Building the Church (14)
Building the Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Church and Missions
Church and Missions
Good morning and welcome back.
I hope every one had a good week
How did you see God move this past week?
What is the biggest thing you have ever been a part of.
Championship Team, some big group or club,.
What is the farthest you traveled from home?
Sometimes we have very small view of our world and our place in it.
The Church was created and commissioned for Missions.
Remember Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Uttermost parts.
That is now where we are at in the book of Acts.
Jerusalem was the center of the ministry sand Peter was at point up to now.
Antioch in Syria now was the center and Paul would take point.
The Gospel in on the move.
The church is the sender, but it takes people to be sent.
We must have a bigger vision of our world .
“We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.” -John Stott
Church and Missions
Church and Missions
In the next two chapters we are going to see Paul’s ministry to 6 different cities.
It is not always easy and with the victories also resistance.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Thirteen: God Opens the Doors (Acts 13–14)
Henry Martyn, once said, “The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions, and the nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we must become.”
We all have a place in this story, our goal is to find it.
Let’s pray
Church and Missions
Church and Missions
The first step is Being called by the Spirit
1 Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
If God is in it it will prosper, but the Church should be a part of that decision
The Church’s role is to discern, equip, and send
3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Expect opposition
A world in darkness does not want the light.
Waking up my kids - they screamed at the light
I remember our first year in Sicily and the amazing life changes
The next 2 years was a battle.
Cyprus - Opposed by the Devil
4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. 6 When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus.
Not only was he a magician- he had connections
7 He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God.
Expect opposition
Where God plants plants Truth, Satan will plant counterfeits.
8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith.
But with boldness Paul calls it
9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord?
Expect disappointment
13 Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,
Expect disappointment
Not everyone is gong to come through and be your cheerleader
My dad sent the FL Baptist every month
No one understood why we would go and at time felt lonely
But keep going
14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down.
Expect God to use your faithfulness
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.
Expect God to use your faithfulness
Paul went to the local church first as he always did\
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” 16 So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.
Expect God to use your faithfulness
Many came, many believed
But those who were there first got mad and jealous.
50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.
Expect God to use your faithfulness
Story of Pastors asking me to leave area
Church and Missions
Church and Missions
No one said it would be easy.
In fact we were told it would be hard.
When it get s hard we keep pressing.
51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Church and Missions
Church and Missions
As part of the church we are part of its continued mission.
“There are only three kinds of Christians when it comes to world missions: zealous goers, zealous senders, and disobedient.” John Piper
The question is what part is your part?
Let’s pray
