Marks of the Church at Antioch
On Friday Night sermon — 080825 regarding the Church at Antioch, stirred my heart to reflect on what it truly means to be part of the body of Christ. Through the Scriptures, we see how the early church exemplified unity, service, and fellowship. These are qualities we should long to grow in today.
Here are three marks of the church at Antioch that made me think deeply:
1. Believers Who Are Unified in the Purpose of the Church
The church in Antioch was born out of scattered believers who fled persecution (Acts 7:59–8:4, Acts 11:19–20). Though scattered, their mission remained clear which is to preach Christ Jesus. Some shared the gospel only with Jews, while others boldly preached to Gentiles. Despite their diverse backgrounds;
“a great number believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21).
This unity in purpose reminds me of what Paul urged in Philippians 2:1–4 which is to be of one spirit and one mind, looking not only to our own interests, but to the interests of others. The early believers were not inward-looking; they were focused on building God’s Kingdom.
A food for thought for us Christians today; “Are we united in the same way today? Do we live with the same purpose as a church that if it’s to reach the lost, build one another up, and glorify Christ?”
2. The Presence of Good Workers — A Gift We Must Not Take for Granted
Acts 11:22–24 introduces us to Barnabas who is a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith who strengthened the church. His presence led to further growth, and he brought Paul to Antioch to teach with him for a whole year (v25–26). Their work bore fruit: it was in Antioch the disciples were also first called Christians.
This reminds me how vital it is to appreciate and honour those who serve faithfully. From ministers to those on weekly duty, good growth is made possible by good workers.
But the question to ask ourselves is: “Are we just spectators or are we contributors?”
“Do we recognise the work of others, or have we allowed biases to cloud our appreciation?”
Paul’s heartfelt sharing in 2 Corinthians 7:2–7 shows how much ministers pour themselves out. Sometimes we expect much from them while giving little ourselves not wanting to be burdened, yet unwilling to serve.
Let us not only give thanks for these workers but also aspire to be one of them, serving with excellence whatever role we’ve been given.
3. Regular Assembly Together as One Church
As the believers in Antioch grew, they did not isolate themselves. Instead, they gathered regularly. Acts 11:26 tells us that for a year, Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught many.
The power of assembling cannot be overstated. Hebrews 10:25 calls us not to neglect meeting together, because our growth happens not in isolation, but in community.
The church at Antioch didn’t just grow inwardly, they extended outwardly. In Acts 11:27–30, they responded with generosity and care for other believers during a famine. Their unity and gathering led to compassion and action.
Therefore, to conclude my sharing of what I learn from Friday’s sermon session, the Church at Antioch shows us a picture of a grown and growing church; one that is:
Unified in purpose
Rich with faithful workers
Committed to assembling together
We hence ought to reflect on these questions:
Are we aligned with the purpose of the church, or are we still holding onto our own agendas?
Are we serving faithfully and appreciating those who labour among us?
Are we present in the body, growing together with fellow believers?
May we grow to reflect the spirit of Antioch; Being faithful, fruitful, and full of Christ.
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