WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.179 We're going to think together about what we've already thought about over the last couple of weeks as we looked at the story of Peter and Cornelius, that the gospel transforms people. 00:00:09.300 --> 00:00:14.359 The gospel crosses boundaries, crosses cultures, and brings change. 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:20.199 And here we're going to find Luke restating that reality in a different context. 00:00:20.199 --> 00:00:32.700 First, we had a lecturer, I remember having a lecturer a number of years ago who loved to start each of his lectures by recapping and restating what had come the previous day or the previous week. 00:00:32.700 --> 00:00:38.920 It really had a clear focus of what he wanted us to learn as we went through the course. 00:00:39.340 --> 00:00:43.879 And in a sense, we can see Dr. Luke is doing the same thing for us here. 00:00:43.880 --> 00:01:02.859 So he's just spent two chapters there or thereabouts in great detail telling us about how God in his providence brought this Roman soldier Cornelius and the apostle Peter together so that Cornelius' life could be changed as he heard the good news of Jesus. 00:01:03.859 --> 00:01:10.879 And then he returns back in time a little bit to the story of what we have here of the church in Antioch. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:20.119 So if you look at verse 19, you see that Luke is putting his history together in a particular way. 00:01:20.679 --> 00:01:26.259 And it says there, now those who'd been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled, and so it goes. 00:01:26.859 --> 00:01:30.419 Stephen's persecution we first learn of in Acts chapter 8. 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:35.039 And then the story moves away from that emphasis, but now it's coming back. 00:01:35.040 --> 00:01:44.800 He's decided to go back in time to show another example of how when the gospel of grace comes to an individual or to a community, it brings change. 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:50.080 And he's in particular trying to make the point that the gospel of grace is for all. 00:01:50.719 --> 00:01:59.920 That the good news of Jesus' Savior who came to rescue us by dying for us to forgive our sins and to give us eternal life isn't just for Jewish people. 00:02:00.260 --> 00:02:02.020 It's just not for religious people. 00:02:02.280 --> 00:02:03.500 It's for all. 00:02:03.500 --> 00:02:11.419 And so Dr. Luke shows how the gospel now moves into new territory, to Antioch. 00:02:11.500 --> 00:02:16.199 Now Antioch as a city was known in its day for being very cosmopolitan. 00:02:16.900 --> 00:02:20.420 It was a center of trade, good access to the Mediterranean. 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:22.139 It had people from the east. 00:02:22.259 --> 00:02:24.560 It had Greco-Roman influences. 00:02:24.699 --> 00:02:26.360 It had a big Jewish population. 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:30.599 So it was known for its business and commerce. 00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:34.560 But it was also known for its moral corruption. 00:02:35.859 --> 00:02:39.099 It was a city of some 300,000 or so people. 00:02:39.299 --> 00:02:43.219 So an influential, prosperous, corrupt city. 00:02:43.719 --> 00:02:44.959 But grace comes. 00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:48.759 Jesus comes and change comes as a result. 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:59.139 And so what I want us to do this evening, very briefly, is to show from Luke's account here how grace is in action in Antioch. 00:02:59.139 --> 00:03:04.659 First of all, when we see how the message is shared and believed. 00:03:04.659 --> 00:03:14.280 So verse 19, we discover that persecution in Jerusalem leads Christians to spread out. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:19.719 So they travel as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 00:03:19.859 --> 00:03:27.719 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:38.319 So just as we begin, here is a reminder of the providence of God, that God works sometimes in surprising ways for his own glory. 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:42.919 The church in Jerusalem certainly wouldn't have chosen the path of persecution. 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:48.900 But nevertheless, God works through their suffering and the gospel spreads. 00:03:50.020 --> 00:03:52.500 And that's a principle that we see throughout the Bible. 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:58.419 We see it back in Genesis, when Joseph says to his brothers, that you sold me as a slave. 00:03:59.159 --> 00:04:01.680 You intended evil, but God intended it for good. 00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:04.020 He ended up in Egypt so he could save many lives. 00:04:04.360 --> 00:04:06.740 And we see it most particularly at the cross. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:10.740 Where at one and the same time, we can see that wicked men wanted to get rid of Jesus. 00:04:11.280 --> 00:04:18.199 So they nail him to the cross, but it was always God's foreordained plan that his death would be the means of salvation. 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:23.779 So God's providence can work through persecution and suffering. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:28.459 But as they begin to spread, some of them stay in what we might call their comfort zone. 00:04:29.060 --> 00:04:32.680 So the message of Jesus stays within the Jewish community. 00:04:33.039 --> 00:04:35.459 But there's others who go to the Greeks. 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:39.980 So here's this cross-cultural mission beginning to happen. 00:04:39.980 --> 00:04:45.980 And they bring the same gospel message that Peter shared with Cornelius. 