Grace-Filled Community

It's always a blessing, isn't it?

To come and worship the Lord together,

to be encouraged in the music that we sing.

! It's so Christ-centered and so biblical.

! Reminds us what's really important.

And just such a blessing.

Thank you, John.

Appreciate also your vulnerability.

Especially this morning when we talk about

grace-filled community.

And particularly in kind of preparation

for our small groups that we'll be starting up

beginning next week.

And working through the little epistle

of Thessalonians together.

And looking really at what does

a grace-filled community look like.

And we're going to begin on that this morning

not from 1 Thessalonians,

but we're going to take a look at

what does a grace-filled community look like

in the book of Acts.

We could go to Acts chapter 2, of course.

Acts 2 · chapter mention

And that's very familiar.

Kind of the beginnings of the church

and how it all takes place.

But I thought it might be beneficial,

especially for us in our context,

to take it out of the Jewish element

and put it into the Gentile element.

Maybe we can begin to relate a little bit

to see that grace-filled communities

can happen even outside of the apostleship

of Peter and John and James

and all of those gifted men

who were commissioned in Jerusalem

by Christ to do this work.

And we actually will see this morning

this splinter group,

this fractured group of individuals

broken and scattered

because of the persecution

happening there in Jerusalem.

Some of them making their way

to this little place of Antioch

and this church beginning to grow

right there in Antioch.

A grace-filled community, I would say.

But I think it would be important

for us to begin with this question.

What does it take

to be a grace-filled community?

Well, you've got to have grace.

But where does grace come from?

How do you get grace?

And what does grace look like?

What does grace do?

We're going to look at that

a little bit more in our passage today.

But I think the beginnings of grace

starts with an understanding

of your desperate need for grace.

Grace does not arrive from you.

It does not originate with you.

Grace comes to you

because of the God of grace

who gives His grace to you

and not so that you can

hold on to that grace for yourself,

but so that grace can be communicated

and dispensed to the world around you.

But how do you begin

to really appreciate,

really begin to recognize

your desperation for grace?

Well, it's a work of God

on your heart, of course.

But as I began to think

a little bit about

the significance of small groups

and I began to think about

how did God work grace

into my own heart?

How did He give me

a deeper appreciation

and recognition

for my need for grace?

Well, if I were to be really honest,

it happened through the context

of relationship.

It happened because of people

that I love and respect

who were willing to be vulnerable,

willing to be transparent with me

about their own struggles.

And were willing to be

a little candid with me

about the flaws

and the blind spots

that I had in my own life.

It helped me understand

my desperation for grace.

And as I watched grace

show up in their lives,

their grace for me,

their compassion for me,

their interest in my own

spiritual life,

it began to help me understand

the significance of grace

and my need for grace

so that I could also be a person,

a conduit of grace to others.

I'm reminded of

when I was a high schooler

and Dr. Dixon,

who was the president

of Cedarville University

at the time,

had a small group

of high school students,

about 20 of us in all,

who he invited to his house

for like a six-week series

on what it means

to study the Bible

and why that is so significant.

I still have those notes

because it was so impactful.

That small,

intimate setting

with this prominent feature,

this important guy

who was willing to invest

in some no-name high schoolers

who he had no idea

what was going to happen

in their future.

But that didn't matter

because he wanted to invest

in us as individuals.

I think of my experience

as an employee

at Boeing Satellite Systems

and for the first time

being part of a Bible study at work

and being with a group of individuals

who had a pretty diverse theology,

but to see the continuity

of lives

that believe in the essential things

of the gospel.

And regardless of the differences

in theology,

there was this laser-like passion

for Jesus Christ.

And it was the first time

I got to know

that there are other people

outside of Baptist circles

that are actually Christians.

I had no idea.

And, you know,

there were some people

you're like,

there's no way

if they believe that

they can be a Christian.

But those are the people

that actually

helped me see Jesus

in a new way

for the first time.

I think of a little

junior high,

seventh and eighth grade

class that I was helping

to lead.

And this group of five kids,

I still remember

most of their names,

and they had such

a hunger for the scriptures,

this infectious desire

to know more,

insatiable desire

to know more about the word.

