061222- "Becoming a Sending Church"...Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3; 14:26-28 ...
Acts 11:19-30;...Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews... Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus...The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord...News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. ...Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch.

Background of the Antioch Church:
-The Gospel spread to their area, but was highly exclusive at first (11:19).
-Finally foreigners spread the good news about Jesus to all who would listen (11:20).
-A great number of people believed (11:21).
-They were joined and strengthened by other believers who joined them (11:22-26a).

Antioch became a sending church because:
1.They were willing to gather and to be taught (11:26).
2.They were known as Christians in their community (11:26).
3.They were generous in their giving as much as they were able (11:27-30).
4.They were ethnically diverse (13:1).
5.They practiced biblical disciplines (13:2).
6.They sent of their best as missionaries (13:2-3).
7.They were a “welcome home” place (14:26-28).

Acts 11:
25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
29 The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea.
30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 13:
1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Acts 14:
Acts 14: 26 From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

Application on being a “welcome home” place for missionaries:
a.Pray for them and their ministry.
b.Get together with them.
c.Learn about their ministry.
d.Allow them to rest.
e.Invite them to be involved locally.
f.Send them out again.

Acts 15:
2 …So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”
39 …Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.