Preacher’s Study Notes 1993
At the close of the second century Tertullian addressed the heathen defiantly: “We are but of yesterday, and yet we already fill your cities, islands, camps, your palace, senate and forum; we have left to you only your temples.”1 It has been estimated that there were over 300,000 Christians in the Roman Empire by the year A.D. 100, an eight-fold increase in thirty years, and that some 80,000 of these were in Asia Minor.2 Schaff estimates that there were ten million Christians by the end of the third century.3
The growth seems phenomenal in the light of the opposition, the disciples faced. They were commissioned to go into all the world. They journeyed in primitive conveyances on rough trails across mountains, deserts, and plains and over rough, dangerous seas. They faced the fury of their benighted Jewish brethren, the rage of pagan authorities, and the wanton behavior of the Gentiles who lived in a decadent society. Satan also directed his wrath toward the disciples when he failed to destroy the Son of God, but they overcame all obstacles “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death” (Revelation 12:11).
I want to study with you their methods to see if we can discover some of the reasons for their tremendous success. I have difficulty distinguishing a pattern from a guideline. My dictionary defines “guideline” as: “A statement of policy by a person or group having authority over an activity.”4 There are patterns and guidelines in the book of Acts that must be followed when they are shown to be established by the well-known rules of establishing biblical authority, but not every incident and not every account of action is a precedent for us to follow.
Foy E. Wallace, who was notorious for long sermons, remarked one time that all that was lacking to make his meetings completely scriptural was for someone to fall out the window. In other words, he was already preaching until midnight and some were sleeping, as in Acts 20:9. An old preacher once advised that we can’t go wrong when we note the things the apostles and early disciples did and follow that as closely as possible. Those are my sentiments as we study these chapters. Let us see what we can learn.
How Did They Choose the Place?
The apostles and early disciples operated according to a divine plan given them in the last words of the Savior in Acts 1:8: “And you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” According to Alford’s chronology, the activity in Acts was centered in Jerusalem for about seven years. Then came the persecution which effectively scattered the disciples. Soon the disciples were preaching in Samaria, Azotus, Caesarea, Lydda, Joppa, Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch in Syria. The great city of Antioch soon became the new center of evangelism and was the gateway to the West --- Asia Minor and Europe.
Surely, one of Paul’s guiding principles in choosing a place may have been expressed in Romans 1:16: “To the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” Another might be found in Romans 15:20: “And so have I made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation.” Paul was a “ten-talent man” and disdained easy fields of labor, choosing a place where there would be no duplication of effort. Toward the end of his life he was still reaching out, promising the Romans, “But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you; whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you” (Romans 15:23-24). Paul was still looking for new areas (“having no more place in these parts”) that had not been previously evangelized. How successful were the early disciples in carrying out the grand design of evangelism? Paul said in about A.D. 63/64 that the gospel “was preached to every creature which is under heaven” (Colossians 1:23). Now, I want to make some specific observations:
- 1.They had a plan of evangelism. Do we have a plan? It seems to me that many congregations are not approaching evangelism in a systematic way. They may send $100 here and $100 there each month with no idea in the world what these dibs and dabs of support are accomplishing. Do we demand results or are we satisfied with housekeeping efforts? I think each congregation should have a long-range plan, as the early disciples did, and a short-term plan, as it seems that Jerusalem did in sending Barnabas to Antioch in Syria.
2.They chose a field where it was reasonable to expect a favorable reception. For example, Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch in Pisidia and found the synagogue on the Sabbath, as his custom was. There was a colony of Jews there and also “God-fearers,” as many commentators call the Gentile proselytes They had every reason to expect the Jewish brethren to accept the gospel but when they did not, Paul turned to the Gentiles, probably the God-fearers, and they believed. But Paul and Barnabas “shook off the dust of their feet against them,” that is, the Jews, and went to another place. Some will not receive the truth and even Jesus taught that some are to be let alone. Shaking the dust off was not some childish act, but a profound testimony against their opponents and something commanded by the Savior.
In considering this matter of receptivity, we would think a farmer foolish who spent his time grubbing out a living on a rocky hillside when he could expend the same amount of effort in some rich, bottom land and have a bumper crop. But we have done the same thing in the past, using time, talent, and large sums of money where response to the gospel is poor, when we could expend the same efforts and harvest many more. Some research has been done on what makes a place receptive to the gospel, and the findings indicate that receptivity almost without exception, develops out of a period or condition of change in a society. Some major political, economic or social upheaval is found to cause a new adjustment of human relationships and living conditions. That is undoubtedly the reason for the good response in Russia, and it is also the reason that we should be evangelizing more Latin Americans who have migrated to the United States.