It was compelling,

and it helped to identify

and expose in my own heart

this complacency about me,

this apathy

about the scriptures.

They had this hunger

that I just didn't have,

and it was so refreshing

to see the seventh

and eighth grade group of boys

out in California

who just loved the Bible

and pushed me

into deeper love

for the scriptures myself.

And then as we moved

to Illinois,

this community

of pastors

that I got to

spend time with

and to hear

and to know

their heart for the gospel

and to see it show up

in various ways,

it was refreshing

and also inspirational

to me.

These small,

intimate,

fellowshipping groups.

Now,

let's be honest.

There may be a handful

of sermons

that you remember

over the decades of time

that you've spent

in the church.

Now,

we understand the significance

of the morning

corporate instruction time.

We recognize that,

but when it really

comes down to it,

the moments

where grace

pours into our life

the most,

the moments

where we spend time

with people

on an intimate level,

beginning to understand

the scriptures together,

sharpening one another

in those smaller,

intimate settings.

And that's why

small groups

for us

as a church

are so significant.

And why we encourage

you to be part

of a small group

in some way

or the other.

We're going to have

a small group setting

here on Sunday morning

beginning next week

for those of you

who are not part

of a small group.

And so those of you

who might be new

to Maranatha,

I would encourage you.

We're going to be meeting

right down the hallway.

We're going to be going

through this study together

so we can just encourage

one another with that.

But those of you

who are part

of a small group,

my heart's desire

is we're going to be able

to look into the scriptures,

to dig a little deeper,

to apply it to our lives,

to work out

some of those nuances

that seem unfamiliar

and inaccessible

and we're going to grow.

My heart and prayer

is that we grow

in our relationship

and love for Jesus

like we have never

grown before.

Even this morning

as Pastor David

and I were interacting today,

our prayer

for this church

is that there would be

such an awakening

in our hearts

that we see Jesus

in new ways

and we get the privilege

and joy

of seeing new people

come to faith

in Jesus Christ.

What could be better

than that?

What could be better

than that?

So this morning

I want to encourage you

if you would please

to turn

to Acts chapter 11.

Acts 11 · chapter mention

Acts chapter 11.

Acts 11 · chapter mention

There is this

founding of a church,

the church of Antioch.

And I want to point out

a few things

about this church

and I want you

to understand

that yes,

we're going to be

talking about

the founding

of a church

and the development

of a church

as a body,

but as a function

of that body

and a way

to begin to express

and work out

the things

that we see

in that body,

it has to come

to a smaller,

more intimate

setting.

It can't just happen

on a corporate level.

It has to happen

as we're interacting

with and rubbing shoulders

on a consistent

and intimate basis.

I want to just read

the first several verses

for you

by way of context

and then we'll jump

into this passage together.

Acts chapter 11.

Acts 11 · chapter mention

If you're a guest with us,

it's on page 920

in the Pew Bible

in front of you.

Here's what it says.

Now those who were scattered

because of the persecution

that arose over Stephen

traveled as far as Phoenicia

and Cyprus

and Antioch,

speaking the word

to no one

except the Jews.

But there were some

of them,

men of Cyprus

and Cyrene,

who on coming

to Antioch

spoke to the Hellenists

also,

preaching the Lord Jesus.

And the hand

of the Lord

was with them,

and a great number

who believed

turned to the Lord.

This morning,

I want to begin,

I want us to walk

through three

kind of headings,

major headings

through our study together.

My desire is to begin

with the beginning

of the process

and then show you

the end of the process

and then focus

some more of our time

on the middle

of the process

to help you recognize

how we can be

this kind of church.

How can we be

a grace-filled community?

And why should we be

a grace-filled community

to begin with?

What's the significance?

What does it do?

So first,

I want to point

our attention

to the foundation

of a grace-filled community.

The foundation

of a grace-filled community.

Now,

I don't know about you,

but this is so encouraging

to me.

As we walk through

these verses briefly,

and I point out

what's taking place here,

my hope is

that all of you

will come to the point

where you say,

I can do that!

