New Center of Gravity

The late John Stott defined mission as “everything the church is sent into the world to do.” In this passage, we see evidence of evangelism, teaching and compassion. Antioch (not to be confused with Pisidian Antioch, Acts 13:14) was emerging as the center of mission, for both Jews and Gentiles. It was the capital of the Roman province of Syria, the third largest in the Empire (after Rome and Alexandria), and I. H. Marshall records that it was one of 16 cities with that name! Huge numbers were coming to Christ, and, as usual, the Jerusalem church sent someone to investigate (See also Acts 8:14). Barnabas was a good choice. Marshall comments, “The fact that Barnabas had the spiritual insight to recognize that God’s plan was being fulfilled at Antioch was of decisive significance for the growth of the church.” He saw the potential, so Saul comes back into the story, using his teaching gifts to good effect.
There were problems, however. The term “Christians” (26) was probably a mockery by Gentile nonbelievers, in whose context “Christos” would not have implied “the anointed one” (as for Jews) but probably “the oily one!” (Conrad Gempf). Readers who live in areas where Christians are mocked may take comfort from the way God was doing amazing work in Antioch, which was eventually to bring the Gospel to the rest of the world.
Evangelism and teaching are not enough, however. Just as Old Testament prophets were concerned for social justice, so the church was encouraged to act to help those in a worse situation than their own. The Roman historian Suetonius confirms that during the reign of Claudius (A.D. 41–54) there were frequent famines, although never an Empire-wide one. Marshall records a famine in Judea in A.D. 46. Are compassion ministries high on the priority list of our own churches?

In your church, do you see a balance between evangelism, teaching and compassion ministries? Where do you fit in?