A Multiplying Movement

_Warm-up_

• Have you ever loved something so much that you had difficulty sharing it with others? If so, describe.

_Word_

//BIG IDEA

The church in Antioch was a loving, dynamic, multicultural community that was a virtual spiritual fruit incubator. It would have been easy for believers in that church to not want to change a thing, to desire things to remain just as they were. But that’s not what the Spirit led them to do. That’s not who the Spirit called them to be. Instead they sent out two of their very best and became a self-giving, multiplying congregation.

READ

Acts 13:1-3; 14:24-28

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…

…Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. And when they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia, and from there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had fulfilled. And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. And they remained no little time with the disciples.

//WATCH / LISTEN

//DISCUSS

_Old Self_

• When you are part of a healthy church community it can be unsettling to hear about upcoming “changes.” So many of us desire stability and the prospect of change causes a measure of anxiety. How does the prospect of change impact you?

_New Self_

• When we’ve been impacted deeply by the gospel, part of gospel change is in our desire to see others experience the gospel even if it is costly to us. How might God be challenging you to “send out your best” so that others can experience the gospel? What are the costs and rewards of doing this?

_World_

• This week, notice all the places in our city and region that need to be impacted by the gospel. Ask God to give you a self-giving-Antioch-church-heart and begin to show you how to multiply God’s community in other places so as to be a blessing to our city and beyond.