Gossiping the Gospel

Acts 11:19-30

Redina spoke from Acts 11 and focused on the Church in Antioch. Key points from her talk were...

• First 7 chapters in Acts were on the growth of the Church in Jerusalem /Chapter 8 is on persecution believers faced and the stoning of Stephen / Chapters 9-12 look at how the Gospel message spread.
• Jewish Christians mostly shared the gospel with other Jews. There were other non Jewish believers who were keen to share with outsiders of the Jewish faith.
• Antioch was a large city and had 5 cultures (Roman, Greek, Jewish, Persian, Arab). It was famous as a sports arena and was well known for peoples decadent lifestyle.
• Within this Antioch culture the early Christ believers gossiped the gospel. There were no clergy or leaders in the Church of Antioch. The believers were ordinary people who took the challenge to share the gospel message to the sophisticated and rich culture that surrounded them. God's hand was on them.
• How do we share the gospel in our culture? Do we know the story of Jesus firsthand or do we try to witness to others with secondhand knowledge?
• The Church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas (right person for the job) to go and check the Church in Antioch (vs 22). Barnabas understood how to share the message and encourage believers who were from non-Jewish backgrounds.
• vs 24: Barnabas was a Good man. Only person that Luke (the writer of Acts) says is 'Good'! Barnabas did not focus on the shortcomings in the lives of Antioch Christians but focused on the good things. Barnabas was gentle, tolerant, loving and compassionate.
• Barnabas encouraged the believers to Cling to the Lord Resolutely (Abide in Him) - When we grow in the grace of God we will cling to him.
• Barnabas then goes to Tarsus and gets Paul to come and they focused in teaching God's Word for one year with the Church in Antioch. - How often do we study God's word? We should stick to the task of reading God's Word. We cannot witness only through our testimonies. We need to grow from being a child and mature in his word as we abide in Him.
• Outsiders named the Christ believers as 'Christians' (Christ People) for the first time in Antioch. Christians must make the invisible Christ visible to others through our lives.
• Vs 27-30 The believers decided to take a collection to help others who were suffering due to a famine. Each person gave according to their ability.
• 'The real mark of a changed heart is a giving spirit' - When God touches our lives we become generous

What are the marks of a real Christian

1. Gossip the Gospel
2. Make the invisible God visible
3. Have a big heart to share with others
4. Not perfect but constantly growing in God's grace (more gentle, more generous, more loving)

Three qualities to pray for

1. Always about sharing the Good news (where ever you are)
2. God calls DNA as a community to grow in his Grace.
3. To be generous in our giving

Four questions to reflect...

1. How are you gossiping the gospel in your everyday life?
2. What does 'cleaving to the Lord resolutely' mean to you?
3. In what ways can you do that better?
4. Does your giving reflect your changed heart?
   

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