TIED TO THE BRIDE Acts 13-14 Dr. Jon McNeff, Senior Pastor September 13, 2015 Note: The following are the pastor s notes used in preaching this message. This is not a complete, word-for-word transcription of what was preached. These notes serve as a companion to the complete message, which is available by listening to the audio version. Bible quotes are primarily from NASB and ESV, respectively. What do you think of when you hear missions Stanley Livingstone in pith helmet in Africa? Serious looking Westerners standing next to dark-skinned natives with headdress, spear, and bone through the nose? That was mine until Uncle Gene came home real person played baseball Caveat limited access countries prevent entry must be creative but strictly speaking missions is evangelism, discipleship, organizing churches in a foreign context where Jesus is not known but today missions is anything overseas humanitarian educational infrastructure needed, but they re not missions True missions is reaching the unreached principle is let the existing church reach the unreached in their culture but true missions refers to the 1.2 to 1.6 billion unevangelized people in the world that means 26.5% of world s population live in people groups where there are no indigenous evangelizing churches. 1 Today missions from Scripture Acts 13-14 I. THEY ARE SENT BY THE CHURCH Acts 13:1-3 is the turning point in Acts In Acts 1-12 the emphasis was on Peter and the rest of the 12 disciples who began to preach and founded the first early church in Jerusalem From Acts 13 on the emphasis is entirely on Paul first formal missionaries sent out by a church in the New Testament era last week John was a man sent by God Acts 2 tells of the founding of the church Acts 9 the conversion of Paul Acts 13:1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers no written Scripture prophets were preachers who received new revelation 1 Corinthians 2:13 Paul explains these were taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words they were consistent with Old Testament theology and were moved along by the Holy Spirit the gift of prophecy was replaced by evangelists and the office of pastor/teacher Scripture became the standard Notice the characteristics of a sending church: Persecuted Acts 11:19 those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. church had been displaced by persecution went specifically to Jews Well taught Acts 13:1 Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers Quite a group Barnabas was introduced as Joseph in Acts 4:36 as one who gave proceeds from sale of land to the church became known as Barnabas encourager in Acts 9:27 he was the first one to take Paul under his wing Acts 11:25 Barnabas felt so strongly that the church at Antioch needed Paul s teaching so much that he went all the way to Tarsus in Turkey to bring Paul back to Antioch to teach the church later he accompanied Paul on this trip Integrated in addition to Barnabas there was Simeon who was called Niger Acts 13:1 possibly dark skinned man from Africa Lucius of Cyrene Latin name, brought up in Roman culture Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch lit. fed together can be translated foster brother of Herod Antipas, meaning he was reared in the home of despotic Herod the Great and Saul there were blacks, whites, a Roman trained orthodox Jewish rabbi Turks, Romans, Africans, Jews Worshipful Acts 13:2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting John Piper has said that evangelism exists because worship doesn t and if a church doesn t worship they will not be a missionary sending church when the church is centered around entertaining their people they are not 1 John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2003), 173. 1
worshipping, they are entertaining those churches don t evangelize and they don t send missionaries because they don t know what the gospel is fasting is not a public discipline but it is commended in Scripture someone skips a meal to intercede specifically for something from God have you ever fasted? Spirit powered in the process of their worship the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Acts 13:2 we would all like to have a personalized message from the Holy Spirit like that but the book of Acts is a transitional book we don t have prophets the Holy Spirit doesn t audibly speak but that doesn t mean He doesn t speak 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God (ESV) scripture is the very breath of God Holy Spirit continues to say the same thing through Scripture They planned on sending Acts 11:20, 21 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. Persecution expansion to other people groups Acts 13:3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. this is the rich tradition of the church sent their very best, not the leftovers most spend everything to get their kids into right college and right job how about getting them onto mission field This fulfilled Acts 1:8 Acts 1-7 featured the gospel being preached in Jerusalem Acts 8-12 showed the gospel being preached in Judea and Samaria Acts 13-28 shows the gospel going to the far reaches of the known world II. THEY DO THE WORK OF THE CHURCH 13:5; 44-52 A. They evangelized Acts 13:5; 44-52 First thing they did Acts 13:5 When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper. Acts 13:44-46 they went to the Jews first then also preached to Gentiles Acts 13:49 and the word of the lord was being spread through the whole region. granted they didn t have to learn the language and they already had a book of God s law [need for Wycliffe] Job description of the church is clear Matthew 28:19,20 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them (head) to observe (heart) all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Evangelism and discipleship catch em and clean em Notice something special in Acts 13:46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. Priority of Jewish evangelism also in Acts 1:8 you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. We stress remotest part of the earth First century Christians heard Jerusalem first B. They were persecuted Acts 13:6-11 They encountered false teaching and persecution everywhere they went: Acts 13:6 - v. 6 when they came to Paphos they found a magician, a Jewish false prophet whose name was Bar-Jesus v. sorcerer, fancy astrologist who tried to convince people that you could tell the future through reading the stars v. 8 his goal was to oppose the missionaries by dissuading a government official who wanted to talk to them v. 9-11 dramatic confrontation Acts 13:45 jealous Jews Acts 14:19 murderous intent Most First century Christians lost their homes, their jobs, and some lost their families C. They encountered relational tension Acts 13:13 2
