The Church God Uses

What kind of church does God use?  We read in Acts 11 about the church in Antioch!  The founding and thriving of the church at Antioch was arguably one of the most significant events in the history of Western civilization.  It led to the distinctiveness of the Christian church apart from the Jewish synagogue, as it blended together in one body both Jews and Gentiles.  It was here that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians.  From Antioch, the church launched the first mission to Europe.  Friends, I believe that most of us today would not be Christians had it not been for God’s blessing on this particular church.

One remarkable feature of this church was how it started.  It was not founded by pastors or trained missionaries.  Rather, some unnamed men who were scattered because of the persecution that arose in connection with Stephen came to Antioch and began talking, not just to the Jews, but to the Greeks (Gentiles), telling the good news about the Lord Jesus, as we see in Acts 11:20.  The Greek word for “speak” in vv. 19-20 is the word for normal conversation.  The implication is that these men didn’t speak as well-groomed orators in the marketplace.  Rather, in their everyday contacts, they simply told others about Jesus Christ.

Luke either knew or easily could have found out the names of these evangelists.  He mentions where they were from.  Yet they remain unnamed, I believe, for a reason.  If they had been named, we would hold them up as missionary heroes, and view them as men a notch above the average church member.  We would think that what they did was something that we could never do.  But their remaining unnamed tells us that they were common men who had met the Lord Jesus and who wanted others to know Him, too.  We all can do what they did.

If the spreading of the gospel or the functioning of the church depends on the labors of full-time missionaries or pastors, ministry will be severely limited.  But if every person who has trusted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord feels the obligation of serving Him and of telling others the good news about Him, the gospel will spread, and the church will grow.  We need to all sense our responsibility to serve Christ and bear witness for Him.  So, what kind of church does God use?  One that is faithful in discipling and equipping every member to share the gospel!!  And, that’s NO April Fools!!