21st Century Churches

TEXT: Acts 11:19-30, 13:1-3

LESSONS: The church today needs a good model for ministry. A new vocabulary is in vogue that asks the following: Should our worship be traditional or contemporary? Should we worship on-campus or multi-site? What should our focus be? Are we an emerging church, a missional church, or a Bible-teaching church? The church at Antioch offers a good template.

1. This church in Antioch was planted in a metropolitan city (Acts 11:19).

• Antioch was the third-largest city in the Roman Empire. This tells us a great church can be planted in a large city.

2. This church was planted by lay people. (Acts 11:19)

• Spirit-filled laypersons planted the church. The professionals were in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1-2). This is a key for church growth today.

3. This church experienced the hand of God (Acts 11:21).

• Nehemiah’s story (Neh. 2:7-8) of the amazing response of a pagan king to his request has no other explanation than our great God.

4.This church expressed diversity (Acts 11:20).

• People groups in the city—Syrians, Jews, Greeks, and Africans—were also found in the church (Acts 13:1-2).

5. This church reflected the grace of God (Acts 11:23).

• Barnabas saw the transformed lives and rejoiced.

6. This church was intentional in discipleship (Acts 11:25-26).

• The new believers in Antioch needed to be grounded in the faith. Paul and Barnabas spent a year doing this.

7. This church gave generously (Acts 11:29).

• Are we ready to help churches in need by offering manpower and money? Will we do it in this time of recession?

8. This church had a global vision (Acts 13:1-3).

• God selected this church to launch His global missions program.
• What was there about Antioch believers that determined God’s choice?

Conclusion: In a new day when churches are seeking new direction, Antioch provides a good blueprint.