God At Work For Everyone – Scattered Part 3

In this series we seek to look back at one of the pivotal moments in the history of the church and see what lessons we can learn from it for our current circumstances. We will discover that what might seem as difficult or even tragic circumstances can be great catalysts for the mission of God.

I wonder if you’ve ever been given the impression that God isn’t for you? That for whatever reason God isn’t for you? Or maybe you feel that yourself – God isn’t for me, God couldn’t like me, God isn’t interested in me.

In the third part of our scattered series today we find ourselves in the middle of a conversation about who God and Jesus were for…just for religious people and a particular kind of religious people or were they for everyone?

Throughout this series we are looking at some passages from New Testament book of Acts which is the story of the first churches and the growth and expansion of the movement of Jesus. Today we are looking at Chapter 11 verses 19 to 26 and you can find those here.

Whilst spreading was good, they were only talking to the religious people they resonated with – they were only telling the Jews about Jesus. Coming from Jerusalem been surrounded by the Jewish faith, they were Jews and at this stage they were only talking to the people who were just like them. And this stage they would have been giving the impression that God was only for the Jews – only for people who were like them. Trap it is all too easy to fall in to even today.

God shows them that He was for everyone and as they spoke to others (the Greeks) God’s hand was with them and lots of people started to follow Jesus. Barnabas was a great encourager (his name literally means Son of Encouragement) and he was sent to see what was going on in Antioch. He encouraged them and God continued to work through them all to grow and expand the numbers of people who were joining the church. Barnabas was seen to be a man full of the Holy Spirit and faith. The marks that he was full of the Holy Spirit and faith were that he encouraged people (both with words and practical things too) and God worked through him to bring lots of other people to know Jesus. These are marks of the Holy Spirit at work in someone.

God is for everyone. What practical steps can we take to demonstrate that? What practical things can we do to be people who are known as encouragers – both with our words and with our practical actions? As we are filled with the Holy Spirit and as our faith grows is our capacity for encouragement and sharing God with others growing?

To find out more about Next Steps at Andover Baptist Church check out the NextSteps web page.

Questions to reflect on in your small group or on your own:

  1. Have you ever been given the impression that something isn’t for you? How did that happen?
  2. Have you ever been given the impression that God isn’t for you? How did that make you feel?
  3. Read the passage in Acts chapter 11 again, what resonates with you? Is there anything that strikes you afresh as you read it?
  4. Why do you think it was so easy for them to only share the message of Jesus with those who were like them?
  5. What sparked the change?
  6. Can you imagine being such an encouragement to others that your nickname is Son of Encouragement? What had Barnabas been up to to earn that nickname (you might want to look back to Acts chapter 4).
  7. How do we sometimes make it difficult for people who want to turn to God?
  8. Do you agree that encouragement and a passion for sharing God’s love with others are marks of the Holy Spirit and of faith?
  9. What next steps can you take to be growing in encouragement of others and sharing God’s love?

Listen to the full talk on our podcast below…

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