God can use me!

I can be

a significant participant

and member

of this body

to help make this

happen for Maranatha.

What is the foundation

of a grace-filled community?

We see the starts of it

there in verses 19 and 20,

and it is

gospel preaching.

Gospel preaching.

Now,

notice these first two groups.

We see them in verses 19 and 20.

What stands out to you

about these two groups?

What do you notice?

Do you notice?

Do you notice

any names listed?

Do you notice

any specific

positions

who were listed?

Do you see

any particular gifts

of these individuals

that are described?

Those who were scattered?

Now,

that's not a huge

selling point.

That's not something

you put on your resume.

That's not a credential

that qualifies you

to be a church planter.

But isn't it amazing

what God can do

through faithful,

scattered people?

Wow!

It's awesome

to see

what God will do

through faithful people.

And notice

how it describes

these faithful individuals.

We don't even know

who they are.

We don't know

how many there were.

But there was something

that was compelling

about them.

Something that unified

them as a bunch.

And it is

that although

they were scattered

because of the persecution

that happened

in Jerusalem,

they came to Antioch

speaking the word.

Speaking the word.

Now,

what word

did they speak?

Well,

the Greek,

maybe a little

unlike the English,

uses this definite article,

the word,

so that we understand

that it is

a specific word.

And when it's talking

about the word

or the message,

it's referring,

of course,

to the message

of the power of God

in working

in the hearts

of people

to accomplish

his work

in their lives.

It is the message

of grace,

you might say.

It is the message

about the Messiah.

Now,

how can we

say that?

Well,

it's because

they're speaking

the word

to no one

except for who?

The Jews.

Now,

at this point

in the story,

Peter hasn't yet

gone to Cornelius.

At least,

they're not familiar

with that

because they've been

scattered from

the persecution

that happened

at the end

of Acts chapter 7

Acts 7 · chapter mention

and the beginning

of Acts chapter 8.

Acts 8 · chapter mention

And as soon

as that persecution

began to happen,

they were out

of Jerusalem.

And then after

they had left

Jerusalem,

then Peter

in chapter 10

goes to Cornelius.

Then he has

this vision

that says,

no,

the door is open

to Jews

and Gentiles.

He comes back

at the beginning

of chapter 11,

reports that

to the church.

They say,

wow,

what an amazing story.

But these individuals

hadn't yet heard

that message.

So,

they're being faithful

to the word

and consistently

sharing that word

to the Jews

wherever they go.

Not really,

not really a great

strategy for church planting,

would you say?

It's not the kind

of people we would

probably put on

our missions team

and send

to other places.

we wouldn't

really say,

well,

hey,

you've been

persecuted,

you don't really

have any credentials,

but you're willing,

so why don't you go?

But that's what

these people did.

And because

of their faithfulness

to go

and to share

the word,

what does God do?

God allows

many

to come

to faith.

There is this

second group.

The second group

that kind of

fits within

the same

sphere.

Those who

preach to the Jews,

but then the second

group in verse 20,

it says,

some of them,

men of Cyprus

and Cyrene,

who on coming

to Antioch,

spoke

to the Hellenists,

also

preaching

the Lord Jesus.

Now,

this preaching

is a little different.

It's the word

for explanation.

It's the word

for defending

the message,

the teaching

of the Lord Jesus.

Because those

who were Hellenists,

those who were Greek,

outside of the Jewish

community,

wouldn't have had

any context

for who this Messiah

was going to be.

So they needed

a little bit more

information.

And those who were

from Cyprus

and Cyrene

had this burden

on their heart

to speak to those

who were Hellenists,

those who were

outside of the

Jewish community,

and to speak

to them about

the message

of the gospel.

What I find

truly amazing

about this

is,

again,

in the providence

of God,

these men

who had come

from Cyprus,

this mixed

community

of individuals,

perhaps many

of their own

family members

in different parts

of their branches

of their family

were also Gentiles.

So God

using

this

sensitivity

to those

who were outside

of the Jewish

context,

using them

and their hearts

for those people

to then begin

to share

this same message

to them as well.

