Lessons from an exampled church
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 55:00
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Dedication
Dedication
Any good work takes dedication, the church of Antioch of Syria had lots of involvement, lots of dedication for the church to be an exampled church that we can learn from.
It was started by dedicated disciples from Jerusalem (Act11:19-21)
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
I was just going to read scriptures here in the into, but I just can’t
Question: Why were people scatter and who were scattered (Act11:19)?
It was the persecuted that were scattered
Question: when the scattered showed up in Antioch who were they speaking to (Act11:19)?
Speaking to the Jews only.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
But wait there were others were with them who were speaking to others, like the Greeks, and they were preaching Jesus! And the hand of the Lord was on them.
Dedicated disciples who were first called Christians there (Act11:26)
26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
So, Barnabas had left to find Paul, found him in Tarsus and brought him back to Antioch of Syria and they taught there and were then called Christians for the first time.
Dedicated that it became a service hub for missionary trips (Act13:1-3)
Not going to read this passage now, I will say that this would be the starting place for Paul’s three missionary trips. we will get to chapter 13 eventually, lol.
Dedicated that it was a sending church regarding circumcision issues (Act15:1-2)
We looked recently about the circumcision having a problem back in Act11:1-18 and I told you there would be more issues, that that comes up in Act15, it was the church of Antioch who sent Paul to the Jerusalem counsel, we will get to that in Chapter 15.
(Transition) So, a persecuted, scattered church has disciples that show up in Antioch of Syria and a church is started there. Several things in this exampled church are worthy of emulation.
Example: How to start a church
Example: How to start a church
Churches can be started in several ways, some set some good example, and others, well not so good, may we look at the Antioch example.
Some started by missionary efforts (Act14:21)
21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
Question: what is the pattern here of the missionary effort (Act14:21)?
Preached the gospel, made disciples, returned to follow up on other work previously done.
This was a very common in the 1st century and all the way through until the 20th century even the evangelists would comes stay preach then move on.
The exampled church here was seeded by missionaries who came into Antioch of Syria
Others by family, families that move into the area
Some churches are started when new families move to the area where there is no church assembly and they start in homes and build, grow from there. Hum, this should familiar, maybe not the moving, but the no church assembly that then turned into home church and then a shared building to then it’s own building.
Yes, there is the other example when a church splits due to division.
Hate to admit this one for this is not God plan, for we are to be of one mind and that is a unified body not a fractured body.
Now, there is a good reason for church splits that is not a negative, when a church grows and they get families to split off to start another congregation. And that leads to our next one
Church planting through participating efforts (Act11:19-20)
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Question: Who was it that came? From where? and what were they doing (Act11:19-20)?
The scattered, the men of Cyprus and Cyrene, they were preaching the Lord Jesus
This is one of the best ways these days for a church (body of believers) to start is a concerted effort by several families to go into area with no church and seed a church there working together.
What sometimes we lack these days is not the preachers, but the families willing to make up the nucleus of a new work.
(Transition) So you have a started church exampled and now how do we look at this exampled church to learn about being a strong church.
How to: Be a strong church
How to: Be a strong church
Church, body of believers and that body can be comprised of many things. To be a strong church may we look at the exampled church of Antioch and bring in a little more too.
(Church Warning Sign inserted Here)
We are going to look at the exampled church in a couple of minutes, but we need to be careful we understand that there things out there that hinder a strong church or have the image of the church and are not the church.
A body of believers who profess faith, but have no fruit of faith.
A body of believers who claim Jesus but look like the world
Claim the grace of God without any obedience to God
Who claim salvation with no mention of sin, repentance, obedience (non-biblical conversion)
A body whose teaches faith + works = salvation
(insert faith and works picture here)
Salvation without repentance
(Salvation without repentance picture inserted here)
That all sounds crazy doesn’t it like salvation without belief that all are saved regardless.
(Transition) - we have some warnings to look out for regarding churches, or proclaimed churches that are not biblical or have twisted the bible to fit their itching ears. May we now move back to the exampled church and some other examples too?
Antioch of Syria was a church filled with penitent believers (Act11:21)
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
Question: What did the church do in (Act11:21)?
They believed and they turned to the Lord.
Repentance, biblical repentance is turning from sin and turning to the Lord.
