Middletown transcript., 1899-02-18
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning Eel
19-Comrnent by Rev. s. III, Doyle.

Topic For the Week Beginning Feb.
19-Comnent by Rev. 5. H. Doyle
ToPIc.-A missionary church.-Acts xiii,
ILL., GA missionary meeting.)
The church aE Antioch was the most
illustrious church of apostolic days. It
surpassed in it's achievements even the
church at Jerusalem. 1t was founded
as result Of missionary effort, it was
nourished and built up by missionaries,
and in the providence of God it became
the starting point from which proceeded
the great missionary movements by
which the heathen world was brought
to the foot of the cross, by which we
ourselves know of God and salvation
through Christ.
This church may therefore be looked
upon, in a peculiar sense, as mission
ary church, and by studying it we may
learn what missionary church should
be. Every church should be mission
ary church, and every Christian En-
deavorer should strive to make his
church one. Let us, therefore, study the
characteristics Of this world renowned
missionary church and try to make our
churches like it.
/. The church at Antioch was we'll
informed church. Tt had prophets and
teachers. The prophets "were under
the ecstatio influence of the Holy Ghost.
The teachers were expounders Of Chris
tiau truth under the teaching Of the
Spirit" By such eminent prophets and
teachers as Antioch possessed it is easy
for us to believe that they were not
! only informed as to their personal and
local needs, but also of the need Of the
world for-the gospel. We cannot imag-
inc Barnabas and Paul neglecting the
cause Of heathendom. A church that
| aspires to be missionary church must
be we'll informed along missionary
| lines. knowledge creates an interest
and inspires with a desire to help in
the work of evangelizing the world. 1t
| is the lack of information that causes
many churches to be Indifferent to mis-
| sions
2. The church at Antioch was a spir-
itual church. They tasted and prayed.
| They kept as far as possible from the
world and as close as possible to God.
They were on intimate terms with the
Holy Ghost. He spoke to them and re-
vealed His will to them. More devo-
tion, more praying and self denial,
more Of the Holy Ghost would make
| many a church more of a missionary
church than it is.
| 8. The church at Antioch was an
obedient church. 1t obeyed the Holy
| Ghost without hesitation and without
complaint. The Holy Ghost requested
that Paul and Barnabas be separated for
a special work. They tasted and prayed
and laid their hands upon them "and
sent them away" The task assigned to
| the missionaries was tremendous. The
| difficulties must have seemed insur-
mountable, yet they obeyed at once;
yet they went, poor, unpracticed and
unarmed, and in spite of all obstacles
| succeeded. An obedient church must be
| a missionary church. The command Of
| the Master is to send the gospel to every
creature in the world. The church that
fails to do its share of the work is
disobedient church.
| 4. The church at Antioch was self
denying church. Some people may
think it gave nothing to missions. How
mistaken they are! They gave gift
that must have been great sacrifice,
that must have cost much self denial on
their part. They gave Paul and Barna-
basl What church would want to deny
itself Of such workers as these? It would
certainly cost more than to give money
| to the cause of missions.
Bible Readings ii, 1-9; lisa. xiii,
6, 2; lii, &; Nah. j, 10; Math. xiii,
31-33; xviii. 10, 20; Luke ii, 25-52;
John iii, 16; XIV. Is; Acts j, 8; viii,
| 26-40; Rom. i, 14-16; K, IA, Is; Rev.
xii, II.