We must not withdraw from following the Lord

Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:39-41

The dynamic missionary duo of Paul and Barnabas had a disagreement that ended in a separation. That was sad, but God, who always accomplishes His purposes in spite of our failures, used it for good.

In the previous post we commented on one of two lessons to be learned from this account. (For the sake of context, go back and read the previous post if you missed it.)

The second important lesson for us is that when division happens, we must not withdraw from following the Lord. Besides the ugliness of divisions between believers and in churches, one of the worst negative outcomes is that some drop out altogether. This is truly tragic.

Paul and Barnabas did no such thing. They both went on serving the Lord, though in two separate teams. Let us never depart from the Lord or from involvement in a local church because Christians sometimes behave badly! We follow Christ—not His servants!

Sometimes those who withdraw altogether only prove that they never really knew the Lord—otherwise that would not have dropped out altogether. This is sad, indeed. Let us remember those who have done this, praying that they would repent if they are believers, or that they would come to true faith if they are not believers.

Bitterness and unforgiveness are not marks of followers of Christ. So even of we are no longer “best friends” with those we were formerly more closely associated, we must not allow “a root of bitterness” to drive us away from the Lord, from His Church, or even from being civil with one another.

A Wonderful Footnote: Paul and Mark were eventually reconciled (2 Timothy 4:11).

God can use even bad divisions for His good

Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. Acts 15:37-41

God can use divisions for His purposes. Notice I did not say God likes division. Division among believers, especially when they are caused by “sharp” disagreements, is not a good thing. However, God can and does sometimes use it for the accomplishment of His purposes.

I say “sometimes” because usually divisions (especially in a church) result in bitterness, and in some dropping out of church altogether. Neither is ever good!

This separation was about whether to take Mark along on a second missionary journey. You may recall that Mark went on the first missionary journey but dropped out rather quickly, to return home. (See Acts 13:13, where Mark, formally “John Mark,” is referred to by the name of John.)

Sadly, Paul was convinced that the previous lack of commitment disqualified Mark. Barnabas (who was related to Mark) wanted to give the young man another opportunity to prove himself. The sharp disagreement over Mark caused a separation of these first two pioneer missionaries. A sad development indeed! But God used even this by creating two missionary teams, in effect doubling the effectiveness of the missionary enterprise.

Let us learn first to “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” as Paul wrote to the Ephesians (4:3).

The second important lesson will be in the next post.

New believers need a local church

Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." Acts 15:35-36

Two things: First, Paul and Barnabas’s commitment to their local church. Second, Paul and Barnabas’s commitment to the local church.

Paul and Barnabas’s were committed to their local church—in Antioch. You will remember that this is the church that sent them on their first missionary journey. Upon completion of that first journey, they returned to their sending church to report on what the Lord had accomplished through them.

Then they remained there serving in their local church “for some days.” Their commitment to their local church is exemplary. How long they were in Antioch is uncertain, because the phrase “for some days” does not refer to literal “days,’ but is rather a figure of speech meaning “for some time” of an indeterminate period. They were there long enough to engage in the ministry of teaching and preaching. The point is not how long they remained in Antioch, but that they engaged in the ministry of the local church. Let us remember our individual commitments to our local churches and the commitment of local churches to their missionaries.

In time, “after some days,” the Lord put it on the hearts of Paul and Barnabas to take a second missionary journey, not only to plant churches in new locations, but to follow up on the new local churches they had just planted. Don’t miss that New Testament missions is not limited to evangelism, but also includes planting and strengthening churches. Why? Because new believers need to be connected to a local church. Let us not think that evangelism ends with sharing the gospel or even with conversions! The newly converted need to get plugged into a local church. It is one of the ways the Holy Spirit grows us in Christ.

Just as a newborn baby needs loving nurture, so do new believers!

