The Overflow: Learning from Antioch: Value “Kingdom” over “Castle”

Learning from Antioch: Value “Kingdom” over “Castle”
(This is part two of our series on learning from the church at Antioch.)

by Rev. Dr. Steve Cordle

Acts 13 tells us how the church in Antioch heard the call of God to send out Paul and Barnabas to God’s church multiplication mission.

Acts 13:3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.

The leaders of the church in Antioch sensed God prompting them to send Paul and Barnabas out, and they did so. This was a thoroughly unselfish act on their part.

The people of the Antioch church could have resisted God’s prompting, saying, “Paul and Barnabas are great leaders! We can’t lose them from our church. Paul is an amazing teacher. And Barnabas makes everyone feel special and part of the church family. If we send them out it will hurt our church’s growth.“

Let me ask you: what was the average worship attendance at Antioch? How members did they have? How many seats did their meeting place have?

No one knows. No one cares. The reason they made history is that they were a sending church that impacted the Kingdom of God.

The Antioch church did not say, “What about us?” They were willing to send Paul and Barnabas because they valued Kingdom over Castle.

“Kingdom” refers to the Kingdom of God. “Castle” refers to my local church.

The Antioch church was more committed to the advancement of the Kingdom of God – the “Church: with a capital C – than they were to the growth of their castle – their own local church. They were more committed to seeing churches multiply across the known world than they were with seeing their own church in Antioch grow.

Which matters most to us?

Are we more committed to the multiplication of the collective Church of Jesus on earth than we are to the size of our congregations? Do we recognize that there are many more people to reach than any one church can manage?

It is great when a church grows both in their local area and sends people out to make disciples elsewhere – growing both the Castle and the Kingdom. That should be our goal.

The reason the Antioch church changed the world was that they were committed to obeying the Lord. He had told them to send out Paul and Barnabas, so that is what they did. And that was made easier by their “abundance mentality” – they were confident that they could raise up more leaders. Maybe those leaders wouldn’t be on Paul’s level, but God would help them develop the leaders they needed.

Churches that multiply value Kingdom over Castle.

Suggested Resource: Winning by Losing, by JD Greear

SPOTLIGHT ON PLANTING

The Table Church in the Pittsburgh, Pa region is multiplying in an unexpected way. The church had 3 campus locations when it had the opportunity to take on building and a feeding ministry in an urban section of Pittsburgh. Earlier this year they started in the community by offering supper twice per week to any in need. They have been serving and getting to know the residents, so their next step will be to start holistic groups out of that location, which can become a worshipping congregation.
Then, a community group in Chippewa (90 minutes north) reached out to them to ask if they would establish the same feeding ministry in their area. That was followed shortly thereafter by a third request by the neighboring community of Midland. The Table has said “yes” to both, with the intent of starting new campuses in each location. The first worship service was a December 23 Christmas service in Midland; and 59 people attended.
When God opens a door, faith steps through it.

www.therivernetwork.org

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