Acts 11:22-26

The church of Antioch did not have a pastor. It did not have a preacher, and it did not hold evangelistic services. It came into existence without any organized church involvement. It came into existence because Christians witnessed about Christ. It was only after the church existed that it needed a pastor and a preacher. Today, many Christians are confused about what causes the body of Christ, the church, to grow. Creating new Christians is not the responsibility of professional church leadership.

When existing Christians live and witness to the power of Jesus to change lives and give hope to those who are lost in sin, people respond with belief. When people are desperate and what they are trying is not working, they will grab the lifeline of the gospel. Throwing a lifeline is a responsibility of their friends and family who are already standing on the solid rock. That is the way it worked in Antioch and that way will still work today.

Once it came into existence, the church of Antioch did need a pastor and a preacher. The main church at Jerusalem sent Barnabas. He was a good man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. He is an example of what we look for in a pastor. He was full of encouragement and spiritual guidance. However, he recognized that the church also needed serious instruction. He went to fetch Saul to be their teacher and preacher. Together they ministered to the church for a whole year. Saul taught them how to think as Christ thought and how to act like Christ acted, and Barnabas encouraged them and helped them to do so. Their ministry together was so effective that the people of Antioch begin to refer to members of the church as Christians.

The meaning of the word “Christian” was “one belonging to Christ, one acting like Christ or a Christ-like one.” We are not Christian because of what we call ourselves. We are called Christian because we belong to Christ and live like Him.