WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:04.639 Well, let me say a word of welcome to all of you, especially if you're joining us for 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:05.219 the first time. 00:00:05.459 --> 00:00:06.200 My name is Tommy. 00:00:06.299 --> 00:00:09.480 I'm the rector of this church, and so we're delighted to have you. 00:00:10.580 --> 00:00:15.660 We're going to have a little time that we spend looking at God's Word together, and 00:00:15.660 --> 00:00:19.679 then we are going to have a baptism, which is something that we are very excited about. 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:21.519 It's one of our absolute favorite things to do. 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:25.000 If I haven't had a chance to meet you and you're new, let's talk after the service. 00:00:25.179 --> 00:00:27.280 I'd love a chance to shake your hand and say hello. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:31.539 And for the men who made it back from the men's retreat, well done you. 00:00:31.780 --> 00:00:32.859 Well done you. 00:00:33.359 --> 00:00:34.640 That's impressive. 00:00:37.160 --> 00:00:44.659 In 2010, there was a famous, really priceless painting of Picasso's called The Artist, and 00:00:44.659 --> 00:00:47.020 it was hanging in the Met in New York. 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:48.560 It's about six feet tall. 00:00:49.060 --> 00:00:53.740 And there was an art class happening, and one of the participants of the art class sort 00:00:53.740 --> 00:01:01.320 of stumbled and lost her footing and slammed into this painting and tore a huge gash right 00:01:01.320 --> 00:01:02.160 into the middle of it. 00:01:02.440 --> 00:01:03.620 Maybe you remember this happening. 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:11.620 Imagine that you come in the museum the next week and you see that painting and you see 00:01:11.620 --> 00:01:14.280 that large gash in the painting. 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:20.799 I assume you probably wouldn't blame Picasso for that, right? 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:23.760 I assume you probably wouldn't blame the painting for that. 00:01:24.120 --> 00:01:28.079 I assume that you would assume that something had happened to that painting. 00:01:28.620 --> 00:01:32.040 It had gotten messed up and it needed to be restored, which it was restored. 00:01:32.140 --> 00:01:39.420 They took three months of painstaking work to restore it back to the original beauty of 00:01:39.420 --> 00:01:40.099 this masterpiece. 00:01:40.099 --> 00:01:43.539 The point of that is to say this. 00:01:43.579 --> 00:01:51.079 I think that there is a similar kind of thing that happens when we consider the church, right? 00:01:51.140 --> 00:01:56.219 When we see things happening in the church, such as moral failings by prominent leaders 00:01:56.219 --> 00:02:03.879 or abuse and scandals that are then covered up or any of the other things that we could 00:02:03.879 --> 00:02:09.459 name that are very real wrongs that happen in the church, there can be a temptation for 00:02:09.460 --> 00:02:14.860 some people to say, well, see, that's the problem with the church or that's why I don't believe 00:02:14.860 --> 00:02:15.320 in God. 00:02:16.420 --> 00:02:21.120 But in the same way that I would say we shouldn't blame Picasso or the painting for what happened 00:02:21.120 --> 00:02:26.860 to it, I would humbly suggest that it doesn't make sense to blame God or to blame the church 00:02:26.860 --> 00:02:32.040 for the fact that there are times when the church is used and abused and mistreated and 00:02:32.039 --> 00:02:35.919 damaged for all kinds of reasons, right? 00:02:35.979 --> 00:02:38.259 Some unintentional, many intentional. 00:02:39.500 --> 00:02:43.539 Because as we look at Scripture, the church is, in fact, God's masterpiece. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:49.680 Everything that Jesus did, everything that He accomplished in His life and His death and 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:53.319 His resurrection was not just to accomplish individual salvation. 00:02:53.319 --> 00:03:00.280 It was to establish a community, which is the church, which is God's plan A for the world. 00:03:00.340 --> 00:03:02.400 And there is no plan B for the world. 00:03:03.359 --> 00:03:08.419 And so I think the question that we should ask is the same question that a person looking 00:03:08.419 --> 00:03:09.620 at that painting should ask. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:13.060 What was the original artistic vision for this masterpiece? 00:03:13.299 --> 00:03:14.979 What should this look like? 00:03:16.259 --> 00:03:19.560 And we're going to ask that about the church this morning, and I think there's no better place 00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:26.240 to look than Acts chapter 11, this is where we see for the first time the gospel come to a major 00:03:26.240 --> 00:03:33.979 city center and a church is established in the heart of the city, perhaps the world's first urban church. 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:36.219 Antioch is no small city. 00:03:36.319 --> 00:03:39.580 It was the capital of Syria, the third largest city in the world at this time. 00:03:40.439 --> 00:03:46.460 And the reason that this church is so successful and becomes a launch pad for mission all around 00:03:46.460 --> 00:03:52.740 the world is because it had within it certain characteristics that you don't often see together 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:53.879 in the same church. 00:03:54.379 --> 00:03:59.300 And so this is not an exhaustive list that we're going to look at, but there are certain characteristics 00:03:59.300 --> 00:04:06.420 that are held together in tension in this church that I think were the key to its effectiveness. 00:04:07.900 --> 00:04:10.219 So let's pray, and then we're going to look at three of them. 00:04:10.219 --> 00:04:17.560 Lord, we thank you for your word, and we thank you that you are always present, that you are 00:04:17.560 --> 00:04:23.500 always at work in our lives, that your word is living, that it is active, that it never goes out 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:24.800 and returns to you void. 00:04:24.899 --> 00:04:27.240 It accomplishes everything that you set out for it to accomplish. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:32.920 And we pray now that we might sit under your word, that you might open our hearts, that we might 00:04:32.920 --> 00:04:34.860 receive what you have for us this morning. 00:04:34.860 --> 00:04:41.160 Lord, for our good, but chiefly for your glory, we pray that you would do your work in us through 00:04:41.160 --> 00:04:41.520 your word. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:42.720 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:04:44.340 --> 00:04:51.920 So the first characteristic that we see in this church in Antioch that is so wonderful is 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:57.660 that it is what we would consider to be lay-driven, leader-supported. 00:04:58.280 --> 00:04:59.480 Now, what do I mean by that? 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:05.620 Well, the word lay is simply an old word that means anyone who's not ordained. 00:05:06.259 --> 00:05:13.120 So a lay person or the laity, that refers to people who are not ordained, ordinary Christians. 00:05:13.560 --> 00:05:18.259 And one of the first things that we learn about the church in Antioch is that it was started 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:24.140 by lay people, ordinary Christians who are simply trying to follow Jesus faithfully in 00:05:24.140 --> 00:05:25.000 their daily lives. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:31.240 And these are not people who had a master plan to go plant a church in a major urban center. 00:05:31.899 --> 00:05:38.600 These are ordinary Christians who are fleeing persecution, and they just happen to wind up 00:05:38.600 --> 00:05:43.579 in Antioch looking for a safe place to root down, right? 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:45.600 I don't know what brought you to D.C. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:49.540 Could be a job, internship, school, marriage, whatever. 00:05:50.920 --> 00:05:54.740 Multiple, all of the things on that list brought me to D.C., right? 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:55.660 Years ago. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:06:00.120 But what this shows us is that we can have our reasons for coming to a place like D.C. 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:05.759 or Antioch, and then God can have His reasons for bringing us where He brings us. 00:06:06.319 --> 00:06:08.519 So they didn't come here planning to plant a church. 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:11.060 What happens is that they end up in Antioch. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:12.199 They're fleeing persecution. 00:06:12.800 --> 00:06:14.279 We don't even know their names. 00:06:15.379 --> 00:06:18.139 All we know is that they started telling people about Jesus. 00:06:19.139 --> 00:06:21.000 And the Holy Spirit began to work. 00:06:21.000 --> 00:06:24.160 And a lot of people started coming to faith. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:28.959 And before long, you have this young, thriving church in the heart of the city. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:35.660 And yet, this grassroots, Spirit-filled movement was not totally leaderless. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:38.959 Barnabas comes down from Jerusalem. 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:39.920 Very important. 00:06:39.920 --> 00:06:46.900 In order for this church to survive, it has to be connected to the larger church. 00:06:47.020 --> 00:06:52.879 It has to be connected to a larger body where there can be support and accountability. 00:06:53.460 --> 00:06:58.840 So often these days, we see what goes wrong when churches have no source of accountability 00:06:58.840 --> 00:07:00.259 outside themselves. 00:07:01.200 --> 00:07:04.020 But notice that Barnabas doesn't just arrive and say, 00:07:04.019 --> 00:07:06.439 Well, you know, good job, normal people. 00:07:06.599 --> 00:07:08.159 Step aside the professionals here. 00:07:09.139 --> 00:07:10.379 That's not his approach. 00:07:10.919 --> 00:07:17.279 Barnabas' entire ministry is to encourage the ministry that is already happening, 00:07:17.799 --> 00:07:21.740 is to encourage what the people there are already doing. 00:07:21.979 --> 00:07:25.979 And then he raises up other leaders who do the exact same thing. 00:07:26.139 --> 00:07:28.060 And you have to admire Barnabas here. 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:33.860 Because there can be a temptation, especially in a situation like this. 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:38.980 If you're a leader like Barnabas, there can be a temptation to want to be the star of the show. 00:07:40.139 --> 00:07:46.560 And certainly there are many churches that get built up entirely around one personality. 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:49.319 They become a kind of cult of personality. 00:07:50.439 --> 00:07:54.660 But we know enough about Barnabas to know he is humble enough to realize, 00:07:55.600 --> 00:07:56.699 It is not about me. 00:07:56.699 --> 00:07:59.120 It is not about Barnabas. 00:07:59.819 --> 00:08:01.399 It's about what God is doing. 00:08:02.259 --> 00:08:05.860 And in any church, in any organization, but especially the church, 00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:12.439 a good leader's job is to make themselves less necessary, not more necessary. 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:13.480 So what does he do? 00:08:13.719 --> 00:08:15.219 He raises up other leaders. 00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:17.740 He has a good friend, Paul. 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:23.319 Paul is much more highly educated than Barnabas, perhaps much more gifted than Barnabas, 00:08:23.319 --> 00:08:26.519 the kind of leader that might make most leaders feel threatened. 00:08:26.699 --> 00:08:31.620 And yet Barnabas is not threatened by gifting and talent. 00:08:31.719 --> 00:08:37.799 And he travels a hundred miles to Tarsus to recruit his friend Paul to bring him back to help encourage 00:08:37.799 --> 00:08:41.759 and support and strengthen the ministry there in Antioch. 00:08:41.799 --> 00:08:43.840 And that's exactly what he does. 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:47.860 So we have this wonderful balance here in Antioch. 00:08:48.540 --> 00:08:52.360 We have leaders who provide oversight and direction. 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:59.280 But when it comes to the ministries of the church, such as evangelism or caring for those in need, 00:08:59.399 --> 00:09:01.360 the whole community takes part. 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:05.600 And when you see that, you say, that is a healthy church. 00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:09.620 It's what we might call an every-member ministry culture. 00:09:10.580 --> 00:09:11.940 Everyone is involved. 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:13.580 Everyone is necessary. 00:09:15.120 --> 00:09:18.340 When someone doesn't show up, there are things that don't get done, 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:22.060 because every single person has a vital part to play. 00:09:22.059 --> 00:09:28.859 And this is such a powerful corrective for us today as we look at the church in our time and place. 00:09:29.439 --> 00:09:34.179 As we said, so many churches are built around a charismatic leader. 00:09:34.379 --> 00:09:37.679 They are leader-driven, not lay-driven. 00:09:38.479 --> 00:09:43.799 Congregants are basically audience members who come to watch a performance, 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:47.599 to support the leader and buy their books. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:51.899 And this is the opposite of how the Apostle Paul thinks about the church. 00:09:51.899 --> 00:09:56.879 His favorite metaphor in the Bible for the church is the human body, 00:09:57.879 --> 00:10:02.300 where he says no part is superior to any other part. 00:10:02.879 --> 00:10:07.139 What matters is that every single part is serving its purpose. 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:12.420 And the way a body works is that every part, right, every cell, every organ, 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:16.759 has to do its part to serve the whole. 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:22.779 And this is extremely important as we think about what it means to be a part of a church body. 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:27.360 Because if we are all like parts of a human body, that means, among other things, 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:31.120 that the best way for me to get my needs met 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:35.840 is to focus on meeting the needs around me. 00:10:35.860 --> 00:10:36.899 It's very counterintuitive. 00:10:38.179 --> 00:10:40.960 But if we are, in fact, like a human body, 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:44.400 then the more I seek the well-being of the body, 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:46.780 and the healthier the body is as a result, 00:10:46.960 --> 00:10:50.560 the more then I will get my needs met in return. 00:10:51.100 --> 00:10:53.480 The more I give myself away, 00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:56.360 the more I will gain myself. 00:10:58.740 --> 00:11:00.360 We are like a human body. 00:11:01.480 --> 00:11:05.620 And there's a tremendous blessing that comes with serving in a local church. 00:11:05.620 --> 00:11:06.840 If you want to grow in your faith, 00:11:07.480 --> 00:11:10.379 if you want to develop deeper friendships and community, 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:11.720 this is how it happens. 00:11:12.500 --> 00:11:15.679 There's no secret way for that to happen. 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:16.539 There is no… 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:18.320 It is not rocket science, right? 00:11:18.740 --> 00:11:20.759 This is how the church is designed to function. 00:11:20.899 --> 00:11:26.679 The more you are involved and serving and giving yourself to the broader community, 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:29.419 the more you are going to grow in your faith. 00:11:29.419 --> 00:11:33.860 If you're here primarily to take, 00:11:34.459 --> 00:11:38.459 if you are in a place where you just want the church to meet your needs, 00:11:38.779 --> 00:11:41.740 there really is not a category for that in Scripture. 00:11:43.419 --> 00:11:46.319 That's really not what it means to be part of a church community. 00:11:47.219 --> 00:11:50.059 And this is an important thing for us all to be reminded of, 00:11:50.479 --> 00:11:51.899 because I know for some of us, 00:11:51.959 --> 00:11:54.539 this might be the first church you've ever really been a part of. 00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:56.459 And there's not a lot out there, 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:58.099 other than places like this in Scripture, 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:00.879 that tell us what that should actually look like. 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:03.840 And so it's important to understand 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:07.340 what we mean by being involved in a local church. 00:12:07.420 --> 00:12:08.720 So we say, well, what does this look like? 00:12:08.800 --> 00:12:11.139 Well, it means on a basic level 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:14.200 that every single person who calls Advent their home 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:18.639 should be actively involved in serving in some way. 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:20.899 If you're here from another church, 00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:22.980 I would strongly encourage you, 00:12:23.019 --> 00:12:25.379 if you're not actively involving and serving in that church, 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:29.179 to go back to that church next week, 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:30.419 and to get involved. 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:33.159 This is what it means to be part of a church body. 00:12:33.240 --> 00:12:34.919 So for example, if you go to Church of the Advent, 00:12:35.620 --> 00:12:37.000 what does this look like on a practical level? 00:12:37.059 --> 00:12:38.259 I'll give you one example. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:39.419 Right? 