3.They experienced God’s immediate guidance in choosing a place. God deliberately laid plans for the conversion of the Ethiopian by sending Philip to the Gaza Road, and the conversion of Cornelius by sending Peter to Caesarea. The Holy Spirit selected Paul to preach to the Gentiles (Acts 13:2). He was “forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia” (Acts 16:6), and was not permitted to go into Bithynia (Acts 16:7), but he was encouraged to go into Macedonia by a vision, or as he said, “... concluding that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them” (Acts 16:10). Paul stayed in Corinth a year and six months longer, because the Lord gave him this assurance in a vision: “For I am with you, and no one shall attack you to hurt you: for I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:10).
There are mysteries connected with this matter of divine intervention. If I had been in Philip’s place, and had not had divine direction, I never would have thought it the thing to do to leave the big city of Samaria and go out into a lonely road southwest out of Jerusalem. My judgment would not have told me to avoid Asia and the big city of Ephesus and to stay out of Bithynia and then to go to Macedonia. Just here I think it would do us good to listen to the mature comments of Brother J. W McGarvey on this point:
“This overruling of Paul’s purpose, coupled with the absence of it at other times, indicates something of the method by which the journeying of inspired men were directed. While their own judgment led to a judicious choice, it was permitted to guide them; but when it failed, as was likely to be the case, through their ignorance of the comparative accessibility of different communities, or the circumstances of individuals, they were overruled by some controlling providence, like Paul in Galatia; directed by angels, like Philip in Samaria; or by the Spirit, like Peter in Joppa; restrained from some purpose, like Paul and Silas when attempting to enter Asia and Bythinia; or called away across the sea, as he was now, by a vision at night. We will yet see that, as in the cases of Philip and of Peter, the prayers of individuals ready to hear the gospel were connected with the divine interference by which Paul and Silas were now being directed.”
Preachers of the present day have no authoritative visions by night to guide them, and the supposition indulged by some, that they are at times prompted by the Spirit, as Paul was, is nothing more than the conceit of an enthusiast, while it is nothing less than a claim to inspiration. But Paul was often guided merely by the indications of Providence, and so may it be with us. If we are attentive to these indications, we shall be under the guidance of that same All-seeing Eye which chose the steps of Paul. If the way of our choosing is entirely blocked up, at times, or some stern necessity turns us aside from a settled purpose, we may regard it as but the firmer pressure of that hand which leads us, for the most part, unseen and unfelt.5
Along this line, I wonder if the reason Paul was not allowed to preach in Asia or to enter Bithynia was because his vision of his mission was too small? Was it because Paul was thinking of a province, and God was thinking of a continent? It is rather striking to me that churches were established later in both places. In fact, the home of the first person Paul converted in Europe, Lydia, was from Thyatira, a city across the Adriatic in Asia. He later met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth, and they accompanied him to Ephesus, where he left them. Was this God’s way of preparing the province of Asia for the preaching of the gospel? Did God make haste slowly by going in the back door, so to speak?
4.They chose places which afforded maximum exposure to the gospel. Look at Paul’s targets: Antioch in Syria, Philippi, Thessalonica, Corinth, Ephesus, Rome --- the heavy population centers of the Roman world. He began with the ones with whom he had the most in common --- his Jewish brethren, and turned away when they rejected the gospel. Why, for example, did he leave Philippi and simply pass through Amphipolis and Apollonia? I think we have a clue in the next phrase: “They came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews” (Acts 17:1). To Paul, a Jewish synagogue was an invitation to preach Christ. The order of the synagogue allowed expression by any deemed worthy to speak. I wonder if we have overlooked opportunities along this line? I think sometimes that we have become so introverted that we scarcely have any contact with people who don’t see things as we do.
Many people seem to feel that the best prospects for conversion are other people who live as they do --- white collar, middle class people who live in the suburbs. But it could be that someone living near the poverty level in the inner city would be a better prospect for conversion. In New Testament times, the gospel cut across all social, racial, and economic barriers. Ask yourself truthfully, do you think the following would be good prospects for conversion?
