Believers Commissioned For Missions - A Changing Church For Changing Times.

Sermon – Believers Commissioned for Missions

Scripture Lesson Acts 13:1-4

“Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas, and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way."

Introduction - The First Missionary Journey as Barnabas and Saul Are Commissioned.

Taking the gospel to the end of the world required the Church to change. Each of us has the opportunity to change and grow until our very last breath. Every living thing must change to survive and fulfill its purpose. Change is necessary to life. If we are unwilling and refuse to change, we elect to live the balance of life in stagnation. Many lives could be drastically improved if people would only embrace change. To change, there must be a change of mind, a change attitude, a change of lifestyle and a change of direction. The church at Jerusalem had begun a good work but were slow to embrace change. Yes, they willingly sent representatives to Samaria and then to Antioch, but control was limited. The church at Jerusalem was basically a Jewish congregation whose background limited their vision for expansion. Yet the church with a vison for worldwide ministry, must embrace a broader vision. The book of Acts can be divided into three areas: The ministry of the church at Jerusalem, the ministry of the Church at Samaria and Antioch, and the ministry of the church to the world. In today’s lesson, we see the church in transition. This is the beginning of missionary ministry to spread of the gospel message around the world. Paul replaces Peter as the central figure in the book of Acts. This lesson begins the first of Paul’s three missionary journeys.

After delivering the famine relief money to the elders at Jerusalem, Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch. They took with them John Mark, a cousin of Barnabas. The Church at Antioch now became the base of operation for Paul's missionary ministry. Jerusalem was still the mother church, but the missionary church was Antioch. The Mother Church was basically Jewish, but the Missionary church was filled with men of diverse background. The diversity in the Church at Antioch shows the inclusive nature of this Missionary church. Acts 13 reveals the general makeup of the Church at Antioch. First listed was Barnabas, an open-minded Jew from Cyprus, who recognized that God was sending the gospel to everyone. Then Simeon, also a Jew, but his name "Niger" indicates that he was a black man, who moved in Roman circles. Some believe that he may have been the Simon who was compelled to carry the cross of Jesus. Then Lucius is mentioned, a man from Cyrene in North Africa. Manaen, an influential, well-connected Jew with friends in high places, for he was well educated and had been raised with Herod the Tetrach, actually Herod Antipas, who beheaded John the Baptist. Then there was Saul, a trained Jewish Rabbi who could speak seven different languages.

Two things stand out about this diverse church. First, they were people committed to the leading and working of the Holy Spirit, and secondly, they were gifted prophets and teachers who gave themselves to prayer and fasting, seeking God’s will for the next move of the church. At times, the church has been guilty of deciding, planning, and then asking God to bless their plans and ideas. These prophets and teachers were actively seeking God’s will, plan and direction for the Church. God, what is the plan? What is the next move? Read the following verse.

Acts 13:2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

God was getting ready to take His ministry to the next level. “Take it to the Next Level", today that phrase has become a common expression. What does it mean? What does it require? Do we have the right stuff to take ministry to the next level? The church at Antioch was positioned to take the gospel to the next level. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said, “ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. In the book of Acts, Chapters 1-7 deals with the gospel in the city of Jerusalem; chapters 8-12 deals with the gospel in Judea and Samaria; and Chapter 13 marks the beginning of taking the gospel unto the utmost part of the world, the whole earth.