Acts 11: 19 – 30
When we consider what it means to become a great Church we can make the mistake of thinking that for a Church to be great it has to become big
No, I don’t agree with that; I think for a Church to become great, it must become based on Biblical principles
Last time:
1. Renewed commitment to witnessing
2. God’s power attending our witness
3. Renewed commitment to the Lord
4. Dependable men
5/ A Good Leadership Team
Acts 11: 25-26a ‘Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.’
One person alone cannot lead a Church – it takes a Team of people with different ministry abilities, working for the same purpose
1 Corinthians 3: 6 ‘I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.’
6/ Teach & Apply the Word of God
Acts 11: 26b ‘So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.’
The first priority of the Church is to teach the Word of God
The first priority of the Believer is to apply the Word of God
Acts 2:42 ‘They devoted themselves 1 to the apostles’ teaching 2 and to fellowship 3 to the breaking of bread 4 and to prayer.’
People have different priorities when they come to Church
Some come to meet with friends/enjoy the service/coffee
Only the applied Word of God can help us grow
2 Timothy 3:16 ‘every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another — showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way.
7/ Called the Right Thing
Acts 11: 26 ‘The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.’
*** They were called ‘Christians’ by other people/un-believers!
A ‘Christian’ is a fully devoted follower of Jesus
Some Churches are called the wrong thing
“That Church…is full of hypocrites, they say one thing but do the opposite; instead of acting like Christians they live worldly, immoral lives…they are no different to us!”
(Some Churches possibly deserve to be called this)
How are we known – what do others call us?
Let’s make sure they call us the right thing!
Matthew 5:14-16 ‘You are light for the world…its light shines on everyone …let your light shine in front of people. Then they will…praise your Father in Heaven.’
8/ Gift Ministry
Acts 11: 27-28 ‘…prophets came…to Antioch…through the Spirit predicted…’
Gift ministry are specially ‘called’ and equipped Leaders, given by Jesus to the Church, to build it up and equip its people to do God’s will
Ephesians 4: 11-12 ‘Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ.’
The function of the Prophet (Ephesians 4: 11-12) is to ‘…equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church…’
How would the knowledge of a coming famine build up the Church – a famine is a bad thing, right?
When bad things happen, God is giving us, as a Church, an opportunity to shine!
9/ Give Generously
Acts 11: 29-30 ‘So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem’.
The Church in Jerusalem had become weak and was about to come into more suffering (famine) – the Church in Antioch was very young but was growing strong and were seeking to be a blessing to their fellow believers in Jerusalem
Here are a few thoughts about giving generously
Q. Do we give according to our ability to give, or do we keep more for ourselves?
Q. Do we give in faith, do we give before the money is actually needed, or do we hold back our giving, waiting to be convinced that there is a real need that requires our support?
Q. Do we have a desire to be a blessing to others or are we more concerned about our own welfare?
What is it going to take to become a great Church?
1. Renewed commitment to witnessing
2. God’s power attending our witness
3. Renewed commitment to the Lord
4. Dependable men
5. A Good Leadership Team
6. Teach & Apply the Word of God
7. Called the Right Thing
8. Gift Ministry
9. Give Generously
revdotdavid 