(21) What is a Missionary Church?

The church at Antioch was at a cross-roads. Things were going well for this church. They had survived the initial crisis of being planted in a new location. They had great teachers and eager students. The hand of the Lord was upon them and they had experienced considerable growth. It would have been easy for them to grow comfortable, building themselves up with little concern for those outside. Instead, Antioch would become one of the major missionary cities of the world for the next four centuries.

Antioch serves as a pattern for us as we seek to be a faithful outreaching church in our day. "The word of God increased and multiplied" in Antioch (Acts 12:24). Antioch became a beachhead, a secure position that has been gained to be used for further advancement.

We should see our churches as beachheads; strategic footholds in enemy territories from which we follow Jesus' lead in seeking the lost. We'll catch a glimpse of what that looks like as we are introduced to, what is often called, Paul's first missionary journey (Acts 13–14).