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Lesson 23

The Church in Action

Acts 11:19-30

I have been a part of three churches in my adult years. Sadly, two of them no longer exist. My wife has worked as a secretary of three different churches as a secretary. Sadly, one of them no longer exists. What happened in the life of these bodies of believers that led to the closing the doors of these churches? There are number of reasons but there is one that stands out in my mind. The churches that closed forgot the purpose for which they were established in the first place. It was to reach the world for Christ. Instead of carrying out this mandate they became ingrown and the members became comfortable with the status quo. If others joined them that was fine if not they were satisfied with who they were. Eventually, because they no longer reached out into the surrounding community attendance dropped off slowly until only a few people were left. I am afraid that quite often I have been part of the problem. Over the years I have sometimes gotten so busy with what was taking place inside the four walls and my part in perpetuating that environment that I lost focus on those in need outside the church. In my mind God has called us to be a Simple Church where everyone utilizes their giftedness to accomplishing a few things well so that individuals like me can do the same.

The things mentioned above could not come about because of the failures of one person. Each and every member is partly responsible. It is the collective attitude that leads to a church no longer being affective in spreading of the gospel. We live in a county that is 80 percent un-churched. There are people all around the church that do not know Jesus, but yet the number of people attending is steadily decreasing. Why is this taking place? We cannot blame it on people moving away or other reasons that we might give. The question then becomes have we forgotten the purpose for which we became a church?   In the lesson today we will see the contrast of the church in Jerusalem who had become somewhat ingrown and was not obeying the Great Commission and the church at Antioch that was birth in a very hostile environment.

We will see in this study a church that by it actions is in direct contrast to what was seen in Peter’s confrontation with leaders in Jerusalem. By their actions the Jerusalem church appeared to be one of reaction. They only responded to the events that were occurring around them. Antioch shows what a church of action looks like. It did not respond but provided the example for those like the first church to follow.

Acts 11:19-20

When persecution broke out in Jerusalem many of those who had been there began carrying the gospel to other cities and countries. It appears that God was not going to wait for the church in Jerusalem to continually deal with their prejudices as seen in last week’s lesson. His plan for the salvation of the nations was not going to be hampered. Men who had heard the message began to spread it everywhere they went.

Initially they spoke only to the Jews in places like Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. However some unnamed disciples from Cyprus and Cyrene began to share with the Gentiles in Antioch.

1. What was different about these disciples in comparison to those we had just studied in the first part of chapter 11?
2. In what ways were the actions of the church in Jerusalem a hindrance to the furtherance of the kingdom?
3. Which group best describes who we are?
4. Why did you answer in that way?

The city of Antioch was mentioned twice in these two verses. It is important to know something about the city that was to become the base of operations for the work of Paul.

Antioch was located in the southern part of what is present day Turkey. At that time it was the third largest city in the Roman Empire behind only Rome itself and Alexandria in Egypt. It was the home of the goddess Daphne. Not only was it a very pagan stronghold but also was full of immorality. It was into such a decadent society that the gospel was introduced in Asia.

It is interesting that God would have a church planted in a place which would be a stronghold for the devil. We can almost hear the words echoing which were spoken at Caesarea-Philippi when Jesus told Peter in the hearing of the other disciples, “Upon this rock I shall build my church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” (Matt. 16:18)

Acts 11:21

Against such overwhelming conditions, “the hand of the Lord was with them and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.” Here is seen a contrast between those who questioned Peter about eating with Gentiles and those who made it their business to make sure that anyone who would listen would hear the good news. God honored this kind of faithfulness and courage and the church in Antioch was established.

1. In what ways might a place like Antioch be an easier mission field than we might expect?
2. What gave these men the courage to speak out in such a decadent society?
3. Why did the people in Antioch respond by believing this new message?

Acts 11:22-24

So profound was these events that even the church in Jerusalem heard about it. Barnabas was the man chosen as the representative of the church in Jerusalem to see what was taking place in Antioch. They could not have chosen a better representative to send. He was one who would encourage the new believers. True to his character when he arrived he

• Witnessed how the grace of God had been poured out on the people
• Rejoiced
• Encouraged them to remain faithful with all that was within him.