00:12:39.500 --> 00:12:42.259 The next time Kirsten and Heather reach out and say, 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:45.419 we need people to love and serve our kids or our youth, 00:12:46.059 --> 00:12:47.860 then the thing that you do is say, 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:50.600 yes, I will do that. 00:12:51.059 --> 00:12:51.879 What do you need? 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:54.460 And there's a whole lot of different ways that you can serve. 00:12:55.240 --> 00:12:57.700 But simply saying yes and then showing up and doing it. 00:12:58.840 --> 00:13:00.559 And why do you say yes? 00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:02.080 Not because I said you should, 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:03.360 or not because you think you should, 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:05.759 or not because you're doing anybody a favor. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:10.100 The reason you say yes is because you need to say yes. 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:13.159 It's because you need it for yourself. 00:13:14.139 --> 00:13:15.980 You realize this is what it means 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:17.539 to be part of a church community. 00:13:17.940 --> 00:13:20.200 This is actually how I'm going to grow in my faith. 00:13:20.200 --> 00:13:25.280 If, you know, showing up and giving some of my life 00:13:25.280 --> 00:13:27.680 and my energy and my time and my love and my attention 00:13:27.680 --> 00:13:29.660 to the next generation of Christians, 00:13:29.800 --> 00:13:31.360 that's how I'm going to grow. 00:13:32.080 --> 00:13:34.240 One of the best ways to grow in your understanding of the Bible 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.300 is to have to teach the Bible. 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:36.500 I mean, take it from me. 00:13:36.560 --> 00:13:37.900 I often think one of the only reasons, 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:39.879 one of the only ways that God knew 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:42.460 He could get me actively reading Scripture in an ongoing way 00:13:42.460 --> 00:13:44.540 was to put me in a position where I had to stand up and teach it. 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:48.360 This is how we grow. 00:13:48.360 --> 00:13:50.100 We give ourselves to the body. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:52.960 The same could be said for the welcome team, 00:13:53.080 --> 00:13:55.000 the production team, our prayer ministries, 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:56.419 the list goes on and on and on. 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:58.779 If you want help figuring out what this looks like for you, 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:00.300 I would love to talk to you about it. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:01.000 Any of us would. 00:14:02.419 --> 00:14:04.340 So the first characteristic of this church 00:14:04.340 --> 00:14:06.000 that I think makes it so effective 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.840 is that it is lay-driven, 00:14:08.480 --> 00:14:11.379 but it has support from godly leaders. 00:14:12.279 --> 00:14:13.639 It's not a cult of personality. 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:14.600 It's not leader-driven. 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:17.879 Every single person is actively involved 00:14:17.879 --> 00:14:21.779 in serving and ministering in the church 00:14:21.779 --> 00:14:22.680 and to the broader community. 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:23.500 That's the first thing. 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:26.080 The second characteristic we see 00:14:26.080 --> 00:14:29.139 is that this church is both outward-facing 00:14:29.139 --> 00:14:32.019 and it's also Christ-centered. 00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:35.340 It's outward-facing and Christ-centered. 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:38.040 Because of its proximity not only to Jerusalem 00:14:38.040 --> 00:14:40.899 but also to Asia and to Africa, 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:43.679 Antioch was an incredibly diverse, 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:45.740 pluralistic, multicultural city. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:51.399 It really was unprecedented at this time. 00:14:53.299 --> 00:14:56.600 And the city had at least 18 ethnic quarters 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:59.959 representing different ethnic groups 00:14:59.959 --> 00:15:01.959 that were called Antioch home. 00:15:02.899 --> 00:15:04.879 And they had actually built walls. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.159 This city was built around 300 B.C. 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.799 And they had actually built walls 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:11.240 to keep these ethnic quarters 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:12.240 separate from one another 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.500 because of all the infighting 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:15.799 between the various groups. 00:15:16.439 --> 00:15:17.439 So to keep the peace, 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.339 they just kept them separate. 00:15:19.699 --> 00:15:21.740 And so some of the Jewish Christians 00:15:21.740 --> 00:15:22.819 fleeing persecution 00:15:22.819 --> 00:15:24.079 when they ended up in Antioch, 00:15:24.120 --> 00:15:25.559 it says that they only wanted 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:27.000 to interact with other Jews. 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:28.939 And you know, that makes sense. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.600 I think especially in times of crisis, 00:15:31.139 --> 00:15:33.539 we can tend to want to seek out 00:15:33.539 --> 00:15:34.539 what is most comfortable 00:15:34.539 --> 00:15:35.459 and most familiar. 00:15:35.819 --> 00:15:38.000 And so that makes sense 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.639 if we understand human nature. 00:15:40.459 --> 00:15:42.019 But what's really amazing 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:42.860 about this account 00:15:42.860 --> 00:15:44.279 is that there are also Christians 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.779 who are facing the same crisis 00:15:45.779 --> 00:15:47.779 and yet somehow they stay, 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.120 they remain outward facing. 00:15:50.219 --> 00:15:52.000 They never lose sight 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.120 of the mission given to them by Jesus 00:15:54.120 --> 00:15:56.019 to bring the gospel to the nations. 00:15:56.939 --> 00:15:58.939 So they're willing to share the gospel 00:15:58.939 --> 00:16:00.519 with just about anybody 00:16:00.519 --> 00:16:01.719 who's willing to listen. 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:04.860 And because these Christians 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.440 were outward facing, 00:16:06.700 --> 00:16:08.879 they begin developing relationships 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.779 and sharing the gospel 00:16:10.779 --> 00:16:14.680 across ethnic and cultural lines. 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:16.960 And the gospel begins 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:18.399 to transform the city 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:21.180 because as people come to faith in Christ, 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:25.399 in all of these various ethnic quarters, 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:27.360 people are coming to faith 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:28.259 and word is spreading. 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:29.320 And then these Christians 00:16:29.320 --> 00:16:31.279 start to go over the walls. 00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:34.240 Because they want to all meet together 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.139 to worship Christ. 00:16:37.080 --> 00:16:38.860 And you have this unprecedented, 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:41.100 diverse community 00:16:41.100 --> 00:16:42.460 rising up 00:16:42.460 --> 00:16:44.200 where people are going over the walls 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.440 to worship together 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:47.019 for the first time in history. 00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:50.580 And if we look a couple of chapters later 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:51.600 in Acts chapter 13, 00:16:51.779 --> 00:16:53.399 we see the impact this has 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.779 on that early church. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:57.720 As we look at the leadership structure 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.519 of this church, 00:16:58.600 --> 00:17:00.259 there's incredible diversity. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:02.059 The leadership body 00:17:02.059 --> 00:17:03.439 of the church in Antioch 00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:05.099 has people representing 00:17:05.099 --> 00:17:06.259 three continents 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:08.200 and four ethnic groups. 