A Great Commission Church

We are at the midpoint of the book.

The place will change.

Until now Jerusalem and Judea have been the focal point of the story.

They were a thriving church that sent out.

Now we see Luke’s interest shift to the church in Antioch and it will continue out from there.

The people will change.

The primary character has been Peter.

Now we see others stepping up.

The main character will soon be Paul.

1. The people God uses.

(1) A. Barnabas

Acts 4:36 NKJV

And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

Acts 4:37 NKJV

37 having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Barnabas reached out to Saul.

Barnabas was sent to Antioch by the church in Jerusalem.

Barnabas was a Levite

Barnabas had been there since the beginning!

(1) B. Simeon who is called Niger

We don’t know much about him.

He was called Niger meaning black.

Most likely a nickname to distinguish him from other Simeons.

(1) C. Lucius of Cyrene

From Africa

(1) D. Manaen

Who was brought up with Herod the tetrarch.

Some say his mom was Herod’s nurse or nanny.

Others have said that he was a foster brother of sorts brought in to keep Herod company.

Here’s what we know about Herod.

He beheaded John the Baptist (Mark 6)

Jesus calls him a fox in Luke 13

Two things to point out.

First - what an amazing story of the grace of God!

Two boy who grew up together.

Really in the same household yet there are two different outcomes.

It doesn’t matter who your family is, God can use you

(1) E. Saul

A pharisee

A killer of Christians

Now- on the edge of turning the known world upside down for the gospel.

It doesn’t matter what is in your past.

Christ took care of that sin on the cross.

2. When God uses His people.

(2) A. They were ministering to the Lord.

We are often reminded of our need to minister to each other.

They were doing that - we learned that in chap 11

Here Luke says they were ministering to the Lord.

They were worshiping the Lord.

They were praying, reading, singing.

(2) B. They were fasting.

fasting might seem like a big deal to us but...

This is a common tradition for the Jews.

These men had not left that tradition behind.

Luke 18:9–12 NKJV

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’

They fasted on certain days of the week.

These men are carrying out daily spiritual disciplines.

(2) B. They were fasting.

Often Christians have a desire to do something great for God.

The problem is we want to do the great things and skip the normal things.

Luke 16:10 NKJV

10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

Matthew 20:26–27 NKJV

26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—

3. How God sends His people.

(3) A. The Holy Spirit calls us.

The Holy Spirit clearly spoke to them.

They were told to separate Barnabas and Saul.

This was a separation to a specific work.

We are all called to the great commission.

God will then call us to do specific things within that calling.

We understand the great commission calls every Christian to make disciples.

Paul goes on to talk about the Body of Christ

The Holy Spirit will speak to you today.

He will use His Word.

He will speak through other people (using His Word).

God will never speak outside His Word.

The first step in accomplishing great things is being willing to be set apart.

There was a responsibility and commitment in the setting apart.

There was a responsibility on the church’s side.

There was responsibility and sacrifice for Barnabas and Saul.

Not only do we need to be willing to be set apart but we need to be willing to go with God’s timing.

Paul knew what God had called him to, but it had been a few years ago.

There was no timetable given.

Here we see a timetable.

NOW Separate.

we struggle with God’s timing..

Either we give God excuses why we can’t go now.

Or we expect God to send us immediately when we are not ready.

(3) B. Our calling is affirmed by men.

They laid hands on them and sent them.

There was an outward recognition and approval of this calling.

Paul does this with Timothy.

2 Timothy 1:5–6 NKJV

5 when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

(3) B. Our calling is affirmed by men.

It is important that are calling is affirmed by men.

We can think God has called us to something but it is not always true.

Sometimes we think we are good at something and called to something but we are not that great and it is just a personal desire.

Also you may not be great at what God has called you to.

On the flip side if men keep telling you they see something in you, you should prayerfully consider it.

These were not lone ranger Christians doing whatever they wanted.

Their calling was affirmed by the local church.

They were under the authority of the local church.