Before We Get Started

For our discussion today, we will be using the sermon series discussion guides. If you would like to follow along you can access this discussion guide on the website at mosaicchurchaustin.com and then select “community group resources” in the menu options.

Prayer

Because the primary goal of our time together is to establish relationships and learn how to walk with one another in all that God has called us to be and do, we’d like to begin by praying for one another. So, does anyone have anything you’d like us to pray for or anything to share regarding how you’ve seen God moving in your life that we can celebrate together?

This Week’s Topic

Today’s Topic

Marks of an Antioch Church

Discussion Questions

Acts 11:19-30

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers[d] living in Judea.  And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 13:1-3

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Generous Living

Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity 

[Antioch was] a city filled with hatred and fear rooted in intense ethnic antagonisms and exacerbated by a constant stream of strangers…in a city so lacking in stable networks of attachments that petty incidents could prompt mob violence.

David Brooks, The Atlantic

Politics [now] overwhelms everything. Churches, universities, sports, pop culture, health care are swept up in a succession of battles that are really just one big war—red versus blue. Evangelicalism used to be a faith; today it’s primarily a political identity.

John 15:12-13

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 

 

How did the early church in Acts disrupt the dividing lines in the city of Antioch?

Why do people tend to feel more comfortable when connecting with people similar to themselves?

How did Jesus model loving people unlike us with his life and ministry?

Generous Living

Andrew Murray

The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’ Christ asks, ‘How does he use it?’

 

Proverbs 11:25, NIV

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

 

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

How can a church’s generosity impact the city?

Whose responsibility is it to ensure a church is generous?

What do you imagine God would say to a generous person or church? 

Generous Sending

Acts 9:31

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

 

Acts 13:2-3

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

How does the growth of a church impact the health of a church?

How does the health of a church impact the growth of a church?

What does generous sending require of the members of a church?

Closing Thought

1 Peter 1:17-19

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 

Spend some time praying for the churches in Austin, that we would be generous in how we live, give, and send. Ask God to help us grow in our knowledge of Christ and continue to be salt and light in the city.