Title: Let's Build an Exemplary Church
Bible: Acts 11:19-26
When Jesus Christ knocks on the door of our heart, we must open the door of our heart and receive Jesus Christ to receive new life. When the door of the church is always open, we must become the people of the kingdom of heaven who are saved. The church does not exist with its back to the world, but is right in the middle of the world, so it cannot turn away from the world. The church must love the world and save it. The church for the world, not just the church for the church, is the true church. In this sense, the Antioch church in the text can be said to be a 'model church'. This is because the Church of Antioch is not a church divided by honor, human beings, factions, or other disputes, but the church of Christ established from the pure motive of spreading the gospel. Then, let's think about what kind of church is a "model church" that God is pleased with, focusing on the text.
First, a missionary church is an exemplary church.
The church is not only a community of faith worshiping God as 'Noah's Ark', but also a missionary community as a 'rescue ship' that saves all lives. The church should not just gather and worship, but should always be interested in the world and people in need and help and visit them. The Antioch church in the text was a church that carried out its missionary mission by example. As the first Gentile church, it played a leading role in helping the gospel to advance to the Roman Empire, the center of the world at that time.
Second, a Bible-centered church is an exemplary church.
Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Also, Jesus said, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). It enables them to have faith and grow to the full measure of Christ. Faith without the Word becomes blind faith. The Antioch church was a church that harmoniously combined both static and intellectual elements. Barnabas, who was full of the Holy Spirit and faith, invited Paul, a university student, to teach the Antiochites together for a year. Through the devoted ministry of Barnabas and Paul, the church in Antioch became a church full of the Word.
We introduce the love hymn of the Bible by Pastor Bonner of Scotland.
“When I am weary, the Bible is my bed,
When I am in darkness, the Bible is my light,
When I was hungry, I became the bread of life.
When I was afraid, the Bible became my armor,
When I am sick, it becomes a medicine to heal the sick
In my loneliness, I have made many friends from the Bible.
The Bible is my tool if I want to work.
If I am ignorant, the Bible is my school.
It is my refuge when the wind and waves arise.”
Saints! There is no need to listen to the voices of the world and the voices of people. It's just empty and empty. If we hear the word of God and believe it as it is, salvation and blessing are there. When we value, believe, study, and obey God's Word, we become exemplary saints. There is more than enough to defeat Satan. You can become a powerful saint.
Third, a church overflowing with grace is an exemplary church.
A church that lacks grace despite having a lot of knowledge, talents, and wealth is just cold-hearted. A church that loves, cares for, and comforts each other with one heart and one mind is the best church that is enviable of anything.
If you lack grace, you become cold. Complaints arise, quarrels arise.
“I get greedy. I get tested. Everything is wasted.
"It's hard and I hate to serve. The Antioch church had joy because it was full of grace, and they began to love each other passionately. That's why they were praised for being Christians for the first time. Then where and how do they receive grace? Experience grace through normal church life Saints need grace to have joy, ability, service, and devotion. Saints who have received grace are the happiest people in the world. They are not envious of anything. In order for our Songwol Church to become an exemplary church, we It is an exemplary church when it becomes a church full of grace and evangelism.