These are not my thoughts on the Olympics

These are not my thoughts on the Olympics

The church at Antioch was multi-cultural and missional.  On Sunday morning, Bill said we are called to be an Antioch church.  The word “call” is a strong word.   It means God has made a decision.  It means we don’t have much of a choice in the matter!  I am inclined to believe the Lord has made a decision regarding Emmanuel – this body of believers, for whatever reason, is called to be multi-cultural and missional.  This call is consistent with our history, who we currently are and our desire to plant churches.

 

There are many things I like about being called to be an Antioch church.  One is that it’s just plain exciting.  Another is that God is going to provide for his calling.  He’s not going to call us to something and not provide for that calling.  He’ll be with us, resourcing us along the way.  We’re not alone. This fact takes a lot of the pressure off to be brilliant and figure everything out on our own.

 

Well, what do you think about being an Antioch church?  What does it mean for you to live into this calling?  We’re looking forward to reading your posts.
Posted on Mon, August 25, 2008 by Jason Brown

2 comments (Add your own)

1. Lorinda wrote:
As the DJ08 has progressed along, I have been blessed and grown in the word preached each week. I have loved learning how the scriptures tie together with the concept of staying with a book and walking all the way through it, and all the nuances of what the culture brought into the meaning I would otherwise miss out on. When we were in Luke 13 one Sunday, I glanced back and read the end of ch 12 and this is what struck me. Luke 12:12 "for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." I can certainly attest to putting up my hand up in the past and say "oh no, thats not for me" when asked or challenged to step out of my comfort zone. And yet this past couple of years of walking alongside of others in Alpha and this year, women on Saturday mornings in study group who come from Alpha. It has been the most blessed time of my life.. and uh, I sense something that is "calling" me. Being absolutely alright with not knowing what the heck I am doing, but to be willing and to trust that Luke 12:12 applies to me as well. God has done some amazing things and I have had the privilege of being a witness to it. So what holds you back?

Mon, August 25, 2008 @ 5:00 PM

2. Almita wrote:
I believe that we are well on the way to becoming an 'Antioch' church. We are multicultural and missionary minded. But there was another aspect of that Antioch Church that was such a powerful and beneficial asset to their effectiveness and productivity in advancing the Gospel. They were a praying and fasting church. Admittedly, it was the teachers and prophets who did the fasting and worshipping the Lord before they sent out those early missionaries (Paul and Barnabas)- but I cannot help but believe that they were the very visible examples to all in the Antioch Church. I also cannot help but believe that the success of the missionary journeys of the early missionaries was due in a great part to the faithful prayers of those in the Antioch church. When we send our missionaries to establish churches, we must follow that same example of the teachers and prophets of the Antioch church - and all of us must assume the responsibility of praying faithfully for those that go and for those to whom they are sent. After all, we are all in this together.

Fri, October 3, 2008 @ 11:37 AM

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