- 1. A commissioned officer in the army, a career soldier? But Cornelius, a Gentile in the Roman army was offered the gospel and he accepted it (Acts 10-11).
2. A con man who dabbled in black magic? But Simon the Sorcerer “believed also . . . and . . . was baptized” (Acts 8:13).
3. A high government official? This Ethiopian, the Queen’s treasurer, obeyed the gospel and went home rejoicing (Acts 8:26-39).
4. A provincial governor of consular rank? This proconsul (“deputy;” KJV) of Cyprus wanted to hear the Word of God, and “believed, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord” (Acts 13:12).
5. A man who worked at the jail? Paul kept this man from suicide, and the Philippian jailer was baptized the same hour of the night (Acts 16:25-34).
6. An intellectual member of the supreme court? Dionysius, the Areopagite of Athens believed and “clave” unto Paul (Acts 17:34).
7. The leader of a group who thought Jesus was an impostor? Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue in Corinth, became a believer along with his whole family (Acts 18:8).
The reliance today upon religious gimmicks, emotionalism, sensationalism, theatrics, and such things as gymnasiums, youth rallies, fun and frolic, banquets, promotions and so forth is evidence to me that men do not believe the gospel alone can convert the lost. If it takes McDonalds and Six Flags to convert people, what will it take to keep them converted? You and I must have more faith in the power of the gospel as those preachers of the first century did.
How Were the Men Chosen?
Two cases come to mind of men being sent by the local congregation. The first is the instance of Barnabas being sent to Antioch in Syria by the church in Jerusalem (Acts 11:22). The second is the case of Barnabas and Saul being sent out to do evangelistic work (Acts 13:1-4). In the case of Barnabas and Saul, they were separated, or set apart, by prayer, fasting, and laying on of hands, but we are not here to talk about the method of separation. Actually, the selection of the men was made by the Holy Spirit, but the Bible does say that “they sent them away.” The point is simply that the sending began with the elders and the leaders of the local congregation. The initiative for sending out evangelists should begin with the elders and churches rather than with the ones being sent.
And have you noticed that Barnabas and Saul are mentioned as being prophets and teachers at Antioch? Four are mentioned. Do you suppose they had one for each Sunday in the month? They sent two of their best. I think our best should be sent. This attitude of sending incompetents and ne’er do wells and keeping the best preachers at home, will not advance our efforts in evangelist work. If a preacher has no credibility at home, will he have credibility in a foreign field? If a preacher has no influence at home, will he have more in a foreign field? Not likely.
Does this rule out individual initiative? On the contrary I think we need to see more individual initiative. Evidently, those who were scattered abroad (Acts 8:4) exercised a good bit of it. That was the reason for the apostles to go to Samaria and for Barnabas to go to Antioch. There is no corner on preaching and teaching. We have yielded to the idea that preaching and personal work are for the “professionals.” We travel all over the world for business and pleasure, but we have waited for someone to send a preacher to the people who live in those places. We have done little on those journeys to take the gospel with us. We have waited to be “sent out to preach,” and some have felt that they could not go without a church behind them.
Perhaps we have not yet really approached the kind of love that motivated Christ. Although He knew that we were totally unworthy and undeserving, He came to us anyway. He showed compassion for the hungry the bereaved, the sick and the suffering; but that was not His main concern. No, His main concern was “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). He gave Himself up for us. In asking us to go out to minister to the lost and leave our comfortable homes and jeopardize our lives, He is asking nothing of us that He was not willing to do and did do!
One man said that we fall somewhere in between Jesus and Jonah in our attitude toward the lost. We are like Jesus in that we do not want to see people lost, but we are also somewhat like Jonah in that we have more pity on a gourd than we do on people. Jonah was “very angry” when God did not bring destruction on Ninevah. He sat down in his booth under the gourd that God prepared to shield him from the sun, and he waited to see what would happen to Ninevah. Then God prepared a worm to destroy the gourd, and the sun beat down on Jonah, and Jonah was ready to give up again. God said to Jonah: “You had pity on the plant, for the which you have not labored, nor made it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night: And should I not pity Ninevah... ?” (Jonah 4:10-11). Jonah was comfortable under the gourd vine, and we are comfortable with our fine homes, air conditioners, microwaves, television sets, and fine automobiles. Do we care more about these things which are so fleeting and passing than we do the eternal souls of men? What would we be willing to give up to win the lost?
How Were They Supported?
