Antioch as a model church
The church in Antioch was Paul’s home base of operation. In this way, we can see that it probably most reflected his values. Additionally, it was missionally significant as the 1st place that Jesus’ followers were called “Christians.” This is most attribued to the significant cross-cultural inroads in the church that were publicly recognized by those outside of the community as being a particularly unique aspect of the church.In particular, four characteristics can be emulated from the Antioch church.
1. Open & Diverse Leadership: Just from the list of names in Acts 13, you see the diversity of leadership in Antioch. Barnabas, a man of outstanding wealth, Jewish upperclass - a transplanted leader from Jerusalem. Simeon, who all that we know is that he was probably from North Africa, as he is only distinguished by his skin color. Or Lucius, a Roman name, from Cyrene, which in the Mediterranean Sea, off the north coast of Africa. And Manian, a childhood friend of Herod Antipas, obviously someone who could hang with Jewish-Hellenistic culture… and wealth. And then the infamous Saul. Now that is some type of leadership team.

2. Diverse Ministries: But not just a diverse team, but diversity in ministry roles. There was the rational, thinking roles for teaching (Acts 11:26; 13:11), as well as the non-rational, mystical role of prophecy (Acts 13:1-2), which provided the main impetus for sending out Barnabas & Saul. Imagine those two gifts at work at the same time in the same congregation.

3. Holistic Spiritualities: Worship through fasting, prayer & community life. Social concern (Acts 11:27) from the church into the community. And the Mission of sharing the faith outside their sphere of concern (Acts 13:2).

4. Outward Looking: They had a big vision to change the world, as seen in the sending out of Paul & Barnabas. Though the book of Acts clearly describes the call as initiated by God, the church at Antioch was listening and poised for mission. I wonder if mission flowed out as a direct result of the diversity within the church, as it couldn’t be mistaken for a country, I mean, a culture club. As someone who works for an organzation that has “making world changers” as one of its vision goals, I’m humbled to realize that hugeness of that task and the necessary God iniative required to make that miracle a reality.