The Early Church: Growth Through Persecution and Faithfulness

Barnabas exemplified fearless faith by empowering Saul, igniting a transformative mission despite persecution.

### The Power of Faithful Witness and Unnamed Disciples in Church Growth
* 🙏 "Lord, come to our help. Let your church **declare and display Christ together without fear**. Amen."
* 🚶 Barnabas exemplified collaboration by traveling **over a hundred miles** to recruit Saul, risking his own leadership position to **empower someone potentially more gifted**.
* 💪 Barnabas, described as "**a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith**," demonstrated that true faith allows one to **release control and embrace the unknown**.
* 🌍 Upon arriving in Antioch, Barnabas witnessed the **grace of God at work**, leading to the formation of a **diverse community of Jews and Greeks**.
* 🕊 The church's growth often stemmed from suffering and persecution, which, contrary to expectations, **serves to strengthen the church rather than diminish it**.
* 👥 The unnamed disciples who preached the gospel amidst persecution showed **remarkable courage**, spreading the word wherever they went **without seeking recognition**.
* 📖 Acts 11 highlights the transformation of these radical disciples, who were **fearless in proclaiming the gospel**, leading to **significant church growth** and the **birth of a new movement**.
* 🌟 Ultimately, it is the **encouragement and trust in God**, as exemplified by Barnabas, that fosters a **resilient and growing church**, even in the face of adversity.

This morning, we're gonna have our Bible exposition done by Dr. Patrick Fung. He was the General Director of OMF International. He's a very dear brother. He is one who has a great knowledge of what God has been doing throughout the continent of Asia in the past, what he's doing now. And it's not just because he studies lots of facts and figures, it's because he knows and loves the people. And so, after we do musical worship together, we'll hear from Dr. Fung as he exegetes for us a passage in the book of Acts chapter 11. Good morning, brothers and sisters in Christ. Acts chapter 11:19-26 is an amazing and surprising story of a mission movement in an unexpected time. I want to begin with the end in view, that is from verse 26. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. There are two key words here.

First, disciples, and second, Christians. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Now, perhaps it might surprise many people that the word Christian is only mentioned three times in the New Testament. The most significant occurrence is here in Acts 11, but also in Acts chapter 22, but also in one Peter chapter four, verse 16. However, the word disciple is mentioned at least 230 times in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. These people who are called Christians are disciples of Christ or followers of Christ. But I want to add an adjective to the word disciple. They were not only disciples, but they were also radical disciples. The word radical comes from the Latin word radix, which implies absolute wholehearted commitment. Acts 11 describes these radical disciples who were on fire for God, even under persecution. But first, we need to ask, what was the context? We need to connect Acts 11:19 with Acts chapter 8:1.

On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem. And all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. The disciples were scattered because there was severe persecution. Now, so far the church has enjoyed tremendous church growth. We read in Acts chapter 2, the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. In Acts chapter 5, day after day, the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ. In Acts chapter 6, the Word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. So, though the church faced various challenges, there was significant church growth with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Now, today we come to Acts 8 and Acts 11. The mood changed drastically. The church faced a testing period and severe persecution.

Yet, it was in a context of this severe persecution that we see a mission breakthrough. That is the gospel spreading from Jerusalem to Antioch and beyond. If there is a key strategy or method that God has used again and again in church history for church growth, it is suffering and often persecution. For persecution never kills the church, but a compromised gospel will. And so we want to discover what happened when the early church faced such a severe challenge. First, the power of the unnamed. So let us go back to Acts chapter 8. Acts chapter 8. On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. And those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Let's Now, I particularly appreciate one of the Chinese translations in Acts 8, verse 4, with just four simple words.

Meaning, as they go, they proclaim. These radical disciples were basically refugees on the run, yet they carried the gospel wherever they went. Now, we are told that those who were scattered were not the leaders of the church. They were the ordinary, unknown disciples of Christ. And therefore, when we come to Acts 11, verse 19, only the word those is used. 11:19, those who have been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. Spreading the word only among the Jews. No names were mentioned here. We are told that these unnamed disciples were scattered by the persecution and went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch and began to spread the good news. These unnamed disciples certainly faced uncertainty and instability. And yet they were on fire for the gospel. Basically, they gossiped the gospel wherever they went.

