The Penetrating Church

Introduction

Our study in Acts has shown us some incredible things. It has not only shown us the God’s design for the church, but it has shown us the importance of sharing the love of God penetrated from the Holy Land to the uttermost parts of the world. While some may call the Book of Acts a history book, it is imperative that we see it as the way to be the church. As a reminder, these stones and this building are simply the place we gather. It is not the church. We are the church. We are the organism charged to share the Gospel. While the Bible tells us that if we don’t praise the Lord the stones will indeed cry out, you and I…as we make up the body of the church, are called be the penetrating church. We are to do this by going out, sharing the Good News, and ministering to others. How are we doing with that calling? Acts 11 shows us how the early church penetrated the known world with the news of salvation. Let’s look at how they did. First, notice the unfinished cliffhanger.

The Unfinished Cliffhanger (vs. 1-16)

Acts 10 has a story about how God connected Cornelius and Peter, a Gentile and a Jew. Acts 11 helps us see the story continue.

Acts 11:1–4 NIV84

1 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened:

I pause here because verses 5-16 are pretty much the repeat of what we read in Acts 10. But let me show you some insights from these first four verses.

Dealing with Criticism

First, notice that Peter head to deal with criticism. Now these were not the Sadducees and Pharisees that he had encountered before. Rather, these were brothers that were fellow believers in Christ! Have you ever had someone that was a Christian criticize you? Unfortunately, some of the most critical people I have ever known have claimed to be Christians. I am not going to jump on this bandwagon and be critical of them, I am just pointing out that the people Peter is dealing with are believers. There are two points to make here. First there is constructive criticism.

Proverbs 15:32 NIV84

32 He who ignores discipline despises himself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.

Secondly, there is criticism that is destructive. So how do we handle it?

Romans 14:16 NIV84

16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.

Criticism at its finest comes when facts are not completely understood. Peter gives clarification in response to the criticism by determining the criteria.

Determining the Criteria

Acts 11:4 NIV84

4 Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened:

Peter’s example is to deal with the facts. You should study Acts 10 and compare that story to Acts 11:5-16. You will see the importance of details and how those details particularly in this passage point to the work of God. Jesus always declared the importance of truth. When Peter “precisely” explains what happens, he is living out the embodiment of John 8:32

John 8:32 NIV84

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

As the truth is precisely delivered and the criteria is determined, Peter also helps develop connections.

Developing the Connections

Acts 11:15–16 NIV84

15 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

This is the same Peter that in anger cut off the ear of a Roman soldier when Jesus was arrested. This is the same Peter that denied Christ 3 times and ran from persecution and criticism before. Now, he is answering his critics, showing them truth, and he is making the connections back to what Jesus promised. Peter’s experience in Joppa helps him see how the Word of God has been fulfilled. In fact, this unfinished cliffhanger of a story also points to some uncommon characteristics.

The Uncommon Characteristics (vs. 17-18)

Acts 11:17–18 NIV84

17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” 18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

Old vs. New

These believers were still tied to the old way of thinking. The new covenant had been established through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The law that pointed out the sin was now reestablished by the new covenant that atoned for sin once and for all. 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV84

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Separate vs. Together

Beforehand, the law required there be a separation of Jews and Gentiles. In fact, the Jewish believers didn’t care about the fact that the Gentiles had been saved by their faith in Christ, they were more concerned that Peter went into a Gentile house and ate with that Gentile. This was forbidden by the Jewish law. What had been separate before was not to be emphasized together. The words of the Psalmist were never more true: Psalm 34:3

Psalm 34:3 NIV84

3 Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.

Are you able to worship with those who are different than you? If you can’t, why not?

Disagree vs. Agree

Another thing I see here is that most likely we have people that disagree with us, even those who follow Christ. But here, we see that these fellow believers went from disagreement to agreement. They said to Peter, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” That “so then” tells me the believers learned and accepted the plan of God! Oh that we all would be willing to change the way we think! As we conform our ways to God’s ways, this can happen! We can go from the old to the new, from being separate in our ways to being together in our ways, and we can go from disagreement to agreement.

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

I use the New Living Translation here to emphasize that phrase, “but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Are you letting God reveal new things to you about uncommon characteristics? If you are, then you will have unlimited connections that lead to Gospel presentations.

The Unlimited Connections (vs. 19-30)

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.

Scattering Leads to Salvations

If you remember, the stoning of Stephen led many believers to be dispersed in many areas. There were many Jews in these areas as well and the scattering led the believers to share the gospel message to fellow Jews. But it also led many Jewish believers to share the gospel message with Greeks as well. Sometimes we get caught up in how many were saved. Quite honestly, sometimes as ministers we are encouraged and discouraged whether the numbers are high or low. However, there is something interesting here in the Greek I want to point out. There are a couple of times the phrase “and a great number of people” shows up. In fact, two times the Greek word is arithmos which means an indefinite number. A third time in verse 26, the word for great numbers is hikanon. It simply means sufficient or many enough. This tells me that when God’s love is being shared, the possibilities are indefinite and sufficient at the same time! WE DON’T NEED TO FOCUS ON NUMBERS WE NEED TO FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITIES!

Demonstrations of Discipleship

Notice also the demonstrations of discipleship.

Acts 11:22–24 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.

Barnabas was also known as the “son of encouragement.” Who in your Christian life has encouraged your walk with Christ? Barnabas indeed encourages but he also shows discipleship.

Acts 11:25–26 NIV84

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.

Did you catch the time spent together? A whole year. Who has invested in your life for a year of discipleship? Better yet, whose life have you invested a year in of discipleship? You see, if we are to be the church that penetrates, we must be willing to invest in each other, study God’s word together as well as individually, and be bold and courageous enough to make that happen again and again. In fact, this happened so much in this first century church that those who did it, became known by the title Christian. What are you known for?

The unlimited connections we see in this passage definitely show that a scattering leads to salvations, salvations lead to demonstrations of discipleship, and discipleship always leads to opportunities for ministry.

Opportunities for Ministry

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.

The Unchanging Certainty

This is a great example of how God developed the early church. Interestingly, the early church is much like the church of today. There are new frontiers and new people God wants us to reach. There is an unchanging certainty. Numbers 23:19

Numbers 23:19 (NIV84)

19 God is not a man, that he should lie,

nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

Does he promise and not fulfill?

Romans 11:29 NIV84

29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.

There are three things we must remember:

God Desires Salvation for All People

Jews, Gentiles. God desires salvation for all people.

Everywhere We Go We Should Take the Gospel

Do you take the Gospel with you or do you put it in a drawer and leave it at your house?

Opportunities Abound to Grow As Disciples

Do you want to grow as a disciple? First and foremost you must be a follower of Jesus by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Revelation 3:20 NIV84

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

You have come to a place in your life where you have opened the door.

Once you have opened to door, you have confessed with your mouth and believed in your heart that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Romans 10:9–10 NIV84

9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Once you have received Him, you shall be called a child of God.

John 1:12 NIV84

12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

Then, you need to grow in Christ!

2 Peter 3:18 NIV84

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

I am willing to train others in a discipleship process! Who wants to grow? Who wants to be part of the penetrating church?

Ready.

Set.

GROW!!