Acts 13:13 Now Paul and his companions put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia; but John left them and returned to Jerusalem. Two significant things happen here the first is that this is the first time Paul s name is mentioned first in the book of Acts Paul was converted in Acts 9 then spent three years in Arabia, seven in Asia Minor, and two in Antioch 12 years of preparation! This also means Barnabas took a back seat from this time on it is hard playing second fiddle hard to watch someone more gifted than you advance Second thing when the team got to Perga Acts 13:13 John left them and returned to Jerusalem. also known as John Mark Barnabas nephew text doesn t tell us what happened here but Acts 15:37-38 tells us why on their second missionary journey Barnabas wanted to take John, called Mark, along with them also. But Paul kept insisting that they should not take him along who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. We don t know what happened couldn t take the persecution? Got tired of sleeping on the ground? Jealous of Paul for taking the lead with the proconsul? Paul called it desertion had little time for Mark missions isn t easy work foreign country can t speak language persecution Acts 15:39, 40 And there occurred such a sharp disagreement that they separated from one another, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and left... disagreement broke up the team! Happens at times even for missionaries good news 1 Corinthians 9:6 tells us Barnabas and Paul later worked together and Mark later appears with Paul in Rome 2 Timothy 4:11 Paul wanted Timothy to pick up Mark because he is useful to me Mark later became like a son to Peter and eventually wrote the second gospel that bears his name If you re not prepared for relational struggles, don t get into missions people are people and God s people can be selfish, stubborn, and sinful too! D. They preached Acts 13:16-41 This is the heart and soul of the work of the church foreign or domestic preaching is more than relaying information it s more than the repetitive nature of teaching preaching is persuasive proclamation Martyn Lloyd-Jones said it s logic on fire we see this in: Acts 13:5 they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues Acts 14:1, 6-7 when they were kicked out of Iconium they fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra, and Derbe, and the surrounding region, and there they continued to preach the gospel. In Acts 14:8-15 when Paul healed a lame man the people said, The gods have become like men and have come down to us. They began calling Paul and Barnabas Zeus and Hermes and wanted to offer sacrifices on their behalf Paul was aghast! tore his robe and cried out, Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God we re nothing special, but our message is Acts 15:21 they continued to preach the gospel in Derbe and make many disciples But we have one of the largest examples of Paul s preaching in Acts 13:16-41 Evangelistic preaching is the heart and soul of missions 1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. E. They discipled Acts 14:21 Acts 14:19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. Fickle people same ones who called him Hermes and wanted to make sacrifices to him but notice Acts 14:20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city... what disciples are these? Ones Paul and Barnabas made by preaching and teaching Acts 14:20, 21 The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe. After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch disciples are made, not born a disciple is a learner he learns a subject then puts it into practice he emulates the one who taught 3
him you are making disciples for something what is it? Matthew 28:19-20 make disciples...teach them to observe all that I commanded you combination of knowledge and application head and heart life and lip F. They experienced God s power Examples: Acts 13:7 Sergius Paulus, the proconsul (governor) who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. Why? Don t know God works like that at times Satan doesn t like this sent Bar-Jesus, this Jewish false prophet to confuse the proconsul but in an act that set Paul on his course of leadership, he was filled with the Holy Spirit and stared him down called him full of deceit and full of the devil pronounced blindness on him Acts 13:12 Then the proconsul believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord. No spiritual work is ever done unless the Holy Spirit does it! Acts 13:42 after Paul s dynamic sermon the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. Acts 13:44 the next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord. Acts 13:48 after Paul quoted Isaiah and said the Jews were given as a light to the Gentiles, the Gentiles who heard it began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. III. THEY PLANT CHURCHES Many modern missionaries spend their lives in a foreign culture and never do anything to encourage the planting of new churches that s not missions Acts 14:23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. Paul backtracked on his whole journey and planted churches everywhere he went The process is relatively simple preach disciple organize churches identify gifts of teaching and leadership and appoint them as elders the process of missions in a nutshell IV. THEY REPORT TO THE CHURCH After working their way back through the churches they had visited Acts 14:26-28 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished. When 4
they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they spent a long time with the disciples. Clarify most missionaries report to mission agencies, not churches but God did not ordain mission agencies He commissioned churches never provided for anything else Most modern mission agencies were born after WWII at the end of WWII General Douglas MacArthur was asked what the greatest need for Japan was he pointed out all their gods had failed, their military was in tatters, their 1000 year belief that Japan would rule the world was shattered all their gods had failed they had nothing MacArthur asked for thousands of missionaries to go in the next five years 5,000 missionaries went to Japan flooded Japan with millions of Bibles The need was great and most mission agencies were born during that time same with domestic Para-church organizations like Youth for Christ, Campus Crusade, Navigators, Inter-Varsity, etc. anything wrong with that? Not necessarily but there are shortcomings: Most stress evangelism many new gospel presentations it was easy to recruit volunteers took on recruiting tactics of military come and change the world for Jesus problem ignored the church evangelism without the context of the church is like having babies and placing them in an orphanage babies need families No accountability the spiritual life of disciples is the responsibility of the elders in Scripture not unaccountable organizations whose funding is outside church Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. The life of the church is ignored church is more than evangelism it s worship regular teaching of the Bible baptism and Lord s Table full community of all ages marrying and burying church discipline We can t depend on mission agencies to send missionaries that s the job of the church we must be a sending church who will go? QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 1. What do you think of when you hear the word missions? 2. Describe the church seen in Acts 13:1-3. 3. What s the first thing Paul and Barnabas did when they went to Cyprus in Acts 13:4-5? 4. What is significant about the missionary s activities in Acts 14:23? 5. What happened in Acts 14:27-28? 6. What is your role in missions? 5