And so here is a gospel movement by God's people. The unnamed, unknown, and the uncelebrated ordinary disciples. Thus, a mission movement without borders was started by these unknown people of the early church. And one time, I was invited to visit the Archive Department at the University of London. The Chief Archivist led me to a massive room in the Archive Department with thousands of files. And this was what she said to me: Each file you see here represents one life dedicated to the Chinese. I believe what she meant was this: Each file represents one missionary who has given his or her life to the Chinese for the sake of the gospel. I looked at the thousands of files on the shelves. I recognized some of the names, yes. Of course, Hudson Taylor, Robert Morrison, and a few famous missionaries who served in China. But there were thousands whose names I never knew. And the majority of these names did not make it into the history books.

They live to be forgotten so that Christ will be remembered. The Bible scholar, Michael Green, put it very succinctly. Interestingly, the growth of the early church movement was not initiated by master plans, not charismatic leaders, not fantastic strategies, but by unnamed, committed, radical, fearless disciples of Jesus Christ. Now, what are some of the characteristics of these unnamed people? First, they are fearless in proclaiming the gospel. 11:19. Now, those who have been scared by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed travel as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, spreading the word among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. These unnamed disciples feared God rather than men. Their fearlessness came from a deep fear of God. Everyone was filled with awe was the characteristic of the early church.

In Acts 2, verse 43. Of course, we remember the story in Acts chapter 4 when Peter and John were forbidden to teach in the name of Jesus. Their response was, Just for yourselves, whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard. When they went back to the church, they prayed together. They began their prayers with such confidence in God as they cried out to God, Sovereign Lord in Acts 4:24. They acknowledged the sovereign rule of God. They asked God for two things. First, they asked God for boldness. Verse 29, chapter 4. Now consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Second, they asked for God's mercy to bring healing in miraculous ways. Stretch out your hand to heal. Amen. Chapter 4, verse 30.

Similarly, today, as the Church faces opposition or even persecution of various kinds, may we seek the Sovereign Lord that His Word will continue to be declared and His mercy be displayed to bring healing to a broken world. May God grant us courage like the early Church to share God's Word boldly and faithfully. And may we be a healing community. Amen. To bring hope to a broken world. Second, they are willing to cross cultural barriers. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. Chapter 11, verse 20. Now, this outward movement of the gospel expanded in two ways. Geographical and cultural. Geographically, the mission spread north beyond Judea and Samaria to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch. But even more importantly, culturally, the mission spread beyond Jews to Gentiles.

Men from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also. These Jewish believers were willing to take the gospel to the Greeks. This required a significant mindset change for the early church. These Jews had to lay down their ethnocentrism. The historian Josephus gave us an example of the deep animosity between the Jews and the Greeks. If a Jew would go up to help a Gentile pregnant woman who suddenly went into labor while walking on the road, that Jew would never be permitted to enter the synagogue again, as the person would be considered permanently unclean. However, we need to look deeper. Who are these Jews who are willing to take the gospel to the Greeks? We are told that they are from Cyprus and Cyrene. These are Diaspora Jews who were of Jewish origin but were exposed to different cultures as they lived in different places. For various reasons, they had migrated back to Jerusalem but were scattered

again because of persecution. These Jewish believers who reached out to the Greeks were multicultural in nature and most likely embraced a broader worldview. It was as if God was preparing them for such a time as this. This is relevant to us today. Most of us, if not all of us, carry some cultural or historical baggage with our own ethnocentrism. However, I praise God today for seeing brothers and sisters whose countries were once enemies of each other are now serving shoulder to shoulder together for his kingdom. We praise God for the transforming power of the gospel. For Christ has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Third, they demonstrate the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Luke used the word Lord five times in just seven verses in chapter 11. And let me quote verse 20, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. Verse 21, the Lord's hand was with them and a great number

of people turned to the Lord. Verse 23, he encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Verse 24, he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people turned to the Lord. It was not by coincidence that Luke uses this word repeatedly. Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, said, If Jesus is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all. Luke tells us that these radical disciples of the early church submitted themselves to Christ's lordship. They were willing to lay down their ethnocentrism. Now so far, I've mentioned the power of the unnamed. Now let me move on to the second point, the power of trust. The Jerusalem church recognized the novelty of the situation in Antioch but still considered themselves responsible for the direction of this new movement. And so they sent Barnabas to investigate, to assure themselves all was well.

