Acts 13:1-3 Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

The Church at Antioch had a great blessing to have prophets and teachers - at least five listed here! From that pool of workers, the Holy Spirit chose Saul and Barnabas for another work according to his calling. Throughout the New Testament, prophet and teacher are offices of great respect. Paul himself wrote later on that we should procure the best gifts, among them prophecy. Teaching and prophesying are highly regarded because through them the Word of God is explained for the conversion of souls and the edification of the church. A healthy church should institute ways to build up new prophets and teachers.

It is worth noting from the list of teachers and prophets that Antioch was a multi-ethnic church and not bound by partiality. Saul and Barnabas were Jews; Simeon and Lucius were black people from North Africa; and Manaen seemed to be well connected with the upper class in Rome. All of them worshiped together and worked together for the kingdom of God. The Church must be free from partiality and become an open community of Christ to make an impact in the world. Though there were many tendencies to separate Jew from Gentile and Greek from Roman due to socio-econo-political reasons, the Church fought against those tendencies to establish a Church that is united in its diversity.

Since the Church is guided by the Holy Spirit, it makes only sense that the Church is constantly seeking him in worship, fasting, and prayer. These are the basic disciplines of the deeper life in Christ. If I am to grow as a Christian, I must learn to worship, fast and pray. Notice that it is not a personal spiritual practice in this context. The Church at Antioch was devoted to these spiritual disciplines as a congregation. I must learn to worship, fast, and pray with my brothers and sisters as a concerted effort to seek his direction for the whole church. The Holy Spirit speaks to his church in an environment of worship, fasting, and prayer. How devoted am I to these disciplines? Moreover, how committed am I to practice them in unity with my brothers and sisters in the church?

The sendoff of Saul and Barnabas was the result of a church committed to seek the guidance of the Spirit in worship, fasting, and prayer. The fact that there is an imposition of hands for this sendoff tells us that the elders of the church were behind it. It also tells us that there is a process by which workers are recognized to be sent out to the field; there is a hierarchy; there is order. The expansion of God's kingdom depends on our willingness to send workers out into the field. I have to shift from the "us four and no more" paradigm to an open-fisted one, willing to send workers to the field under the guidance and direction of the Spirit.

Matthew 28:11-20 The Great Commission

The world in which I live is set against the preaching of the good news of the Gospel: that Jesus,  the Son of God, died for the sins of the world, and resurrected on the third day, and sits at the right hand of the Father, and will come back for his Church one day. But Jesus revealed himself after the resurrection and established clearly that despite great opposition, he has all authority in heaven and on earth. Satan's reign of terror is over! Jesus bought back with his blood what rightfully belongs to him.

Jesus calls me to live my life driven by this one purpose: to make disciples! Make disciples as I go. Much emphasis was given many years ago to the "going," especially overseas. But the emphasis is misplaced. Jesus calls me to make disciples as I go - wherever I happen to be: at home, at work, at school, or the ends of the earth. The call is to live all of life with the intent to make new disciples for Christ wherever I am. I don't need to go overseas to fulfill the call. I can do it right where I live today.

Make disciples by baptizing them. Baptism is the initiation rite into the faith. It is my identification with Christ in his death and resurrection. It is my dedication to Christ in body and soul. It is my public declaration that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. It is a command I must obey. I make disciples as I guide them along the process of making such a commitment. It implies pre-evangelistic as well as evangelistic activities that culminate in a call to follow Jesus.

Make disciples by teaching them. Christian doctrine is the basics of the faith and it is contained in the Scriptures. It is vital to teach good doctrine for the proper development of healthy disciples. Personal devotions, Worship Service, Bible Studies, and retreats are great places to get in touch with the Word of God and learn what Jesus wants from me. I must commit to teach the whole counsel of God to those who will become true disciples of Christ.

When do I know when a disciple is ready? When the disciple begins to make disciples him/herself.  Lord, make me a good disciple-maker. I want to fulfill the purpose of your call upon my life. Fill me with a sense of urgency to seek those who would come into your kingdom to become your disciples.