Acts 11:19-30
Today’s Passage: Acts 11:19-30
This is a beautiful story of the early church where people are coming to Christ,
repenting of their sin, and trusting in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
As I was reading this story, I could not help but ask: What would it be like to be a part
of this church? It sounds AMAZING. God is moving. People are choosing Jesus.
Discipleship is happening.
So how did they get there?
1) A RIGHT RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION AND HARDSHIP (V.19-21)
After the stoning of Stephen apparently persecution of the church broke out. This was
met with two responses...
They were scared. They didn’t want the same thing to happen to them. They allowed
fear of man to compromise their mission.
They allowed the hardship to refine them (1 Peter 1) and complete them (James 1) and
lead them to engage in the mission.
How often do we respond? Which camp would you fall into?
2) THEY WERE FAITHFUL (V.23)
News of what had happened reached Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas down to
check it out. What he found pleased his heart and he exhorted them to continue.
They were faithful.
Does faithfulness to Jesus Christ mark our lives?
3) THEY WERE STEADFAST IN THEIR PURPOSE (V.23)
They knew why they existed. They existed for ONE REASON - to reach those God had
placed around them. They didn’t focus on “reaching the world”... they focused on
“reaching their friends” and it turned out that God used them so that a great many
people were added to the Lord.
What is our purpose? Go read Matthew 28:19-20. It does not matter what we do for a
living, how busy we are, or how gifted we feel. Our mission is to take everyone we
meet one step closer to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
Are we steadfast in that purpose? Or do we let other things crowd it out?
4) THEY LOOKED OUTSIDE OF THEMSELVES (V.27-30)
They heard about a famine coming. So they decided to give preemptively to supply
the needs that were coming. They didn’t wait. They gave. They thought outside of
themselves. They were not selfish.
SELFISHNESS RUINS MISSION. We cannot live on mission for Jesus and be selfish at
the same time.
Do we want to be this kind of church?
How did God challenge you today?
Written By: Nick Parsons
This is a beautiful story of the early church where people are coming to Christ,
repenting of their sin, and trusting in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.
As I was reading this story, I could not help but ask: What would it be like to be a part
of this church? It sounds AMAZING. God is moving. People are choosing Jesus.
Discipleship is happening.
So how did they get there?
1) A RIGHT RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION AND HARDSHIP (V.19-21)
After the stoning of Stephen apparently persecution of the church broke out. This was
met with two responses...
● THE MANY used this as an excuse to stay quiet (v.19)
They were scared. They didn’t want the same thing to happen to them. They allowed
fear of man to compromise their mission.
● THE FEW used this as a reason to preach Jesus (v.20-21)
They allowed the hardship to refine them (1 Peter 1) and complete them (James 1) and
lead them to engage in the mission.
How often do we respond? Which camp would you fall into?
2) THEY WERE FAITHFUL (V.23)
News of what had happened reached Jerusalem and they sent Barnabas down to
check it out. What he found pleased his heart and he exhorted them to continue.
They were faithful.
Does faithfulness to Jesus Christ mark our lives?
3) THEY WERE STEADFAST IN THEIR PURPOSE (V.23)
They knew why they existed. They existed for ONE REASON - to reach those God had
placed around them. They didn’t focus on “reaching the world”... they focused on
“reaching their friends” and it turned out that God used them so that a great many
people were added to the Lord.
What is our purpose? Go read Matthew 28:19-20. It does not matter what we do for a
living, how busy we are, or how gifted we feel. Our mission is to take everyone we
meet one step closer to becoming a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
Are we steadfast in that purpose? Or do we let other things crowd it out?
4) THEY LOOKED OUTSIDE OF THEMSELVES (V.27-30)
They heard about a famine coming. So they decided to give preemptively to supply
the needs that were coming. They didn’t wait. They gave. They thought outside of
themselves. They were not selfish.
SELFISHNESS RUINS MISSION. We cannot live on mission for Jesus and be selfish at
the same time.
Do we want to be this kind of church?
● Let hardship drive the mission.
● Be faithful.
● Live with steadfast purpose.
● Choose selflessness.
How did God challenge you today?
Written By: Nick Parsons
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