00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:46.660 Cornelius. 00:04:46.900 --> 00:04:54.060 So last time we recognized that Peter brought to Cornelius the news of the perfect life of Jesus. 00:04:54.620 --> 00:05:00.120 That he died on the cross under God's curse so that we might be set free from the curse of God. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:01.860 To be accepted by God. 00:05:02.140 --> 00:05:03.319 That he rose again. 00:05:03.720 --> 00:05:07.819 And that now he's Lord and King and Judge and he's coming back. 00:05:07.819 --> 00:05:11.060 And he invited Cornelius to faith and repentance. 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:14.500 And these men going to Antioch do the same thing. 00:05:14.540 --> 00:05:16.500 And people are becoming Christians. 00:05:16.719 --> 00:05:17.540 They're trusting. 00:05:17.699 --> 00:05:18.639 They're turning from sin. 00:05:18.719 --> 00:05:20.219 They're turning away from their old life. 00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:22.019 They're turning to God. 00:05:23.159 --> 00:05:27.319 Now it's interesting to ask the question, who is sharing their faith? 00:05:27.819 --> 00:05:32.240 Who are the people who are bringing the gospel across cultures to Antioch? 00:05:32.420 --> 00:05:34.159 And the answer is we don't know who they are. 00:05:34.219 --> 00:05:35.819 We don't know their names. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:38.659 These aren't the apostles. 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:41.579 These are what we might call regular Christians. 00:05:41.719 --> 00:05:45.259 People like us who are sharing the gospel. 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:52.000 A number of years ago I read a really interesting book called Evangelism in the Early Church. 00:05:52.480 --> 00:06:00.120 And it was making the point in lots of different ways that it was the regular Christians that were so influential in this spread of the gospel. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.800 Within cities and towns and villages and across boundaries. 00:06:04.500 --> 00:06:08.079 So the women would go to the river to wash their clothes. 00:06:08.139 --> 00:06:10.360 And they'd be talking about Jesus while they were doing that. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:15.840 Or they would be using their home and inviting extended family and friends to come for meals. 00:06:15.840 --> 00:06:18.939 And they'd be talking about their new faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:06:18.939 --> 00:06:22.899 And in those very natural ways the church was growing. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:32.199 It's a great encouragement for us as those who don't have perhaps a huge amount of influence and standing that God chooses the weak. 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:35.519 And the ordinary for his own glory. 00:06:35.519 --> 00:06:41.500 As his people live on purpose that the glory of Jesus might be known. 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:47.079 Here we see evidence that God doesn't require people who are specially called, specially trained. 00:06:47.579 --> 00:06:51.680 It's just regular people speaking about who Jesus is and what Jesus has done. 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:55.360 And it changes at least some people in this city. 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:04.120 So the messengers on the one hand, they're obviously gripped by this amazing story of the love of Jesus for them. 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:09.519 And they decide with great courage to move out with that message. 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:16.160 Facing persecution, then going to an unknown culture, to an unknown city, to share the gospel. 00:07:16.160 --> 00:07:21.340 The people in Antioch believe and the church is born. 00:07:21.680 --> 00:07:24.519 And this is God's grace in action. 00:07:24.639 --> 00:07:28.420 As people become Christians, as people share the gospel, God is working. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:36.600 We also see God's grace in action, in encouragement that is given and received. 00:07:37.960 --> 00:07:39.180 So here we find ourselves. 00:07:39.280 --> 00:07:43.379 So this morning we were thinking about the church in Jerusalem and Barnabas and Saul with the church. 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:48.379 And here we are back this evening with the church in Jerusalem and with Barnabas. 00:07:49.220 --> 00:07:51.079 Now Barnabas wasn't this man's real name. 00:07:51.079 --> 00:07:52.259 His real name was Joseph. 00:07:53.099 --> 00:07:58.339 Barnabas was a nickname given to him by the Christians, which means son of encouragement. 00:07:59.099 --> 00:08:00.680 It's a wonderful nickname to have. 00:08:01.300 --> 00:08:11.240 And so what I want us to see is the reason why Barnabas has been sent and to think about Barnabas' example for us. 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:14.120 So in verse 21 it says, 00:08:14.259 --> 00:08:18.980 The Lord's hand was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 00:08:19.100 --> 00:08:19.960 And then verse 22, 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:22.460 News of this reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem. 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:25.560 And they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:31.240 So Mother Church Jerusalem hears about this thing happening over in Antioch. 00:08:31.300 --> 00:08:35.200 And they want to send someone to find out more. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:39.980 And who do they send is really significant because they send Barnabas. