Antioch 1: “Christians”

Our daughter Bethany loves playing with little plastic toy animals. She calls them her “amina.” Each toy animal is just like thousands of others taken from the same mold.

People are not at all like toy animals–Scripture says each of us is uniquely crafted by a kind Creator. Nonetheless, we humans love to make sense of the complicated world around us by labeling and categorizing certain groups of people. This is not necessarily a bad thing; many labels and identity markers carry beautiful connotations. For instance, I am proud to be called a “Packers Fan.”

In Acts 11 and 13, however, something rare happens. In Antioch, a major city, people begin to live in a way that shatters every known mold that the onlookers have to invent a new word to describe them: “Christians.”

2,000 years later, that word evokes many emotions and layers of meaning. But is it possible that we once again could discover what made the men and women of the church in Antioch so unique that they ruptured and renewed so many of the common molds and labels of their time?

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SEE IT // BE IT

(WEEKLY COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE)

Date: January 15, 2017 // Title: Antioch I: “Christians” //

Scripture: Acts 11 & 13

ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.

SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
In Antioch, a group of people began to live in a way that shattered every known mold. The onlookers had to invent a new word to describe them: “Christians.” 2,000 years later, that word evokes many emotions and layers of meaning. However, in Acts 11 and 13, we can discover what made the men and women of the church in Antioch so unique that they ruptured and renewed many of the common molds and labels of their time! These unnamed followers of Jesus learned to see God’s grace in the middle of chaos, suffering, doubt, and need. They learned together how to see God at work and, with the sense of a settled soul, became witnesses committed to encouraging others to invite Jesus to be the center of their lives. As a result of their identity with the name of Jesus, they became a unified yet diverse community called “Christians” (ones who live and act like Jesus Christ) who shared the life-changing testimony of the work of the Spirit in the community around them.

THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
Our primary call as people who trust in and follow Jesus is to be witnesses of the gift of His grace to everyone!

SEE IT – Questions 10-15 minutes
Picture (What is the story saying?): : What did the Antioch community of Jesus followers learn to see in spite of the chaos and hardships of life? What did the example of Barnabas demonstrate about sharing encouragement instead of spreading criticism? Why is it so important to get our identity only from our faith in Jesus?
Mirror (Where am I in the story?): : Where have I been seeing or failing to see God’s grace at work in my life? What areas of my life feel heavy or overwhelming instead of resolved and peaceful? Why? How well am I tuned in to seeing God at work around me? Do the people I encounter every day see me as a “Christian” who looks like Jesus?
Window  (How does the story change how I see those around me?):What are some specific ways I can begin to witness God’s grace in my neighborhood, with the next generation, and among the nations around me? What are some simple ways I can be more gracious and generous, more Christ-like, with the people I encounter every day?

BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 5 minutes
Think of how you have seen God’s grace at work in your lives. Take a moment to have everyone share a brief story of what that grace looked like and how it changed your outlook on the circumstances. Pray together, thanking God for His grace in those moments. Specifically ask God to give you eyes to see Him at work in new ways this week.
Change IN //   Group Activity 5 minutes
Do a start/stop analysis of how you have witnessed God’s grace this past week. On a clean sheet of paper, write down at least one thing you can stop doing to ensure that you don’t miss out on seeing God’s grace. Then, write down at least one way you can pay better attention to seeing Jesus at work around you in the week to come.
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
When our identity is obediently centered in Jesus we are free to be gracious and generous. Identify at least one specific need that you know of in your neighborhood or workplace. Make a specific plan as a community to be Jesus to that person or family and identify specific ways you can freely and abundantly meet that need this week.

CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.