And as a result

of their

bold teaching

of the Lord,

many come to faith

in Christ.

Antioch would

have been

a natural

setting

for the Gentile

mission to begin.

It's thought

that there may

have been as many

as 500 to 800,000

people that lived

in this city.

It would have been

the third largest

city in the Roman

Empire,

exceeded only

by Rome

in Alexandria.

They came

and preached,

proclaimed

the good news,

and as a result

God

gave

deliverance.

God

brought salvation

to the hearts

of the people.

Now I don't know

about you

but I find

some comfort

in that.

I find comfort

in knowing

that people

who aren't

named,

who have

no credentials,

who are scattered

because of persecution,

show up

and preach

the gospel

and God

shows up.

because

God's word

does its work.

That's why

the apostle Paul

can say,

for I am not ashamed

of the gospel

of Christ

for it

is the power

of God

to everyone

who believes.

Do you believe

in the power

of God

to accomplish

its work?

Take heart.

Notice

the significance

of what God

did

through

these

willing

vessels

to begin

to plant

this church

here

in Antioch.

Well,

we transition

now to the

second part

of the story.

Not only

is there

gospel preaching

but there is

also

faithful

living.

Faithful

living

that we

see

in the

next

couple

of

verses.

Beginning

in verse

22.

The report

of this

came to

the ears

of the

church

in

Jerusalem

and they

sent

Barnabas

to

Antioch.

When he

came and

saw the

grace of

God

he was

glad

and exhorted

them all

to remain

faithful

to the

Lord

with

steadfast

purpose

for he

was a

good man

full of

the Holy

Spirit

and of

faith

and a

great

many

people

were added

to the

Lord.

So

reports

of what

was happening

in Antioch

reached the

ears of

the leaders

in Jerusalem

some

300

miles

away

and by

the way

in ancient

times

that was

a significant

distance

but what

was taking

place there

was so

amazing

that the

people

the apostles

and leaders

in Jerusalem

hear about it

and they say

what are we

going to do

about this?

How are we

going to help

this church

not only

survive

but how are we

going to help

this church

to flourish?

So what do

they do?