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:47.660 So their idea isn't, let's shut this thing down, but let's encourage this new church to grow. 00:08:47.659 --> 00:08:54.539 And so Barnabas, as we discover, he spends a year looking after this young church, 00:08:54.679 --> 00:08:57.919 this church made up of people from different cultures, 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:00.939 and he spends that time encouraging them. 00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:06.240 So I want us to spend a few minutes thinking about Barnabas' example 00:09:06.240 --> 00:09:10.639 of what gospel encouragement might look like, 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:13.459 what it looked like for him, what it might look like for us, 00:09:13.460 --> 00:09:17.379 that we might want to follow his example. 00:09:17.660 --> 00:09:22.080 So a few things that we see about Barnabas, the son of encouragement. 00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:28.400 First of all, we can say from his example that a gospel encourager 00:09:28.400 --> 00:09:32.560 sees and celebrates what is good. 00:09:33.500 --> 00:09:35.080 So the beginning of verse 23, 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:40.360 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad. 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:43.960 Now let's bear in mind that this is a brand new church, 00:09:44.560 --> 00:09:46.740 coming from a very cosmopolitan city, 00:09:47.019 --> 00:09:48.940 people being saved out of all kinds of backgrounds. 00:09:49.060 --> 00:09:50.980 So it's not going to be a perfect church. 00:09:51.060 --> 00:09:53.000 It's not going to be a church without faults or weaknesses. 00:09:53.500 --> 00:09:58.440 But what we see is that Barnabas overlooks those to focus on grace, 00:09:58.940 --> 00:10:01.200 to focus on God's work in their lives. 00:10:01.740 --> 00:10:05.480 It's the same thing that you see so often from Paul in his letters, 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:09.620 in his introductory thanksgiving for the churches. 00:10:09.899 --> 00:10:13.340 Even to a church like Corinth, which, as you read the letter, 00:10:13.399 --> 00:10:14.360 has a lot of problems. 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:18.180 He's still so thankful for the fact that they're trusting in the Lord Jesus. 00:10:18.320 --> 00:10:21.259 They're not perfect, but God's grace is in evidence. 00:10:21.800 --> 00:10:24.779 And Barnabas here celebrates that. 00:10:26.220 --> 00:10:28.019 This is a heart attitude, isn't it? 00:10:28.019 --> 00:10:31.919 It's not a heart that wants to grumble first, 00:10:32.579 --> 00:10:34.779 to find fault in the first instance. 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:36.899 It's a heart that wants to say, well done. 00:10:37.699 --> 00:10:42.299 It wants to encourage others towards Christ likeness. 00:10:42.960 --> 00:10:46.340 So to be a gospel encourager means seeing and celebrating 00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:48.879 and choosing to focus on what's good and what's positive. 00:10:50.500 --> 00:10:53.179 Secondly, we can say that a gospel encourager 00:10:53.179 --> 00:10:57.159 is glad wherever God is working. 00:10:57.159 --> 00:10:59.379 And again, the beginning of verse 23, 00:10:59.699 --> 00:11:01.659 it's when he arrives in Antioch 00:11:01.659 --> 00:11:03.819 and he sees the evidence of the grace of God that he's glad. 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:04.980 Now, he could have said, 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:10.039 why is God working here and not back in Jerusalem? 00:11:10.699 --> 00:11:13.319 Why am I needing to move from the mother church, 00:11:13.360 --> 00:11:14.799 from the home church, all the way over here 00:11:14.799 --> 00:11:18.219 to see God's powerful grace in action at this point in time? 00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:19.279 But he doesn't. 00:11:19.959 --> 00:11:21.439 He doesn't become jealous 00:11:21.439 --> 00:11:23.459 because his concern is not for himself, 00:11:23.699 --> 00:11:26.240 for his tribe, for building up his empire. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:29.259 He cares for God's honor and God's glory, 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:31.700 not building up his own kingdom. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:35.539 And so he is glad to see wherever God's at work. 00:11:36.320 --> 00:11:38.139 And I think that's something that's maybe really important 00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:39.220 for us in the West. 00:11:39.399 --> 00:11:42.580 You know, we know that Christianity is 00:11:42.580 --> 00:11:45.879 sort of static or even in decline 00:11:45.879 --> 00:11:47.379 and lots of people are dismissive 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:50.100 and we don't hear stories of lots of people 00:11:50.100 --> 00:11:51.279 coming to faith in Jesus. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.039 And we can become despondent of something. 00:11:54.079 --> 00:11:56.100 And that's why it's great to be connected to people 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:57.120 from other parts of the world 00:11:57.120 --> 00:11:59.220 and to hear stories that God is still working 00:11:59.220 --> 00:12:00.299 in dramatic ways. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.879 He's still working in places like North Korea 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:05.179 and Syria and Iraq for his own glory. 00:12:06.139 --> 00:12:08.639 And so as we hear the stories of the global church, 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:10.879 we can be reminded and be glad 00:12:10.879 --> 00:12:12.679 that God's kingdom is growing. 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:15.799 Another thing that we notice 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:19.519 is that a gospel encourager directs others 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.859 to keep loving Jesus. 