Antioch is a church pattern or model to follow for the 21st-century church.

The church at Jerusalem started off okay but turned away from having the heart of God and is not mentioned again after Acts chapter 11.

The Lord raises up the Church @ Antioch…

            ***WHAT ARE THE FACTORS @ ANTIOCH THAT MAD EIT THE CHURCH WHO HAD THE HEART OF GOD AND WHO BECAME THE PATTERN FOR ALL CHURCHES TO FOLLOW???

Factor # 1 – The church at Antioch was an outward focused church

Acts 11:21, 24

-added to the Lord…They built the Kingdom of God…

Factor #2 – There was a Radical Identification with Jesus Christ – Acts 11:26b

v26b – the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch

Christian – means Christ-like

***There was something different about this group of people – people noticed…

What was the difference in this group of Christ followers?

                 THEY MADE JESUS CHRIST LORD OF THEIR LIVES…

a. All believers must make Jesus Christ their Savior and Lord

Savior – becoming a born-again Christian

Lord – this is making people strong in the Lord

b. 2 groups have formed in Christianity today

*The salvation group – emphasizing salvation

*The discipleship group – emphasize growth and discipleship

-There is only one Bible group – the Great Commission – get people saved and discipled

Acts Chapter 11 uses the word Lord a lot in its verses:

v20 – preached the Lord

v21 – the hand of the Lord

v21 – turned to the Lord

v23 – continue with the Lord

v24 – added to the Lord

13:2 – ministered to the Lord

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***ALL BELIEVERS MUST MAKE JESUS CHRIST THEIR LORD AND SAVIOR – Philippians 2:9-11…

                 When we make Jesus Christ Lord:

                        1. There is total obedience

-no questions…arguments…it is always saying yes

-it is obeying without understanding

-it is obeying without receiving anything in return

*we have a hard time with total obedience in our culture today…

                       2. There is an attitude of honor – 1 Peter 2:17

*honor all people because the Lord created all people

-the definition of honor – to value…respect…highly esteem

– honor people who persecute us – Acts 11:19 – persecution occurred…

-the believers were persecuTED at Antioch because:

To Them —— SILENCE WAS NOT AN OPTION

*CHRISTIANITY IS A VERBAL FAITH*

-live for the Lord, but share the good news…

*it will produce pushback and persecution

FACTOR #3 – ANTIOCH WAS A MULTICULTURAL CHURCH

v20 – Cyrene – from North Africa-Nigeria area – people from Africa

       -Cyprus – Greeks

       -Hellenists – Jewish and gentiles

-The body of Christ a combination of all colors, races, backgrounds, and cultures…

-the body of Christ just needs to love everyone

-the body of Christ cannot allow any hatred or racism in its ranks

Ephesians 2:13-18

Reconciliation – means to change from one condition to another

Vertical Reconciliation – v16 – between people and God – redemption

Horizontal Reconciliation – vs14-15 – between people and people

-there is Peace

v13 – gentiles have come to know Jesus

v14 – there can be peace between all kinds of people through Jesus Christ

v15 – Jesus solved the problem of hatred

v16 – everyone gets saved through the Cross – and hatred ends

v17 – Peace comes to our hearts, lives, families, community, and nation…