Celebrity preachers (whether famous or not)

Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles. However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. Acts 15:32-34

Judas and Silas were chosen to bring the good news of the council’s decision to churches in Gentile regions. They were a wise choice for two reasons: We know from their background that they were fluent in Greek so they could communicate clearly, and they were prophets so they could communicate persuasively.

This also should encourage us that as good news from the “A Team” (Paul and Barnabas), would have been most welcome, whomever God sends to preach to us should be equally welcomed, regardless of the person’s notoriety and/or popularity.

This is an especially important lesson for we who live in a day of celebrity-ism, even in the Church. We probably all have favorite preachers. I know I do. But though we may prefer listening to some preachers more than others, if God’s Word is being faithfully preached, who is preaching it, is irrelevant.

This is not only true when listening to “big name preachers,” it is even regarding “unknown” preachers who happen to be the primary teachers in our local churches. One of our former elders saw a pattern that when the congregation knew that the Hales were out of town, church attendance dipped. He lovingly, yet boldly exhorted the congregation that that wasn’t good or right. “It is not who is preaching, it whose Word is being preached that matters,” he said. I couldn’t have agreed more.

I do not like the congregation to know when I will not be on hand for fear that some will “take the day off.” I hate feeling like I am “sneaking off.”

I am seldom away on Sundays or Thursday evenings. I pray that the next time I am, attendance will be up, rather than down.

Reasons for rejoicing

They wrote this letter by them: The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings. Acts 15:23
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: Acts 15:28
When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. Acts 15:31
(Read verses 23-31 if you are able.)

To inform the churches of the decision of the Jerusalem Church council regarding the “Jewish - Gentile” problem, a letter was sent and circulated among the churches. When the news was received the people rejoiced. And the cause for their rejoicing? The text does not say, but I think we can safely surmise the following:

The churches likely rejoiced because an issue that threatened the unity of the Church was addressed and solved. (Godly believers do not like disunity any more than Christ does!)

The churches likely rejoiced because they had confidence in the leaders who dealt with, rather than ignoring, the matter. (Leadership that does what leadership is supposed to do is a source of comfort and security for people.)

The churches likely rejoiced because the gospel of grace triumphed over legalism. (Godly believers will always rejoice over God’s grace!)

May we also rejoice when the Church is united, when leaders are leading, and when grace triumphs!

Let us call people to awaken from modern "wokeism"

So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Acts 15:8-9

Backtracking… We addressed the division in the Church over the Jewish-Gentile matter a while back. I want to go back and make a point of application about that. As I am sure that most of you know, we live in a period of time when racial tensions are being recast as one of the two biggest issues of all. (The other, of course, is about sexual preference and gender confusion.)

Folks, no matter what the world says about race, what God’s Word says matters, and where the two are different, God’s Word is right and the world is wrong. As biblical Christians we must not join the chorus about race, especially being persuaded by the loud and relentless voices promoting “Critical Race Theory” or “wokeism.”

Racism is nothing more than a worldview based on race. Therefore, white people discriminating against people of color is wrong, but no less wrong are people of color discriminating against white people. Those who believe people are defined by the pigment of their skin instead of by their character are racists, regardless of their skin color or that of those they vilify.

The New Testament is clear, in Christ, race and/or socio-economic differences make NO difference. We must must not allow ourselves to be shouted down, and we must speak up—not combatively but compassionately in love and in Jesus’ name. Let us call people out of whatever brand of racism they may favor, into the family of God in Christ. It is called evangelism.

For more on this, I heard a Christian speaking beautifully about this and recommend his book: “Christianity and Wokeness.” His name is Owen Strachan.

How we do ministry

Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
Acts 15:22

When the leaders at the Jerusalem council agreed on the the “Jewish - Gentile problem,” the next important step was to make the decision known to the people and the churches. Since this matter was such a bone of contention, unless the people and the churches knew what they should do, how would they do it? Obviously, they couldn’t have.

