This weeks Sermon @ First B Jackson April 6th 2025

In one paragraph

On April 13, 2025, Pastor Nathan walked First Baptist Jackson through the opening twelve verses of Acts 13, the passage most people call Paul's first missionary journey. Woven through that text was a live report from a recent trip to South Africa, where he and Tanya visited ministry partners they have known since 2010. The two threads kept meeting each other: the same dynamics at work in Antioch...

Read together

1. Acts 12:24 described as a summary statement about the word of the Lord continuing to grow and multiply after Herod's death and Peter's deliverance
2. Acts 13:1-12 the main passage for the first half of the sermon, covering the prophets and teachers at Antioch, the sending of Barnabas and Saul, and the confrontation with Elymas
3. Ephesians 4 referenced to show the classifications of prophets and teachers given to the church
4. Revelation 5:9 cited to argue that every tribe, tongue, and nation is represented around the throne
5. Revelation 7:9 cited alongside Revelation 5:9 to show all tribes, tongues, and peoples represented around God's throne singing together
6. Acts 1:8 referenced as Jesus's statement about being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost parts, used to show Antioch moving toward the uttermost parts
7. 1 John 1:9 cited in the communion prayer as the promise that if we agree with God about our sin he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness

Talk about it

1. The pastor described the church at Antioch as a diverse group that included Barnabas the Cypriot, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who grew up in Herod's household, and Saul. What does that mix of backgrounds tell you about what a healthy church community looks like?
2. The prophets and teachers at Antioch were fasting and asking God to show them specifically what he wanted them to do. How do you personally try to discern what God wants from you, and how does that compare to what you saw those leaders doing?
3. When the Holy Spirit said to set Barnabas and Saul apart, the church was giving up two of its best people. The pastor pointed out they may have been the best teacher and the best encourager in that group. What does it cost a church to send its best people out, and how do you think about that cost?
4. Paul confronted Elymas directly and pronounced blindness on him, filled with the Holy Spirit. The pastor said that is not his natural approach and he would normally ask questions and engage in conversation. What do you think the passage is showing us about when a more direct confrontation is right, and how would you know the difference?
5. The pastor shared that the chief of the tribe in Olatheini accepted Christ, and he connected that to Acts 13 where the proconsul believed after seeing what happened. He said if you will be about proclaiming the word of God, you will get the same result Paul got in Athens, where some accept it, some reject it, and some want to hear more. Where have you seen that pattern play out in your own life?