The Pastoral Work of Barnabas and Saul in the Church of Antioch <Ac 11:25-30>

Introduction:

* The quality and quantity of the church grow together.

* Especially when the gospel was preached in a city like Antioch, many believed in the Lord.

* Two crises in the church:

1）Attract people with false gospel or human methods.

2）Many believe in the Lord, but the church does not use God’s word to teach and shepherd them.

* Therefore, church pastoral staff are very important to church growth.

* Once church pastoral work fails, the church cannot have substantial growth.

* The church’s selection of pastoral staff is very important.

* When the church is taught and shepherded well, it will bear two kinds of fruits:

1）Everyone will be more and more like Christ.

2）Everyone’s life will show good deeds.

* The church of Antioch had two very good pastoral workers – Barnabas and Saul.

* Their pastoral work caused the church of Antioch to bear wonderful fruits.

Read <Ac 11:25-30>

1. <v25>: Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul.

* Refer to <Ac 9:28-30>: The relationship between Barnabas and Saul.

* People tried to kill Saul in Jerusalem, so he returned to Tarsus.

* Saul waited for 8-12 years in Tarsus.

* Possible reasons why Barnabas went to look for Saul in Tarsus:

1）Saul had experience with Hellenistic Jews and now they were facing Hellenistic gentiles.

2）Perhaps Barnabas had inadequate knowledge to deal with difficult questions posed by the audience.

2. <v26>: The pastoral work of Barnabas and Saul in Antioch.

1）Taught great numbers of people – Probably with Christ-centred contents

2）Period of teaching – A whole year

3）Occasion of teaching – Many people gathered together

4）Effect of teaching – People called them Christians

<2:41>: being called as disciples; <5:14> being called believers; <6:3>: being called brothers; <9:13>: being called saints; <24:5>: being called the Nazarene sect.

* Christians – the glorious name!

* Christian behaviour and attitudes are cultivated by correct pastoral work.

3. <v27-29> The wonderful good deeds of Antioch Christians – donated money to provide for Jerusalem church which was in need.

1）The act of providing help in times of need.

2）Each does his part, each takes what he needs.

* Communism – mandatory equal division.

* Christianity – voluntary donation.

* Think about how we should view and manage the money God has given us?

4. <v30> Barnabas and Saul gained the trust of the church and brought the funds to the church in Jerusalem.