True repentance is more than mere confession it is true godly sorrow that makes true converts (2Cor7:10-11)
10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
Exampled church at Philippi (Php1:3-11)
The church of Philippi is another great example, let me just highlight a few verses from (Php1:3-11) I encourage you to read the entire section on your own.
5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
The Philippian church participated in the gospel (v.5)
7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.
Partakers of grace (v.7)
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
They had love, knowledge and discernment (v.9)
OK, need to give one more the result of all the above, the exampled church at Philippi in (v.11)
11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
They were filled with the fruits of righteousness (v.11)
(Transition) I cannot stop there with biblical examples of strong churches; churches are not perfect there is still some problems, but a strong church can work through the problems together. So I offer you now another exampled church.
Exampled church at Colossi (Col1:3-8)
They were known for their faith and love of others (v.4)
They were known for their hope (v.5)
They were bringing forth fruit (v.6)
(Transition) OK, just one more for right now.
Exampled church at Thessalonica (1The1:3-10)
Let me read this passage and see if you can pick out some good examples they set.
3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
work of faith, labor of love, steadfastness of hope
5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
The were convicted, empowered, proven, they were imitators; even when they received the gospel in much tribulation
7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.
They were an example not just there for for the entire region
9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
And these are the verses I wanted to get to (v.9) - they turned to God (repentance) from idols!
(Transition) A strong church is full of believers who have love, hope, have repented and it is evident of the godly change that has happened or is happening in them. - so now from and exampled strong church and how to be one to now how to be a growing church.
How to be a growing church
How to be a growing church
I think all can agree that all want church growth. Church growth in being a strong church that is founded and rooted in the truth of God’s Word by people dedicated to it.
Question: What do you think is needed to grow a strong church?
By preaching/teaching Jesus Christ (Act11:19-20; 1Cor1:2; Mt28:18; Act2:36, 10:36)
In using our exampled church look at this
19 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone.
20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
Question: In looking at (Act11:19-20) who was doing what to whom?
Preaching the Lord Jesus
Preaching by the scattered and men of Cyprus and Cyrene
The gospel message, the preaching of Jesus cannot get lost in the church. Oftentimes the pattern of the N.T. Christian can be preached more than Jesus Christ. People need to be converted to Jesus Christ not the church, they are added to the church when converted to Jesus Christ. Preaching and teaching Jesus and Him crucified is vital
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
In 1Cor1:23 it says they preach Jesus and Him crucified.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Because Jesus was given all authority, that is what needs to be preached, taught, Jesus and Him crucified.
Proclaiming Jesus as Lord as they did on Pentecost
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
God gave him all authority, God made Him by Lord and Christ.
36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—
Jesus, who has all authority, that is what the growing church needs to preach, for he is the Prince of Peace and the Lord of all. People need to be converted to Jesus Christ and not some idea of the church.
Question: What is the result when Jesus and Him crucified is believed and obeyed?
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.
The Lord adds to their numbers daily, those being saved (Act2:47)
Then from there they learn to be true disciples of Jesus Christ learning to follow his commands (Mt28:20)
(Transition) - so to grow a church, preach/teach Jesus for that is the power of salvation.
By the hand of the Lord being on the work (Act11:21; Col4:3; 1Cor3:5-7; Mt13:31-33)
Now back to our exampled church and seeing the hand of the Lord
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
Question: When the hand of the Lord was on them, what was the result (Act11:21)?
Large number believed and turned to the Lord.
Without Divine help we cannot grow the church, grow a strong church that is rooted in Jesus and Him crucified.
With divine help we can see doors of opportunity
3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned;
Question: What is the door for here in (Col4:3)?
Door for the word!
it is the Lord who gives increase, He uses us to plant seed, to water, but he gives the increase
5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.
7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
We want to grow the Church? It is God who does it! In fact when we are doing our part we should expect that God is going to grow the church.
31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”
33 He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”
God created everything out of nothing, and will do great things with little things, so be willing to do your little things! If there is no growth there maybe something amiss and we better go back and examine what we are missing.
(Transition) - I mentioned little things, but little things have big results, but it takes dedication, it takes work.
By the aid, work, dedication of teachers (Act11:22-24, 25-26)
22 The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. 23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;
24 for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. 25 And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul;
26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
Preachers, teachers are responsible for preaching/teaching Jesus, teaching the commands and encouraging each one to remain faithful (v.23) It is over time not over night (v.26)
(Encouragement slide-Be 100% committed) encouragement (Prayer)