A Church for the Next Century

What makes a church ready for the next hundred years? Pastor David Rose challenges Trinity to look back at the first-century church in Acts, where believers lived with courage, spoke truth, and walked in devotion. As Legacy Week closes and the centennial year continues, the question isn’t what was, but what comes next: how will Trinity be shaped for mission and sent to make a difference in the next century?

Pastor David Rose walks us through Acts 11:19-30, where he identifies four marks of the early church that brought life change: courage in witness, boldness in truth-telling, devotion to the Lord, and generosity in response to need.

Key Takeaways

  • Jesus brings life change in His church. (Acts 11:19-30)
  • They lived with courage.
  • They spoke the truth.
  • They walked in devotion.
  • They looked like Jesus.
  • They cared for others.
  • Jesus responds to the worship of His church. (Acts 13:1-3)
  • Worship becomes ministry to Him.
  • Prayer becomes communion with Him.
  • Fasting becomes longing for Him.
  • Mission becomes response to Him.
  • Jesus equips His people for conflict resolution. (Acts 15:1-5, 36-41)

Discussing and Applying the Sermon

  1. Where were the believers scattered, and where did they go? What does Acts 11:19 tell us about their motivation?
  2. In Acts 11:20, who are the “men from Cyprus and Cyrene,” and what did they do differently from the earlier believers?
  3. Take a minute to read Acts 11:25-26. What did Saul and Barnabas do for “a whole year”? What happened to the disciples?
  4. Spend some time reading Acts 11:27-30, how did the church respond to Agabus’s prophecy of famine?
  5. Pastor David said the early church lived with four marks: courage, truth, devotion, and generosity. Which do you see most clearly in Acts 11:19-30? Jot down one example.
  6. Why would Barnabas’s role as an “encourager” matter so much in a newly formed church with both Jewish and Gentile believers?
  7. Pastor David said that the believers didn’t let circumstances stop their witness. What circumstances in your life might be tempting you to stay silent about Jesus?
  8. The church in Antioch responded to prophecy with generosity toward other believers. How do you respond when you see a need? What would growing in generosity look like?
Quote
... the story of Jesus is compelling to Jews and non-Jews alike because it it tells us the truth that we are dead in sin, no matter what your background is, no matter how good you might be, and that only Jesus can bring you to life. And then in that new life, you walk in this devotion to him that changes you, so that you do live with courage and you do speak the truth.