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:10.839 You have to understand, 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.759 this is centuries before diversity 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:14.940 was something that people valued 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:15.759 or pursued. 00:17:17.099 --> 00:17:19.000 The only reason, arguably, 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:20.099 that diversity matters 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:20.980 to people today 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:22.400 is largely because 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:24.299 the Enlightenment stole the clothes 00:17:24.299 --> 00:17:25.779 off Christianity's back. 00:17:25.779 --> 00:17:29.519 How is it possible 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.680 to have such diversity 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:32.399 and yet still to have such unity? 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.720 Why did the infighting 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.879 that happened everywhere else 00:17:34.879 --> 00:17:37.139 not happen in this early church? 00:17:37.220 --> 00:17:38.379 How could they have such unity, 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:39.399 even among the leaders? 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:42.559 It's a very, very pressing question. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:45.579 And the simple answer is, 00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:48.079 because the gospel transforms 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:49.799 how we see ourselves 00:17:49.799 --> 00:17:53.000 and how we see other people. 00:17:54.759 --> 00:17:56.539 Paul in Galatians chapter 2, 00:17:56.659 --> 00:17:57.619 verse 20 says, 00:17:58.200 --> 00:17:59.139 here's the impact 00:17:59.139 --> 00:18:00.759 of the gospel on my life. 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:03.019 I have been crucified with Christ. 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:05.480 It's no longer I who live, 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.980 but Christ who lives in me. 00:18:08.200 --> 00:18:09.419 What he means by that 00:18:09.419 --> 00:18:11.059 is that Christ has become 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:11.799 a new foundation 00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:14.339 for his entire identity. 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:15.059 Christianity. 00:18:15.379 --> 00:18:16.439 The other things 00:18:16.439 --> 00:18:18.339 that used to define us 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:20.139 before we became Christians, 00:18:20.919 --> 00:18:22.259 things like our race, 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.079 our gender, 00:18:23.279 --> 00:18:23.899 our culture, 00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:24.899 our ethnicity, 00:18:25.220 --> 00:18:25.899 our class, 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:26.959 our politics, 00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:30.079 those things don't go away, 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:32.359 but they all take 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:33.899 a massive step back. 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:36.000 Right? 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.980 The new center of your life 00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:40.339 becomes Christ. 00:18:41.699 --> 00:18:42.220 Therefore, 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:43.500 when a Christian meets 00:18:43.500 --> 00:18:44.460 another Christian, 00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:46.059 even if you're from 00:18:46.059 --> 00:18:47.339 very different places, 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.960 even if you have 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:50.380 nothing in common 00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:52.000 culturally or politically, 00:18:52.240 --> 00:18:53.380 even if you can barely 00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:54.799 communicate across 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.900 a language barrier, 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.640 you discover a common 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.559 foundation in Christ, 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.039 and it makes relationships 00:19:02.039 --> 00:19:04.579 possible across all kinds 00:19:04.579 --> 00:19:06.200 of social and cultural barriers. 00:19:06.480 --> 00:19:07.680 I remember experiencing this 00:19:07.680 --> 00:19:08.539 for the first time. 00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.160 It really struck me. 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:12.140 We, years ago, 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:13.800 we had a partnership 00:19:13.800 --> 00:19:16.380 with a church in Rwanda, 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:18.160 and I went, 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:19.200 we went to Rwanda, 00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:20.000 and I really wanted 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:20.700 to go and to meet 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:21.780 the pastor of this church 00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:22.740 personally, 00:19:22.940 --> 00:19:24.040 and so I traveled 00:19:24.040 --> 00:19:25.020 out to Nagatari, 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.420 and he met me 00:19:26.420 --> 00:19:27.600 and gave me a big hug, 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.540 and he could, 00:19:28.600 --> 00:19:29.840 we could barely communicate. 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:31.840 I speak no Kenya Rwanda, 00:19:32.020 --> 00:19:32.460 surprisingly, 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:36.220 and he speaks English enough, 00:19:36.540 --> 00:19:36.900 but we, 00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:37.920 through broken French 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:38.380 and English, 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:39.500 we were able to communicate 00:19:39.500 --> 00:19:40.620 to a certain extent, 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:41.639 and the first thing 00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.379 he wanted to do 00:19:42.379 --> 00:19:43.279 was to tour me 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.219 around the village, 00:19:44.779 --> 00:19:46.479 and so then he takes my hand, 00:19:46.919 --> 00:19:48.359 and we start walking 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:49.639 around his village, 00:19:49.639 --> 00:19:50.539 and we spend the next 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:51.059 maybe three, 00:19:51.239 --> 00:19:52.059 four hours 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:53.959 just him telling me 00:19:53.959 --> 00:19:54.799 about everybody 00:19:54.799 --> 00:19:55.979 in the village, 00:19:56.239 --> 00:19:56.479 right, 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.000 and we're holding hands 00:19:58.000 --> 00:19:59.000 the entire time, 00:19:59.079 --> 00:20:00.219 and I'm talking fingers 00:20:00.219 --> 00:20:00.959 interlocking, 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:02.139 holding hands, 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:02.719 and I, 00:20:02.819 --> 00:20:03.699 my wife will tell you, 00:20:03.700 --> 00:20:04.680 I just don't like 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:05.460 to hold hands. 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.380 I don't, 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:07.720 I'm not a hand holder, 00:20:08.900 --> 00:20:09.180 I'm, 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.299 I'm happy with hugs 00:20:10.299 --> 00:20:10.860 and other things, 00:20:10.940 --> 00:20:11.940 but hand holding 00:20:11.940 --> 00:20:12.880 is just not in my, 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:13.440 you know, 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:14.460 that's not my vibe, 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:15.640 and so, 00:20:15.740 --> 00:20:17.360 I'm walking around 00:20:17.360 --> 00:20:18.220 with Pastor Deo 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:19.559 interlocking fingers, 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:20.539 hot and sweaty, 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.740 for like three or four hours, 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:23.279 right, 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.160 in this tour. 00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:25.660 Here's the most amazing thing, 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:28.740 it felt completely normal 00:20:28.740 --> 00:20:29.299 and natural. 