We do have a divine pattern for the way that the church supports the preaching of the gospel. We must keep in mind that each local congregation is autonomous and independent. As shown by 1 Peter 5:2 and Acts 20:28, the authority of the elders of a local congregation extends only to “the flock of God which is among you.” That includes authority over that congregation’s resources, personnel, and functions. Let us notice briefly the New Testament pattern in evangelism:
1. The preacher is selected by a local congregation (Acts 11:22; 13:1-3).
2. The area of labor is defined by a local congregation (Acts 11:22).
3. The preacher is sent by a local congregation (Acts 13:1-3).
4. The preacher is supported by local congregations (Philippians 4:15;
2 Corinthians 11:8).
5. The preacher is supported by funds sent directly to him (Philippians 4:15-16).
6. The preacher reports to the local congregation(s) supporting him (Acts 14:6-7)
- 1. The preacher is selected by the missionary society.
2. The area of labor is defined by the missionary society
3. The preacher is sent by the missionary society.
4. The missionary society is, paid by the local congregations.
5. Out of its funds from the local congregations, the missionary society sends pay to the preacher.
6. The preacher sends a report to the missionary society and it sends reports to the local congregations.
- 1. The preacher is selected by the sponsoring church.
2. The area of labor is defined by the sponsoring church.
3. The preacher is sent by the sponsoring church.
4. The sponsoring church collects funds from the local congregations and deposits it in its treasury.
5. Out of its funds from the local congregations, the sponsoring church sends pay to the preacher.
6. The preacher sends a report to the sponsoring church and it sends reports to the local congregations.
Other Matters
Some of us remember a time when a preacher had to be on the move all the time or risk the opprobrium of being a “pastor.” I do not think the pastor system is any more scriptural than it ever was, but I think we have come to realize that simply living in one place does not make a pastor. It has been pointed out that Paul stayed at Corinth for a year and a half (Acts 18:11), and at Ephesus for about three years (Acts 20:31). Although other churches were established in neighboring cities, Colossae, Hierapolis and Laodicea, there is an indication that they had never met Paul; indicating, perhaps, that his main work was in Ephesus.
It is also interesting to note that the only man who is called an evangelist, Philip, went to Caesarea after his preaching to the eunuch (Acts 8:40) in about A.D. 37. Twenty-one years later, about A.D. 58, he is still at Caesarea (Acts 21:8), and he had four daughters old enough to prophesy.
No congregation should let a preacher control it by threats, power moves, or in other ways. Preachers should not be allowed to violate the autonomy of a congregation by telling the congregation every move to make, what preachers to have, etc. And what is true in the local congregation is true in whatever area he is sent.
Every congregation should have world vision when it comes to carrying Out the Great Commission. If we do what God intended, we are going to have to return to every-creature, all-nations, world evangelism, and make that our number one priority. A father once asked his son: “Do you know how to load a shotgun so it will shoot hard and not scatter?” The boy replied that he did not. The father said: “Put in one shot.” If we expect to impact the world with the gospel, we are going to have to have one vision --- evangelism. There are probably many preachers and their families who are willing to go, provided the place they go will have all the comforts of home. Not many are willing to risk imprisonment, death, or even discomfort, to get the gospel to the world; but it was that boldness that accomplished the evangelism of the whole world in the first century
419 K S.W., Ardmore, OK 73401.
2. “The Spread Of Christianity,” Reader’s Digest Atlas of the Bible, (Pleasantville, 1971), p. 205.
3. Schaff, p. 22.
4. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 1969, P. 585.
5. J. W McGarvey, A Commentary on Acts of Apostles, Nashville, 1958, pp. 199-200.
6. Ibid., p. 4.
7. James P. Needham, “Supporting the Work,” God’s Work in God’s Way, ed. Melvin Curry Temple Terrace, 1971, p. 113.
Goodall, Charles G. “Evangelizing The Lost,” God’s Work in God’s Way. Temple Terrace: Florida College Bookstore, 1971.
McGarvey, J. W., A. Commentary on Acts of Apostles. Nashville: B. C. Goodpasture, 1958.
Morris, William, ed. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Boston: American Heritage Publishing Co., Inc., 1969.
Needham, James P., “Supporting The Work,” God’s Work In God’s Way. Temple Terrace: Florida College Bookstore, 1991.
Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, Vol. H. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Please Contact me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruthsToU@gmail.com or 253-396-0290 (cell)for comments, questions, further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.
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