However, when Barnabas arrived in Antioch, what he saw was beyond expectation. When Barnabas came to Antioch, he saw God at work. He saw opportunities. Verse 23, when he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad. Barnabas was excited to witness what God had done. The birth of a new international community with Jews and Greeks together. Before the Jerusalem church did anything, God was already at work. Mission breakthroughs initiated by God are often at the periphery, not at the center, not by human plans, but by the work of the Holy Spirit. And then Luke tells us what Barnabas did. Verse 23, He was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

Barnabas ministry was a ministry of encouragement and exaltation, not control. Encouraging these disciples to remain steadfast in the Lord. No wonder the apostles gave him the name Barnabas, Son of Encouragement. It was the Scottish Bible scholar, William Barclay, who called Barnabas the man with the biggest heart. Barnabas A man with a big heart is also a man who releases control and trusts God to work. While Barnabas encouraged the church in Antioch, it was God who gave the growth. Thus in verse 24, a great number of people were brought to the Lord. Sometimes by God's sovereign grace, He forces us to release control to allow the church to grow. In 1951, more than 6, 000 missionaries Not by choice, but a reluctant exodus. Arnold Lee, the China Director of the China Inland Mission said, We have

always advocated for a self-reliant, healthy, self-supporting Chinese church. However, in a remarkable way, an atheistic government is completing this movement. The power of trust is also demonstrated by Barnabas' effort in looking for Saul. Verse 25. When Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. And so for a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. Saul was not the likely candidate to be a co-worker. Even the Jerusalem church was initially afraid of him. And so when he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to Antioch. Acts chapter 9 verse 26. Barnabas chose to trust in Saul.

What a powerful example of collaboration. Barnabas traveled more than a hundred miles to recruit Saul to help him in the work. Saul was probably more educated and more gifted than Barnabas. By recruiting Saul, Barnabas was seriously jeopardizing his own position of leadership and prominence. Yet Barnabas was not afraid to let go of power, position, and status. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. A man of faith, full of the Holy Spirit, is a secure person, not afraid to release control. Having the eyes of faith, perceiving from God's perspective. Faith enables Barnabas to take the risk of empowering Saul while the others are afraid of him. Now let me come to the third point, that is the final point, the power of a faithful witness. And so for a whole year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and

taught great numbers of people. They gave time and energy to develop the church to become mature. Discipleship, which is an investment in the lives of others, is essential for church growth. Barnabas and Saul must have taught about Christ as the disciples were called Christians first at Antioch, verse 26. We have now come back to where we began. These Christians were known to non-believers as they did not keep quiet about their faith, but proclaimed and displayed Christ wherever they went. They gossiped the gospel, so to speak. In word, deed, and character, these early disciples demonstrated a visible faith. They are visible followers of Jesus Christ, visible in word, but also visible in action. Josephus, the Roman historian, gave a powerful example of such visibility. He said, these so-called Christians are deeply devoted to Christ and Christ's teaching and values. They are the ones that were willing to bury those who died from leprosy.

of whom even their own relatives will be afraid to do so. They are willing to take risks for the sake of their master Jesus Christ. Now while Luke presented to us this great mission movement by the unknown unnamed in spite of persecution in Acts 11, Luke also informed us of the serious setback of the early church in Acts chapter 12. A double assault on the work of God with the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter. As a faithful witness of Christ, we cannot run away from opposition, sometimes even violent opposition. Chapter 12, verse 1. It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with a sword. Herod Agrippa was the tyrant responsible for the double assault on the work of God. It must have seemed a grave crisis. And also, it appears to us a mystery why God intervened in

rescuing Peter and not James. And thus, the destructive power of Herod and the saving power of God are contrasted here. However, I want to quote the words of John Stott. Indeed, throughout church history, the pendulum has swung between expansion and opposition, growth and shrinkage, advance and retreat, although with the assurance that even the pulse of death and hell will never prevail against Christ's judge. Since it is built securely on the rock of Christ. In February 2015, 20 Egyptian Coptic Christians plus a Ghanaian were beheaded by ISIS militants. That was shown on video. The world will never forget the image of those 21 men dressed in distinctive orange jumpsuits along a beach in Libya. There is one crucial element of what is now recognized as the martyrdom of the 21. The faithful, peaceful, and resilient utterance of the Lord's name from their lips as they have waited imminent death.