While protocols and procedural guidelines in local churches do not rise in importance to the level of the matter taken up and decided by the first Church council in Jerusalem, what if the people in the churches do not know how things are done in their local churches? They may well carry on in ways that are not compatible with the way their churches operate.

This is why it in valuable for our church to be familiar with a publication entitled, “How We Do Ministry at Grace Bible Church.” This booklet summarizes, as you might imagine: “How We Do Ministry at Grace Bible Church.” There are hard copies in the literature rack in the lobby at the church. It is also on our website under: About \ Position Papers \ How We Do Ministry.
Here is the link: How We Do Ministry.

Even if you have been here for years and already know all of this, reviewing these things from time to time helps prevent “ministry drift!”

It’s about sensitivity, not salvation

Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath." Acts 15:19-21

The first Church council in Jerusalem rightly decided that Gentiles did not need to become Jewish to become Christian. They did, however, make four stipulations that Gentile converts to Christ needed to observe. It is vital to understand that James was not making these stipulations as necessary for salvation but for sensitivity. The Church was threatened with a serious division between Jewish law-keeping and Gentile freedom. The decision favored the Gentiles, but in the interests of peace and unity, the Gentiles were urged to observe a few things for the sake of peace.

One of the four stipulations should have been obvious to Jew and Gentile alike. Sexual immorality is wrong no matter who you are or what your cultural background.

The other three were, as I have stated, particularly important to Jewish law-keepers. They are not necessary for salvation or for sanctification, but by asking the Gentiles to observe these, especially in the presence of their Jewish brethren, the Gentiles would be more culturally acceptable in Jewish eyes.

Note also that while these three stipulations were important for that time, they are not normative for all believers throughout all time.

Two takeaways from this:
(1) Understand what is necessary for salvation and godliness and what isn’t.
(2) Cultural sensitivity and peace among Christians from different backgrounds is worth denying ourselves some of our liberties.

Decisions, decisions!

And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, "Men and brethren, listen to me:
Acts 15:13

Peter spoke, and then Barnabas and Paul spoke at the first Church council in Jerusalem.

Then James spoke. He spoke the longest (v.13-21), and suggested the decision which the rest of those assembled agreed upon. Who was this James?

James was a half-brother to Jesus (Matthew 13:55; Galatians 1:19).* He was the writer of the letter of James that appears later in the New Testament. James and the rest of Jesus’ half-siblings were not believers in Christ until after He rose from the dead (John 7:5; 1 Corinthians 15:7; & Acts 1:14). Having grown up staunchly Jewish (there are at least ten references to the law in his letter), some theorize that his opinion would be the most acceptable to the legalistic Jews involved in the dispute.

What did James say?

Simon says (v.14): James reminds the council that Peter was in favor with including the Gentiles without distinction.

The Prophets say (v.15-18): James reminds the council of the writings of the prophets who foretold the Gentiles being included (Amos 9:11-12).

So I say (v.19-21): James, serving as the chairman of the council, suggests that the determination of the council be to welcome the Gentiles into full fellowship in the Church (v.19). James does not unilaterally pronounce an edict, but makes a suggestion, albeit with a measure of authority. It is not until v.22 that the decision was made by the apostles and elders on behalf of the Church.

Let us learn that when tough decisions must be made:

• Those seeking the Lord look to primarily to Scripture, and secondarily to the wisdom of those God has set apart as leaders.

• Final decisions are made by leaders conferring and deciding together, not by an edict from a single individual.

James also suggested that a few stipulations for the Gentiles be made. We will consider those next time.

*James and his brothers and sisters were half-siblings to Jesus because while Joseph and Mary were their biological parents, Jesus, being virgin born, had Mary as His mother, but God, not Joseph, as His biological Father.

Miracles and wonders!

Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles. Acts 15:12

When Peter finished speaking, Barnabas and Paul spoke. Don’t miss that Paul and Barnabas deferred to Peter, and that Luke placed Barnabas’ name before Paul’s. At this point, Peter seems clearly to have had a more prominent position ahead of Paul, and Paul was perfectly OK with that.

