Preaching in Pisidian Antioch (1): Old Testament Points to Christ <Ac 13:13-25>

Introduction:

* The church’s spiritual quality can be evaluated from two aspects:

1）Whether the pulpit is faithful to the Bible (foundation of life).

2）The church’s evangelism and missionary works (fruits of life).

* <Mt 28:19>: Therefore go!

* Basically, missionary work is the most important yet most challenging outreach work of the church.

* Missionary work that truly builds and reforms regional churches will surely suffer the attacks of enemies.

* Many missionaries backed out because of impure motives or giving in to human will.

Read <Ac 13:13-25>

1. <v13>: John Mark left the mission team.

* <Ac 15:36-38>: Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

*<2 Ti 4:11>: Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

* Some explanations about why John Mark left the team?

1）Perhaps Mark could not accept the leadership of Paul.

2）Maybe Mark could not agree with Paul preaching to Gentiles (proconsul, Sergius).

3）Perhaps Mark lost faith in Paul’s leadership because of Paul’s illness.

(Particularly, Mark might not be willing to cross the dangerous Taurus Mountains to Pisidian Antioch.)

* If a missionary had not received calling and had not been trained by time and sufferings, he would easily give up.

2. <v14-15>: Paul was invited to give a word of exhortation for the people from the scriptures that had been read.

3. <v16>: Paul preached to the Jews and Gentiles who feared the God of the Jews.

4. <v17-22>: From Israel’s ancestors to David.

1）God’s election and faithfulness.

2）Human disobedience and fickleness.

3）God chose a king after His own heart.

5. <v23>: Jesus Christ came by the promise of God.

* Jesus is not the Messiah who came from nowhere, but He is the descendant of David.

* Jesus’ coming, death and resurrection were already foretold by the prophets.

6. <v24-25>: The Bible prophesises that John the Baptist would first come to prepare the way for the Lord.

* The birth and lifelong ministry of John the Baptist were meant to prepare the way for Jesus.

* When Christ appeared, John asserted that Christ must become greater, and he must become less.