Articles
The Church Grows - Acts 13
The Church Grows - Acts 13
Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded” This was the great commission given by Jesus.
It took the persecution by Saul (Paul) to dislodge the disciples out of Jerusalem. It took Cornelius sending for Peter to have the message preached. Somehow, a group of disciples (church, local congregation of believers) began in Antioch. While Jerusalem still played a major part in the establishment of the Lord’s church, now other congregations will play a major role.
Here, it is Antioch. Reading church history, we learn that there arose 5 such major congregations. YET, they are ONE CHURCH, one people, one with the Lord and one with each other. As the centuries pass, these congregations ‘died’ and are no more. Thus, there were saints scattered throughout the world. Even today, there are small groups of brethren established in towns, cities, and villages throughout the world. In trips to China we have found and/or started many such small groups. Others tell the same story in many different countries around the world.
Acts 13 becomes a major turning point in Luke’s account of the spread of the gospel. Everywhere they go, these chosen men who were sent out by the church in Antioch, established churches in the cities they traveled through: on the Isle of Crete, in Ephesus, Colossae, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, etc., etc. WOW. Reading these chapters of Acts in one setting and just getting a mental image of this growth seems like an explosion of faith.
THEN, as the centuries pass, these groups died out! The cities themselves often died out. Most of us have (or will) experienced the same progression of congregations we are / have been part of. Such is life.
While I am alive, I can take an active part in maintaining the healthy life of the brethren I choose to ‘join myself to’ (see Paul’s action in Acts 9:26-28). I can teach, worship with, pray with, encourage, strengthen those whom I live among. I too will die. BUT until then, each day present the opportunity to serve the Lord by serving His people – my brethren, my friends. What are you going to do today?
Hugh DeLong