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:32.039 After about five minutes, 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:33.220 I forgot we were even 00:20:33.220 --> 00:20:33.740 doing that, 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:35.279 I just completely lost myself 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.180 in the experience 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:37.700 of seeing Nagatari 00:20:37.700 --> 00:20:38.559 through Deo's eyes, 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.279 and the thing that really 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:40.660 struck me about that experience 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:42.640 is that here I am 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:43.359 with this man 00:20:43.359 --> 00:20:44.220 on the other side 00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.620 of the world, 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.720 we can barely communicate, 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:47.359 completely different culture, 00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:47.839 ethnicity, 00:20:48.059 --> 00:20:48.259 completely, 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.180 we could not be 00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:49.900 more different, 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:50.259 right, 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:52.539 and yet this man 00:20:52.539 --> 00:20:54.240 radiated Christ, 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.140 and some of you 00:20:56.140 --> 00:20:56.500 have met him 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.120 and you know exactly 00:20:57.120 --> 00:20:57.980 what I'm talking about, 00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:00.000 and because of that, 00:21:00.360 --> 00:21:01.920 I remember it striking me 00:21:01.920 --> 00:21:02.440 as we're walking 00:21:02.440 --> 00:21:03.220 down the sidewalk, 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:06.539 I feel like I have known 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:07.980 this man my whole life, 00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:09.900 I feel like we grew up together, 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:10.880 and then it struck me, 00:21:11.200 --> 00:21:11.660 I have, 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:12.880 I feel like I have 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:14.279 so much more in common 00:21:14.279 --> 00:21:15.120 with this man 00:21:15.120 --> 00:21:17.259 than I do with my own 00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:19.279 biological family members 00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.420 who are not Christians, 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:23.019 and I realized it's because 00:21:23.019 --> 00:21:24.440 we have a common foundation, 00:21:25.519 --> 00:21:26.700 we are family, 00:21:26.700 --> 00:21:29.880 and that is the kind 00:21:29.880 --> 00:21:30.700 of experience, 00:21:31.160 --> 00:21:32.799 that is the kind 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.360 of experience 00:21:33.360 --> 00:21:34.140 that you have, 00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:35.120 that you can have 00:21:35.120 --> 00:21:36.279 because of Christ, 00:21:36.920 --> 00:21:38.180 when Christ gives you 00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:39.220 a common foundation, 00:21:40.080 --> 00:21:41.279 and this is how 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.360 the church in Antioch 00:21:42.360 --> 00:21:43.059 was able to have 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:44.620 such unity and diversity 00:21:44.620 --> 00:21:46.700 at the same time, 00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:48.759 because on the one hand, 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.660 they're outward facing, 00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.980 meaning they are focused 00:21:51.980 --> 00:21:53.259 on sharing the gospel 00:21:53.259 --> 00:21:54.720 across all social 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.240 and cultural barriers. 00:21:56.380 --> 00:21:57.140 Everything they do 00:21:57.140 --> 00:21:58.059 is oriented toward 00:21:58.059 --> 00:21:59.480 bringing the gospel 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.360 to people outside 00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:01.180 of their community, 00:22:01.819 --> 00:22:03.880 and yet they are also 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:05.039 Christ-centered, 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.819 which made it possible 00:22:06.819 --> 00:22:07.980 for them to have unity 00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:10.740 across all of those barriers. 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:12.980 In fact, I think this is why 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:14.539 when Barnabas shows up, 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:15.920 it doesn't just say 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.740 he encouraged them 00:22:16.740 --> 00:22:17.420 in a general sense, 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:17.880 he gives them 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:19.440 a very specific encouragement. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:22.680 statement, stay true to Christ. 00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:25.559 Keep your focus 00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:27.360 on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:22:27.580 --> 00:22:28.620 That's his message. 00:22:29.259 --> 00:22:30.240 And I think it's in part 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:31.120 because he shows up 00:22:31.120 --> 00:22:32.380 and he sees all of this, 00:22:32.680 --> 00:22:33.980 these diverse people, 00:22:34.320 --> 00:22:35.259 and he's amazed, 00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:36.740 and he thinks the only thing 00:22:36.740 --> 00:22:38.120 holding this group together 00:22:38.120 --> 00:22:38.820 is Christ. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.600 Stay focused on Christ. 00:22:41.860 --> 00:22:42.940 This is how it works. 00:22:44.360 --> 00:22:45.200 And again, you know, 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:46.799 I think this is why. 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:49.460 I think they heard his message, 00:22:49.559 --> 00:22:50.299 and this is why 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:51.639 this is the place 00:22:51.639 --> 00:22:53.240 where followers of Jesus 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.159 first come to be known 00:22:54.159 --> 00:22:54.720 as Christians. 00:22:55.399 --> 00:22:57.079 Those people are so focused 00:22:57.079 --> 00:22:58.240 on following Christ. 00:22:59.440 --> 00:23:00.200 They're Christians. 00:23:00.500 --> 00:23:01.579 They're little Christs. 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:02.559 They're Christ followers. 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:07.879 And this is a surprisingly 00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:10.859 relevant corrective for us 00:23:10.859 --> 00:23:11.799 as a church 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:13.519 in a place like D.C. 00:23:15.319 --> 00:23:16.480 for a couple of reasons. 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.519 I mean, I think, honestly, 00:23:17.640 --> 00:23:18.839 I think there can always 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.620 be a temptation 00:23:19.620 --> 00:23:21.920 in the church 00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:23.480 to turn inward. 00:23:24.680 --> 00:23:25.120 Right? 00:23:25.160 --> 00:23:25.860 There can always be 00:23:25.860 --> 00:23:26.360 a temptation 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:28.980 to want church 00:23:28.980 --> 00:23:29.819 to be safe, 00:23:30.380 --> 00:23:32.000 to want it to be 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:33.120 comfortable and convenient. 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:36.099 If we feel overloaded 00:23:36.099 --> 00:23:36.700 and overwhelmed 00:23:36.700 --> 00:23:38.200 and we've got demanding jobs 00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:39.099 or young children, 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:41.440 we want church 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:42.559 to be the one place 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:43.579 that feels safe, 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.059 comfortable. 00:23:47.139 --> 00:23:48.480 We want it to be easy. 00:23:49.700 --> 00:23:51.119 I do think, honestly, 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:53.079 this is ramped up 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:53.679 since COVID. 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:56.259 There's so much 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.220 happening out in the world. 