What did Barnabas and Paul say? They declared the miraculous works of God on their first, just-completed missionary journey. “Look at what God did among the Gentiles!” they no doubt said. God did perform physical miracles (healing the man who had never been able to walk was certainly a miracle), but the larger number of miracles, and those of the greatest spiritual value were the positive response to the preaching of the gospel and the establishment of churches.

Praying, asking God for physical healing and deliverance from temporal troubles is good. And sometimes God is pleased to deliver. But the greatest miracles of all are always God raising those who are dead in sin to new and everlasting life through faith in Jesus. May we always recognize these as the greatest miracles for which we pray and after which we seek!

And let us not miss that in the context of the Jerusalem Council, God does His miracles—including saving people, among Jews and Gentiles alike. So let us never erect walls between people groups. There are only two: those who are converted and those who are not.

Never legalism & always the gospel!

So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they." Acts 15:8-11

Peter was the first to speak at this first Church council on the matter regarding the salvation of Gentiles. He gives three brief but compelling points why the Church should not require Gentiles to convert to Judaism to become Christians.

1. Peter was an eyewitness of God saving Gentiles and filling them with the Holy Spirit without them needing to become Jewish. Peter was there in Acts 10 when God saved the Gentile people of Cornelius’s household.

2. Peter pointed out the hypocrisy of placing the yoke of the Jewish laws and customs on the Gentiles, especially since even the Jews couldn’t bear that burden.

3. Peter affirmed the gospel truth that salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike is by God’s grace, received through faith in Christ—alone! We always do well to come back to the gospel of grace, received by faith, not of works!

Let us thank the Lord that He led Peter to these precious truths! And let us be sure not to forget point 2 & 3:

• We must never burden people with legalism, and

• We must always come back to the gospel of grace!

Understanding the difference

Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Acts 15:6-9

As the young Church sought the Lord’s will regarding the Jewish/Gentile dispute, note first that there was “much dispute.” This reminds us that even among believers there are differences of opinion—even vehement differences. Let us be reminded that there are two kinds of issues about which we might disagree.

There are differences that have only one absolute answer. We call these essential doctrinal matters. They include the deity of Christ, His death, and resurrection. Regarding these essential matters, there is only one correct answer, so opposing parties are either right or wrong. The correct answers to these problems are either clearly answered in scripture, or have been hammered out by the godly people who have gone before us and settled these matters. We must, therefore, be students of scripture, as well as aware of how differences have been settled in Church history.

There are also issues about which believers may legitimately disagree and about which there is not one absolute answer. We call these non-essential or secondary matters. In these areas of disagreement, we must be humble and charitable with those with whom we disagree. First, because we may be wrong. And second, because it may not matter to the extent that we cannot disagree agreeably. These are often more methodological than theological. What kind of bread for communion? Wine or juice for communion? Should a church have separate Sunday school for the children, or should the children be in the worship service with their parents? I trust you can see the difference between this kind of issue and the essential doctrinal issues mentioned in the preceding paragraph.

The first order of business when disagreements arise, is whether the matter is an essential, or a non essential matter. And in all matters, may we be humble, loving, desirous of unity in all things. And as we will see next time, the Jewish/Gentile issue was clearly an essential matter…

Dealing with differences...

So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. Acts 15:3-6

The question of whether God was saving Gentiles as Gentiles, or whether they had to become Jews in order to become Christians was heating up. So the young Church did the right thing: key leaders met to seek the Lord’s will concerning the matter.

The two sides were clearly defined, and just as clearly divided. In (v.3-4) Paul and Barnabas were not only eyewitnesses of how God graciously saved many Gentiles—but they were His instruments in doing so!

In (v.5) the more religiously inclined Jewish believers (the Judaizers) were firmly entrenched in their belief that only Jews could be saved. If Gentiles were to become Christians, they had to become Jewish as well.

