Service Notes

Review Missions Conference
Tonight will be a night of prayer
Renew Ladies Event

Introduction to Bible Reading

Different book but with the same human author; Luke
The book of Acts provides a history of the early church. The emphasis of the book is the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Some say it is the Acts of the Apostles - but more specifically it is the acts of the Holy Spirit through the church
God can do amazing things through ordinary people when He empowers them through His Spirit.
The book of Acts shows how God essentially took a group of fisherman and commoners and used them to turn the world upside down Acts 17:6 “6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”

Context of Passage

When the apostles returned to Antioch they gave to the sending church a full report of all that God had done.

We come to the end the first missionary journey which lasted between one and two years and in which Paul and Barnabas traversed more than 700 miles by land and 500 miles by sea.

Map will show you how they went out and are coming back.

Acts 14:21–28 (KJV 1900)

21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:

26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.

Sermon Introduction

Acts 14:27 (KJV 1900)

27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

Today and this week let’s not just talk about mission, missions, missionaries.

Let’s talk about disciple, disciples, and discipling, or disciplers.

When we understand that the work of missions is our work. We will rejoice together in a special way. The way that God intended.

A review of the work and characteristics of a disciple maker

Work of discipleship

Acts 14:21 “21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,”

Returned again. He is about to meet with a group of people who had already come to Christ.

Acts 14:22-23 “22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”

Confirm - means to make solid, to fix, to glue down. He made them solid in the Word.
Exhorting them - Urging a person to the proper course of conduct.
Ordain - Help order their involvement. Help them get organized.
Commend - Commit them unto the Lord.

Story of Adam. Standing in front of the church waiting for people.

Disciplers follow up. They don’t quit after they've led somebody to Christ. They go back and teach. They go back and exhort. They go back and help them to get involved in a church. They go back, and then they commit that person to the Lord in prayer. That’s a true discipler.

Last we heard he serves as one of the pastors at Bellview Baptist Church. I think he figured it out.

The were obediently doing the work that God had called them to do.
Declared the Gospel Acts 14:21 “21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,”
Organized ministry in the church Acts 14:23 “23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.”
God healed through the apostles. Acts 14:10 “10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.”
As they are using the gifts God has given them God is directing them to those they will disciple.

Picture from Katie

They were willing to continue in the work despite opposition.
The faced opposition on every corner. Acts 14:2 “2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.”
It caused them to flee. Acts 14:6 “6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:”
So does this prove courage, no but this does Acts 14:21 “21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,”
Their confidence was in God’s power not in themselves and they acted upon it.
They came upon many, many needs that were beyond them Acts 14:8 “8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked:”
Paul told him to get up. Acts 14:10 “10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.” [this could have been a real issue for Paul if the man didn’t get up.]
There was a man who knew God had promised him power. He just claimed it and used it. You know, Christian, you've got the same thing, right?
Not the necessary – necessarily the apostolic gift of miracles and healing but you've got the power of God by the indwelling Holy Spirit to share Christ in his power, right?
They went about their ministry with great humility
Opportunity to be more than celebrities. Acts 14:12-13 “12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. 13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.”
Paul and Barnabas would not stand for this. Acts 14:14 “14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,”
They knew they were just men like them. Acts 14:15 “15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:”
They remained persistent in the work
Acts 14:19 “19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.”
They did not stop. Acts 14:20 “20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.”

We are also told to endure hardness in the work of making disciples. 2 Tim 2:3 “3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Story of Crudens Concordance. 2,370,000 words. This immense task Cruden completed single-handedly, beginning in 1735. It has been called the largest task of manual compilation ever undertaken by one man.

So we see them as doing the work of making disciples, persistently, obediently. enduring hardness, and with humility. In the midst of this description and strategy for missions we find a deliberate plan to gather together to rejoice.

The role of rejoicing in our mission to make disciples of all nations.

Disciplers share what God is doing with other disciplers so that they can be encouraged.

After a trip to several places, including sections of modern day Turkey they return home. Acts 14:24-25 “24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:”

Acts 14:27 “27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.”

We should love to gather and rejoice

Everybody likes a party, and for those so inclined Luke 15 might rank as their favorite chapter of the Bible.

Here we learn of the rejoicing of the shepherd who finds his lost sheep
the woman who finds her missing silver coin
the father whose prodigal son returns
We learn of a time of rejoicing take place in heaven whenever a sinner comes to repentance.

What can we learn about celebrations from Luke 15?

We should recognize when God has done a work though us for our good and His glory. Acts 15:4 “4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.”
In 2 Chron we learn that God is looking in this world for people with hearts complete/perfect whom he can show Himself strong.
When He shows Himself strong in our lives we rejoice. Acts 15:12 “12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.”
There must be a gathering of people in order to have a party. Each story they went out and gathered people to tell the story.
We should make this a pattern of our lives.
A desire to rejoice and calling or gathering people to join us. [Video of Sister]
There is rerejociing in Heaven. Luke 15:10 “10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
We rejoice knowing God rejoices over us. Zeph 3:17 “17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

Let’s look to the Apostle Paul because he knew a thing or two about rejoicing

He rejoiced when he was in prison because it resulted in people hearing the Gospel. Phil. 1:12 “12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;”
Not just to the guards around him. His testimony of rejoicing provoked those in the church to share the Gospel. Phil 1:14 “14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
Some preached it our of contention but Paul rejoiced the message went forth. Phil 1:18 “18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.”

Paul would often teach on our connection to one another through rejoicing

Romans 12:15 “15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
1 Cor 12:26 “26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”
Certainly we should certainly would have considered gatherings for rejoicing as one of the ways Christians could obey these imperatives.

Rejoice with those who rejoice

Apparently we can do it in the midst of suffering. 2 Cor 6:10 “10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.”

Though we can do it was we weep we see it as the opposite of sorrowful, as poor and rich or having nothing and having all is contrasted.

Rejoicing with others requires relationships.

Both Jesus and Paul recognized that we naturally think of ourselves first, and this is why they encourage believers to look away from themselves to the needs (and joys) of others. Phil 2:3-4 “3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
God brings these moments into our lives
Solomon reminds us that God certainly brings times of laughter and dancing into our lives. Ecc 3:4 “4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance;”

Let us look an example in Scripture of Paul rejoicing with “you all”

Phil. 2:17-18 “17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.”

Paul is giving his life fully to God’s mission for us

Refers to dying 2 Timothy 4:6 “6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”

Paul joins in their rejoicing.

What are they rejoicing in? Their faith in God.
How does Paul think about the relationship of their faith and their joy? Phil 1:25 “25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;”
For Paul, joy and faith are inseparable. When you have saving faith, you have tasted the joy that belongs to faith — the joy of faith.

“When joy is given away, it is not halved; it is doubled.”

Closing

This is the work of the ministry: to give testimony of the work of God in your life. You can do this as well. You can give testimony to your believing friends. You can give testimony to your unbelieving friends. Simply speak about God’s work in your lives.

Look at the last verse we read this morning. Acts 14:28 “28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.”
The church flourishes as we all devote ourselves in time given to others for the cause of encouraging each other through rejoicing in the goodness of God.
Invite someone to join in the rejoicing with you. [Make the phone call to the person who led you to Christ, if you are able]
Paul and Barnabas will travel telling this story and we see it result in great joy. Acts 15:3 “3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.” What a ministry to have! Well that is our ministry!
This Thursday night. A family who spent the last 18 years in N. Ireland and England are going to “rehearse” what God has done.
Church lets be together for that moment and many more moment through the years to rejoice.

Closing Prayer