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:58.139 I just want church 00:23:58.139 --> 00:23:58.919 to be the one 00:23:58.919 --> 00:24:00.220 comfortable, easy thing 00:24:00.220 --> 00:24:01.399 in my life. 00:24:02.419 --> 00:24:03.379 I think we begin 00:24:03.379 --> 00:24:04.259 to lose sight 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.799 that the church 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.379 is in fact 00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:07.019 a missionary outpost 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.599 that exists 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:08.539 to bring the gospel 00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.799 to the city. 00:24:11.700 --> 00:24:12.399 There's this, 00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:14.359 along with that, 00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:14.879 I think, 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.980 ever-present danger 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:16.819 on the other end 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.420 of the spectrum 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:19.539 where Christ 00:24:19.539 --> 00:24:20.399 ceases to be 00:24:20.399 --> 00:24:20.879 the center 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:22.379 of our common life. 00:24:23.619 --> 00:24:23.879 You know, 00:24:24.200 --> 00:24:25.319 everybody these days, 00:24:25.399 --> 00:24:25.980 I think largely 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:26.839 because of the impact 00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:27.379 of Christianity 00:24:27.379 --> 00:24:28.700 on the modern West, 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:30.480 really wants diversity 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:31.460 and there's a lot of good 00:24:31.460 --> 00:24:32.259 that comes with that. 00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:32.700 But you see 00:24:32.700 --> 00:24:33.480 some organizations 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:34.319 that make something 00:24:34.319 --> 00:24:35.039 like diversity 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.420 into their central 00:24:36.420 --> 00:24:37.200 highest ideal. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:39.180 often what happens 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:39.840 in those cases 00:24:39.840 --> 00:24:40.960 is that you may end up 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:41.600 with a community 00:24:41.600 --> 00:24:42.840 with people who look different 00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:44.160 but they all are exactly 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:45.080 the same politically. 00:24:45.840 --> 00:24:47.220 It's not true diversity. 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.880 Antioch shows us 00:24:49.880 --> 00:24:51.299 actually what is possible 00:24:51.299 --> 00:24:52.640 when you have a church 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:54.140 that is truly outward-facing 00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:56.900 and it's also Christ-centered 00:24:56.900 --> 00:24:58.240 where everything they do 00:24:58.240 --> 00:24:59.220 is aimed at bringing 00:24:59.220 --> 00:25:00.220 the gospel to people 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:01.259 outside the church, 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.580 where people come 00:25:02.580 --> 00:25:03.220 to worship 00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:04.519 expecting and hoping 00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.420 that they will run 00:25:05.420 --> 00:25:06.440 into first-time visitors, 00:25:06.440 --> 00:25:07.380 that there will be guests, 00:25:07.660 --> 00:25:08.640 that there will be people there 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.500 who have no idea 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:10.279 what's going on, 00:25:10.320 --> 00:25:11.640 who are completely disoriented, 00:25:11.840 --> 00:25:12.299 who don't know 00:25:12.299 --> 00:25:12.779 when to stand 00:25:12.779 --> 00:25:13.400 or when to sit 00:25:13.400 --> 00:25:14.279 or when to talk 00:25:14.279 --> 00:25:15.140 or when to not talk 00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:16.120 or when to respond 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:17.140 or when to not respond, 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:19.140 who think it's all weird. 00:25:19.580 --> 00:25:20.240 And there are people 00:25:20.240 --> 00:25:20.880 who come to church 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.960 knowing there's going 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:22.600 to be people like that 00:25:22.600 --> 00:25:23.380 and they want to actively 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:24.279 engage those people 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:24.920 and help them 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.740 feel more comfortable. 00:25:26.820 --> 00:25:27.200 Right? 00:25:27.259 --> 00:25:28.559 So they're truly outward-facing 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:29.620 and yet they share 00:25:29.620 --> 00:25:30.380 a common identity 00:25:30.380 --> 00:25:30.900 in Christ 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.920 that runs deeper 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:32.740 than any other 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.840 defining characteristic. 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:36.379 So they have both 00:25:36.379 --> 00:25:37.720 diversity and unity. 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:41.379 So, so far, 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.779 as we've looked at Antioch, 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:45.279 what are some of the things 00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:47.339 that we might include 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.139 in God's vision 00:25:48.139 --> 00:25:49.059 for His masterpiece, 00:25:49.299 --> 00:25:50.359 the church in a place 00:25:50.359 --> 00:25:52.039 like Antioch or D.C.? 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.579 So far, 00:25:53.379 --> 00:25:54.699 everybody's involved, 00:25:54.879 --> 00:25:55.480 lay-driven, 00:25:55.740 --> 00:25:56.399 leader-led. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:59.159 Also, they're outward-facing 00:25:59.159 --> 00:26:00.480 but also Christ-centered 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:01.659 and so they can have 00:26:01.659 --> 00:26:02.559 unity and diversity. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.960 Lastly, 00:26:05.019 --> 00:26:06.319 we see that this church 00:26:06.319 --> 00:26:08.299 is both spiritually maturing 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:11.259 and socially engaged. 00:26:12.359 --> 00:26:13.819 This is a young church 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:14.980 full of new converts. 00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:16.940 Barnabas realizes 00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:18.440 that they need to be encouraged 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:19.759 to grow into maturity. 00:26:20.659 --> 00:26:21.480 So he goes 00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.500 and he recruits Paul 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.220 and together 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:25.019 they spend the next year 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.039 preaching and teaching 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.599 in the church. 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.240 It's a kind of 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.440 spiritual boot camp. 00:26:29.440 --> 00:26:30.279 And you can imagine 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:31.519 it wasn't just once a week. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:33.180 They're probably doing this daily. 00:26:34.259 --> 00:26:35.779 It's a spiritual boot camp. 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:38.400 The point is very clear here. 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.759 There is no substitute 00:26:39.759 --> 00:26:41.480 for strong preaching 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.639 and teaching of God's Word. 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:43.720 There is no substitute 00:26:43.720 --> 00:26:45.379 for people gathering together 00:26:45.379 --> 00:26:46.220 and study Scripture. 00:26:46.480 --> 00:26:47.339 There's no substitute 00:26:47.339 --> 00:26:49.259 for classes and books 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:50.019 and other resources 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:51.460 that help us understand 00:26:51.460 --> 00:26:53.059 the Bible and theology better. 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:54.319 You simply cannot grow 00:26:54.319 --> 00:26:55.019 into maturity 00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:57.220 if that is not a high, 00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.160 central priority 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.180 in your common life. 00:26:59.180 --> 00:27:01.620 God's Word has to be central. 00:27:01.960 --> 00:27:03.100 And at the same time, 00:27:03.480 --> 00:27:06.560 this is a very socially engaged church. 00:27:07.640 --> 00:27:08.700 And that simply means 00:27:08.700 --> 00:27:10.340 that they are aware of 00:27:10.340 --> 00:27:12.140 and responsive to the needs 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:15.240 in the community around them, 00:27:15.279 --> 00:27:16.180 in the broader world. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.279 One of the other church leaders, 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.720 a prophet named Agabus, 00:27:19.880 --> 00:27:20.600 raises awareness 00:27:20.600 --> 00:27:21.940 about a coming famine. 00:27:22.940 --> 00:27:23.519 He says, 00:27:23.620 --> 00:27:24.180 this is going to be 00:27:24.180 --> 00:27:25.120 a serious problem. 00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.980 We need to prepare. 