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“Moving Out of Jerusalem”
Acts 15:22-35
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: “The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings.
Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you
with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions,it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.”
So when they were sent off, they went down to Antioch, and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. And when they had read it, they rejoiced because of its encouragement.And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words.
And after they had spent some time, they were sent off in peace by the brothers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
Acts 15:22-35
The Decision at Jerusalem
The Decision at Jerusalem
In order to understand this decision we need to understand their world.
The Decision at Jerusalem
In order to understand this decision we need to understand their world.
Due to the lack of refrigeration they consumed meat infrequently.
The Decision at Jerusalem
In order to understand this decision we need to understand their world.
Due to the lack of refrigeration they consumed meat infrequently.
Most of the time this occurredat a religious festival.
The Decision at Jerusalem
The one exception might have beenthe eating of fowl.
The Decision at Jerusalem
The one exception might have beenthe eating of fowl.
The Jews viewed the life as beingin the blood. Thus eating blood
was considered abhorrent.
The Decision at Jerusalem
What if the decision had been otherwise?
The Decision at Jerusalem
What if the decision had been otherwise?
The decision could have required circumcision.
The Decision at Jerusalem
What if the decision had been otherwise?
The decision could have required circumcision.
This decision would have made Jerusalemthe center of the Christian religion.
The Decision at Jerusalem
What if the decision had been otherwise?
The decision could have required circumcision.
This decision would have made Jerusalemthe center of the Christian religion.
The decision moves the center of gravityof the early Christian churchfrom Jerusalem to Antioch.
The Decision at Jerusalem
This was providential.
The Decision at Jerusalem
This was providential.
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon
another that will not be thrown down.”
Matthew 24:1-2 (ESV)
The Decision at Jerusalem
This was providential.
In about 20 years Jesus’ prophesywould be fulfilled.
The Decision at Jerusalem
This was providential.
In about 20 years Jesus’ prophesywould be fulfilled.
Thus, shifting out of a Jerusalem oriented movement would turn out to promote and
foster the development of Christianity.
The Decision at Jerusalem
This was providential.
In about 20 years Jesus’ prophesywould be fulfilled.
Thus, shifting out of a Jerusalem oriented movement would turn out to promote and
foster the development of Christianity.
The new centers of Christianity would be Antioch, Alexandria, Ephesus, and Rome.
The Shifting Location of Christianity
The Shifting Location of Christianity
Christianity has been conceptualized as a primarily northern and western religion.
The Shifting Location of Christianity
Christianity has been conceptualized as a primarily northern and western religion.
It is rapidly becoming a southernand eastern religion.
Christian Communities of the Future
Christian Communities of the Future
2025 2050
USA 270 350
Christian Communities of the Future
2025 2050
USA 270 350
Brazil 190 234
Christian Communities of the Future
2025 2050
USA 270 350
Brazil 190 234
Philippines 116 162
Christian Communities of the Future
2025 2050
USA 270 350
Brazil 190 234
Philippines 116 162
Ethiopia 65 160
Christian Communities of the Future
2025 2050
USA 270 350
Brazil 190 234
Philippines 116 162
Ethiopia 65 160
D.R. Congo 70 150
Christian Communities of the Future
2025 2050
USA 270 350
Brazil 190 234
Philippines 116 162
Ethiopia 65 160
D.R. Congo 70 150
Mexico 127 130
Christian Communities of the Future
Many of these communities have thrived in the midst of persecution and war.
Christian Communities of the Future
Many of these communities have thrived in the midst of persecution and war.
Many of these communities are intense in their desire to evangelize
and send out missionaries.
Christian Communities of the Future
Many of these communities have thrived in the midst of persecution and war.
Many of these communities are intense in their desire to evangelize
and send out missionaries.
Frequently they are very socially conservative, this has led some North
Americans to look to them for leadership.
Christian Communities of the Future
They are more likely to be Pentecostal.
Christian Communities of the Future
They are more likely to be Pentecostal.
They are more likely to pay attentionto such things as dreams and visionsas a form of divine communication.
Christian Communities of the Future
They are more likely to be Pentecostal.
They are more likely to pay attentionto such things as dreams and visionsas a form of divine communication.
Many are intensely interested inthe issue of spiritual warfare.