Who was right? We know, not only from history and personal experience, but more importantly from the Word of God, that Paul and Barnabas were right and the “Judaizers” were wrong.

Gathering together to seek God’s will, and thus maintaining unity in the Church was greatly to be preferred to being divided into two churches (Jewish and Gentile). This is especially true since this is not a “doubtful matter about which sincere believers may disagree.

Let us learn from this that in matters of essential doctrine (which this matter was), we must seek unity. In matters about which differences of opinion are acceptable, let us disagree agreeably. And let us, as Paul bids us in Ephesians 4:3, “endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Any worldview based on race is racism

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. Acts 15:1-2

In our day and age there are a few very noisy people who control education, the media, and entertainment, all insisting that everything is about race. If you disagree with them, they insist that is proof that you are racist and you are the problem. Convenient. And altogether idiotic.

Put “ism” at the end of a word and that word becomes a worldview. Racism is any worldview based on race. Who are the racists? Those who say everything is about race, or those who say it isn’t.

Here is the good news about God in this matter: In the same way that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:24) neither is He a respecter of races (Acts 10:34-35).

People do not think or act a based on skin pigment, but on what they believe. Believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God, and do not be surprised when those who don’t, believe the world and everything in it is about race.

Israel is the Old Testament Church and the Church is the New Testament Israel.

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. Acts 15:1-2

Having made a case that Christianity is not exclusively a Jewish Religion, neither is it exclusively a Gentile religion. The Bible doesn’t have an Old Testament about God’s dealing with the Jews and Israel, and a New Testament about God’s dealings with the Gentiles and the Church.

Rather, the Bible isn’t primarily about us. It is primarily about God and His plan to save both Jews and Gentiles throughout all of human history for His eternal glory.

According to God’s plan, in the Old Testament Israel was to be a light to the Gentile nations via keeping God’s law. Even Israel’s failure to understand and do this was a part of God’s plan to reveal in the New Testament that the only way to be right with God is through faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ. So when Jesus came in the New Testament, He wasn’t plan B. Plan A has always been about Jesus—in the Old Testament foretold, and in the New Testament revealed.

Israel is the Old Testament Church and the Church is New Testament Israel. One people, in Christ, regardless of race or ethnicity. The Church is not instead of Israel, but the completion of Israel. The Church has not replaced Israel but is the fulfillment of God’s plan that began with Israel, but now includes all peoples.

Is Christianity an exclusively Jewish religion?

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. Acts 15:1-2

One of the biggest issues the first century Church faced was whether Christianity was an exclusively Jewish religion. Spoiler alert: It is not.

Jesus was not only a Jewish man, He was the Jewish Messiah and the King of the Jews. The disciples were all Jewish. Most of the first believers were Jewish. But let us remember Jesus’ words spoken to Jewish people in John 10:16 referring to the non Jewish people He also came to save:

And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:14-16 about how Jesus made believing Jews and Gentiles one body, the Church:

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

And when we turn to the “back of the book,” Revelation 7:9-10 makes it clear that Heaven’s human population will be made up of all nationalities:

9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

Unfortunately, there were among the first Jewish believers those who insisted that Gentiles had to become Jewish to be saved. More on that next time…

Supporting our missionaries, personally

Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:27-28

We spoke last time about how we as a church seek to know our missionaries better. This time let’s consider what we can do individually (and as families) to be missions-minded.

• When we have missionaries visiting our church, make every effort to participate in whatever we are doing with them.

• Attending Thursday evening worship is the best way to hear what is going on with our missionaries as we read their update and prayer request correspondence.

• Pray each week (as a family?) for whichever missionary is listed in the weekly bulletin. (Do you know where that reminder is in the bulletin?)

• When you leave church each week, look at the flag in the back of the sanctuary that corresponds to the missionary we prayed for, mentioned in the bulletin.

