The Story on Missions - Mar. 21st, 2021

Introduction

Acts 13:1–4 KJV 1900

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

That sainted missionary to India and Persia, 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.” Paul (Saul) and Barnabas had that experience as they ministered in Antioch and were called by the Spirit to take the Gospel to the Roman world. (Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 456.)

A. Antioch: The Second Center of Christianity

1. The church had begun in Jerusalem

2. Antioch became home to a great missionary church

Until now, Jerusalem had been the center of ministry, and Peter had been the key apostle. But from this point on, Antioch in Syria would become the new center (Acts 11:19ff), and Paul the new leader. The Gospel was on the move! (Wiersbe, 456.)

B. Study Antioch to Get the Real Story on Missions

Body

I.  Missionary Work Involves People (Acts 13:1)

Acts 13:1 KJV 1900

1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

A. What does missionary work bring to your mind?

1. Maps on the wall?

2. Color slides of foreign lands

3. Conferences and offerings?

B. Here the Holy Spirit names people

1. Barnabas: a recent convert (Acts 4:34–37)

Acts 4:34–37 KJV 1900

34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

2. Simeon: a black man (no prejudice there)

3. Lucius of Cyrene: had grown up with Herod

4. Saul: former persecutor of the church

A Multiple Staff Ministry

The early churches all had multiple ministries, and this was no exception. When Paul went to a place, he always took someone with him. And when he and his coworker or coworkers left the new church behind, they appointed leaders for it.

We have fallen away from that principle in our time through a pattern of organization in which churches usually are in the hands of just one minister. The people think, Well, he’s the minister. It’s his job to do Christian work. Let him do it. Such churches are weaker as a result. Churches should have multiple ministries. At the very least, they should use the gifts of all the church members. God has given each a spiritual gift to be used. But even in the formal pastoral leadership—“the ordained leadership,” as we would say today—there should be a plurality wherever possible. There should always be more than one worker when mission work or new church planting is being done. (James Montgomery Boice, Acts: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1997), 228)

C. To be a missionary, you must reach people

D. To be missionary-minded you must love people

These men were serving as “prophets and teachers” in a local church. The prophets helped lay the foundation for the church as they proclaimed the Word of God (Eph. 2:20; 1 Cor. 14:29–32). They were more “forth-tellers” than “foretellers,” though at times the prophets did announce things to come (Acts 11:27–30). The teachers helped to ground the converts in the doctrines of the faith (2 Tim. 2:2). (Wiersbe, 456.)

II. Missionary Work Involves Churches Sending People (Acts 13:2–3)

Acts 13:2–3 KJV 1900

2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

A. Directions from the Holy Spirit

1. These came as the people fasted and prayed

Notice the climate in the congregation—worship and fasting. Not frantic activity with programs burning out everybody in the congregation. (Kenneth O. Gangel, Acts, vol. 5, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 209.)

2. These directions concerned Barnabas and Saul (Paul)

3. These two are to be sent to another place

B. The joy of the increase at Antioch

Acts 11 describes how the church started. Later the pillar saints in Jerusalem wondered if anything sound could take place in purely a Gentile community and sent people from Jerusalem to Antioch to investigate. When they came back the delegation reported the church was doing well.

A church that is floundering is inadequate even for its own needs, and it certainly is not alert to the needs of others. A church that does not know where it is coming from, why it is here, or where it is going is not likely to be of use in the missionary enterprise. This was a church that in a very short time had become very sound indeed. (Boice, 226.)

C. Now Barnabas and Saul are to be sent away

1. Why Barnabas and Saul?

2. They were their best preachers

D. How does a church send missionaries?

1. By parting with them

2. By praying for them

3. By paying for them

III. Missionary Work Involves People Being Willing to Go (Acts 13:4)

Acts 13:4 KJV 1900

4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

A. Two vital missionary words: “willing people”

One can hardly overemphasize the significance of lay leaders, congregational involvement, and ministry teams throughout Acts. The church is not, and never has been, buildings, programs, and property. God’s church consists of people, and the emphasis always falls on them in Luke’s record. Criswell tells an interesting story emphasizing this tone of Acts:

Some years ago a famous radio entertainer delivered his version of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. His presentation was so different that he was deluged with mail after he delivered the address. You see, the entertainer did some research and found that when Lincoln delivered that address, he put an emphasis upon one word in that dedication. We always say: “The government of the people, by the people, and for the people should not perish from the earth.” The entertainer discovered that when Lincoln delivered his speech he said, “That government of the people, by the people, and for the people should not perish from the earth.” Lincoln emphasized not a preposition, but the people. He was moved by the people. That is the emphasis that ought to be in our work and in our assignments. Our work concerns people. It concerns human souls (Criswell, 400). (Gangel, 210–211.)

B. “So they being sent forth … departed”

1. Sent by the Holy Spirit

Beyond doubt the Holy Spirit is personal. He speaks, he plans intelligently, and he gives instructions to a worshipping church (verse 2). We don’t know exactly how he spoke, but are quite certain that the church heard and responded appropriately. (Bryan Williams, Strategic Advance: Bible Studies in Acts Chapters 13 to 28 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 5.)

2. Sent by the church

3. Barnabas and Saul were willing to go

C. Some called to go around the block

D. Some called to go around the world

E. It is crucial that all be willing to go

 Conclusion:

A. In What Part of Missionary Work Are You?

B. Are You Willing to Go?

C. Hudson Taylor’s Anguish: “I am unable to bear the sight of a congregation of a thousand or more Christians rejoicing in their own salvation, while millions are perishing … lost”

[Adapted from:  Roger F. Campbell, Preach for a Year (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1988–).]