Chapel in Wales, United Kingdom.

By Tom Shanklin

I get excited when I see churches that are fulfilling the Great Commission and accomplishing great and mighty things through the power of the Holy Spirit. The story of the church at Antioch in the book of Acts provides a model for building a church that can change the world. Whether your church is just starting or has been around for decades, there are some qualities which we see in this particular local church which can bring vitality and powerful change through your church as well. Let’s look at seven characteristics of the church at Antioch—a local church that changed the world.

1. They shared the Good News with people that no one else was reaching. The people who started the church at Antioch came to that city after a persecution of the church at Jerusalem. They began to share the Gospel with the Grecians. “And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.” Acts 11:20, 21, KJV. 

The church at Antioch was initiated through personal evangelism, and everything that followed was dependent of that first step. Dedicated believers were sharing their faith with those around them and the Lord was confirming the Word with signs following. That is still what we need today!

2. They encouraged people to live for the Lord. “Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.” Acts 11:22-24, KJV. 

Barnabas’ ministry was focused on encouraging people to follow the Lord from their hearts and “much people was added unto the Lord.”.One of the reasons that many local churches today are failing to bring change in the earth is that there is not enough emphasis on holiness of heart and right living. As a result, people in the church are living in sexual immorality, impure speech, and compromised lifestyles. In a reaction to and rejection of legalism, many churches have lost the message of holiness. Leaders have thought that in order to draw people they must soften the message. As a result, the church often lacks the power and moral integrity to bring change.

3. They taught the Word of God. “Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11:25, 26, KJV.

Thank God for the ministry of exhortation, but in addition to that we need good teaching. Barnabas recognized that his ministry of exhortation could only go so far in producing disciples for the Lord, so he left Antioch to bring Saul (later known as the Apostle Paul) to teach the people. Apparently, this teaching ministry was quite effective, because we see the people of the community recognizing the disciples’ identification with Christ by calling them “Christians.” Paul’s teaching ministry may have been very similar to what he has taught us through his epistles (the message of the Gospel, who we are in Christ, and how to walk in power of Christ in our daily lives). The local church is still called to make true disciples through focused biblical teaching.

4. They embraced the 5-fold ministry. “And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.” Acts 11:27, KJV.

Thank God for the ministry of the pastor, who is most closely aligned with feeding and caring for God’s people. But in order to have a church that walks in kingdom purposes and a world vision, we still need the apostle, prophet, evangelist, and teacher to bring their influence to the local church, as well as the pastor. (See Ephesians 4:11) Each of these ministry gifts has a part in equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. The Antioch church had connections outside their local fellowship and welcomed outside ministry. We need to embrace all of the five ministries that the Lord has ordained in order to change the world.

5. They learned the grace of giving. “Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.” Acts 11:29, 30, KJV.

When a local church decides to touch the world and meet the needs of people through giving, they find the blessing of God overtaking them. This is one of the great secrets to ongoing health in the life of a local church.

6. They ministered to the Lord in prayer. “Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.” Acts 13:1, 2, KJV.

For the Church to accomplish God’s will in the earth, she must take her instructions from the Holy Spirit, rather than through human reasoning and plans. This requires getting in the Spirit through worship, prayer and fasting. The Antioch church set aside time for this purpose, and the rewards were great. A world-wide ministry was birthed!

7. They released God-ordained ministry to touch the world. “And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.” Acts 13:3, 4, KJV.

I believe we can measure the impact of a local church more by its sending capacity than by its seating capacity. I know some very small churches that are accomplishing great things for God, and also some quite large churches which are accomplishing very little. I’m talking here about releasing ministry, not only to the nations of the world, but also into the community in which we live.

The Antioch church was unselfishly willing to release their most gifted and experienced ministers as missionaries. As a result, much of the known world was reached with the Gospel and many other churches were established. Not only that, but the Apostle Paul’s ministry is still impacting the world today through his epistles in the New Testament. This is all because of a local church which followed a God-ordained pattern for ministry and pursued the will of God in their generation.

Thank God for all that is being accomplished today through world-changing churches. Let us pray that God’s work will continue in greater ways in the days to come so that the world may come to know that Jesus Christ is Lord.

This message was originally posted in November of 2016.

The Missions Vision of the Local Church>>>

Rev. Dale Yerton has a great video online about the church at Antioch called “A Tale of Two Cities.” His message compares the church at Antioch (Acts 11&13) with the church at Jerusalem (Acts 2). Jerusalem was essentially a Jewish church which did not truly grasp the Great Commission to reach all the world. The church at Antioch more closely fulfilled the heart of the Lord for the nations, and is a more appropriate pattern for local churches today. Check it out, along with other excellent teachings by Dale Yerton on Vimeo.