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Study #3: How People are Commissioned
The relationship of Paul and
the church in Antioch.
Acts 8:1-4;
11:19-26;
13:1-5
How did the early church
know to send people out into new church plants? Let’s learn about the
sovereignty of God by studying the early church and Paul. Paul accidentally
started the church in Antioch by persecuting believers in Jerusalem. He was
brought to Antioch by someone who had known him in his BC days. And he was sent
out by the church in Antioch to help plant other churches.
Acts 8:1-4
Paul accidentally helps to
send out church planters from Jerusalem.
1.
The apostles stayed, and the believers were scattered. Who obeyed God
here by being brave in the midst of persecution? What do you think would be your
own response to the persecution?
2.
Saul “began to destroy the church.” (v.3) At this point, the church could
have been as old as five years, with membership of as much as 100,000; a fairly
well established church. If you were attending a board meeting of the First
Church of Christ in Jerusalem, what proposals or ideas do you think you would
have heard presented? (To get you started, think of this: What was this doing to
church attendance and offerings?)
3.
Why did the Sovereign God allow such bad things to happen to the church?
(compare to
Acts 1:7,8)
4.
The church in Jerusalem had been meeting “from house to house” (kat’
oikon,
Acts 2:46). Now Saul goes “from house to house” (kata tous oikous)
dragging off men and women. How do you suppose he knew where to go?
Acts 11:19-26
The church in Jerusalem has
now planted a church in Antioch.
1.
Find where the church had been scattered to on a Bible map. How far had
the church spread at this point?
2.
Notice in
v. 20 the cross-pollination of Cyprus and Antioch, and that
this “new” direction for the church did not come from people directly sent out
from Jerusalem (an unauthorized program). How do you suppose the leaders back in
Jerusalem would respond to this idea?
3.
Read
11:22-24 and
4:36. Why do you suppose the church sent Barnabas to
Antioch, rather than an apostle or someone else? (v. 22-24) Notice that he was
no longer known by his given name of Joseph, but was known primarily by his
nickname, which means “son of encouragement.” Where was Barnabas from?
4.
Describe the relationship of the church in Antioch to that in Jerusalem.
Was it a “daughter” church? A “sister” church?
5.
How did the church at Antioch add to their staff (v. 25,26)? Was there an
interview, trial sermon and congregational vote? What would it take for this
kind of system to work today?
Acts 13:1-5
The church at Antioch now
sends out church planters.
1.
(v.1) How many “preachers” were in Antioch? What were they called? Where
were they from? What do you think they did on Sundays?
2.
(v. 2) How did they know to send out two of their best leaders? They were
worshiping (“doing the liturgy,” leitourgeo). Do you think the Lord had
already spoken to Barnabas and Saul in advance, and confirmed it here with the
others, or do you think He spoke to all of them at once? How do you think this
plan unfolded?
3.
Notice the order of the names at this point (Barnabas first). Once they
get out on the road, the order reverses, and Saul changes his name. Later, they
have a disagreement and part ways (15:36-41). How do you think they decided to
bring along John Mark? Imagine their personal relationship with each other. What
do you think about their personalities and gifts?
4.
How were they sent off? (v. 3,4) What do you think was the ongoing
relationship of the ones sent and the ones remaining?
What do you suppose was
the relationship of the churches that Paul and Barnabas planted with the church
in Antioch? With the church in Jerusalem?
#1: We Are Christ's
#2:
Becoming Community
#3:
How People are Commissioned
#4:
The Case for This Local Community
#5:
Household Evangelism
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