00:12:22.699 --> 00:12:24.259 So end of verse 23, 00:12:24.759 --> 00:12:26.979 when he's glad he encouraged them all 00:12:26.979 --> 00:12:30.599 to remain true to the Lord with all their heart. 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:32.239 So he's spending time with them. 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:33.599 He's walking with them. 00:12:33.679 --> 00:12:35.079 He's living life with them 00:12:35.079 --> 00:12:38.339 and he's encouraging them to persevere in their faith. 00:12:38.340 --> 00:12:42.740 He's urging them to stay devoted to the Lord Jesus. 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:45.280 At the moment, they're young and enthusiastic. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:48.220 What will they do when trial and trouble comes? 00:12:48.620 --> 00:12:54.160 He encourages them to stay devoted to the Lord Jesus. 00:12:55.720 --> 00:12:58.860 We just, this week, been helping Sebastian, 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:01.920 our youngest, to learn how to ride a pedal bike. 00:13:03.060 --> 00:13:05.860 And so small inclines are quite the challenge. 00:13:05.860 --> 00:13:08.320 And there was a few times yesterday 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:10.539 where we took him out on a fairly lengthy trip. 00:13:10.639 --> 00:13:11.460 And there was a couple of times 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:13.480 where you could see towards the top of the hill, 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:15.240 he was beginning to sort of lose heart 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.019 that he'd ever get there. 00:13:16.220 --> 00:13:17.960 But it's amazing what the encouragement of, 00:13:18.080 --> 00:13:19.120 come on, you can do it, does 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:20.620 for just keeping somebody going, 00:13:20.759 --> 00:13:21.919 getting them over the line. 00:13:22.039 --> 00:13:24.960 And you can see that Barnabas is doing that 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:26.200 with the church. 00:13:26.300 --> 00:13:28.960 He's come alongside them to encourage them, 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.620 to keep pointing them to Jesus, 00:13:31.080 --> 00:13:33.360 that they would keep following him. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:36.240 And tied up with that, 00:13:37.340 --> 00:13:41.820 a gospel encourager has a compelling quality 00:13:41.820 --> 00:13:43.440 to their lives. 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:46.680 Verse 24 in the NIV begins, 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:48.259 he was a good man. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.340 But in the Greek, it said, 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.259 it would say, 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:54.419 he was glad and encouraged them all 00:13:54.419 --> 00:13:56.480 to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts, 00:13:56.860 --> 00:13:58.200 for he was a good man, 00:13:58.259 --> 00:14:00.259 or because he was a good man, 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:02.680 full of the Holy Spirit and faith. 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:04.819 And a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 00:14:05.599 --> 00:14:09.120 So his lifestyle, his words, 00:14:09.539 --> 00:14:11.579 his character, his manner, 00:14:12.219 --> 00:14:15.259 are encouraging people to stick with Jesus, 00:14:15.559 --> 00:14:18.219 or to begin thinking about who is Jesus, 00:14:18.339 --> 00:14:20.359 or to come to faith in Jesus. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.059 That he is a man with integrity 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:26.079 in his words and in his lifestyle, 00:14:26.459 --> 00:14:28.620 that people obviously find attractive, 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:30.620 that they're looking at him thinking, 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:32.519 I want to be like him, 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.940 so I want to keep following Jesus, 00:14:34.080 --> 00:14:37.000 or I want to know what makes this guy Barnabas so different. 00:14:37.460 --> 00:14:40.940 So they're discovering Jesus for themselves. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:45.580 Another thing that we see from the example of Barnabas 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:50.879 is that a gospel encourager gladly serves with others. 00:14:50.879 --> 00:14:54.299 I love what happens in verse 25 and 26, 00:14:54.419 --> 00:14:56.759 as many people are being brought to the Lord, 00:14:57.580 --> 00:15:00.799 Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul. 00:15:01.279 --> 00:15:03.700 And when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. 00:15:04.059 --> 00:15:04.919 So for a whole year, 00:15:05.059 --> 00:15:06.740 Barnabas and Saul met with the church 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:08.480 and taught great numbers of people. 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:11.379 So Barnabas clearly is not somebody who's competitive 00:15:11.379 --> 00:15:12.980 or jealous for success. 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:15.419 He's not saying, this is my work, 00:15:15.740 --> 00:15:16.840 these are my people, 00:15:16.840 --> 00:15:20.000 but rather he happily calls Paul, 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:21.440 the missionary to the Gentiles, 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:24.200 to come and assist him to use his gifts 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:27.340 to serve this young church. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:29.660 So taken together, 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:34.519 we see why from time to time Barnabas appears 00:15:34.519 --> 00:15:36.620 and Luke sort of highlights 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:38.580 the character of Barnabas for us 00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:40.360 because he's got a wonderful life. 00:15:40.440 --> 00:15:43.040 He'd be a wonderful example to follow. 00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:44.900 We would all love to have, 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:47.500 we all need to have a Barnabas in our lives 00:15:47.500 --> 00:15:52.039 and to desire to be a Barnabas to others 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:56.459 and to have a church where these kind of values permeate, 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:59.059 where we're seeing the positives 00:15:59.059 --> 00:16:00.459 and not simply the negatives 00:16:00.459 --> 00:16:02.279 and learning to celebrate those things, 00:16:02.939 --> 00:16:04.279 where we are building up, 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:05.740 not tearing down, 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:07.759 where we're celebrating what God does in others 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:10.279 here and in other places, 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:13.100 where we're encouraging one another 00:16:13.100 --> 00:16:15.779 to keep going with faith, 00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:17.339 to keep following Jesus, 00:16:17.959 --> 00:16:20.199 where we're determining to have that lifestyle 00:16:20.199 --> 00:16:21.439 with the help of the Holy Spirit, 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:23.899 where we might encourage others 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:26.259 to think about the Christian faith 00:16:26.259 --> 00:16:29.740 because of the way we seek to live. 00:16:29.740 --> 00:16:32.960 So where does encouragement begin? 00:16:34.200 --> 00:16:35.620 Perhaps it's as simple as 00:16:35.620 --> 00:16:37.519 thank you for your help today. 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:40.279 Thank you for serving the church today. 00:16:40.940 --> 00:16:42.139 There's lots of people every Sunday 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.879 that are serving in lots of different ways 00:16:43.879 --> 00:16:45.419 and sometimes we can forget 00:16:45.419 --> 00:16:46.899 how important a thank you is. 00:16:47.620 --> 00:16:48.840 Perhaps it might be 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:50.840 sending someone a quick note to say, 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.000 I'm praying for you in this situation 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:56.120 or sharing from God's word. 00:16:56.120 --> 00:16:59.060 here's what I've been learning this week 00:16:59.060 --> 00:17:00.340 about God and his character 00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:03.840 or about what Jesus has done 00:17:03.840 --> 00:17:04.819 and sharing that 00:17:04.819 --> 00:17:07.039 so that someone else might be encouraged and helped. 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:09.480 Asking someone practically, 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:11.400 how can I help you in this situation 00:17:11.400 --> 00:17:12.799 that you are in? 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:14.720 Maybe it's just by showing up 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:15.519 and getting involved. 00:17:16.980 --> 00:17:18.420 Getting involved in choir 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:20.039 or a community discipleship group 00:17:20.039 --> 00:17:21.339 or a women's Bible study. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:22.599 It's an encouragement 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:24.039 to the other people in the group. 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:27.279 But what we understand from Barnabas 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:29.639 is that the gospel of grace 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:31.659 should make us graceful people 00:17:31.659 --> 00:17:35.440 and graceful people tend to encourage others 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:37.059 by their lives. 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:40.960 So there's that nickname Barnabas, 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:41.980 but there's another nickname 00:17:41.980 --> 00:17:44.980 that we find in this section, 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:48.000 this time given by the people of Antioch 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.159 to this young church. 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:50.420 End of verse 26. 00:17:50.420 --> 00:17:53.660 The disciples were called Christians 00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:56.380 first at Antioch. 00:17:57.500 --> 00:17:59.720 So after a year of spending time 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:01.880 under the teaching of Barnabas and Saul, 00:18:02.300 --> 00:18:03.300 people in the city 00:18:03.300 --> 00:18:05.320 are now looking at this young church 00:18:05.320 --> 00:18:05.600 and saying, 00:18:06.060 --> 00:18:07.680 these are the Christ people 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:09.940 because they're talking about Jesus. 00:18:10.080 --> 00:18:12.140 They're seeking to live in the ways of Jesus. 00:18:12.320 --> 00:18:13.660 Their community, 00:18:13.800 --> 00:18:14.920 their church is centered 00:18:14.920 --> 00:18:16.800 on the personal work of Jesus. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:19.440 I came across a story 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:20.940 of a Bible teacher 00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:22.879 by the name of Harry Ironside 00:18:22.879 --> 00:18:26.359 who went on a mission trip to China. 