This declaration of their faith has led to a revival of courage and a confirmation of what it means to witness as a Christian. Around the world, it has not merely transcended denominational lines among Christians, but has spoken to millions of people of all faiths, and even those with none, who have been inspired by this powerful testimony. In one of the most amazing missionary movements in Christian history, the Nestorian Church maintained its missionary resilience and spiritual vitality and swept across much of mainland Asia, including China. Scholars have discovered two main factors which contributed to the Nestorian's missionary strength and resilience. The first was persecution. The Persian persecution was a main contributing factor in the marvelous expansion of Nestorian missions that took place in the fourth, fifth, and subsequent centuries. The second factor is that many of the historians, the Nestorians were in the workplace. Many of them were traders or merchants.

who were committed to sacrificial living with a vibrant witness and yet accepted a subjugated citizenship status with all the associated restrictions and yet without sinking into the ingrown ghetto mentality. Wherever they went, whether merchants or artisans, clergy or laity, they carried the gospel with them. Yes, God is sovereign, and God often allows persecution for the church to grow. Even in the West, often Christians experience nuanced forms of persecution. Persecution is not just a challenge in the majority world. Legislation and societal shifts have resulted in restrictions on religious expression and practice, challenging the church to respond with wisdom and engagement. Yet God uses the unknown, unnamed, and the uncelebrated to proclaim and display the gospel wherever they go. God brings about mission breakthroughs in the most unexpected way, often in a margin, not at the center. Persecution can never kill the church, and yet how the church responds will make a huge difference.

Lord, come to our help. Let your church declare and display Christ together without fear. Amen.

Courageous Faith: Sharing Christ Amidst Persecution – Patrick Fung | Fourth Lausanne Congress

The Lausanne Movement’s distinct calling is to connect influencers and ideas for global mission.

Lausanne Movement

The Persecution and Growth of the Early Church

The church in Jerusalem faced severe persecution, leading to the scattering of disciples throughout Judea and Samaria.

Despite the challenges, the church experienced significant growth, with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the rapid increase of disciples.

The term "Christian" was used for the first time in Antioch, but the word "disciple" was mentioned far more frequently, highlighting the radical commitment of these followers of Christ in spreading the gospel, even under persecution.

The Multicultural Impact of Persecution on the Early Church

Jewish believers, facing persecution, reached out to the Greeks, demonstrating a multicultural nature and a broader worldview.

This outreach marked a significant shift, as the gospel spread geographically and culturally from Jews to Gentiles.

The unnamed disciples, scattered by persecution, boldly proclaimed the good news of Jesus, showcasing the transformative power of the gospel and the willingness to cross cultural barriers.

The Power of Unnamed Disciples and Trust in the Early Church

The early church's radical disciples submitted to Christ's lordship, leading to a significant number of people turning to the Lord.

The Jerusalem church, recognizing the unique situation in Antioch, sent Barnabas to investigate and support the new movement.

The mission movement was driven by unknown and uncelebrated ordinary disciples, with each life dedicated to the gospel making a significant impact.

The Early Church's Mission and Resilience

The early church faced persecution, with King Herod arresting and executing members, including James.

Despite the opposition, the church's faith and prayer led to a revival of courage and boldness in witnessing for Christ.

The Nestorian Church's missionary strength was fueled by persecution and the presence of traders and merchants, while Barnabas' trust in Saul played a crucial role in his integration into the church.

The Impact of Persecution on Church Growth

The contrast between Herod's destructive power and God's saving power is highlighted, with church history showing a pattern of expansion and opposition.

The martyrdom of 21 Coptic Christians in 2015, known for their faithful utterance of the Lord's name, had a profound impact on many.

The early Christians in Antioch were visible in their faith, proclaiming the gospel through word and action, while Barnabas' ministry of encouragement played a crucial role in the church's growth.

The Power of Collaboration and Faith in the Early Church

Barnabas took a bold step by recruiting Saul, risking his own position of leadership, showing the power of letting go of control.

His faith and the Holy Spirit's guidance enabled him to empower Saul, leading to a mission breakthrough in Antioch.

Despite severe persecution, the church grew and spread, demonstrating that suffering often leads to growth and the spread of the gospel.