A MODEL CHURCH

A MODEL CHURCH

Acts 13:1-12

Dr. Wm. J. Maxwell

First Presbyterian Church, Newport, RI

World Communion Sunday

October 1, 2006

We are rejoicing together on this World Communion Sunday, aren’t we? We have members here today of the (Brazilian) Christ Is Life Presbyterian Church, members of the Brazilian Bible study that meets in our church building here in Newport, and members of our own congregation. Together with congregations all over the world, we are the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.”

In reference to the individual congregations that make up the larger Church, they are all perfect, of course. Well, aren’t they? Aren’t we? No, we aren’t, of course. There is no perfect church, on this side of heaven at least! As the Westminster Confession of Faith wisely states, “the purest churches under heaven are subject both to impurity and error.” [i]

Nevertheless, while there are no perfect churches, there are yet model churches, churches that exemplify for us the characteristics that make for a good, vibrant and healthy church – and the church in Antioch of Syria is clearly one of them.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH IN ANTIOCH.

For example, we may note that the church in Antioch was a well-grounded and well-taught congregation. Acts 11 tells us how the church was founded. The persecution that arose over Stephen brought forth a scattering of Jewish believers into other areas, such as Antioch in Syria, with whom they shared the Gospel. The Lord was with them in this endeavor, changing the hearts of many who then turned to Christ and became disciples. For this reason, they were well-grounded in the Gospel.

The church quickly grew in numbers. But the church also needed to grow in spiritual depth and maturity. When word reached back to the church in Jerusalem of the impact of the Gospel, the Jerusalem church commissioned Barnabas to go to Antioch and make sure the new converts were well grounded in the Faith. Barnabas did so, but after a while, Barnabas needed help, so he went to Tarsus to get Saul (Paul). Once in Antioch together, the two of them proved to be most helpful in ensuring that all the members were well taught in the Word.

These growing, maturing disciples of Christ were the first ones, Luke tells us, to be called by the name of “Christians.” [ii] So, a model church will always be well-grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and well-taught by gifted teachers in the Word of God.

Secondly, the church in Antioch was a well-integrated congregation. It had people of different levels of society, rich or poor. It had people of different ethnic and national distinctions represented. It had people with altogether different life experiences. For example, some commentators believe that Simeon called Niger may have actually been Simon of Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross to Golgotha. [iii] On the other hand, Manaen had been raised in Herod’s household as a foster brother of Herod Antipas. Yet both of them were Christians!

A vibrant and healthy church will include many people of different ages, backgrounds and stations in life, all contributing in one way or another to the vitality of the Body of Christ.

Thirdly, the church in Antioch was a church with multiple ministries. Luke mentions at least 2 here – that of prophets and teachers. The prophets spoke on the basis of special, divine revelation, such as Agabus foretelling a great famine that would soon cover much of the Roman world. [iv] The teachers expounded the truths of Holy Scripture and the fundamentals of the Faith centered in Christ. Both of these ministries were important to this congregation and other ministries were surely present as well.

The New Testament is very clear regarding the giftedness of each and every believer and of the necessity of the use of all those gifts if the Body of Christ is to be healthy and strong.

Fourthly, the church in Antioch was also a worshipping, fasting and praying church. We are told that, either on a special day or the Lord’s Day, the members had all assembled together for worship. The church had gathered together specifically for worship, prayer and fasting, seeking the Lord with a fervency of spirit.

Obviously, the fasting mentioned here was not a joint campaign to lose weight! Fasting has been described as a spiritual discipline “to forego food for a time in order that in a spiritual frame of mind and having one’s time given over to spiritual things, one might seek God’s direction for a new phase of life.” [v] Apparently, this kind of worship in Antioch was not seen as a “take it or leave it” exercise of the faith. They took it very seriously and consequently, they discovered together the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work in their fellowship.

Dear friends, it is always this way! “You will seek Me and find Me,” the LORD has promised, “when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD …” [vi] When God’s people get together in such a way as to express a heart commitment to know, love and serve Him, the Holy Spirit will speak, lead and guide in ways that can truly transform the whole congregation.

Lastly, the church in Antioch was a missional or mission-enabling church. The church was aware perhaps of the Great Commission

of Christ to take the Gospel to all nations. They certainly were aware of the fact that their very existence was due to some believers from Jerusalem bringing the Gospel to them! But they did not venture off on their own to do this or that under the umbrella of mission. They instead waited upon the Lord for His leading and guidance. And it was in such a time of waiting before the Lord with prayer and fasting that the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I’ve called them.”

This is as it always should always be! We must never get ahead of the Holy Spirit nor should we ever lag behind … and the only way we can insure that this happens is by deliberately taking the time as a Body to worship, fast and pray, and to then listen to the Holy Spirit, Who can speak to us in so many ways.

Unfortunately, not all churches include this characteristic of being a missional or mission-enabling church. Sometimes, a church can have a rather in-grown approach to its life together. For example, the church can be seen only as a personal sanctuary, a kind of refuge or haven from the world. It can be just a fellowship of people who can withdraw from the stress and strain of daily life in the world and be refreshed and renewed in their relationship with God.

Pastors are then seen as the professionals who have been trained to deliver religious goods and services, such as preaching, teaching, worship leadership, pastoral care and administration. Church members are merely consumers of these goods, who on occasion help out the pastors as volunteers in some form of ministry.

Now, to some extent, I’m sure there is some truth to all this and there is some need of fulfillment here. But the point I am making here is that the church is far more than this – it is a people being transformed by the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, and who then join God in His work in the world. This transformation we experience is never for the sake of ourselves alone, but is one that ever spirals outward, into a world of tremendous need.

A case in point is the witness of Christ Is Life Presbyterian Church – some of whom are here. Finally fully chartered as a Presbyterian church in our presbytery in 2005, the congregation is clearly not content to exist for themselves. The letter I received from Pastor Gerson a year ago – one that I had to read twice to make sure I had read it correctly – indicated clearly to me that the congregation was not interested in simply maintaining its own life as a congregation. Having a sense of the Holy Spirit’s leading through worship and prayer, you indicated to us through this letter a desire to reach out to Brazilians here in Newport and in other places as well. Today, this is in fact happening, to the glory of God!

Yet another case in point is our mission team in Honduras. The team of six members left yesterday at 5 am and are now worshipping with others and witnessing to others in a culture that is far different from our own. The team members will surely return with stories of what God has done through them. More stories will be told this month as well, as we here at First Presbyterian put a spotlight on our mission efforts this month.

But let the stories continue! Remember, dear friends, that the book of Acts is open-ended in its final chapter and for good reason! New chapters regarding the work of the Holy Spirit through the Church in the world are still being written today. So, again, let the stories continue! Let new stories be told! And when all is said and done, to God be the glory! To God be the glory!