Every new believer was a sign that God wasn’t just watching from the sidelines; He was actively involved, working through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. This divine power was the real secret sauce behind the church's explosive growth.

Now, let's hit the pause button and think about this in our lives.

We often try to do things in our own strength, don't we? Whether it's trying to solve a problem, make a tough decision, or even grow our church or faith community.

But here’s a game-changer: trusting in God’s power, not just our own efforts.

It’s like switching from rowing hard in a boat to setting up a sail and letting the wind of God’s Spirit move us. When we lean on His power, we find that He can do more through us than we ever imagined.

It’s not about how strong or capable we are; it’s about how powerful and faithful He is. That’s a reason to be encouraged, no matter what we’re facing today.

V. 22-23 - Barnabas in Antioch: A Model of Encouragement and Faith

When Barnabas arrived in Antioch, he didn’t come in to put on the brakes. Instead, he came in like a breath of fresh air. He was this guy whose name literally means 'son of encouragement', and he lived up to it. He saw the grace of God at work in Antioch and was glad.

Barnabas didn’t doubt the church and what they were doing.

He encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord and cheered them on!

The Early Church is Extending the Kingdom’s Reach (24-26)

In these verses we are introduced to a dynamic duo.

A. Barnabas and Saul: A Dynamic Duo for Church Planting (24-26a)

1. Collaborative Ministry: Working Together for the Gospel

When they teamed up, it wasn't just a random partnership; it was like a divine setup for something epic. They had different backgrounds, skills, and personalities, but they had one common goal: spreading the gospel.

This dynamic duo shows us the power of working together in ministry. It's like playing a team sport where every player has a unique role, but everyone is playing for the same win – making Jesus known.

When we collaborate with others in our church or community, we can achieve so much more than going solo. It's about combining our strengths, learning from each other, and keeping our focus on the bigger picture – the mission of sharing Jesus with the world.

2. The Importance of Discipleship in Church Planting

Now, let's zoom in on an important part of Barnabas and Saul's mission – discipleship.

It wasn't just about telling people about Jesus; it was about helping them grow in their faith.

They spent time teaching, mentoring, and building up the new believers.

This is super important in church planting. It's like planting a seed and then nurturing it so it can grow strong and healthy. Discipleship is about walking alongside others, helping them understand the Bible, pray, and live out their faith in everyday life.

Discipleship is not just pouring information into someone’s head and expecting them to be transformed into a fully functioning disciple of Jesus.

Example: Driver’s Ed……

I heard it put this week that as Americans, we don’t fully comprehend the biblical concept of discipleship. We tend to think it’s focus is on teaching people what to believe and how to become more moral in their living.

They went on to explain that biblical discipleship could be better translated as apprenticeship. We learn by following someone, and learn by doing.

We must follow Jesus’ model. Not simply time in a classroom, but spending time in life, going through the difficult stuff together.

It's a journey of growing together, and it's crucial for a healthy, vibrant church. When we invest in discipling others, we're not just growing a church in numbers; we're growing a family of strong, committed followers of Jesus, who are fully aligned with the vision and mission of the church.

B. The First Christians: A New Identity in Christ (26b)

1. The Significance of Being Called 'Christians'

In Antioch, something new happened. The followers of Jesus were first called 'Christians' there. This was a big deal. It was more than just a label; it was a new identity.

Being called 'Christians' meant they were recognized as little Christs, imitators of Jesus. It was like wearing a team jersey with 'Team Jesus' on the back.

This new name signified a total life change. They didn’t just believe in Jesus; they lived like Him, talked like Him, loved like Him. It was their whole identity.

For us today, being called a Christian means the same thing. It’s not just about going to church or knowing Bible stories. It’s about our lives showing that we belong to Jesus, that He’s changed us, and we’re following His playbook for life.

[2. Embracing Our Identity as Ambassadors for Christ]

So, what does it mean for us to embrace this identity as Christians?

It's like being an ambassador for Christ. An ambassador represents their country in a foreign land. In the same way, as Christians, we represent Jesus in our world.

This isn’t just for pastors or missionaries; it’s for all of us.

Whether we’re at school, at work, hanging out with friends, or even at home, we’re showing others what Jesus is like. It’s about living in a way that when people look at us, they get a glimpse of who Jesus is and His love for them.

It means our words, actions, and choices should reflect Jesus. It’s a big responsibility, but also an incredible privilege. We get to show the world a little bit of heaven, a little bit of Jesus, every day.

Conclusion:

What is our role in taking ground for God’s kingdom?

What have we learned from this section?

We've seen how the early believers turned their challenges into opportunities, spreading the gospel even when times were tough.

We've witnessed the amazing power of God working in the church, bringing people to faith in droves.

And we've learned from Barnabas and Saul about the importance of working together and discipling others in growing the church.

This passage is like a playbook from the early church, showing us how to live out our faith boldly and effectively. It's not just a history lesson; it's a guide for us today, showing us how to be dynamic followers of Jesus in our world.

How can we apply these principles today?

Commitment to sharing the gospel with intentionality.

Reliance on God’s power to effect results. (Do all that we can do effectively, then trust God to do what only He can do.)

Participation in discipleship and growth.

This doesn't mean you have to pack your bags and move across the world (though you could!).

It means getting involved right where you are – inside these four walls, outside these four walls in our community, or school.

It's about being a part of what God is doing, whether that’s volunteering, mentoring others, or just being a consistent, encouraging presence.

Let's be a part of growing God’s family, adding new brothers and sisters in Christ every chance we get.