The Church: A Diverse Display of God's Multi-Faceted Wisdom
Good morning, Immanuel.
“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul” (Acts 13:1).
God’s plan has always been to bring people of all backgrounds together as one united family in Christ for his glory. The Bible paints a beautiful picture of all nations coming together to worship the living God and share in the joy of Christ. This worship around the throne of God is where the universe is ultimately heading, and that is the reality we can experience today through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 13, we glimpse that beautiful reality coming to life.
The church of Antioch was a shining example of how the blood of Christ brought various ethnic groups together. The church of Antioch played a significant role in early Christianity. In fact, it was at Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.” At the time of the early church, it was the third largest city in the Roman empire in both size and importance, making it a strategic base of operation for Paul and Barnabas to begin their first missionary journey.
Luke tells us that among the church leaders in Antioch was a man named Simeon, who was known as Niger. Niger, in Latin, means “black.” John Stott believed that Simeon “was a black African, and possibly none other than Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross for Jesus” (Stott, The Message of Acts, 216). Luke’s inclusion of this detail about Simeon, “who was known as Niger,” is a powerful testament to the gospel’s power to create a new, multi-ethnic family in Christ. As Christianity spread worldwide, God used a group of unlikely partners, diverse in background but united by faith in the risen Jesus.
Let the church today follow in the footsteps of the saints before us and imitate their faith. Let us celebrate the rich gospel heritage of the church. Let us come together and rejoice in God’s wisdom, proclaim His gospel, and welcome one another for the glory of Christ.
Helpful Resources
Article: Fathers of The Reformation: Africans in The Early Church - TGC Africa Article
Books: Want to grab a book for 30% off? TGC has relaunched its bookstore with a discount on its inventory. Check it out.
Conference: TGCW24 Conference - Behold & Believe is the Gospel Coalition’s annual women’s conference coming up this summer (June 20-22). Learn more here.
This Sunday At Immanuel
Sunday Morning…
Worship - Join us for our 9 am and 10:45 am services as we continue our series in 1 Timothy! Catch up on the series here.
Seminars…
9 am: Studying the Bible Together led by Dr. Tom Cox in the Staff Lounge
9 am: Exit Signs - A Study in Exodus Seminar led by Dr. Russell Moore in the Cafe
9 am: Student Seminar led by Vince Greenwald in the gymnasium (grades 5-12)
On the horizon…
Discover Reception - Want to learn more about Immanuel? Our next Discover Reception is just around the corner. Join us on February 11th at 10:45 AM in the cafe. Learn about Immanuel, meet a few new people, and ask any of your questions. Please RSVP here.
Immanuel Retreats: The Immanuel Staff is planning for another Women’s Retreat in late September and a Men’s Retreat in late October. More details to come!
Weekly on Fridays - Join us every Friday at 6 am in the Cafe for prayer as we seek the Lord for a long-term home in Nashville. Let’s see what the Lord will do!
Amen. God be praised! Thank you Tony 🙏🏼