Text: Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3

1. Suffering, 11:19

The gospel reached Antioch as a result of the persecution that arose in connection with the stoning of Stephen.

We might suppose that premature death of Stephen was a waste.  So also with other notable Christians who died at an early age: David Brainerd, Robert Murray McCheyne, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Nate Saint, Jim Elliot, Nabeel Qureshi.

Remember: for the Christian, no suffering is ever pointless or wasted.

2. Telling, v19-21

Well-known words attributed to St. Francis of Assisi: ‘Preaching the gospel, using words if necessary.’

(There is no evidence that Francis spoke these words, or would have spoken them.)

But Christian witness in Acts is always verbal – they spoke, preached, proclaimed, witnessed, testified, declared, taught, reasoned, explained, persuaded.

What place, then, for deeds? Good deeds are absolutely essential to Christian life and witness.  Just as faith without works is dead, so is evangelism without works.  But deeds, by themselves, do not convey the goods news of Jesus.  Only words can do that.

The Great Commission and the Great Commandment are both essential.  But they are not the same thing.  Root and fruit.

Say it with words!  Show it with actions!

3. Discerning, v22

Barnabas is sent from Jerusalem to Antioch on a fact-finding (not a fault-finding!) mission.

He saw that ‘the hand of the Lord was with them’, 11:21.  How did they know?  ‘They saw evidence of the grace of God’, v23.  What evidence?

Jonathan Edwards: The Spirit of God ‘raises our esteem of Jesus…operates against the kingdom of Satan…causes a greater regard of the Holy Scriptures…works as the Spirit of Truth…produces a spirit of love to God and man.’

Celebrate signs of God’s grace!

4. Building, vv25f

Barnabas wants to encourage them, and he knows who can help.

For a whole year Barnabas and Saul teach the church, establishing them in their new-found faith.

Need to build firm foundations – catechesis.  This was the method used in the early centuries of the Christian church, and by Richard Baxter in Kidderminster.

Be body builders!

5. Sending, 13:1f

The Holy Spirit calls (presumably, through one of the prophets, v1), and the church commissions.

Send them! – we support our mission partners both by prayer and by practical means.

Send us! – it may be that every congregation of more than 100 members should prayerfully and seriously consider planting one or more new congregations.  (Note: they sent their best, not their disaffected!)

Send me! – many are the opportunities for going to our family members, neighbours, fellow-students, work-mates, with a word of witnesses to Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Acts tells an unfinished story; a story that we ourselves are called to be a part of.