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:29.339 And he noticed as he went from place to place, 00:18:29.419 --> 00:18:31.440 he was often introduced as 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:33.259 Yasu Yan. 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:35.500 And he couldn't figure out at first 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.440 what this meant. 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:38.220 And so he asked somebody 00:18:38.220 --> 00:18:39.119 and he was told 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:40.799 that in Cantonese, 00:18:40.919 --> 00:18:41.539 Yasu, 00:18:42.399 --> 00:18:43.619 apologies for the bad pronunciation, 00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:45.459 means Jesus 00:18:45.459 --> 00:18:47.179 and Yan 00:18:47.179 --> 00:18:48.519 means man. 00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:50.539 So as he was traveling, 00:18:51.159 --> 00:18:52.359 here was this man, 00:18:52.439 --> 00:18:53.139 Harry Ironside, 00:18:53.179 --> 00:18:54.719 being known as the Jesus man. 00:18:55.419 --> 00:18:57.199 That's a great nickname to aspire to, 00:18:57.259 --> 00:18:58.139 just as Barnabas 00:18:58.139 --> 00:18:59.619 is a great nickname to aspire to. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.079 So it is to be 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:03.000 a person, 00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:04.179 one of the Christ 00:19:04.179 --> 00:19:05.319 people. 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:07.079 So what we see about this church 00:19:07.079 --> 00:19:07.819 in Antioch 00:19:07.819 --> 00:19:09.079 that they talked 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:09.959 and lived 00:19:09.959 --> 00:19:11.519 life centered on Jesus 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:12.900 so that the rest of the city 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:13.740 knew about it. 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:15.039 And here's testimony again 00:19:15.039 --> 00:19:17.240 to grace in action. 00:19:18.119 --> 00:19:19.119 That the love of Jesus 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:20.259 is flowing beyond 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.859 their community 00:19:21.859 --> 00:19:24.059 into the rest of the city. 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:26.839 Now the last way 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:28.099 that we can see grace 00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:29.180 in action 00:19:29.180 --> 00:19:31.660 is in solidarity 00:19:31.660 --> 00:19:33.500 and help given. 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:33.980 And again, 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.920 this connects us 00:19:34.920 --> 00:19:35.819 with where we were 00:19:35.819 --> 00:19:37.119 this morning 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:38.779 in Galatians chapter 2. 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:40.700 So we read in verse 27 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:41.359 and 28 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:42.160 of this prophet 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:43.420 by the name of Agapus. 00:19:44.319 --> 00:19:45.000 And Agapus, 00:19:45.139 --> 00:19:45.799 led by the Spirit, 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:47.240 predicts a severe famine 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:49.539 and the disciples 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.579 decide to send 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.319 poor relief. 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.559 Notice 00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:53.660 that they decide 00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.599 to send poor relief 00:19:54.599 --> 00:19:55.680 back to Christians 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.119 in Judea. 00:19:57.779 --> 00:19:58.180 Which again 00:19:58.180 --> 00:19:59.180 is a really lovely touch. 00:19:59.259 --> 00:20:00.480 This multicultural church 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.160 up in Antioch 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.759 is going to provide relief 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:03.740 for the church 00:20:03.740 --> 00:20:04.299 in Jerusalem 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:05.259 as it found itself 00:20:05.259 --> 00:20:06.240 in difficulty. 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:08.240 So here is evidence 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:09.620 again for the success 00:20:09.620 --> 00:20:11.480 of gospel mission 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:12.400 in Antioch. 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:13.720 Because here are 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.559 these young Christians 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:15.079 and they're putting 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:15.740 their faith 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:16.759 into practice. 00:20:17.420 --> 00:20:18.380 Here is their faith 00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:18.900 coming out 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:20.660 in love and service 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.640 and not just 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.819 among their own, 00:20:23.400 --> 00:20:24.059 they're crossing 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.740 cultures 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:26.099 to do so. 