Ministry is a Team Effort
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 views[NOTE TO TEACHER] The focus of this lesson is on the way we see the church taking a team approach to the rising needs of ministry. First in the way that Jerusalem sends Barnabas to Antioch, then in the way that Barnabas recruits Saul, then in the way that the needs of the church in Jerusalem are covered by the believers in Antioch. The goal of this message is to challenge us to stop trying to “do it all” and to make room for one another to contribute in our lives and ministry.
Notes
Transcript
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Introductory information
Introductory information
Saul has been in Tarsus since Acts 9:30
He had been persecuting the church, but had a radical conversion to Christianity after being confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus
Barnabas had been a key friend to Saul in Jerusalem, helping him find acceptance and relationship in the church
The church in Jerusalem had helped Saul escape back to his hometown (Tarsus) for his own safety
Tarsus was not far from Antioch, northwest across the bay in the northeastern corner of the Mediterranean sea
The gospel is spreading rapidly through the eastern Mediterranean region
Now with the inclusion of Gentiles in the church, it’s growing even faster
READ
READ
Question to consider as we read:
Question to consider as we read:
Why shouldn’t we try to do everything?
19 Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 News about them reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord with devoted hearts, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. 27 In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius. 29 Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. 30 They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.
EXAMINE
EXAMINE
What are the key points in this passage?
What are the key points in this passage?
#1 | The gospel is now rapidly expanding through the Gentile world
#1 | The gospel is now rapidly expanding through the Gentile world
The mission field has more than doubled - preaching to Jews AND Gentiles
Acts 11:20–21 But there were some of them... who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also... The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
There is a need for more ministers - and specifically ministers who understand the language and the culture
#2 | There is a “team approach” to ministry
#2 | There is a “team approach” to ministry
The church in Jerusalem sends Barnabas to help
Acts 11:22–24 ...they sent out Barnabas… When he arrived… [he] encouraged all of them to remain true to the Lord… he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith...
Barnabas brought a lot to the table:
He was a Hellenistic Jew from Cyprus who knew the Greek culture and language (Acts 4:36)
He was great at encouraging and challenging others in godliness
He set a good example by the way he lived
But Barnabas didn’t bring everything to the table
One person can’t do everything or connect with everyone
Barnabas didn’t try to do it all himself - he went to find Saul (1) to help
Acts 11:24–26 ...large numbers of people were added to the Lord. 25 Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, 26 and when he found him he brought him to Antioch...
Saul was the right team member for Barnabas
God had specifically called Saul to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15)
Saul was highly educated in the Greek culture and language
Saul and Barnabas had a good relationship
#3 | Everyone ministered in the “team” according to their ability
#3 | Everyone ministered in the “team” according to their ability
We see a single need - the impending famine - addressed in three-part cooperation
Agabus used the gifts God gave him to bring awareness to the need (Acts 11:28)
The new Christians gathered the provision from their own resources (Acts 11:29)
Barnabas and Saul (who were experience travelers) transported the provisions (Acts 11:30)
No one tried to do everything
One had the revelation, others had the material provision, others had the ability to travel
They each contributed to the effort whatever assets God had given them, and made room for one another do the same
Later Paul would give instructions to the churches to take the “team approach” to ministry
1 Corinthians 14:26 “What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.”
Romans 12:4–8 “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, 5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another. 6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the proportion of one’s faith; 7 if service, use it in service; if teaching, in teaching; 8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.”
APPLY
APPLY
Explore and apply the passage with these questions:
Explore and apply the passage with these questions:
[These questions must be focused, yet very open-ended. Allow the conversation to go where people take it - we want to encourage everyone to share and explore the topics of the passage. You don’t have to ask all these questions. Sometimes a group may only get through one or two questions. Select the questions you think are right for the conversation. Then, as it comes time to wrap up, refocus the conversation to “land the plane.”]
Let’s answer the opening question: Why shouldn’t we try to do everything?
What stood out to you in this passage?
Do you find yourself ever trying to do it all? Why?
How can we better use this team approach in the house church model of Hope Valley?
Where we want to “land the plane”
Where we want to “land the plane”
We must stop trying to “do it all” and make room for one another to contribute in our lives and ministry.
REFLECT
REFLECT
Prayer Points for Today
Prayer Points for Today
Repent of any pride or fear that has been pushing us to “do it all”
Ask the Lord for to teach us to make room for one another’s gifts and collaboration
Devotional Question for the Week
Devotional Question for the Week
In what areas of your life are you least likely to ask for help? Is it because of fear or pride? Or both?
FOOTNOTES
FOOTNOTES
Soon the scale of Barnabas’s responsibility was such that he could not hope to discharge it single-handedly. He had to find a colleague. But it was no easy matter to find the right man for the situation. Barnabas, however, decided that he knew the man, if only he could locate him. Several years had gone by since Saul of Tarsus had been escorted to Caesarea by his new friends in Jerusalem and put on board a ship bound for his native city. Barnabas could think of no one more eminently suited for the responsibility of sharing his ministry in Antioch.
F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 227.