They send

a faithful

man

they send

Barnabas

to this

church

and he

shows up

and we're

going to

look at

this a bit

later here

but he

says

when he

came he

saw the

grace of

God

we're going

to look

at that

in just

a moment

but when

he comes

he exhorts

them to

remain faithful

to the

Lord with

steadfast

purpose

he exhorts

them

exhorts

them

and encourages

them

in the

Lord

we had

the speaking

ministry

of those

who were

scattered

we had

the teaching

ministry

of those

from

Cyprus

and we

have the

exhorting

ministry

of Barnabas

who comes

and exhorts

and encourages

these people

the word

of God

had grown

they had

been faithful

to teach

one another

the things

that they

knew

the hand

of God

continued

to bless

and then

Barnabas

comes

now certainly

there were

things that

were wrong

about this

church

certainly

there was

immaturity

clearly

there was

no leadership

probably

not organized

in their

gathering

with no

real strategy

for development

probably

some cliques

had begun

to form

those who

were of

the Jews

and those

who were

of the

Hellenists

but when

Barnabas

shows up

he sees

what God

is doing

in their

lives

and he

was encouraged

and he

begins

to encourage

the things

that he

can commend

they were

together

they were

growing

they were

sharing

the word

and they

were multiplying

as a church

he commends

them to

continued

faithful

living

there was

a sensitivity

to the

scriptures

Barnabas

saw that

but he

understands

they need

more

and that's

what he

does

next

not only

is there

gospel

preaching

and not

only is

there

faithful

living

but there's

also

in-depth

teaching

we see

that here

in verse

25

and 26

so Barnabas

went to

Tarsus

to look

for Saul

when he

had found

him

he brought

him

to

Antioch

for a

whole

year

they met

with the

church

and taught

a great

many people

and in

Antioch

the disciples

were first

called

Christians

so Paul

excuse me

Barnabas

recognizes

there's a

deficiency

even though

Barnabas

was a

Levite

even though

he was

instructed

in the

things

that the

apostles

had shared

in Jerusalem

he recognizes

his own

deficiency

he begins

to think

how in the

world

can I

take

this

church

to the

next

level

well the

only way

for that

to happen

is to

teach them

in depth

the scriptures

now who

would be

best qualified

for that

who's available

for that

all the

apostles

are busy

in Jerusalem

but I know

I know

there's a

guy

in Tarsus

he was sent

away

10 years

ago

by the

apostles

in Jerusalem

because he

was creating

a little

controversy

there

in Jerusalem

and for

10 years

Saul

who would

later be

called

the apostle

Paul

was shelved

in Tarsus

until God

began to

begin this

process of

using him

in Antioch

and then as

we know

later on

sending him

to the

mission field

Saul comes

he and

Barnabas

for an

entire

year

are meeting

with the

people

and you

get the

sense that

this is more

than just a

once in a

while or once

in a week

kind of thing

this is the

kind of training

that is taking

place on a

consistent and

daily basis

the desire of

the people to

know the word

this insatiable

appetite to

be fed and

to grow in

their relationship

with God

and for an

entire year

we see this

church digging

into the

scriptures

being taught by

Paul and

Barnabas

and growing

in their

faith

finally we see

this is a

faith

filled

loving

church

a church

that has

faith

filled

loving

this final

group

we find in

verses 27

to 30

in the

days

or in

these days

prophets

came down

from Jerusalem

to Antioch

one of them

named Agabus

stood up

and foretold

by the spirit

that there would

be a great

famine over

all the world

this took place

in the days

of Claudius

so that the

disciples determined

everyone according

to his ability

to send relief

to the brothers

living in Judea

and they did so

sending it

to the elders

by the hand

of Barnabas

and Saul

here's another

group of people

from Jerusalem

they're not actually

sent from Jerusalem

but they hear

what's taking place

there too

I think

maybe want to be

part of the action

they want to

encourage this church

as well

they hear

the significance

of what God

is working

in the hearts

of people

and they say

how can we

contribute

to this story

what is really

fascinating to me

about the church

of Antioch

is a willingness

to receive

a new group

of individuals

there was not

this spirit

of competition

but a willingness

to welcome

in people

of different

gifts

people who

could continue

to contribute

the word of God

into the lives

and the life

of this church

body

and then to

listen carefully

and to do

what these prophets

encouraged them

to do

now

I want us

to think

really seriously

about this

okay

here's a prophet

he comes to

a church

he is telling

them that there's

going to be a

great famine

that's going to be

coming in the

next couple of

years

and it's going to

affect the whole

world

so tell me

what is then

our strategy

as a church

it is

okay

I guess we need

to begin to

stockpile

I guess we need

to begin to

think about the

needs of our

people

we understand

there's going to

be something

taking place

in a couple

years from now

what can we do

to minister

to ourselves

right

and I think

that's appropriate

but do you find

it

truly amazing

what this church

did instead

what did they

do

they didn't

stockpile

they said

our fellow

brothers and

sisters in

Jerusalem

and in

Judea

are going to

really need

some help

what can we

do

to take the

burden off

