NEW TESTAMENT CHRISTIANITY

Acts 14:21-23

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. The book of Acts is the divine record of the beginning of
      Christianity.
      1. Many people were made disciples of the Lord by the
         teaching of the gospel.
      2. We select a few verses from the book, 14:21-23, which
         we will examine in detail.
         a. From these we learn much about what living the
            Christian life is all about.

I. THEY PREACHED THE GOSPEL (Vs. 21).
   A. Paul preached the same simple message in every city.  1 Cor.
      2:1-2
      1. This gospel is God's power to save.  Rom. 1:16
      2. It is that living and active message that cuts to the very
         heart of the soul.  Heb. 4:12
   B. The preachers of the gospel in N.T. days did not preach
      themselves, but the Lord Jesus Christ.
      1. Two guest speakers were asked to speak to a student
         body on Abraham Lincoln. After the first speech, the
         unanimous consent of the student body was, "Our
         speaker was a great speaker." After the second speech,
         the consensus was, "Abraham Lincoln was a  great man."
         We ask, "Which one did his job?"
      2. Paul said, "We do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus
         the Lord."  2 Cor. 4:5 

II. THEY MADE DISCIPLES OF THE LORD (Vs. 21).
   A. Jesus had commanded his apostles to "Go therefore and make
      disciples of all the nations."  Matt. 28:18-20
      1. The Greek word "make disciples" here is not the
         common word for "teach." 
         a. It means "to disciple, teach, instruct."  It is the same
            word used in our text in Acts 14:21 
      2. Baptism is a part of the discipleship process, but is only
         the beginning.  Jesus added, "...Teaching them to observe
         all things that I have commanded you..."
   B. One must grow and develop into a true disciple of the Lord. 
      Matt. 10:24-25; Luke 6:40
      1. Thus, not only does the true disciple learn His master's
         teaching, but he follows and obeys Him.  John 8:31-32

III. STRENGTHENING THE SOULS (Vs. 22).
   A. They strengthened the "souls" of the disciples.
      1. New Testament Christianity is a religion of the "inward
         person."  2 Cor. 4:16
      2. Worldly people are concerned with outward, fleshly
         things.
         a. As a matter of fact, they can't distinguish between
            their bodies and the person on the inside.  To them,
            their body is them.  The body is the person who they
            are.  Thus, when you ask, "How are you doing?" 
            They immediately reply by mentioning something
            about their body.
         b. It makes you want to reply, "I didn't ask, 'How is
            your body doing?' but asked, 'How are YOU
            doing?'"
      3. The Lord develops and strengthens the inner person, not
         the outward.  Rom. 12:2
   B. Once someone becomes a Christian, he must be strengthened
      or he will not last.  Luke 8:13
      1. He must immediately replace the bad with the good. 
         Luke 11:24-26
      2. He must not just merely stop sinning, but must become a
         servant of righteousness.  Rom. 6:11-13 
   C. They exhorted the disciples to continue in the faith."  (Vs.   
      22)
      1. It is not enough to start, we must finish the race, keep
         the faith.  We must never give up.
      2. Much of our work as God's servants today is to
         encourage one another to keep going in the right
         direction.  Heb. 10:24
   D. We must be reminded that we must endure many tribulations
      to enter the kingdom of God.  (Vs. 22)
      1. This refers to the eternal kingdom.  They had already
         entered the present kingdom.
      2. This should help all of us to understand that being a
         member of the body of Christ will not always be easy
         or pleasant.
      3. There will be many tribulations both within and outside
         the church.
         a. Jesus prepared His disciples for the hardships to
            come.  Matt. 10:21-22; John 16:1-4
         b. Those early Christians prepared their converts for
            tribulations and afflictions.  1 Thess. 3:1-4
 
IV. THEY APPOINTED ELDERS IN EVERY CHURCH (Vs. 23).
   A. It is God's will that every church have elders.
      1. God, in His wisdom, wants mature men to oversee the
         flock.
      2. Someone needs to make the final decision.
         a. It is typical in business meetings to discuss things for
            many hours (and sometimes for many business
            meetings) with no decision being made.
   B. Each congregation should be striving to reach the goal of
      having elders.
      1. We need to appoint men in accord with the
         qualifications, men who we trust, and who can lead.
      2. When they make decisions in accord with the Lord's will,
         we need to abide by their decisions.
   C. It is wonderful to have elders, those who are looking out for
      our spiritual welfare.  Heb. 13:17

V. PRAYER AND FASTING.
   A. These brethren "prayed with fasting" which indicated that they
      were serious about what they were doing.
   B. Prayer is everywhere commanded in the Scriptures, but
      fasting is not.
      1. Fasting is neither commanded nor condemned.  We only
         have examples of it being done in the N.T.
      2. Evidently, God knew that men would abuse the
         command to fast.
         a. The neglect or severe treatment of the body has no
            value against the indulgence of the flesh.  Col. 2:23;
            Heb. 13:9
            (1) In other words, severe treatment of the body
                does not make one stronger spiritually.
      3. Because of lack of instructions on it, let each individual
         decide for himself whether or not he wants to fast.
   C. Here, the disciples through fasting and prayer are invoking
      God's help in the appointing of elders and in commending
      others to the Lord.
      1. Let us do the same - solicit the Lord's help in everything
         we do.

VI. COMMENDED THEM TO THE LORD (Vs. 23).
   A. Emphasis should always be put on the Lord Himself.  Acts
      5:14; 11:22-24
   B. In the church, the Lord Jesus Christ needs to be the center,
      the focus, of everything.
      1. It is possible for one to be converted to the "Church of
         Christ" and never to the Lord.
      2. No doubt, we have many in the church today who are
         "Church of Christers" who are not true disciples of the
         Lord.
      3. This is why many, who when error comes in, follow the
         "Church of Christ" and not the Lord.
   C. On another occasion, Paul commended the brethren to God
      with these words - Acts 20:32.
      1. Not one time did Paul, or any inspired writer, say, "Now
         I commend you to the church of Christ."
      2. No, they commended brethren to the Lord, to God, and
         to the Word of God.

Concl.
   A. Acts 14:21-23 - There are many marvelous things about New
      Testament Christianity in these verses.
      1. We need to preach and teach the gospel of Christ.
      2. We need to encourage one another to continue in the
         faith.
      3. Elders need to be appointed in every church.
      4. Tribulations are part of Christianity.
      5. We need to keep our eyes on the Lord; He is our Lord,
         master, and teacher.  By His grace, we are what we are,
         and what we shall be.