Scripture: Acts 14:8-18

C.I.: The “Great” Work of the Church

In this series … - Today we are going to see 3 things that are true - of every great congregation….

I. Truths of Every Great Congregation (Acts 14:19-28)

A. The “Great” VALUE of the Work of the Church, (vs. 19-20)

1. Which has more “value,” a cup of diamonds of a cup of water? – Now lets say you’re in the desert?
a. What price would you pay? – For the value of a thing is noted by – the price we will pay!!!
1) This is the question we should ask in many areas; marriage, children, jobs, education, church
2) What price would we pay – to see the lost saved, Jesus glorified, the world evangelized?!
3) The value we place on the Lord’s church – is shown by the price we are willing to pay!

b. (v. 19), “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the multitudes, they
stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, supposing him to be dead.”
1) Paul turned down fame/fortune (the gods have become like men…) – value not worth the cost
2) Nor did he consider any price too high – (Phil. 3:8), “More than that – I count all things to be
loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing C.J. my Lord, - for whom I have suffered the
loss of all things, - and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ.”

c. The reason we should be willing to pay any price – is because of the price God paid for us!!!
1) (Quote Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8), “For God…” – “God demonstrates His own love for us…”
2) So we too should be willing to pray any price - “whoever does not carry his own cross
and…,” (Lk. 14:27).
3) Clearly, Paul was willing to pay this cost - (Acts 14:20), “While the disciples stood around
him, Paul arose and entered the city. – And the next day he went away with Barnabas to D.”
4) What price are we willing to pay for the church in Golden – (Time, $$$, effort, energy, etc.)!

B. Four Things that Make Churches “Great,” (vs. 21-25)

1. #1: Churches are made great by the Proclamation of the Gospel – “After they had preached the gospel in that city…” v. 21a
a. God’s people are strengthened as they feed on the gospel of Jesus, the word of God.
1) Repetition must never become rote – we must never grow tired of the message of Jesus!
2) (II Pt. 1:12-13), “I shall always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them, - and have been established in the truth which is present with you. – And I consider it right, as long as I am in this earthly dwelling, - to stir you up by way of remind.”
3) ILLUST.: I had dinner last night, and the night before and… - repitition but always good!!!
4) (Matt. 5:6), “Blessed are those who hunger & thirst after righteousness, they shall be….”

2. #2: Churches are made great as they “make disciples” - (v. 21b), “…and had made many disciple.”
a. As we saw last week – proclamation brings people to Jesus – but utilization makes disciples!
1) (Quote Eph. 2:8-10)
2) For if disciples are not involved – they cease to be disciples (Jms. 2:18-20), “…show me your faith w/o works, and I will show you my faith … You believe that God is one … But are you willing to recognize – that faith without works is useless?!”

3. #3: Churches are made great as they encourage and warn.
a. A balanced diet spiritually – is even more important than I balanced diet physically.
1) (v. 22a), “…they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch strengthening the souls of
the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith,”
2) God’s people need ENCOURAGEMENT – to be able to endure the tough times.
3) (Heb. 3:13; 10:24-25), “Encourage one another … Let us consider ….”
4) All of us like to be encouraged – yet no greater encouragement than – “continue in the faith”
b. Yet we would not truly be strengthening the believers – if we didn’t WARN them of danger.
1) (v. 22b), “…and saying, ‘Through many tribulations must we enter the kingdom of God.’”
2) (I Pt. 4:12), “Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, - which comes upon you for
testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you.”
3) (II Tim. 3:12), “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

4. #4: Churches are made great by great leaders – (v. 23), “And when they had appointed elders for
them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they
had believed.”
a. A congregation of the Lord’s people will NEVER become great – w/o having qualified leaders.
1) (Tit. 1:5), “For this reason I left you in Crete, in order that you might set in order what
remains, and appoint elders in every city.”
2) God has ordained a spiritual organization –He desires for every congregation of His people.
3) We have a responsibility to them – and they to us & to the Lord – (Heb. 13:17; I Pt. 5:1-3).
4) Churches will never become great – w/o having great leaders – (Lk. 6:40), “No disciples is
above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

C. Three “Great” Responsibilities We have to Each Other, (vs. 26-28)

1. Great churches are noted three final things…
a. The love that they have for each other. – (v. 26), “From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had accomplished.”
1) From this we get the idea of haste – i.e., they just couldn’t wait to get back to their brethren!
2) (Jn. 13:34), “A new commandment I give you – that you love one another….”
b. Communication – (v. 27), “When they arrived they gathered the whole church together, and
began to report all things that God had done with them, and how He had opened a door of faith
to the Gentiles.
1) Sharing good/bad news – testifying about God’s work in our lives – it makes a difference!!!
2) (Acts 13:1; Rom. 12:15) – Remember, this wasn’t Antioch’s work – it was GOD’S!!!
c. Time spent together – (v. 28), “And they spent a long time with the disciples.”
1) Remember what we said earlier – what value do we place on the Lord’s church???
3) (Rom. 12:10), “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another..
4) Us - a great church? – There are many ways to “make disciples”(Mt. 28:19) – LETS DO IT!