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:27.240 Here is 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.759 practical expression 00:20:28.759 --> 00:20:29.500 of this fact 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:31.000 that in Christ Jesus 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:32.099 we are all one. 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:32.839 The gospel 00:20:32.839 --> 00:20:33.819 has made them 00:20:33.819 --> 00:20:34.720 one. 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.120 And it finds 00:20:36.120 --> 00:20:36.819 expression 00:20:36.819 --> 00:20:38.700 in their giving. 00:20:40.379 --> 00:20:41.439 I made mention 00:20:41.439 --> 00:20:42.039 in my prayers 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:42.639 this morning 00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:44.299 of Patrick Jock 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:45.079 who we had with us 00:20:45.079 --> 00:20:45.859 a few months ago 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:46.679 from South Sudan. 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:47.339 He would often 00:20:47.339 --> 00:20:48.240 talk about 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.639 the church 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:50.480 in South Sudan 00:20:50.480 --> 00:20:52.099 feeling isolated 00:20:52.099 --> 00:20:52.879 and alone 00:20:52.879 --> 00:20:53.659 because politically 00:20:53.659 --> 00:20:54.240 I guess that's 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:54.799 where they're at 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:55.359 and the church 00:20:55.359 --> 00:20:56.179 is small 00:20:56.179 --> 00:20:56.919 and young. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:58.799 But then he said 00:20:58.799 --> 00:20:59.639 of his trip 00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.200 so he went 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:00.799 on a wee trip 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:01.619 around meeting 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:02.659 various free church 00:21:02.659 --> 00:21:03.919 congregations 00:21:03.920 --> 00:21:04.420 and ministers 00:21:04.420 --> 00:21:04.779 he said 00:21:04.779 --> 00:21:05.900 your fellowship 00:21:05.900 --> 00:21:07.840 and your prayers 00:21:07.840 --> 00:21:09.259 remind us 00:21:09.259 --> 00:21:10.039 that we're not alone. 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:11.759 So in that really 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:13.160 simple way 00:21:13.160 --> 00:21:15.039 of welcoming 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:16.480 and praying 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:18.120 there is that 00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:18.779 solidarity 00:21:18.779 --> 00:21:19.700 there's that sense 00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.279 we're not alone 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:21.300 we're part of 00:21:21.300 --> 00:21:23.519 a bigger kingdom. 00:21:24.800 --> 00:21:26.380 We met a few years ago 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.460 when we were in the Philippines 00:21:27.460 --> 00:21:29.300 a couple of missionaries 00:21:29.300 --> 00:21:29.960 who were working 00:21:29.960 --> 00:21:31.980 with a tribal group 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:34.720 on one of the small islands 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.400 in the Philippines 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:36.720 a tribe called 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:37.640 the Mungyum people 00:21:37.640 --> 00:21:38.660 very poor 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.940 many of them 00:21:39.940 --> 00:21:41.120 would come to the cities 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.620 and they were 00:21:41.620 --> 00:21:43.000 sort of professional beggars 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:44.259 but these missionaries 00:21:44.259 --> 00:21:45.500 were trying to get 00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.420 schools on the go 00:21:46.420 --> 00:21:47.079 and they were 00:21:47.079 --> 00:21:47.840 Bible teaching. 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:48.539 But anyway 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:50.579 about three years ago 00:21:50.579 --> 00:21:52.440 when the last big storm 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.539 hit that region 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:55.160 of the Philippines 00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:57.400 this mountain tribe 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:59.039 heard about the plight 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:00.180 of another tribe 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:01.819 down the coast 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:02.599 that had been 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:03.839 really badly hit 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:04.839 and they sent 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:05.680 some of their 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:06.759 very scarce 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:08.619 rice supplies 00:22:08.619 --> 00:22:10.960 down to this 00:22:10.960 --> 00:22:12.099 coastal church 00:22:12.099 --> 00:22:13.539 as a way to say 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:14.180 to their brothers 00:22:14.180 --> 00:22:15.259 and sisters in Christ 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.079 we love you 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:18.159 and we want to help. 