Acts 28: A Church that has "IT"

I was recently talking to someone who just broke up with a girl he had been seeing for three or four months. When I asked him what happened, he said “It just didn’t have that ‘it factor.'”

He said everyone who meets her thinks she is the most amazing person in the world? She is warm. She is attractive. She is as nice as can be. She remembered his birthday. She always called at just the right times. She is totally charming.

He said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this girl. Nothing! They are everything I thought I would want . . . except he just doesn’t feel the “it factor.”

I said what’s that mean?

He said, the “it factor” is that feeling in your heart that you get when you know you are with the right person… In relationships we sometimes call it chemistry.

Have you ever met someone who has “IT”

I remember one time, when I was teaching school, a kid comes into class one day and I knew withing just a few minutes that something was different with this kid.

I wasn’t the only one who saw it either. Students loved being with him. He always had a crowd of folks around him. Teachers loved to teach him. He wasn’t perfect. But there was something about him that seemed to make others overlook his short comings. He was such a positive, compassionate, energetic,

He was a blessing. He had “IT”.

Organizations can also have the “IT” factor.

There at just the right time… have a special can’t lose quality to them.

People want to work for them, not just because of the money, but because you are a “part of something”

Today we are going to look at the start of a church. Not any church, but one we can look back and see that it impacted even us today.

The Church in Antioch had IT. At the right time, in the right place, doing the right stuff, the right way, with the right people. It was as though God were working things out in them.

Which is exactly what was happening.

What is “IT”?

It is charisma,

Sense of purpose,

Passionate,

Inspiration,

Story teller,

Self-confident,

Insightful,

Ambitious,

Visionary

When we are talking spiritual things though, IT isn’t about personality. it’s a spiritual. IT comes about through our faithfulness to God and His call for us as a church

How do you get “IT”?

A healthy dose of PURPOSE

Acts 11:19–21 NIV84

19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

“IT” all starts with our ability to show and share the Good News.

The Gospel requires engagement.

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Acts 11:22–26 NIV84

22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

A clear desire to GROW

Laymen teaching… alarms Jerusalem

Quality control… doing it right

Barnabas… vs 24

He was committed to sharing his life with them

“Deny yourself daily”

Disciples make disciples

But he needed help

Go to get Saul

Discipleship takes time

They lived different… Christians: like-Christ

Question to consider: Is the life of Christ in you being multiplied through you?

Trottman: Men where is your man, women where is your woman

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Acts 11:27–30 NIV84

27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

An eagerness to SERVE

Historians tell of this famine

Selfless - no need yet, but preparation

Generous - gave as they could

“just do something”

Corporate -

It was humbling for the folks in Jerusalem but what joy it would create

Ed Horner story of receiving blessing… his ministry is to bless others financially

Every member is a minister and every minister has a ministry

What’s your ministry?