WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

May 12

We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.

Sermon Title: WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

Scripture References: ACTS 11:19-30

Intro:

In our scripture today we see believers, the church, being led by the Holy Spirit to unashamedly preach Jesus to everyone, everywhere. The church was thriving in a place that the Jewish believers didn’t expect and it made a significant impact on the lost community of Antioch. My father, Pastor Coon, I believe coined this phrase, The world at its worst needs the church at its best. I’m hopeful because I see God working in and through this church every week. But let it be our hearts that we want to know and grow more in Jesus, follow and go like Jesus, to see our community saved and in love with Jesus.

Notes:

V. 19-21

Persecution had a multiplying effect rather than a silencing effect. If you recall, after Stephen was stoned to death, the persecution scattered the church. Luke shows us the church went 300 miles away to Antioch of Syria, modern day Syria in 1st century AD.
Antioch was the capital of the Roman province in Syria, over 300 miles north of Jerusalem. It was a great trade center, the largest city in Asia Minor. It was considered the third most important city in the Roman Empire, exceeded only by Rome and Alexandria. But it was also known to be full of evil. There was strategic potential for ministry to continue spreading to the Gentiles from this region.
Some of the believers began preaching not just to the Jews but also the Gentiles and a large number of them believed and turned to the Lord. *Please note that God used more than the apostles. Share Jesus to everyone, everywhere. Be careful not look at someone and think they don’t need Jesus. Our eyes deceive us.

V. 22-24

Jerusalem, served as the mother church for Christianity. They heard the report of what God was doing in Antioch and sent their best encourager, Barnabas. Barnabas would disciple and encourage the believers to stay true to the Lord.
I’m praying, teaching, and working behind the scenes to see this type of discipleship culture happen…where we care for the growth and encouragement of believers.

May we become people like Barnabas, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. I’m praying that you see yourself becoming and being like a Barnabas, and get busy for the Lord. Many people came to the Lord through Spirit-filled believers sharing the gospel.

V. 25-27

The move of God must have been so big that he needed help and decided to go find Paul around 100 miles away in Tarsus and bring him back to Antioch. Together, they taught large crowds and strengthened the church for a whole year.
Yes, the discipleship made an impact but we all know that it was Jesus shining through the church in this dark place so much so that the citizens of Antioch said these believers resembled Christ.
At Antioch, the disciples, also called the saints, first received the name (and were publicly called by their fellow citizens) "Christians." Up to this time the believers were practically all Jews. The Gentiles, and even the Jews, considered the believers simply as another sect of Judaism. Obviously, these Gentile believers could not be identified by a Jewish name, nor could they any longer be considered a sect of Judaism. They needed a new name. Soldiers in the Roman army often took the name of their general and added "ian" (Lat. iani, Gk. ianos) to indicate they were a soldier and follower of that general. For example, Caesar's soldiers were called Caesariani, and Pompey's soldiers were called Pompeiani. So the people of Antioch began to call the believers Christiani or "Christians": soldiers, followers, partisans, of Christ. Some believe the name was first given in derision, but there is no great evidence of this. The believers did not reject the name. It should be noted, however, that the term "Christian" is used elsewhere in the New Testament only in Acts 26:28 and 1 Peter 4:16. For the most part the believers continued to refer to themselves as disciples, brothers, saints, those of the Way, or servants (slaves) of Jesus. -Stanley Horton, ACTS, page 217
“The word ‘Christian’ refers to a follower of Christ. Outsiders identify the believers as such because they confess Christ as their Lord. By referring to them as Christians, unbelievers can thereby distringuish the church from the Jewish community. It is natural and proper to call the believers Christians.” FLBC, page 593
What the Antioch community saw were believers devoted to following Jesus in every way…that’s why they called them Christians.

V. 27-30 Luke does a quick highlight of a prophecy spoken by Agabus in Antioch.

Prophecy

In the early church prophets were individuals with the charismatic gift of revealing God’s will. They did so in the interest of the well-being of the Christian community. They were inspired as mouthpieces of the Spirit to promote and guide the church in its mission of spreading the gospel. -FLBC, page 593
Agabus predicted a great famine would come upon the entire Roman world. Prophecy in the Bible is always primarily “forthtelling,” speaking for God whatever his message may be, rather than foretelling the future. -Stanely Horton, ACTS, page 218
However, on this occasion, Agabus through the Spirit and in their own language predicted a famine across the entire Roman world (foretelling). This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius Caesar (A.D. 41-54). It was especially severe in Judea in A.D. 45-48. We have from other sources information that during the reign of Claudius, famines occurred in various parts of the Roman world (cf. Suetonius, Life of Claudius 18.2: Tacitus, Annals 12.43). There was a severe famine in Judea about A.D. 46, the year Josephus reports that a famine reached its climax. That could be the year in which Paul and Barnabas take relief funds to Jerusalem. -FLBC, page 593.
The Antioch Church responded by sending relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could. (An expression of the Christian faith is generosity).

