Because 50 Day 35
Scripture Reading: Acts 13:1-3
1Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Today’s Prayer:
God, where are you leading and how can I play a part?
Going Deeper:
The church at Antioch is a great example for us to follow of what the church can and perhaps should be. The church at Antioch has the distinction of being the first place where the church was identified as Christians. They were one of the first churches that understood that they had an express mission to share the good news of the gospel to Gentiles as well as Jews. Years later, they also had the privilege of watching one of their own, John Chrysostom, grow into an incredibly influential leader within the church. Chrysostom was noted for his rhetorical skill and his persuasion.
What do you learn about the church at Antioch from the passage above? How many prophets and teachers did they have in the church? What is an advantage to having multiple teachers within one church? What do you learn about these prophets and teachers in verse 1? Unless your ancient Roman Empire geography is really good, you may miss a key part of what the church of Antioch looked like. Barnabas was born in Cyprus, an island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Simeon and Lucius were both probably from north Africa (Cyrene is in modern day Libya). Manean was raised in the household of Herod the tetrarch, within the confines of Israel. Finally, Saul was from Tarsus was a Roman provence in what is modern day Turkey. They were little from all over the map. The church at Antioch was beautifully diverse. What message did this diversity communicate to the citizens of Antioch? How does it challenge you in your life?
Finally, as we noted in the video above, the church at Antioch was willing to risk their own security and comfort for the advancement of the gospel. How has God called you out of your comfort zone in the past to advance His kingdom? Where is God leading in or around you now and how can you play a part in what He is doing?