Sermon for the Watford Church of Christ
“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 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.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.” (Acts 12:25–13:5 NIV11)
Introduction
Antioch not exact template for us
But instructive, inspirational, aspirational
What does a church need? These three things…
1. Resources Human, v1
A. Diversity: 1 Cor 12 – all useful, important!
B. Used
C. Equipped: “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22 NIV11)
How?
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11–13
2. Resources Spiritual, vv2-4
A. Speaks
B. Response Perhaps the more gifted and self-dependant we are the more deliberately spiritual we must be!
C. Sending
3. Resources Sent, v4-5
A. Willing sendees
B. Going somewhere
C. Simple Decisive actions
Conclusion
• In tune with the Spirit
• Using gifts
• Entrepreneurial
• Willing to send their best
• Instructional spirituality
• Worship
• Prayer
• Fasting
• Commissioning
Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.
Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.
Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.
God bless, Malcolm
PS: You might also be interested in my book: “An elephant’s swimming pool”, a devotional look at the Gospel of John
