And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
Acts 11:24b-26, ESV
Jesus instructed the apostles in Acts 1:8 to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The newly established church in Antioch becomes the base for several future missionary journeys into the Roman Empire. Those who left to spread the gospel were first sent by the Holy Spirit and then elders of the Antioch church. They were spoken highly of by the brethren of the church. They were able to stand strong and be unwavering in the midst of great theological debate. And, they returned to Antioch to report all that God had done before going out again.
It is highly important that we all belong to a church we consider our home base. We must be known by them. We must serve them and our community. Commitment is a characteristic we must possess. All high goals, but standards that Paul looked for when forming his team.
The time is now to stop going to church and desiring to blend in with the crowd. Refuse to be an “in-and-out” christian. Get involved, serve and be known.