00:27:25.980 --> 00:27:26.940 We need to make sure 00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:29.120 the people around us, 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:29.819 our other churches, 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.460 are prepared 00:27:30.460 --> 00:27:32.160 because there's going to be 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.120 a lot of people coming 00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:34.319 who have a whole lot of need 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:34.980 and we need to be ready 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:35.759 to meet those needs. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:38.779 And so he puts the Word out. 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:40.420 They gather together 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:40.920 as a church 00:27:40.920 --> 00:27:41.740 and decide to send 00:27:41.740 --> 00:27:42.860 financial assistance 00:27:42.860 --> 00:27:44.039 back to the church 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.660 in Jerusalem. 00:27:45.000 --> 00:27:45.839 Even though there's 00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.700 persecution there, 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.019 they're like, 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:48.140 we got to get some help there. 00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:50.339 And what's amazing here 00:27:50.339 --> 00:27:51.240 is that everyone 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:52.299 gets what they can. 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:54.099 This is not just delegated 00:27:54.099 --> 00:27:55.339 to the mercy ministry team. 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.240 This is not just 00:27:56.240 --> 00:27:57.339 a few wealthier people 00:27:57.339 --> 00:27:58.939 who have more disposable income. 00:27:59.199 --> 00:28:00.159 This is not just people 00:28:00.159 --> 00:28:01.059 with the spiritual gift 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:01.659 of generosity. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:02.819 This is everyone. 00:28:03.139 --> 00:28:04.379 Everyone gives what they can 00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:05.459 according to their means. 00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:07.899 And this kind of generous 00:28:07.899 --> 00:28:09.859 social engagement 00:28:09.859 --> 00:28:11.399 is a big part 00:28:11.399 --> 00:28:12.399 of how the early church 00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.679 had such an impact 00:28:13.679 --> 00:28:15.179 on the Roman world. 00:28:16.299 --> 00:28:17.359 It wasn't just 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.399 the preaching of the gospel, 00:28:18.559 --> 00:28:19.539 although that was necessary. 00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.740 It was the preaching 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.359 of the gospel 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.379 paired with 00:28:22.379 --> 00:28:24.799 incredibly self-sacrificial 00:28:24.799 --> 00:28:26.379 love and service 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:27.559 to the broader community. 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:30.240 The historian Rodney Stark 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:30.919 writes this. 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:31.319 He says, 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:33.819 Christianity revitalized life 00:28:33.819 --> 00:28:35.839 in Greco-Roman cities 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:37.539 by providing new norms 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.279 and new kinds 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:39.519 of social relationships 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.799 able to cope 00:28:40.799 --> 00:28:43.700 with many urgent urban problems. 00:28:44.799 --> 00:28:45.500 What does that mean? 00:28:46.339 --> 00:28:47.240 To cities filled 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.940 with the homeless 00:28:47.940 --> 00:28:49.159 and the impoverished, 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:50.799 Christianity offered charity 00:28:51.319 --> 00:28:52.180 as well as hope. 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.880 To cities filled 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.799 with newcomers 00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.700 and strangers, 00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:57.380 Christianity offered 00:28:57.380 --> 00:28:58.620 an immediate basis 00:28:58.620 --> 00:29:00.140 for attachments. 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:01.940 To cities filled 00:29:01.940 --> 00:29:02.620 with orphans 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:03.340 and widows, 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.740 Christianity provided 00:29:04.740 --> 00:29:06.400 a new and expanded 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:07.840 sense of family. 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:09.519 To cities torn 00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:11.360 by violent ethnic strife, 00:29:11.799 --> 00:29:12.720 Christianity offered 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.759 a new basis 00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:15.340 for social solidarity. 00:29:15.560 --> 00:29:16.420 We just talked about that. 00:29:16.900 --> 00:29:18.060 And to cities faced 00:29:18.060 --> 00:29:18.860 with epidemics, 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.580 fires, 00:29:19.579 --> 00:29:20.419 and earthquakes, 00:29:20.899 --> 00:29:21.899 Christianity offered 00:29:21.899 --> 00:29:24.500 effective nursing services. 00:29:27.399 --> 00:29:29.059 That is God's masterpiece. 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.859 That's what it's supposed 00:29:30.859 --> 00:29:31.539 to look like. 00:29:33.359 --> 00:29:34.399 As with our previous 00:29:34.399 --> 00:29:35.000 two points, 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:35.619 this offers, 00:29:35.779 --> 00:29:36.079 I believe, 00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:37.439 a much-needed corrective 00:29:37.439 --> 00:29:38.399 for the church today. 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:39.960 Unfortunately, 00:29:40.139 --> 00:29:41.079 I think many churches 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.980 tend to emphasize 00:29:41.980 --> 00:29:43.980 one or the other 00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:45.579 of these two things. 00:29:45.699 --> 00:29:47.159 You sometimes see churches 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:48.320 that emphasize 00:29:48.320 --> 00:29:49.900 theological formation 00:29:49.900 --> 00:29:51.019 and discipleship. 00:29:51.100 --> 00:29:51.620 They have lots 00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:52.519 of great programs 00:29:52.519 --> 00:29:53.700 for their members, 00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:55.180 but they're not 00:29:55.180 --> 00:29:55.960 very involved 00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.779 in meeting the needs 00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:57.960 of the surrounding community. 00:29:59.060 --> 00:30:00.340 Or you see churches 00:30:00.340 --> 00:30:01.519 that do a lot of work 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.279 in the community, 00:30:02.759 --> 00:30:04.640 but their discipleship 00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:05.600 is very thin. 00:30:06.160 --> 00:30:07.300 It's very shallow 00:30:07.300 --> 00:30:08.820 because it's not a priority. 00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:10.800 And the problem 00:30:10.800 --> 00:30:11.540 in either case 00:30:11.540 --> 00:30:12.019 is that you have 00:30:12.019 --> 00:30:13.779 a very unbalanced view 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:15.220 of the Christian life. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:16.799 The truth is 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:17.400 we need both. 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.900 We need the inward 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:21.059 spiritual growth 00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:22.180 in our faith 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:23.299 into maturity. 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:25.299 But that, 00:30:25.600 --> 00:30:26.660 the entire purpose 00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.240 of that 00:30:27.240 --> 00:30:29.059 is that it can express 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.720 itself 00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:31.539 in the outward dimension 00:30:31.539 --> 00:30:32.600 of the Christian life, 00:30:32.940 --> 00:30:34.579 in the fruit that we bear, 00:30:34.839 --> 00:30:35.799 in the way that we love 00:30:35.799 --> 00:30:37.400 and serve our neighbors. 00:30:38.100 --> 00:30:39.180 You need the inward 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:40.559 and the outward. 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:41.579 You need both. 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.500 It's a balance. 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:46.339 There's much more 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.880 we could say 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:48.240 about this amazing passage. 