25th May 26 | 06:30
Studies by Book
02 Acts 11 19-30 THE CHRISTIANS OF ANTIOCH 33 Acts 11 28-30 Lessons of church growth
📖 Acts 11:19-30
33 – Mon02Dec2024 – *Lessons of church growth* - _Acts 11:19-30_ – THE CHRISTIANS OF ANTIOCH – _II Corinthians 08:18-22_
_Acts 11:28-30 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. (29) Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. (30) *This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul*._
The church had decided to support the church in Judea with material things. They acted upon their decision by sending their contributions through Barnabas and Saul.
We also see the maturity of the church in Antioch here. They were sending their gift to the church in Judea but chose the best and most trusted people to send it. They undertook this action in the most honourable way.
*We had titled our study of this paragraph, ‘The Christians of Antioch’. Consider the high example that they are setting for us.*
We read later that Paul exercised great caution in raising support and administering it until it reached the beneficiaries.
_II Corinthians 8:18-22 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, (19) and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, (20) avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— (21) providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. (22) And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you._
The churches of Macedonia were sending their gift and support to the church in Jerusalem. This they did through Paul and a person, who is identified as, ‘The brother’. This gift passed through Corinth before it reached Jerusalem. As the gift went through Corinth, Paul was intentional in motivating the church in Corinth to also be lavish in their giving as the churches in Macedonia.
Paul is writing to the Corinthians, preparing them and encouraging them to give cheerfully to the church in Jerusalem. _II Corinthians 9:6-7 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (7) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver._
Paul was ensuring that the church in Corinth understood the gravity with which the churches in Macedonia were sending their support to the church in Jerusalem. He was taking this deliberate step so that the church in Corinth would see the significance of being part of raising and sending support.
Paul was ensuring that the church in Corinth would treat the brother sent by the churches in Macedonia, with him, with much regard for this brother must witness their enthusiasm in supporting the church in Jerusalem. Paul was conscious that the eagerness of the church in Corinth to give would then be embraced and shared back with the churches in Macedonia to encourage them.
The churches in Macedonia gave generously and they would be heartened that other churches too were similar to them in the exercise of the gift of the grace of giving. We see here the powerful dynamics of interdependence and oneness in the body of Christ.
In all that Paul was doing, concerning raising support for the church in Jerusalem, he displayed great transparency. He did things honourable in the sight of God and the sight of man.
In this process of raising and administering the gift that was raised, Paul was also mentoring people and building up the church. Titus was a part of this dynamic and so was this brother sent by the churches of Macedonia. This brother was known as a diligent worker of God. Paul was keen to build this brother further in his journey of diligence by the response of the church in Corinth.
If the church in Corinth were to be lukewarm in their response to raising support for the church in Jerusalem, this would impede the maturity process of this brother from Macedonia. Consider the far-reaching heart of Paul in several areas of church growth.
He was getting the church in Corinth to raise support and wrote substantially about this matter to them. The church in Corinth had much history behind them in their journey with Christ. Some of which were not healthy. They needed to leave the past behind, and they needed to move forward in their walk with God.
_Philippians 3:12-14 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus._
Paul was implanting this attitude of ‘pressing forward’ into the life of the church in Corinth through this exercise of fund-raising.
```The church in Antioch is setting an example of a maturing church by sending their gift through Barnabas and Saul.```
Community Feedback
Reviews for 02 Acts 11 19-30 THE CHRISTIANS OF ANTIOCH 33 Acts 11 28-30 Lessons of church growth
☆☆☆☆☆
0 reviews
Leave a Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.