The Changing Face of Evangelism (Part 2)

Text: Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-5

Introduction: In our first study of the church at Antioch, we described three characteristics of this dynamic first-century church that made it an excellent model for today: First, it met the challenge of planting a church in a major city. Second, it demonstrated the value of relational evangelism. Third, it revealed the power of ministry under the blessing of the hand of God. In part two, we explore five additional characteristics.

4.    This church enjoyed diversity (Acts 11:20; 13:1). Antioch was a multiethnic city. Living in a variety of quarters in Antioch were Greeks, Syrians, Romans, Africans, and Jews.

Today, our 21st-century cities are becoming increasingly diverse racially. Having grown up in a major city, I know from experience what it’s like. In our city, there were ethnic ghettos, and everyone gravitated to their own people. Today, we are learning about one another and, hopefully, getting along. It’s significant that when the power of the gospel was at work in Antioch, walls that divide came down. The leadership team in this church was racially diverse (Acts 13:1). Paul wrote, “Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all” (Col. 3:11). Antioch reflected this bond of oneness. Does our church family reflect diversity? Are all welcome?

5.    This church reflected the grace of God (11:22-23). Racial diversity in a church family does not come without its challenges. Jerusalem was quick to send Barnabas on a 300-mile trip to check out the church in Antioch. His report can be summarized by the phrase: “the grace of God.” Lives had been changed spiritually and morally. Old prejudices had been immersed in the grace of God. Not only had God’s grace delivered them from the sexual sin that was rampant in this big city, but the bitterness of prejudice also had been conquered by grace.

6.    This church was intentional in discipleship (11:23-26). The believers in Jerusalem sent a good man to check out the new church plant in Antioch. Luke gives this profile of Barnabas: “He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith” (11:24). Among his many qualities was his ministry of encouragement. He not only encouraged the new Christians “to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts” (v.23), but he did something about it! Discipleship is one of our most talked about ministries in church life, but often is not addressed by leadership. Not so with Barnabas! He went to Tarsus and got Paul, and the two went back to Antioch and spent a year with this fledging church, grounding them in the essentials of the Christian life. The change was so dramatic that people began calling them “Christians,” the first time this label was used.

7.    This church was generous in giving (11:27-30). These new believers learned of a famine in Jerusalem and decided to take an offering for the believers there. We can gain two lessons from this:

• Their generous gift, sent by the hands of Paul and Barnabas, was delivered to a church that struggled with the authenticity of the conversion of these Gentiles. They were not sure the church in Antioch had the real thing. Yet the compassionate hearts of the Christians in Antioch conquered their suspicions and doubts. They had seen a need and taken an offering. What an evidence of the unity of the body of Christ!
• As with the famine, hurricanes, earthquakes, and monsoons globally give ample opportunity for 21st-century Christians to send love offerings or rescue teams and to follow the noble example of these early believers.

8.    This church had a global vision (13:1-5). God, in His providence, selected the church at Antioch to launch the worldwide missions program of Acts 1:8. Why? Perhaps it was because a gospel outreach heading for the uttermost parts of the earth would mean loving people of different backgrounds. Antioch had passed that test. This multiracial congregation had shown that they were “color-blind” and were able to reach out to the world. So God started with them. They were so committed to the mission that they willingly released 40 percent of their leadership team (Paul and Barnabas) to the task. Two thousand years later, we are still at the task. May our churches be global in vision like Antioch.

Conclusion: The global church was started by Christians with a passion to begin at home. Like them, I want to be a missional Christian who is just as passionate to see neighbors and family saved as those overseas.