The famous Antioch Church (Acts 11:19-26)
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The reputed Antioch church (Acts 11:19-26)
Antioch is Syrian Antioch, B.C. It was built around 300 AD by King Seleugus I of Syria and designated as the capital at the time as a trading center, and as a military strategic point, it was even called “Queen of the East.
This city was one of the greatest sanctuaries in the Hellenistic period. In ancient times, the three major cities would be Rome, Antioch, and Alexandria. At that time, it was the largest city on the Mediterranean coast in the world.
After Alexander the Conqueror conquered this place, he developed Antioch as a strategic point to rule Macedonia, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and even India.
The great harvest of field farming is certain only when excellent seeds are sown. Who founded the Antioch Church?
According to the text of the text, “they were scattered because of the tribulation that arose in the days of Stephen.”
After Stephen's martyrdom, unknown believers with strong faith came from the crowd scattered due to persecution and planted the church in Antioch.
Where does faith grow? Growing up in tribulation and persecution. Real faith grows by eating tribulation.
The Antioch Church is the first pure Gentile church established by preaching Jesus (Gospel) to Greeks.
Come on! Then what kind of church is the famous Antioch church?
1. The church in Antioch was a church with good leaders (Acts 11:22-24).
The church in Antioch had a great spiritual leader named “Barnabas”.
The word “Barnabas” means “son of comfort.” He lived his whole life serving others as his name implies, and he worked humbly without a name and without light. As salt melts, as a candle burns, and as flowing water gathers no moss, he worked hard with sacrifice, service, and loyalty. In fact, Barnabas contributed greatly to the apostle Paul becoming a great person, and he is our spiritual teacher and an example of a leader we should follow.
Barnabas went on a missionary journey together as the uncle of John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark (Acts 15:35-41; Colossians 4:10).
Barnabas was a devoted man who gave up all his possessions and supported God, and he was a Levite man who served the priests well (Acts 4:34-37).
Barnabas was a man of great courage and trust (Acts 9:23-31).
If we look at the text given to us today, “Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.”
He was known as a good man here, which means he has a really good conscience.
We (pastors, evangelists) must all have a 'good conscience' (1 Tim 1:5), a 'clean conscience' (1 Tim 3:9), and a 'good conscience' (1 Tim 1:19).
Barnabas is one of the most attractive characters of the New Testament. He is a virtuous person who knows no jealousy, forgives others' faults, is quick to find good points, and knows how to work together.
Effective leaders play an absolute role in church revival. On top of that, the greater the response (cooperation) of the members, the more the church will automatically revive.
2. The church in Antioch was a church with the correct name (Acts 11:26).
Verse 26 says, “In Antioch he was first called a Christian.”
From then on, the nickname “Christian” was called for the first time.
At that time, the people of Antioch were famous for nicknames. For example, the bearded Emperor Julian gave him the nickname “goat” when he visited.
At that time, the people who believed in Jesus fervently used the name “Christian” to call them with contempt for those who believed in Jesus with a mixture of swearing and ridicule.
“Christian” is derived from the Latin word “Christ” and is a compound word meaning “to belong to something”. It means “person”, “means a person who belongs to Jesus”, “means a person who exalts only Jesus”. It means “one who boasts only in Jesus”.
Just as the title of “Christian (saint)” was used in the Antioch Church, let us also hear the title of “That person is a real Christian (saint)”. Let's see. “Ah, Jesus is in the image of those people passing by!” I pray in the name of Jesus that we become believers who can hear these words. Amen.
Dear Oh Geum family, you are Christians. Are you living up to the name?
One day, the famous Napoleon is patrolling his men camping in a barracks. When you reach a barracks, you hear a buzzing noise. “That Bonaparte, that bastard, the deceiver, the naughty bastard…” They just start swearing. So I thought, “I need to surprise these guys,” and suddenly went into the barracks. When I walked in, I was not surprised, but very dignified.
“These guys, how dare you insult me!” “When did we curse the emperor?” “Didn’t you curse before I came in?” "no. I never cursed.” “You guys, didn’t you say that Bonaparte was a bad guy, a deceiver, a bad guy, and a liar?” “Ah, that’s right, there’s a gangster named Bonaparte in our unit, and he’s such a con artist.”
Yes, after researching, there really was such a person. So Napoleon summoned the soldier named Bonaparte. I shouted loudly at this Bonaparte, who was shaking like an aspen. “You bastard, you must do one of the two. do you want to change your name Would you like to change your behavior? Do one of the two.”
Would you like to change your name as a Christian? Otherwise, will you live a life worthy of a Christian?
The members of the church in Antioch were praised for seeing Jesus Christ living in them when they see people who do not believe in Jesus, they are Jesus people, and the face of Jesus can be seen in them.
The church in Antioch had great lay leaders (saints) like Simeon, Lucius, and Maneen. In a word, there was a saint with potential.
If you have a good reputation and good news, you will be respected and trusted. So is the church.
As a gracious church, a church with a lot of love, a church that does missions and evangelism, it not only revives when word of mouth spreads, but all the members of that church are loved, recognized, respected, and praised.
When good rumors start to spread, they become better rumors over time. It gets bigger and better. The church is quiet, but when good news is heard, it is revived through the rumor. Rumors are inherently snowballing, so good news keeps getting better.
If possible, let our Oh Geum Methodist Church or all the members spread the word in the local area (Ogeum-dong, Gwansan-dong, Goyang-si, Seoul) as good workers and churches. It's a restaurant, it's a tailor, and people flock to it when it's rumored. So is the church. Amen.