Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-07-30

full of the Holy Ghost and oe
sired? These were just the quail
ties that were necessary. But be-
cause he was full of the Holy Spir-
it, he exhibited one other splendid
quality, which cew have-he knew
his limitations. In that city he real
lied that there were qualities need
ed which he did not possess.
Antioch was the third city Of the
Roman empire ut that time, a city
of a half million people. 1t had
been founded by Alexander the
Great, and his SUCCESSORS, and had
the Roman government, 1t was sit
uated Is miles from the sea ON the
south bank of the river Irontes. 1t
was surrounded by mountains, and
was beautifully situated. Its bust
ness was largely done ON street
one-half miles long. 1t had it's own
waterworks, every house being pro-
vided with running water, which
was famous for it's purity and sweet
ness. It's streets were lighted by
lamps, and it's sanitation was care
was wonderful park, surround ed
by a wall ten miles in circumf5r
ence-the grove of Daphne; and
here it's wealthy, cosmopolitan and
luxury-loving inhabitants enjoyed
life as worldlings. They were par
ticularly known for their licentious-
ness. So sinful were they that once
when Roman society was becoming
more corrupt than usual, it was at
tributed to the Influence of Anti
och.
Antioch was q cosm opolitan city.
Greek in origin, It still had many
Greeks and was Influenced to a
lnr IaNyI Nnna IL 1,Ny Nnyty
under Roman power, and TIE third
city of the empire, it necessarily
was influenced Largely by Roman
ideas. But there were also a great
many Jews, congregated mostly in
a particular quarter of the civ.
to make the new center of Chris
tianity; for the very variedness CT
it's population peculiarly adapted i;
| to the new venture upon which tho
church WAS ntering-making the
truth av<.able for all people, and
| breaking through the bounds of
Jewish eXcluSiVeneSS.
The New Teacher
Barnabas soon realized his limita-
he was big-souled enough to know
! that somebody else could do this
| work better than he. He thought at
once of Saul of Tarsus, the fiery
preacher, who with his knowledge Of
Grecian thought and culture, his
| Roman citizenship, and his. thor
ough training in Jewish law, now
| enlightened anu ablaZe with love for
the Christ; he realized Saul's fit
ness for work at this place, and
record seems to indicate that he had
some difficulty, but he kept on
until he found Saul, and brought him
| to Antioch.
years had passed since Barnaba g
had not been idle during that time.
From Acts 1928 and Al we learn
| that there were churches with Gen.
! tile believers in them, and who can
say but that during those seven
years Saul had been laboring there
in the neighborhood of his own
home, and that the success of his
work there had made Barnabas sure
that he was just the man for the
| job at Antioch. 1t is entirely pos
sible that Saul was out on a mis-
sionary tour when Barnabas reach
ed Tarsus and that explains why he
could not find him at once.
At Antioch they had great
time. They spent a whole year
there, and taught many people. 1t
was probably the happiest year of
| Saul's life; and he was the great
| preacher he was because he was a
! great teacher. In our Judgment
one of the greatest needs of the
church today is teaching. The great
est preachers you know are teach
! ers. The people need the bread of
life; they need to be fed II they
are to be strengthened for service.
moral reforms, politics, religious ad-
| dresses have their places--but the
pulpit is not the place Barnabas
and Saul taught the people, and
Christ was the subject-Jesus the
Christ; the Christ crucifed; the
Christ glorIfied and at the ght
hand of God the Father; the Christ
interceding now, and coming again.
Christ was SO largely on their
lips that the wicked Antiochians be-
gan to call the folks who became
followers, Christians-those belong
ing to Christ, and living the Christ
life. Jews did not give them that
name, for they did not acknowledge
Jesus as the Christ; the followers
never spoke of themselves as such;
it came from the heather who saw
and SauPs teaching.
Is your teaching making Chri-
tians? Christ's men and women?
Teaching Points:
1. God chooses the weak things
of the world to confound the
mighty. He has a plan for every
life, no matter how insignificant a
mans life may be now.
2. His plan includes a work which
will be the result of your testimony.
8. Be big enough to know how lit
tie you are.
4. Teaching Christ makes Christ's
men.