of our

brothers and

sisters who

are living

there

this faith

filled

loving

that was

willing to

receive a

measure of

personal discomfort

for the sake

of benefiting

others

and again

now a fifth

group

of gifted

individuals

speaking

from the

Lord

into this

church

and the

church

continuing to

grow and

respond

to the

word

that they

received

the first

group shows

up and speaks

the word

and there is

receptivity

and there's

a response

to that

the next

group comes

and they

preach

the Lord

Jesus

Barnabas

comes and

he exhorts

them in

the Lord

and now

Saul and

Barnabas

then teach

for an

entire year

and this

final group

comes and

they tell

about what

God is asking

them to do

as a church

and at every

point along

the way

there is a

willingness to

hear the

word of God

and a desire

to obey

and put it

to work in

their life

that's what

a grace

filled

community

looks like

a grace

filled

community

is a

community

that not

only knows

the word

but desires

to receive

the word

and put

the word

to work

so it

was a church

that was

founded

on grace

the foundation

of a grace

filled

community

that is

founded on

the ministry

of the word

itself

now briefly

let's look at

the fruit

of a grace

filled community

the fruit

of a grace

filled community

I want you

to notice

that there

is new

life

in Christ

because

of a grace

filled community

a grace

filled community

is marked

by new

life

because

grace

doesn't come

from us

it comes

to us

by the hand

of God

we are

recipients

of grace

and truly

this is a church

that was

recipients

of grace

notice

on three

occasions

we see

the significance

of this new

life

that is taking

place

in this church

we see it

as a result

of the

ministry

of the first

two groups

right there

at the end

of

at the beginning

of verse 21

and the hand

of the Lord

was with them

and a great

number

who believed

turned

to the Lord

grace

filled

communities

have life

because

of the hand

of the Lord

grace

filled

communities

recognize

their need

for grace

and there

is new

life

that comes

as a result

they are not

the same

as they were

before

Barnabas

comes

and he

encourages

their faithfulness

and we see

at the end

of verse 24

and a great

many people

were added

to the Lord

this continuing

ministry

of encouragement

continues to grow

through the

faithfulness

of the people

who are there

their purposefulness

about living

consistently

and the church

continues to

experience

the benefits

of that

in God

adding to the

church

more individuals

and as they

continue to

go deeper

and to love

more

we see

that more

people are

enjoying the

benefits

of the

ministry

of this

church

we see

in verse

26

for a

whole year

they met

with the

church

and taught

a great

many

people

new life

continues

through the

ministry

of this

church

and by the

way

when Paul

and Barnabas

are sent

they're sent

to encourage

the church

in Jerusalem

notice in

chapter 12

at the end

of verse 24

but the

word of God

increased

and multiplied

and Barnabas

and Saul

returned from

Jerusalem

when they

had completed

their service

this

propagation

of life

that is now

coming from

Antioch

to Jerusalem

the

center

of gravity

in the

spiritual

world

is now

shifted

to Antioch

and now

the church

of Antioch

begins to

be the

launch pad

for encouragement

it's

unbelievable

to see

God

do this

in the

life

of this

body

new life

in Christ

there's also

new impact

in the

community

new impact

in the

community

their lives

were so

distinctive

look at

what happens

their lives

were so

distinctive

they came

to know

Christ

so intimately

that at the

end of

verse 26

what do we

see

and in

Antioch

the disciples

were first

called

Christians

a phrase

that was

intended

to be

a criticism

a phrase

that was

intended

to be

kind of

a rebuke

and kind

of a

sarcasm

to belittle

them as a

people

becomes

for this

church

the greatest

commendation

we're like

Christ

wow

what could

be said

of us

that we

better

than that

we

are

little

Christs

it's

exactly

what we

want

hallelujah

we'll

embrace

that term

and from

that point

on

through

this

very day

we are

called

Christians

because

of the

church

of

Antioch

amazing

what God

worked

in this

church

the

distinctiveness

of this

body

the impact

in their

community

that was

so obvious

and so

visible

that that

phrase

that term

begins

in that

city

and then

a new

passion

for the

world

a new

passion

for the

world

we have

to turn

to chapter

13

for that

the first

several

verses

says this

now there

were in

the church

at Antioch

prophets

and teachers

Barnabas

Simon

who was

called

Niger

Lucius

of

Cyrene

Menean

a lifelong

friend of

Herod the

Tetrarch

and Saul

while they

were worshipping

the Lord

and fasting

the Holy

Spirit

said

set apart

for me

Barnabas

and Saul

for the

work

to which

I have

called

them

then

after

fasting

and praying

they laid

their hands

on them

and sent

them

off

one

commentator

puts it

this way

he says

the spirit

of Christ

is the

spirit

of mission

the spirit

of Christ

is the

spirit

of mission

and the

nearer we

get to him

the more

intensely

missionary

we become

I love

that phrase

the spirit

of Christ

is the

spirit

of missions

and the

nearer

we get

to him

the more

intensely

missionary

we become

oh how

true

that is

and oh

how true

it was

for this

church

this church

of Antioch

a group

of individuals

who had

committed

themselves

to worship