Acts trivia! Who took the initiative to begin evangelizing the Gentiles? Where were the first disciples called “Christians”? Who would become the first missionary-sending church toward the ends of the earth? If you answered “The Jerusalem Church” to any of the following, sorry. Wrong answer.

[Some] men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists (Greek-speaking Gentiles) also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

And beginning with a group of bold, faithful, unnamed disciples we will see the first official church plant in Acts from seed to sprout to fruit. And soon (chapter 13) we will see this new church become the launching pad for multiple missionary journeys to a significant portion of the Roman world.

In just 12 verses we will see the basic contours of the pattern by which God will continue to send the good news to the ends of the earth. Disciples evangelize and plant churches that mature and begin looking outward, eventually sending out missionary disciples to keep the whole cycle going. Churches of disciples committed to making more disciples. And we’re called to follow in their footsteps.

Kenny Clark will be preaching Acts 11:19-30 this Sunday and Kaiden Tolkamp will be leading our sung worship. Would you take some time this week to read the passage and pray for each as they prepare? Then in the evening we will gather again at 6pm for a baptism service and family time. Please join us.

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

 

Song of the Week

Abide sung by The Worship Initiative (feat. Davy Flowers)

You’re the way the truth and the life
You’re the well that never runs dry
I’m the branch and You are the vine
Draw me close and teach me to abide