00:30:48.380 --> 00:30:49.299 I want to bring this 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:50.119 together though. 00:30:51.980 --> 00:30:53.259 This is what I believe 00:30:53.259 --> 00:30:54.319 we are called to be 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.119 as a church 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:57.400 in a place like D.C., 00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:58.279 which is arguably 00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.519 very similar to Antioch 00:30:59.519 --> 00:31:00.440 in certain ways. 00:31:00.559 --> 00:31:01.000 Arguably, 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.460 cities like D.C. 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.660 that have emerged now 00:31:03.660 --> 00:31:04.559 in recent history 00:31:04.559 --> 00:31:06.960 have much more in common 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:09.460 with a city like Antioch 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.519 than they do 00:31:10.519 --> 00:31:11.480 with many of the cities 00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.339 and places that people 00:31:12.339 --> 00:31:12.759 have lived 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.299 in all of the 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:14.279 intervening centuries. 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:17.140 In terms of application 00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:17.779 and relevance, 00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:19.420 we are very, very, very close 00:31:19.420 --> 00:31:21.120 to many of the realities 00:31:21.120 --> 00:31:24.539 that this first urban church faced. 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.720 But I believe 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:28.019 that the qualities 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:29.539 that made that church effective 00:31:29.539 --> 00:31:30.720 are the same qualities 00:31:30.720 --> 00:31:31.599 that we need 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.620 in our community. 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:33.819 My desire, 00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:34.480 our desire, 00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:35.460 is that we would be 00:31:35.460 --> 00:31:36.220 lay-led 00:31:36.220 --> 00:31:37.460 and leader-supported. 00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:39.120 Where the leaders 00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:40.180 are here to support 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.180 and equip people 00:31:41.180 --> 00:31:41.880 to serve. 00:31:42.820 --> 00:31:44.460 And where the biggest problem 00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.140 we have 00:31:45.140 --> 00:31:46.299 is that our ministries 00:31:46.299 --> 00:31:47.640 have to turn people away 00:31:47.640 --> 00:31:48.240 because we have 00:31:48.240 --> 00:31:49.299 too many volunteers. 00:31:50.580 --> 00:31:51.580 Stop calling me 00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:52.740 and ask if you can volunteer. 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:54.680 We have no more room for you. 00:31:54.820 --> 00:31:56.039 Find another way to serve. 00:31:58.080 --> 00:31:59.759 Where we are outward-facing 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:01.120 and Christ-centered. 00:32:01.320 --> 00:32:02.259 Where we all share 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.320 a common identity 00:32:03.320 --> 00:32:04.660 in Christ. 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:06.620 and yet where 00:32:06.620 --> 00:32:08.259 if this is the first time 00:32:08.259 --> 00:32:09.519 you have ever darkened 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.740 the door of a church, 00:32:11.560 --> 00:32:13.360 you already know 00:32:13.360 --> 00:32:15.540 even though there's a lot here 00:32:15.540 --> 00:32:16.640 that I don't understand, 00:32:17.080 --> 00:32:19.180 I have been so warmly welcomed 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:20.420 by so many people 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.300 that I feel like 00:32:21.300 --> 00:32:21.880 this is a place 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:22.740 I could belong 00:32:22.740 --> 00:32:24.500 and be for the rest of my life. 00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:25.660 And I would love 00:32:25.660 --> 00:32:26.519 to figure out 00:32:26.519 --> 00:32:27.580 all this other stuff. 00:32:29.580 --> 00:32:30.740 That we are called 00:32:30.740 --> 00:32:31.340 to be a church 00:32:31.339 --> 00:32:33.039 that is spiritually maturing 00:32:33.039 --> 00:32:35.339 and socially engaged. 00:32:35.379 --> 00:32:36.079 Where we do have 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.179 strong preaching 00:32:37.179 --> 00:32:37.779 and teaching 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.539 and small groups 00:32:38.539 --> 00:32:39.099 and classes 00:32:39.099 --> 00:32:40.099 and Bible studies. 00:32:40.939 --> 00:32:43.019 And yet we are so invested 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:44.439 in the surrounding community 00:32:44.439 --> 00:32:47.759 that even if people 00:32:47.759 --> 00:32:49.659 disagree with our beliefs, 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:52.559 they feel loved 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.299 and cared for 00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:55.639 by our community. 00:32:56.639 --> 00:32:57.240 Let's pray. 00:32:57.240 --> 00:33:01.039 Lord, 00:33:01.200 --> 00:33:02.640 may we never forget 00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:04.400 that all of this 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.940 is a result of your work 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:07.279 and your ministry 00:33:07.279 --> 00:33:08.759 and your presence. 00:33:09.220 --> 00:33:10.279 There would not be 00:33:10.279 --> 00:33:11.420 a church in Antioch 00:33:11.420 --> 00:33:12.640 had your Holy Spirit 00:33:12.640 --> 00:33:13.799 not empowered 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:16.079 the faithfulness 00:33:16.079 --> 00:33:17.039 and obedience 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:17.839 of your people. 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:20.259 And the same is true for us. 00:33:20.640 --> 00:33:21.380 The only reason 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:22.319 we are even here 00:33:22.319 --> 00:33:23.920 is as a result 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:24.620 of your goodness 00:33:24.620 --> 00:33:25.440 and your blessing 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.539 and the presence 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.039 and power 00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:27.799 of your Holy Spirit 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:28.400 in our midst. 00:33:29.100 --> 00:33:30.240 So we pray now 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:31.320 that what would be 00:33:31.320 --> 00:33:32.940 impossible for us 00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:36.080 would be made possible 00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:36.880 through you. 00:33:38.100 --> 00:33:40.420 That through your Holy Spirit 00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:42.240 you would restore 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:44.080 that which is broken in us. 00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.400 Those gashes 00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:46.799 that may have been torn 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:48.140 in the fabric 00:33:48.140 --> 00:33:49.299 of the canvas 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:50.340 of our community. 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:52.779 And that you would restore 00:33:52.779 --> 00:33:53.940 your vision 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.980 for your masterpiece 00:33:55.980 --> 00:33:58.320 not only in our church 00:33:58.320 --> 00:33:58.920 but in churches 00:33:58.920 --> 00:34:00.420 all throughout this city. 00:34:01.539 --> 00:34:03.500 That your manifold wisdom 00:34:03.500 --> 00:34:04.740 would be put on display. 00:34:05.460 --> 00:34:06.340 That the truth 00:34:06.340 --> 00:34:06.820 and the power 00:34:06.820 --> 00:34:07.420 of your gospel 00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.039 would be made 00:34:08.039 --> 00:34:09.639 irresistibly compelling 00:34:09.639 --> 00:34:11.740 through the common witness 00:34:11.740 --> 00:34:13.260 of the church 00:34:13.260 --> 00:34:14.820 the body of Christ. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:15.880 And it's in his name 00:34:15.880 --> 00:34:16.420 that we pray. 00:34:16.760 --> 00:34:17.059 Amen. 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:17.159 Amen. 00:34:17.159 --> 00:34:17.240 Amen. 00:34:17.240 --> 00:34:17.340 Amen. 00:34:17.340 --> 00:34:17.519 Amen. 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:17.539 Amen. 00:34:17.539 --> 00:34:17.639 Amen. 00:34:17.639 --> 00:34:17.700 Amen. 00:34:17.700 --> 00:34:17.720 Amen. 00:34:17.720 --> 00:34:18.119 Amen. 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:18.159 Amen. 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:18.240 Amen. 00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:18.260 Amen.