• When you attend the preservice Sunday prayer meeting, be sure to notice and pray for the missionaries listed in the prayer guide.

• Be aware of which missionary your Home Fellowship supports. Be sure that the missionaries are mentioned and prayed for when your HF meets. See if there is anything “extra” your HF can do to communicate with your missionary (cards, birthday greetings, donations, etc,).

• Fill out a post card for a missionary, found on the missions bulletin board in the main lobby. (Write the card, put it the offering box, and we’ll see to it that it gets mailed!)

Lord, may we be a missions-minded church, made up of missions-minded individuals.

Knowing our missionaries

Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:27-28

Ideally, the relationship between missionaries and the local churches that send and support them ought to be personal and as intimate as possible. I grew up in a church that supported our denominational missions organization, but we never really knew any of the missionaries themselves. When GBC began, it was part of our vision not only to support missionaries, but to know them! We wanted to contribute financially (the first check written by our church was to missionaries), but we resolved to do more than write checks. We were determined know our missionaries.

Here are some ways we do this as a church:

• We only support missionaries who we believe are theologically sound.

• We love to have missionaries in our church when it is possible for them to visit.

• We read the correspondence we receive from our missionaries and pray for them in the Thursday night worship services.

• We put a reminder to pray for a different one of our missionaries in the Sunday bulletin every week. (Do you know where that reminder is?)

• Whoever is offering the morning prayer in the Sunday worship services prays for the missionary in that week’s bulletin.

• We have the flags of the countries in which our missionaries serve. These flags and the names under them are not just decorations—they are to remind us to pray for them.

• The names of our missionaries are in the preservice prayer meeting guide to remind us to pray for them.

• Each of our Home Fellowships has one or two of our missionaries to pray for and write to.

• There is always a bulletin board in the main lobby about missionaries, including post cards you can use to write to them. (You write the cards, put them in the offering box, and we’ll see to it that they get them!)

Next time: what we all can (and should?) do as individuals to support our missionaries.

Local Churches & Missionaries

From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. So they stayed there a long time with the disciples. Acts 14:26-28

At the conclusion of their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas & Company returned to their sending church in Antioch. This reminds us that biblically, missions are an extension of the local church, not the cavalier efforts of individualists. This us vital for the sake of both support and accountability.

The local church is responsible to send missionaries and to support them.

• Missionary endeavors need support financially. While the living water is free, it costs money to get it to the thirsty people!

• Missionary endeavors need support spiritually. Initially, the church, through prayer, must recognize the Lord’s calling on potential missionaries. The church must also support the missionaries in prayer in an ongoing manner.

• Missionary endeavors need support emotionally. Emotionally? YES! Missionaries need encouragement which the local church provides via cards, emails, calls, and even care packages. Granted, this encouragement was not as easy in those days as it is today because communication is so much easier, so let us as a local church and especially in our Home Fellowships, encourage our missionaries as much as we are able.

A Footnote: Missionaries have a sending church and hopefully a number of supporting churches. Our church does not currently have any missionaries “sent” by us. Pray that as the Lord wills, that we will send missionaries as we have in the past. But we are blessed to “support” a number of missionary efforts. Let us be faithful to support them in every way we can.

The importance of following-up instead of giving up

And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. Acts 14:24-26

The first missionary journey recorded in Acts was a loop in which the travelers passed through places they had been before. Not much is said about what happened at these stops, but we can see that by returning to cities previously visited, not only must Christ and the Gospel be preached, but follow-up is also important.

Returning to places where churches were established was important to see how they were doing and to give encouragement. Returning to places where results were more minimal was important to give another try. These points are not only important for official missionaries, but for us in individual evangelistic efforts.

Let us faithfully encourage responsive people and try again with the less than responsive. Hopefully we were recipients of both, as the gospel was shared more than once before we believed, and as we received encouragement in our new faith after we believed.