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Sermon Notes February 20, 2011
Advice from Antioch #6:
“Fulfill Your Mission” Acts 13: 1-4
Intro: NBA All Star week, reading about Blake Griffin…OKC
- Great Balance (physical & statistical…points, rebounds)
- Basketball, Ballet,… Athletics, Art, Architecture…Life!
- Balance Is Beautiful….Functional!
T/S – Balance Is an Important Attribute of a Great Church
Antioch…. As Described in Acts…
n Growth in Numbers and in Depth
n Evangelism AND Discipleship; Unity & Diversity
n Always Gathering Together….. SCATTERING
Acts 13: 1-4 (Read with Comments)
Vs. 1 – “Niger” = Latin word meaning Black (West & Africa)
Vs. 3 – Four 3rd pers. pl. pronouns = Leaders or Congregation?
n congregation! (cf. 14:27)…Read again.
Vs. 4 – Seleucia was Antioch’s port…First Missionary Journey
AD 46-48 — highlands of Galatia (Turkey)
Four Cities….Synogogue; Gentiles; Saved == Churches
Vs. 27 – The Church Sent them Out!
We have been Learning Important Lessons from Antioch….
Trust Jesus to Build His Church
Speak of Jesus (everyone, everywhere, anyone)
Spend Time Together (Encouraging & Equipping –Word)
Spend Money together (Great = Generous)
Fulfill Your Mission
Exp – At Antioch, If we can be Saved….Everyone Needs to Hear!
- Finally, 15 years after Resurrection…Mission Embraced!
ILL – Julie sent me to purchase Light bulbs (clear..watts…)
- Lowe’s = mowers, patio furniture, air filters, appliances…
App – The Church gets Distracted….. Matthew 28: 19-20
We Want to Be a Great Missionary Church
Now, more than ever, It is Possible…Antioch shows us How.
Serve the Lord in Worship
Exp – The Missionary movement began with a Worshipping Church!
- They were ministering to the Lord…. “Liturgy”
Community Service…. OT – Priests in Temple
Worship as Service rendered TO the Lord!
- In Worship, we seek His Pleasure and His Purpose!
Ill – Imagine a Meeting with the President… Oval Office
Better chair, A.C. adjusted, keep pen, How long will last?
NO! You are they for His purpose… serve, not be served.
App – Worship is an audience with the KING!
We gather to Minister to the Lord…Tragic shift in Vocabulary!
“Worship Service” became “Worship Experience”
t/s – Vital to Mission…In Worship, the Church embraces His Purpose
Seek the Holy Spirit’s Leadership
Exp – Holy Spirit does not Shout…. The Church was Listening!
- Fasting, Praying, Worshipping….
- Vs. 3-4 – who sent out the missionaries? (church=Spirit)
App – The Holy Spirit will Lead us in the Work! (not clever)
Holy Spirit Led Church is a Missionary Church.
Send Out Your Best People
Exp – The five Leaders are mentioned in vs. 1 to emphasize the
Reality —- The Church released 2/5 of their best leaders!
Vs. 3 = “sent them away” == Released them!
- Calling; Confirmation; Commissioning; Connection
The Local Church Sends Missionaries!
(universities, seminaries, IMB, denominations help)
App – Moving forward, We will be Gathering and Scattering
Sending Out Our Best in Missionary Service ($750,000)
- Washas, Hesskews, Chartneys, …Called to Nations!
Gathering $$ Commitments – Not showplace…Sending Station!
Conclusion
The Church at Antioch seized an Opportunity to touch the World with the Gospel of Jesus!
ILL – Archibald Thomas Robertson…. Scholar at Southern Seminary
- Usually technical greek grammatical issues…
- Profound sentence….
Jerusalem had hesitated too long to carry out the
command of Jesus to take the Gospel to the whole
world. That glory will now belong to Antioch.
We stand at the intersection of great resources and great need with an open door set before us.
We have a greater access to the world than Antioch did, greater resources of money and people,
If we will allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, — stay focused on serving the Lord in worship, seeking His pleasure and purpose, — He will make us a Great Missionary Church.
Let’s Fulfill our Mission Together!