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:20.220 And so we can see 00:22:20.220 --> 00:22:21.799 that the gospel 00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:22.799 takes hold 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.899 in Antioch 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:25.139 as they want to have 00:22:25.139 --> 00:22:25.899 that same kind of 00:22:25.899 --> 00:22:26.920 practical love 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.220 and service. 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.680 just as Paul 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:30.920 reminded the church 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.799 in Corinth 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.299 when he wanted 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:34.100 to encourage 00:22:34.100 --> 00:22:35.000 the church 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:35.620 in Corinth 00:22:35.620 --> 00:22:37.539 to give generously 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:39.079 to aid 00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:40.160 to bring relief 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:41.500 in 2 Corinthians 8 00:22:41.500 --> 00:22:42.819 verse 9 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.240 he said 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.980 you know 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:45.160 the grace 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:45.799 of our Lord 00:22:45.799 --> 00:22:46.839 Jesus Christ 00:22:46.839 --> 00:22:48.100 that though 00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:49.100 he was rich 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:50.819 yet for your sakes 00:22:50.819 --> 00:22:51.900 he became poor 00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:53.100 that you 00:22:53.100 --> 00:22:54.100 through his poverty 00:22:54.100 --> 00:22:55.799 might become rich. 00:22:55.799 --> 00:22:56.680 so there's something 00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.539 in the gospel 00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.039 there's something 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.859 of that movement 00:22:58.859 --> 00:22:59.440 of Jesus 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.299 from glory 00:23:00.299 --> 00:23:02.500 to humiliation 00:23:02.500 --> 00:23:03.879 and death 00:23:03.879 --> 00:23:04.460 on the cross 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:05.379 that is intended 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:07.159 to spark in us 00:23:07.159 --> 00:23:08.879 generosity 00:23:08.879 --> 00:23:10.259 and help 00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:11.319 when we can 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:12.180 give it 00:23:12.180 --> 00:23:13.119 and we see that 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.879 in Antioch. 00:23:14.879 --> 00:23:15.779 So that was grace 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.619 in Antioch. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.720 I guess the challenge 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:19.339 for us is thinking 00:23:19.339 --> 00:23:20.319 about what about grace 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.099 in our own lives 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.859 what about grace 00:23:21.859 --> 00:23:22.519 in Edinburgh 00:23:22.519 --> 00:23:24.480 or wherever we come from 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:26.579 because just like 00:23:26.579 --> 00:23:27.819 those first 00:23:27.819 --> 00:23:29.619 missionaries 00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:31.200 who cross cultures 00:23:31.200 --> 00:23:32.139 to go to Antioch 00:23:32.139 --> 00:23:32.839 we too are called 00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:33.599 to live lives 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:34.700 that allow the grace 00:23:34.700 --> 00:23:35.160 of God 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:36.019 to be felt 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:37.359 and received 00:23:37.359 --> 00:23:38.240 by our words 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:39.720 and our actions 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:41.700 and so we can support 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.579 and encourage 00:23:42.579 --> 00:23:43.099 one another 00:23:43.099 --> 00:23:44.779 to be doing that 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:47.299 and that we are placed 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.440 in community 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:50.460 to encourage 00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.039 one another 00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:53.359 to celebrate 00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:54.200 and to seek 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:54.879 to see more 00:23:54.879 --> 00:23:55.940 of God's grace 00:23:55.940 --> 00:23:56.879 in the lives 00:23:56.879 --> 00:23:57.759 of others 00:23:57.759 --> 00:24:00.379 and we have 00:24:00.379 --> 00:24:00.920 resources 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:01.940 and opportunities 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:03.139 to practically 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:03.819 help others 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.339 in Edinburgh 00:24:04.339 --> 00:24:06.079 and around the world 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.259 so that grace 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.099 is felt 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:10.119 and so that God 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:11.779 is honoured. 00:24:12.819 --> 00:24:13.859 Let's pray 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.579 together. 00:24:14.579 --> 00:24:14.700 Amen.