Antioch and Christ Church
For anyone privileged to attend Christ Church last week, you heard a stirring sermon from Elder Dan Denk entitled “Unstoppable: Speaking Boldly for God”. If you happened to miss that sermon, I would encourage you to listen to it. Dan took us through the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabus recorded in Acts 13 and 14.
We learned of incredible responses to the gospel as Paul and Barnabas saw governors, rulers, common people, Jews and Gentiles come to believe in Christ. They performed miracles, established new churches, and instructed new believers in the truth.
They also experienced intense opposition. Fellow Jews made false accusations, angry mobs attempted to silence them, and they endured physical abuse and a stoning that should have resulted in death.
We might ask, what gave them such boldness? How did they have the courage to even go back and strengthen the believers in each of those places? Their very lives were on the line. Of course, we know that only the Holy Spirit could enable such courage and such response. He empowers those whom He sends.
Today though, I would like to call your attention to the church from which He sent Paul and Barnabas. Who were these people in Syrian Antioch (now in modern day Turkey)? We know they were a combined fellowship of both Jews and Gentiles. We know that Paul and Barnabas spent a year teaching and strengthening them (Acts ll:22-26). We know that this was the first place believers were called “little Christs” or Christians, (What an amazing testimony and compliment!). We know that they sent a gift to the Church in Jerusalem to sustain them through the coming famine.
Most of all, we know that they sought the Lord with all their hearts. These were people who prayed: Acts 13:2-3 tells us “While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
So what were the people who stayed in Antioch doing while Paul and Silas were on that historic journey? I am sure that they continued to imitate Christ and spread the good news in Antioch. They were also praying! They were earnestly interceding for Paul and Barnabas, knowing that God had sent these men out to the world. Although they were not themselves journeying, they were an integral part of this gospel mission.
And so it is today. Christ Church is part of this same mission. Right now we support 16 missionaries around the world as well as local ministries. Each of these people depend on us to intercede on their behalf, to have them on our hearts, to care about their lives. I find it heartening when our missionaries tell us that they appreciate our interest in their work. What a privilege it is to encourage them!
At the end of the journey, the people of Antioch welcomed Paul and Barnabas back and heard of the work that had been done. (Acts 14:26-28). They had been part of the mission all along. So are we.
These past days have given us much to consider. We have been motivated by great messages, Sunday School presentations, visual art, music, international food, video updates from our missionaries, and more. We have been challenged to think about who else might be sent from among us. This coming Sunday we will hear from Rev. Mark Bates, Senior Director of Operations for Mission to the World. There will be music and worship that reminds us of the Great Commission. It will be a fitting conclusion to the week.
Meanwhile, we have our own mandate that extends from now until Jesus returns: Earnestly seek the Kingdom of God, and pray for those who bring the good news.
Photo by Elianna Gill on Unsplash