2. ACTS 11:18-23 “And when they heard this they…glorified God saying, ‘God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.’ So then those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose…made their way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking to the Jews. And some men from Cyprus and Cyrene came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. And the news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch. Then when he had come and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord.”

3. ACTS 11:24-26 “Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord. And he left for Tarsus to look for Saul; and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church, and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.”

4. *THIRD LARGEST CITY IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE! (Population: 500,000+) *LOCATED ON THE ORONTES RIVER, 300 MILES NORTH OF JERUSALEM (in modern day Syria) *MANY TRADE ROUTES FUNNELED INTO THE CITY *A MELTING POT OF CULTURES (with all their gods) *SPIRITUALLY: A CITY OF DARKNESS!

5. QUESTIONS:

6. BECOMING A CHRISTIAN: HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

7. SECOND: INFORMATION IS GIVEN BY SOMEONE SPEAKING IT! “So, then, those who were scattered because of persecution made their way to Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch SPEAKING THE WORD…PROCLAIMING THE LORD JESUS.” (Acts 11:19, 20)

9. BECOMING A CHRISTIAN: HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

10. FOURTH: THE MESSAGE SPOKEN AND EMPOWERED BY GOD IS THEN HEARD AND BELIEVED! (GOD ENABLES BOTH THE HEARING AND THE BELIEVING!) “And a large number who believed….” (Acts 11:21)

11. BECOMING A CHRISTIAN: HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?

13. SEVENTH: Hearing the truth about Jesus Christ, believing in Him, resulting in a changed life and commitment of one’s life to Christ, then results in A DESIRE TO LEARN AND GROW STRONGER IN THE FAITH! “Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. And it came about that for an entire year they met with the church and TAUGHT CONSIDERABLE NUMBERS.” (Acts 11:24,25)

14. WHO AM I? HAVING HEARD THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST… HAVING BELIEVED WHAT WAS HEARD… HAVING TURNED FROM WHO I WAS AND WHERE I WAS… HAVING MADE A COMMITMENT OF MY LIFE TO CHRIST… NOW, HAVING A DESIRE TO LEARN AND GROW IN MY FAITH… WHO AM I? “And the disciples were first called CHRISTIANS at Antioch!” Acts 11:26

15. DISCIPLES (MTT. 10:1; Acts 6:1) BELIEVERS (Acts 5:14) CHILDREN (I Jn. 3:10) SONS (Eph. 5:1) SAINTS (Rom. 6:13; Jn. 17:9) SERVANTS (Acts 4:29) FAITHFUL (Acts 16:15) BRETHREN (Rom. 7:1; 12:1) FRIENDS (Jn. 15:14,15) BELOVED (Col. 3:12) HEIRS (Rom. 8:17) HIS OWN (Jn. 13:1)

16. WHAT DO THE NAMES MEAN? ARE THESE DESCRIPTIONS TRUE OF MY LIFE? 1.BELIEVER:CHRIST IS THE OBJECT OF MY FAITH! 2.CHILDREN/SONS:A NEW BIRTH HAS TAKEN PLACE! 3.DISCIPLES:I AM FOLLOWING CHRIST! 4.SAINTS:GOD SEES ME AS HOLY BECAUSE OF JESUS! 5.SERVANTS:I AM COMMITTED TO DOING HIS WILL! 6.FAITHFUL:I HAVE GIVEN MY ALLEGIANCE TO CHRIST! 7.FRIEND:I ENJOY MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST 8.BELOVED:I KNOW I AM LOVED BY CHRIST! 9.HEIRS:I AM PROMISED A FUTURE WITH HIM! 10.HIS OWN:I HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST!

17. WHO AM I? HOW DO I THINK ABOUT MYSELF?

18. “AND THEY WERE FIRST CALLED ‘CHRISTIANS’ AT ANTIOCH.” (11:26)