The congregation in Antioch had the largest, most successful work outside the city of Jerusalem. The work of sharing Christ was going so well that they had five prophets and teachers working in the city. The work was so successful that Barnabas personally made a long, special trip to find Saul and bring him to that city to work. In the middle of all that opportunity and success, the Lord called two men away from that team to other needs and works. Few of the works were as successful as was the work they left.

Barnabas and Paul were sent to their new work with encouragement.

1. Next Saturday morning for the ninth consecutive year we have a group leaving to spend an intensive week of work in Guyana.
   1. Read the names of the forty-seven people going.
   2. In this group:
      1. Thirty-two are members of this congregation.
      2. Four are former members of this congregation.
      3. As of this trip, one hundred thirteen members of this congregation have been a part of the nine groups that worked in Guyana.
   3. In the past two trips:
      1. Over two thousand people saw a doctor on each trip.
      2. In 1997 fifty-one decided to be baptized into Christ.
      3. In 1998 sixty-three decided to be baptized into Christ.
   4. The group will be engaged in four activities:
      1. The sick will receive medical attention.
      2. Those interested will have one-on-one Bible studies.
      3. Teens will teach VBS-type classes in schools.
      4. Roy Dunavin, Ted Edwards, and Larry Roper will preach each evening in three different places.
   5. Michael Cole, who coordinates the group, will lead us as we pray for the group's safety.

2. Compassion for the sick and suffering:
   1. Readings about Jesus and Christians' concern for the sick:
      1. Peter told the group assembled in Cornelius home, Acts 10:38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
      2. Matthew 4:23-25 Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people. The news about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were ill, those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He healed them. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
      3. Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus was going through all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
      4. Matthew 14:13,14 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
      5. Acts 5:12,14-15 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. ..And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
   2. Mat Griffin will lead us in a prayer for the sick who will receive treatment.

3. Love for those who need to hear the good news about Jesus Christ.
   1. Readings about those who heard:
      1. Acts 2:5, 6 Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. ... ¹⁴ But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: "Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. ... ^{40, 41} And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
      2. Acts 5:14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number... (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
      3. Acts 11:19-24 So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that occurred in connection with Stephen made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except to Jews alone. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord; for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
   2. Jerry Canfield will lead us in prayer for those who will hear the good news about Jesus.

4. Glorifying God for our Savior and salvation:
   1. Readings that glorify God for salvation:
      1. Ephesians 1:3-8 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
      2. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
   2. Buster Herren will lead us in prayer as we glorify God for our Savior and salvation.

5. We as Christians are given three basic responsibilities by God.
   1. The first is to spiritually mature as God's son or daughter.
   2. The second is to encourage our brothers and sisters as they grow and develop in Jesus Christ.
   3. The third is to share our Savior with all the people in the world.

6. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. (The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation, 1996.)
   1. To those of us who placed our trust in Jesus Christ, who redirected our lives to live for God, and who were baptized into Christ, I give us this challenge.
      1. Mature in the Lord.
      2. Practice discipline and run to win.
      3. Do not preach to others, and fail to qualify yourself.
   2. To those who have not yet placed their trust in Jesus, or redirected their lives to live for God, or been baptized into Christ,
      1. We invite you to accept God's gift of forgiveness and salvation.
      2. We invite you to share our Savior.

[Invitation song]