ACTS 29
9/04/2016
ACTS 29:
the next chapter
Why was the early Church so effective?
1
9/04/2016
Acts 13 13::1-5 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers teachers:: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul Saul.. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them them..” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away away.. 4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus Cyprus.. 5And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews Jews.. They also had John as their assistant.. assistant
2
9/04/2016
Acts 17:6 “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
3
9/04/2016
1. Scriptural in their structure • Barnabas – Acts 4:36 36--37 gave of his resources, Acts 9 vouched for Saul before the other Apostles
• Simeon who was called Niger – Mk 15 15::21 father of Alexander and Rufus, Rufus’s mother Rom 16 16::13
• Lucius of Cyrene – Maybe a convert of Simeon, “Lucius my kinsman” – Rom 16 16::21
• Manaen – grew up with Herod the tetrarch, Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, had John the Baptist martyred
• Saul
Their leadership structure was comprised of a group of spiritually mature believers called elders. • Old Testament Israel was led by elders • Acts 14 14::23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church • Titus 1:5 appoint elders in every city • 1 Tim 5:17 elders who rule well • Js 5:14 sick should go to the elders of the church
4
9/04/2016
2. Serious in their supplication Acts 13:2 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted,
• Mt 17:21 this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting • Js 5:17 the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much
3. Sensitive to the Spirit 13:2-3 the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and 13: Saul for the work to which I have called them them..” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.. away
• • • • •
Mt 4:1 Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness Jn 16:13 the Spirit will guide you into all truth Acts 16:7 the Spirit did not permit them Rom 8:5 live by the Spirit, think on the things of the Spirit Gal 5:16 walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the deeds of the flesh • Eph 4:30 do not grieve the Holy Spirit
5
9/04/2016
4. Spiritual in their service Acts 13 13::4-5 So So,, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus Cyprus.. 5And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews Jews.. They also had John as their assistant assistant.. 1 Pet 4:11 If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies Gal 3:5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you you,, 1 Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
“We note that there was none of the spiritual exercise about the commendation of John Mark to the mission field that marked the sending of Barnabas and Paul Paul.. The fact of John Mark’s presence is added almost as a footnote footnote.. He just came along along.. Perhaps he was invited to join the missionary party by his uncle Barnabas, but he does not seem to have been sent by the Spirit..” John Phillips Spirit
6
9/04/2016
“John Mark seems to have been one of the went ones, as his subsequent history shows shows.. Much trouble has been caused on the mission field by people who have gone because of the glitter or glamour, because they have been captivated by someone’s charismatic personality, or because they have felt a call that was never confirmed by the Holy Spirit Spirit.. Better by far to wait and make sure sure;; better not to go than to go unsent..” unsent
7
ACTS 29:
the next chapter
Why was the early Church so effective?
1
9/04/2016
Acts 13 13::1-5 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers teachers:: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul Saul.. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them them..” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away away.. 4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus Cyprus.. 5And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews Jews.. They also had John as their assistant.. assistant
2
9/04/2016
Acts 17:6 “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.
3
9/04/2016
1. Scriptural in their structure • Barnabas – Acts 4:36 36--37 gave of his resources, Acts 9 vouched for Saul before the other Apostles
• Simeon who was called Niger – Mk 15 15::21 father of Alexander and Rufus, Rufus’s mother Rom 16 16::13
• Lucius of Cyrene – Maybe a convert of Simeon, “Lucius my kinsman” – Rom 16 16::21
• Manaen – grew up with Herod the tetrarch, Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, had John the Baptist martyred
• Saul
Their leadership structure was comprised of a group of spiritually mature believers called elders. • Old Testament Israel was led by elders • Acts 14 14::23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in every church • Titus 1:5 appoint elders in every city • 1 Tim 5:17 elders who rule well • Js 5:14 sick should go to the elders of the church
4
9/04/2016
2. Serious in their supplication Acts 13:2 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted,
• Mt 17:21 this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting • Js 5:17 the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much
3. Sensitive to the Spirit 13:2-3 the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and 13: Saul for the work to which I have called them them..” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.. away
• • • • •
Mt 4:1 Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness Jn 16:13 the Spirit will guide you into all truth Acts 16:7 the Spirit did not permit them Rom 8:5 live by the Spirit, think on the things of the Spirit Gal 5:16 walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the deeds of the flesh • Eph 4:30 do not grieve the Holy Spirit
5
9/04/2016
4. Spiritual in their service Acts 13 13::4-5 So So,, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus Cyprus.. 5And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews Jews.. They also had John as their assistant assistant.. 1 Pet 4:11 If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies Gal 3:5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you you,, 1 Cor 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
“We note that there was none of the spiritual exercise about the commendation of John Mark to the mission field that marked the sending of Barnabas and Paul Paul.. The fact of John Mark’s presence is added almost as a footnote footnote.. He just came along along.. Perhaps he was invited to join the missionary party by his uncle Barnabas, but he does not seem to have been sent by the Spirit..” John Phillips Spirit
6
9/04/2016
“John Mark seems to have been one of the went ones, as his subsequent history shows shows.. Much trouble has been caused on the mission field by people who have gone because of the glitter or glamour, because they have been captivated by someone’s charismatic personality, or because they have felt a call that was never confirmed by the Holy Spirit Spirit.. Better by far to wait and make sure sure;; better not to go than to go unsent..” unsent
7
