The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-11-16
THE OUTREACH
OF THE CHURCH


LESSON TEXT: Acts 11:2l-so: 1924. IS.
1914.
GOLDEN TEXT: And He said unto them.
Go ye into all the world, and preach the
gospel to every creature.-Mark 1918.
A church that is spiritually alive
will be missionary-minded. What
seemed like unfortunate persecution
of the early Church (Acts ga; II:
1917 proved to be a blessing, for like
flying embers from a beaten fire,
these believers lighted many new
fires as they were scattered abroad.
The ministry by Philip in Sa-
maria was paralleled by that of
others in Phenice, Cyprus, and now
in Antioch. That great city was not
far from Jerusalem, but it was far
from God. A mighty city, rich in
trade, it was also deep in all kinds
of sin. But there it pleased God to
establish great center Of Christian
testimony. God loves to do new
things (see, for example, II Cor.
SIT; lisa. 1919; Ps. 1913; Rev.
21:5).
i. A New Fellowship (11:21-25).
The Antioch church was a living
witness. '"The hand of the Lord was
with them; little wonder that "a
| great number believed and were
turned to the Lord" Your church
and mine might learn much from
the church at Antioch.
The genius of Christianity is fell
lowship. Those who have religious
belief which makes them exclusive
mot willing to fellowship with other
Christians - do not truly represent
their Lord.
When the church at Jerusalem
heard the good news, they sent Bar
nabas to help the new converts and
to establish fellowship.
He was the ideal man to send, for
" he was a good man. It is far
more important that man be good
than that he be brilliant if he is to
edify young converts. He was full
! of the Holy Ghost He was also full
of faith and without that no man
need undertake the work of instruct
ing and developing young converts.
He was free from the love of gold
(4:36, 37).
"He was free from personal
ambition and jealousy in his work
wv. Is, 26). He was very sharp
/ eyed to see the sincerity and prom
Use of young convert ODD"
Into this new fellowship Of life
and service the gracious and gener-
Gus Barnabas brought a new evan
gelist = Saul, Gods prepared man
for this hour.
III. A New Name (11:26-30).
Christian, the beautiful name Of
those who follow Christ, was first
used at Antioch. It may have held
measure of contempt (see Acts
1928; Pet. 4:16), but it was a re-
markedly suitable name for those
who had come out of paganism now
to live, amid their old surroundings,
new life, separated life, the
Christ life.
This name combines Jewish
thought with Greek and Latin Ian
guage, and thus, like the inscription
on the cross, bears witness to the
universally of Christianity as a re-
ligion for the whole world. The idea
of Christ (Messiah) is Jewish; the
substantive Christ (Christos) is
Greek, and the adjectival termina-
ton ian (-ianus) is Latin. !.
This new name was intended to in
troduce and mark the difference be-
tween Jews and Gentiles on the one
hand, and those who, whether Jews
or Gentiles, were followers of Jesus
Christ. The term Christian
evidently points to the person Of
Christ, and to those who are asso-
ciated with Him as His followers. II
implies and involves union and close
association with Christ" wv. H. Grit
fifth Thomas).
Those believers at Antioch not
only bore the name, they practiced
the life Of Christ. They gave of their
means, "every man according to his
Abilities" to meet the need of their
new-found Jewish brethren in Judea.
iii. A New Vision (12:24, Is; Is:
la.
Little wonder that in such church
"the word Of God grew and multi
piled" (cf. 11:2D. But the believers
were not content to settle back at
ease and enjoy that fellowship.
Their precious church was simply
the center from which they
reached out to the heather world
around them.
Every army must have a home
base. Just so, the army of the Lord
looks to the home church, the local
gathering Of Gods people. An army
would fail If those at the base of its
action were asleep, or so interested
in the pleasures Of this world. or
so Indifferent to their response
bility, that they would not work hard
in support Of the active army. So
the cause of Christian missions can
not 60 ahead If it must depend on a
home church which is spiritually
asleep, indolent, Indifferent, and
worldly-minded.