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Barnabas & Saul at Antioch Introduction: Growth does not come by accident. Show me any company or organization that has experienced growth and I will show you an organization that has experienced "growing pains." In order to grow we must put forth effort, commitment, determination, and usually a lot of unsung heroes. Darrel Johnson is not a household name. But he helped Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman get in the Hall of Fame; as he was the fullback that made the holes for Emmitt Smith and protected Troy Aikman from the blitz's. I) Background A) Started due to persecution in Jerusalem and disciples being scattered. 1. Said in earlier lesson that good things sometimes comes out of bad circumstances. 2. Disciples came preaching the word and there were honest hearts in Antioch. B) Antioch was a major Gentile city 1. "Seleucid kings and early Roman emperors extended and adorned the city until it became the third largest in the Roman Empire (after Rome and Alexandria), with a population in the first century A.D. of about 500,000." Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary 2. The church at Antioch in Acts 11 is noted for being the first Gentile Congregation. But it is also noted for its great growth and evangelism. II) Barnabas, Acts 11.23-24 A) Called "son of encouragement" 1. A Levite, to serve in the temple 2. Acts 4.34 sold his possessions to give to the needy saints in Jerusalem. a. Show a person willing to make real sacrifices. b. Many times we talk about sacrificing for our faith but don't. Taking up the cross is not a just a metaphor it is a reality. B) He was a trusted person, Acts 9.26-27 1. A good name is of great value, Proverbs 22.1. 2. There are some people that have earned the trust of others, Barnabas was one of them. C) A man full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, Acts 11.24 1. He was sent by the brethren at Jerusalem to Antioch. 2. Full of the Holy Spirit. a. Was this miraculous? No indication Barnabas ever performed a miracle, laid hands on anyone. Could refer to inspiration just as in the case of Stephen, Acts 6.3, 5. b. Could refer to being lead by the Holy Spirit as in Galatians 5.18, 22ff, Romans 8.14. 3. Full of faith -- could refer to a knowledge of God's word, Jude 3. Or personal conviction based upon God's word, Romans 10.17; Romans 3.26 III) Congregations Need Barnabas' A) People who are willing to give of themselves to serve the Lord, 2 Corinthians 8.5 1. Servitude is part of being a Christian. 2. Not just to serve God but to serve each other. B) Show me a growing congregation and I will show you... 1. People willing to give of their time, teach a class, call on the sick, show up to hand out announcements, greet the visitors, attend Bible Classes, show hospitality, etc. 2. Most of the time they go unnoticed but they are essential to the work of the local congregation. IV) Saul brought to Antioch A) Brought to Antioch by Barnabas, vv. 25-26 1. Why? a. Barnabas may have realized his limitations. b. More work than one man could do, 1 Corinthians 3.5-9 2. There is no room for jealousy and envy in God's kingdom. A conductor of an orchestra was one time asked what was the hardest position to fill in the orchestra. He replied, "Second fiddle, for everyone wants to be the first fiddle." B) Saul and Barnabas worked together for a whole year 1. To teach the word of God. This amounted to a prolonged Gospel Meeting. 2. Christians need to be taught, edified in order to grow. 3. There is teaching concerning how one becomes a member of Christ; then teaching on how one lives as a Christian. Both are essential to church growth. V) Called Christian At Antioch, v. 26 A) Christians, Isaiah 62.2 1. The name "Christian" is a divine name. One given by God. 2. It means to belong to or follow Christ; to be Christ like. 3. Mentioned in Acts 26.28, those hearing the word of God and obeying it are Christians. 4. What does it take to be a Christian today? The same as it did on the Day of Pentecost, the same as it did with the Ethiopian Eunuch, the same as it did in Antioch. 5. What does it take to be a Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Baptist, etc.? 5. 1 Peter 4.16 who do we glorify when we wear the name of Methodist, Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc.? Conclusion: I want to be a Christian and only a Christian. No other creed but the Bible, no other church except the one for which Christ died, no other hope other than eternal salvation.
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