Missions (TPC 2/16/20)

Greeting

Thank you

Pastor Tate and the Deacons/Deaconess for allowing me the opportunity to teach this morning

Ministers for their leadership and service to our Church

To my best friend and beautiful wife Genesis

To the congregation gathered this morning for your fellowship and faithfulness to Turning Point Church

Last but certainly not least thank you to our Ushers for their service, please feel free to take a seat

When Pastor Tate asked me to preach this morning I told him that I am not as talented as the others that we are lucky to have serve in this pulpit. As a church we are truly blessed week in and week out by those who labor in bringing us the Word of God. But I also told him that I would be happy to serve this Sunday because I know the power to change lives is not in the abilities of the speaker but in the Word of God. So I come before you this morning to share His word knowing it will be a blessing to us all. Please bow your heads and pray with me.

Introduction/Background:

You may remember a few weeks ago when Pastor Tate announced that I would be leading our Missions efforts, I hope to use this sermon as a launching pad for that effort. To lay before you a theology of missions that will serve as our foundation as we move forward.

Our text this morning will be

English Standard Version Chapter 13

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

13 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.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 13

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

2 As 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.” 3 Then after they had fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off.

Set me set the scene.

This in church Antioch some 300 miles north of Jerusalem was founded by Christians fleeing from persecution, it was the first place were the Jewish Christians shared the gospel with their gentile neighbors.

The New American Commentary: . Paul and Barnabas Commissioned (13:1–3)

13:1 The Antioch church was the first Christian congregation to witness to the Gentiles in its own city (11:19f.). It then became the first to send missionaries forth into the larger world. Judging from Acts, Antioch was the first church to catch the vision of “foreign missions.”

Let me tell you a few things we know about the church in Antioch

These brothers and sisters cared deeply for their community. If you want to keep your finger in and flip back with me a couple of pages to we can see this.

English Standard Version Chapter 11

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

This church was obedient to the call to equip and send international missionaries into the field. In the text we see that the Holy Spirit spoke to them during a time of worshiping and fasting. N the 1st century, a small group of faithful Christians who empowered by the Holy Spirit and willing to sacrifice for the good of others literally changed the world. No doubt in this time of worshipping and fasting they were seeking God’s will for their church.

Antioch would become the greatest missionary church of the 1st century, a small group of faithful Christians who empowered by the Holy Spirit and willing to sacrifice for the good of others literally changed the world.

Shortly after coming to faith the great apostle Paul was forced to flee Judea and return to Tarsus. After a period of eight years or so Barnabas his old friend from Jerusalem tracks him down.

Barnabas tells Paul that there is a church in Antioch that needs his service

The New American Commentary: . Paul and Barnabas Commissioned (13:1–3)

13:1 The Antioch church was the first Christian congregation to witness to the Gentiles in its own city (11:19f.). It then became the first to send missionaries forth into the larger world. Judging from Acts, Antioch was the first church to catch the vision of “foreign missions.”

Antioch would become the greatest missionary church of the 1st century, a small group of faithful Christians who empowered by the Holy Spirit and willing to sacrifice for the good of others literally changed the world.

George Liele 

Phillis Wheatley 

The church in Antioch

Thief on the Cross

The vision of Revelations