The Gospel Church

Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XVI
Dr. Timothy Keller
24 March 2013

Acts 11: 19-27
19Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.  20Some of them however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.  21Then Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

22News of this reached the church in Jersusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.  23When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.  So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people.  The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

27During this time some prophets came down from Jersusalem to Antioch.  28One of them, named Agabus, stood ip and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world.  (This happened during the reign of Claudius.)  29The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.  30This they did, sending their gifts to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 13:1-3
13Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.  2While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said."  3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Ministry of Barnabas
WHAT IT IS
--v.23: Sympathetic, loving, and insistence on the Truth.

IMPORTANCE
--Intense, personal ministry to people.
--Be surrounded by people who are characterized by Truth and Love.
--Insecurity: we're always self-justifying.
--Your sin is usually the one you see the least.
--We need help from other people.

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
--Encouragement
--Transparent enough about your own struggles so that people open up.
--But not so transparent where it's only about me.

HOW DOES JESUS FILL PEOPLE WITH COURAGE TO DO THIS
--First Advocate is Jesus Christ: speaks FOR you TO God
--God sees us as beautiful through Jesus
--Second Advocate is the Holy Spirtit: speaks TO you FOR you.
--Talks to you about Jesus.
--Look at what Jesus has done for you.
--Why are you so upset or worried?
--GROUND YOUR IDENITY IN JESUS CHRIST TO FACE ANYTHING.