Once again a description of Barnabas is given. He was

• A good man
• Full of the Holy Spirit
• Faithful

Under his guidance and counsel “Considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.”

1. Why did the church send Barnabas to Antioch?
2. Why was he the right man?
3. In what way would his attributes have been an example to the church?
4. What would be the results of having someone like Barnabas there at that critical time in the life of the church?
5. If someone else from Jerusalem had come, what may been the consequences?
6. What kind of behavior or attitude is seen in us when we come to church?
7. In what ways are we like the believers in the Jerusalem Church?
8. Barnabas?
9. Which will bring about greater results?

Acts 11:25

In a terse sentence we are told that Barnabas went in search for Saul to bring him to Antioch. He travelled to Saul’s home town of Tarsus. Saul was last heard of on his way out of Caesarea as he made his escape and headed towards Tarsus. The book of Galatians tells us of his itinerary from the time of his conversion. At this point he had been in Tarsus about nine years. It is interesting that Barnabas would know exactly where to find him. There are two possibilities

• As Galatians tells us Saul’s reputation was growing in the areas of Syria and Cilicia. (Gal. 1:21-23)
• The two men may have kept up some kind of correspondence over that period of years. That would have been so in character for Barnabas to have kept in touch.

Galatians also tells that Saul was not just bidding his time during those years but was honing his skills preaching in the areas around his home town. Once again God was preparing him for the task to which he would ultimately be called.

The Scripture does not specifically tell us why he believed that Saul was needed in Antioch. It is possible that Barnabas saw that the church was growing beyond his capacity to minister there. He may have also realized in order for the church to continue to grow someone with Saul’s unique gifts, abilities and experience that Saul must be found. Saul had been trained as a teacher who would know the Old Testament. Barnabas on the other hand as we have seen was a person who cared about people deeply and spent his life encouraging those around him. The man now needed to help the church grow was a teacher and Saul was fully qualified to lead the church forward.

He was also a man of who was comfortable both the Gentile and the Jewish world which gave him inroads into the lives of people where Barnabas would be considered more of an outsider. Whatever the reason it was a good decision. Both men now were able to give full attention to the teaching. Under the teaching of Saul and Barnabas the church continued to grow.

As almost an afterthought Luke states that the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. This began as a term of derision but soon became one that the church claimed for itself. It literally means of the party of Christians.

1. What exciting things were going on in the church under the guidance and encouragement of Barnabas?
2. Why did Barnabas go to look for Saul?
3. How did he know that Saul was the right person to the church?
4. What gifts and other attributes would Saul bring to Antioch?
5. What was the importance of those years that Saul spent in Tarsus?
6. What attributes of the church in Antioch would be crucial for our own church to take on?
7. What did the church possibly learn that would benefit us?

Acts 11:27-28

God was about to give the Church at Antioch an unexpected opportunity to put their new faith into action. It is strange that a group of prophets would make their way to Antioch with a message of a worldwide famine. This church had only recently come into existence. Not only that, all of the new believers came from a background of the worship of false materialistic gods. Agabus came and shared this prophecy with this young church.

1. Who was responsible for Agabus coming to Antioch?
2. Why would he bring such a message to a church in a world surrounded by pagans?
3. What did he expect them to do?

Acts 11:28

There was actually a famine that occurred just Agabus had prophesied in the reign of the Emperor Claudius. The timing of it was in the years of either 46 or 47 A.D.

Acts 11:29

We dare not miss the message of these verses. As has been just mentioned the young church heard that their brothers in Jerusalem were going to be suffering during the coming famine. Notice the fact that the famine would be worldwide. This means that they would be affected also. Knowing this fact they did not let it affect their actions. They only knew that they needed to help their brothers and sisters in Christ who might be worse off than they were. The Bible says, “In the proportion that any of the disciples had means, each of them determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brethren living in Judea.” In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Paul writes of those in Macedonian church who, “according to their ability, and beyond their ability of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints.” (in Jerusalem) The reason for their generosity was, “They first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”

It was out of a grateful heart for all that God had done for them that they wanted to give to others even when they might be in need themselves. This is a church of action and not reaction.

