A Church With a Mission
A Church With a Mission
Acts 13
This chapter begins a new section of the book of Acts. We have moved from the birth of the church, now to the section of the expansion of the church.
The key to the book is the fact that Jesus said, “You shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
That command was given to individuals and not to the corporate church.
Now the gospel moves out officially on its way to the farthest parts of the earth.
As we read this passage, notice that the center of the church’s operation has moved from Jerusalem and the Jews to Antioch and the Gentiles.
Just so you don’t confuse the two Antioch’s in the New Testament here is a map of the two cities.
SHOW MAP
Read Acts 13:1-12
It is interesting to note that the first church with a missionary vision was the church at Antioch.
There are three characteristics of a church with a mission.
1. A Right Attitude
Churches with the attitude that they want to reach out to people in their community as well as throughout the world will grow.
Illus. Shiloh
The church at Jerusalem had the wrong attitude.
- It consisted mainly of Jews
- It maintained Jewish customs
- Did not reach outside of Jerusalem
Attitude determines outcome
A church must be willing to love the non-Christian. Antioch was the first church to have a ministry to the Gentiles. They understood that the Gospel was not exclusive (Acts 11:19-26). This is evident in the list of names recorded in verse 1.
A church must be willing to show love for the non-Christian. The Antioch church cared so much about the non – believers in the rest of the world. (Acts 11:26-30).
They reached out to aid others both physically and spiritually.
Christian noted a person’s action, not their religion.
A church must be willing to go to the non-Christian. That means the non-Christian’s around us as well as around the world.
Christianity is not a private belief. It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, but that is not the same as private. The world would like for us to keep our faith private. They don’t want us to share it. They don’t want us to talk about it in school, or at work, or at any public gathering where someone might be offended.
However, if we Christians have the right attitude about our faith, we can not keep silent.
There used to be a slogan that said, “Keep the Faith.”
It should be changed to “Don’t keep the faith, give it away!”
If we are going to be effective in our own world as well as the world at large, we must adopt the right attitude about our faith.
2. A Right Belief
The early Christian church would have died on the vine if the early members did not believe that Jesus Christ was the only answer to our questions.
Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Isn’t that rather narrow minded and exclusive?
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matt. 7: 13-14
If a church believes that all roads lead to heaven then we can sit in our comfortable pews and not worry about anybody else.
That is totally contrary to what Jesus taught.
There is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ.
We must have a right belief.
3. A Right Atmosphere.
A church with a mission is a church where people are accepted as they are, regardless of their status in life, the clothes they wear, the car they drive, the color of their skin, or their nationality.
We can never fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus gave us in Matt. 28 if we feel that we are somehow better than anyone else.
A church with a mission also is a church committed to prayer.
A church with a mission is a church where people are affirmed in their calling. Vs 3.
4. A Right Answer
Both the church and individuals must be willing to give the right answer to the great commission.
Charles Allen, a pastor from Georgia says, “I was with Billy Graham in the second crusade he ever conducted in Augusta, Georgia; he was just a young fellow. He said to me, ‘I never dreamed God would give me the ministry He’s given me today. I just said, God, I’m going to give you all I have now. And You lead the way.’”
That is the right answer.
The Holy Spirit is the key figure working behind the scenes. He equips people for ministry, He brings people together and He calls people to service.
I don’t know what the Holy Spirit has equipped you to do. But I can assure you He has equipped you to do something. Church is not a spectator sport. You are not called to come to church to sit, soak and sour.
A church with a mission is a church where its members are willing to get out of their seats and get involved in the work of the church.
The Antioch believers were not exceptional people. The Holy Spirit is working behind the scenes in every church and in every life.
The difference is that the believers in Antioch responded to the Holy Spirit in obedience.
Ray Stedman said, “Ministries that genuinely touch the world all can be traced to a movement of the Holy Spirit. This is a truth that seems lost to today’s church.”
When the Holy Spirit prompted the men from Cyprus and Cyrene to share the gospel with those in Antioch, they said, “I’ll go.” Little did they know the result of their endeavor.
When the Jerusalem church sent Barnabas to Antioch to disciple the new believers, he said, “I’ll go.”
When there was a famine in Jerusalem and the believers were in need, Saul and Barnabas said, “I’ll go.”
When the Holy Spirit called Saul and Barnabas to leave their own are and carry the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth, they said, “We’ll go.”
If they had taken time to count the cost, survey the community and calculate the probabilities, they would not have gone.
Little did they know that because of their efforts, the Gospel would have an impact on the Roman Empire and change the world.
“A church that is sensitive to the mind and will of God is a church that offers itself in God’s grace to the world, to be used by God that men might be saved.” W.A. Criswell.
My prayer is that we will be such a church and we will be people who give the right answer when God calls us.