Audio Sermons

Building up the Church of Christ:

Our Mission-Minded God

Life B-P Church Worship Services I & II, 9^th July 2023

Text: Acts 13:1-12

Introduction: The Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles: A narrative describing the work of the Gospel by the apostles.

i.  Acts 1-12: focus on the work of the Gospel by Peter and John among the Jews in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.

ii.  Acts 13 onwards: focus on the work of the Gospel by Paul among the Gentiles unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Antioch: became the primary focus (shift from Jerusalem) of the mission work and the place where the disciples were first called “Christians.”

1.  Strengthened in the Lord’s Word

1.1.  Recognition of Ministers: the Antioch church was blessed with prophets and teachers in the preaching and teaching of God’s Word (Acts 13:1).

1.2.  Revealed Will of God: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Prov. 29:18) – does not refer to corporate vision but the revelation of God’s will through His Word.

1.3.  Response to the Word:

i.  Important for the people of the church to be strengthened in the Word of God so that they may be able to understand the Will of God.

ii.  To submit ourselves to humility and to (a) learn new things; (b) relearn old things; and (c) unlearn wrong things.

1.4.  Remember the Purpose: the church is to bear testimony of the light of God into the sin darkened world and to tell others that salvation can only be found in Jesus Christ alone.

2.  Seeking the Lord’s Will

2.1.  Determining God’s Calling: Given to the church and not just to an individual alone; the need to examine one’s calling on: (a) genuineness and (b) timing.

2.2.  Desiring the Lord’s Work:

i.  Duty: God does not call us into His work when we are merely idling time away; instead He calls us when we are dutifully serving Him (Acts 13:2).

ii.  Desire: “This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1Tim. 3:1) – good to desire to serve the Lord but learn to serve Him faithfully in small things and He will reveal a greater role for you.

2.3.  Discerning the Lord’s Will: an earnest diligence to seek the will of the Lord and to do it – through fasting and prayer (Acts 13:3).

3.  Sending Missionaries in the Lord’s Work

3.1.  Commissioning: “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” (Acts 13:3).

3.2.  Conviction: they must be convicted that their calling is from God, and that if God has called them, God will also enable them: “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1Thes. 5:24).

3.3.  Church: they must be accountable to the sending church.

3.4.  Confirmation: the elders / pastors of the church to lay their hands and pray for them – the confirmation of their calling.

3.5.  Congregation: the congregation to continue to support them in their endeavours (prayer, financial, etc.)

Closing: We must have a passion for God’s Word, God’s Will and God’s Work.  Study God’s Word diligently; seeking His Will and offer yourself to serve His work.