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Moments & Marathons:
Why Success Is Hard to Come By

Acts 11:19-26 CSB | Trey VanCamp | July 14, 2024

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OVERVIEW

The church in Antioch became one of most pivotal and important churches in the New Testament. It was the first church planted among the Gentiles, the first place where Jesus’ disciples were called “Christians,” and the first church to intentionally send out missionaries to the world around them. But as influential as this church was, it was also countercultural. In Antioch, rather than seeing a powerful church revel in its influence and success, we see Christians prioritize their devotion to Jesus over their desire to receive credit. Our goal is to become a church as influential and as humble as Antioch. By sharing the gospel cross-culturally, seeking God’s will diligently, and centering on focus on Christ rather than on ourselves, we too can change our city and bring others into the Kingdom just like the church in Antioch.

TRANSCRIPT

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Service Guide

Begin with a meal/Communion.

As you gather with your family, your friends, or your Together Group, consider beginning with a meal. If you’d like to repurpose your meal as communion together, use these steps:

  1. Pass out the food/elements. If you have bread and juice, make sure everyone has the elements. If you don’t have bread and juice, that’s okay. Just make sure everyone has something to eat.
  2. Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Once everyone has their food, have someone read this passage out loud.
  3. Pray over the meal. After the reading, have someone bless the food and pray over your time together.
  4. Share a meal. Share the rest of the meal like you normally would beginning with the bread and juice if you have it.

 

If you’d like to set aside time for worship, here are a few recommended songs to use before the teaching:

  1. Good Grace by Hillsong
  2. In Christ Alone by Shane & Shane
  3. Build My Life by Pat Barrett

 

When you’re done with the meal, watch the sermon. After the sermon, use these reflection questions to respond to the teaching. Feel free to discuss these together with your Group or family, or just reflect on your own:

  1. What stood out to you the most from the sermon?
  2. In what ways do you struggle with the roles that God has called you to?
  3. Where have you experienced the tension between serving God in obscurity, and getting attention from others?
  4. What’s resonated with you the most since we’ve been talking about Moments and Marathons? What have you been encouraged by, and where do you feel God still trying to grow you?

 

Benediction

May you not lose heart in the work that God has called you to. May the presence and perseverance of God keep you joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer. Above all, may you trust in the slow work of God. Amen.