Acts 11:30

This gift was entrusted to the two men who had guided them and taught them what it meant to be a Christian. They had seen Saul and Barnabas in action. An underlying reason was that Saul and Barnabas were known by the church in Jerusalem and could give a report of what God was accomplishing among the Gentiles.

1. In what ways did the church in Antioch set an example for us of true Christian love?
2. How do you think the church in Jerusalem would have responded if given the same prophecy that the church in Antioch had received?
3. What does it say about the importance of the teaching and being a role model in the life of a church?
4. Why was this section of the lesson titled the church in action and not in reaction?
5. Why did the church entrust the gift to Barnabas and Saul?

The lives of those who were willing to step out of the norm and share the gospel with strangers and build relationships that ultimately led to the beginning of a new church within a pagan community. This one act led to the sharing of what they had by these new believers with others that were in need.

1. Look at your heart to see if you are willing to carry the message to those outside your normal routine.
2. Look at your own behavior and see if the description given of Barnabas fits you.
3. Determine what you can do to help the church grow. Both Barnabas and Saul saw the importance of helping this new church grow in the knowledge of God.
4. Ask yourself with what role is the church willing to entrust to me?

All of the activity that is taking place with the Leadership Study Group and the Pastor Search Committee is for one purpose. If we put into place the structure is biblical based and the godly leadership that God wants in the church, we can get on about doing what God has intended for us all along. He truly wants us to focus outward doing those things that glorify Him. That is why we need to be in prayer and also growing individually and corporately in order to meet the unexpected and normal challenges that have faced churches since the first century.

There was a real Spiritual energy flowing through the church at Antioch. Hopefully we will seek God in a way for that same energy to return to Bethany Place in the coming months. We are to be the Church that is known for our actions in serving our community and not reactions to what others are doing.

Additional Notes:

GC-Is one who does not stand in God’s way. (Acts 11:19)

C-While some of those scattered after the death of Stephen only shared the gospel with Jews in Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, there were some men of Cyprus and Cyrene who started a church among the Gentiles in Antioch. (Acts 11:19-21)

GC-Everywhere a Christian goes he has the empowering indwelling Lord with him. He is always in His hand. (Acts 11:21)

C-When news of the events taking place in Antioch reached Jerusalem, the apostles sent Barnabas to see what was happening. (Acts 11:22)

GC-He has his ears open to what God is doing in other places. The Christians in Jerusalem were aware that God’s grace had fallen on those in Antioch. Barnabas was sent to verify what was happening. (Acts 11:22)

C-Barnabas was the right person to send to Antioch. While others may have tried to get the church there to conform to the ways of the Jerusalem church, as we will see later, Barnabas provided the kind of encouragement they needed. His only desire was for the people to remain true to the Lord. (Acts 11:22-24)

GC-As was his practice Barnabas provided encouragement to the church at Antioch calling them to be steadfast in the faith (with a resolute heart) and to remain true to the Lord. (Acts 11:23)

C-During the time that Barnabas was there at Antioch many people became followers of Christ. (Acts 11:24)

GC-The description of Barnabas should apply to us as well. It was said of him that he was:

1. A good man
2. Full of the Holy Spirit
3. Full of faith

As a result of his witness many of the people in Antioch became followers of Christ. (Acts 11:24)

C-Barnabas soon realized that the work needed someone like Paul so he left Antioch and went in search of Paul. When Barnabas found him he brought him back to Antioch. Paul and Barnabas remained at that church for a year teaching many new disciples the ways of Christ. (Acts 11:25-26)

GC-We should always be aware of the fact the work of God is greater than any one man can accomplish. Barnabas needed the gifts that Paul possessed. He travelled to Tarsus and brought him back. It was a wise decision. Now the work would grow because the two men were able to spend whatever time was needed to teach the new believers properly. Paul and Barnabas stayed an entire year in Antioch. Paul would eventually remain in Corinth for approximately eighteen months. (Acts 11:25-26; 18:11)

DM-Barnabas sought out Paul in Tarsus and brought him back to minister with him in Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26)

C-The Bible tells us that the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch. (Acts 11:26)

C-When a famine occurred during the reign of Claudius there was an opportunity for the believers in Antioch to help the church in Jerusalem. They sent relief funds to Judea. Paul and Barnabas were chosen to carry this offering to the churches in Judea. (Acts 11:28-30)