What is a Christian?

It is important that we make a distinction of what it means to be a Christian. Unfortunately, it is those who profess to be Christian who have watered down the meaning. However, true Christians do face false expectations from misunderstanding of Christianity and false accusations due to poor examples. This is not right nor fair but it is the reality. Personally, I have been trying to paint Christianity in its true form (as best as I can because I’m not Jesus). We who are trying to be Christians in the true sense of the word are constantly walking on a balance beam with little room for error. But I would say this isn’t all that bad of a situation because narrow is the road and gate to be with Jesus in heaven and Jesus should be represented as accurately as possible. We should be careful to know what it means and looks like to be a christian and one of my life verses helps with that: 1 John 2:6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

There are those who wear crosses around their neck. While this may be an indicator that someone is a Christian according to the definitions we just learned but it does not mean their heart or lifestyle matches.

There are those who have been born and raised in a Christian family. This doesn’t make you a Christian. We don't inherit faith in Christ because we are born in a Christian home. We need to have firsthand faith, not secondhand faith.
There are those who believe in God and country. Being an American does not make you a Christian.
There are those who oppose the culture of immorality and lawlessness and believe in living a good life. This does not make you a Christian.
There are those who attend church (sometimes only twice a year), who do good deeds, try not to sin, and pray at night. This doesn’t make you a Christian.
There are those who attend church and even begin to serve and do things their church does. This doesn’t make you a Christian.
If you remember from last week. Cornelius and his household were devout and God-fearing which most likely meant in the sense of the Jewish faith. Their works and prayers were heard by God which was gracious of God, but this did not pardon their sin. Our prayers and giving matter, but without Christ, they are only works. What is required to be forgiven and saved? Acts 10:43 teaches us only through faith in Jesus.

A true Christian professes faith in Christ as Lord and son of God and conforms to the thinking and ways of Christ. This all happens spiritually, organically, and intentionally because Christ lives in believers.

Profess faith in Christ

Romans 10:9
1 John 2:23-24
1 John 3:23-24
1 John 4:15

Practice faith in Christ

Who we confess is Lord should be consistent with our living.
Acts 4:13 Peter and John received the greatest compliment you could live for.
My front yard story. I was planting new grass seeds in the front yard and my neighbor across the street started a conversation with me from his driveway. He asked if we have a young girls youth group or Bible study at our house every Wednesday and I said yes thats my wife’s small group. My wife and the Holy Spirit have been planting seeds every Wednesday.
I’ve always been intrigued by the quote of Martin Luther, the reformer. We as Christians like to promote our faith through symbols and He makes the point that Christians reflect the glory and goodness of God not so much by symbols but by what we produce in our lives. He said, “The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”
Dr. Melissa Alfurro this past wednesday night spoke at our ordination service for PennDel. She’s an executive leader of Assemblies of God fellowship. She gave an excellent analogy that rings true in most of our lives. She said that when a restaurant provides great food and great service we tell everyone they should try it out. We promote their food and establishment free of charge and businesses know this too. She challenged us as pastors and churches to be Christ’s greatest promoter because He has provided much more for this life and eternal life.
Of course the greatest expression of our faith is our love. What we typically do though is begin with our focus on how we love others, but that’s not what Jesus teaches. Jesus teaches to keep the two greatest commandments and the first one is to Love God with your whole being and the second is love your neighbor, or one another, as you would love yourself (Matt 22:37-40).
- To Love God looks like the other L word, Loyalty.
- Christians actively love others. The ways we can love others are vast.
Close

Discussion:

What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?
According to the sermon today what are the two primary ways we can identify a Christian?
“Being a Christian doesn’t begin with what you do it begins with trusting what Christ has done for you.” Do you trust what God has done for you or are you trusting your own path and works? Why is this important?
How can we actively love one another and what can we improve on?
What takeaways or points did you find the most important to you during the sermon?

The most important decision you will ever make!

If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!

We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.

Pray Together

We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!

Ryan Coon