The document discusses how the early church was led by the Holy Spirit following Pentecost. It describes how the Spirit guided the church through persecution, in reaching Gentiles like Cornelius, and in establishing the church in Antioch. It emphasizes that the Spirit continues to lead both individuals and leaders today, and urges believers to offer their lives as living sacrifices in being transformed by the renewing of their minds to understand God's will. The early church leaders responded to the Spirit's leading by sending Barnabas to preach, and were empowered to spread the gospel message.

1. Acts 11
A Spirit Filled Church

2. The Spirit takes the initiative
• Jesus had given the blueprint
• The Apostles didn’t seem to have a strategy
• The Spirit is guiding the Church
The Day of Pentecost
Through persecution
Cornelius and his group
The Church in Antioch

3. The Spirit takes the initiative
• Those who are led by the Spirit and those who
resist him
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You
hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it
comes from or where it is going. So it is with
everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)
“You stiff-necked people, with
uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just
like your fathers: You always resist the Holy
Spirit!” (Acts 7:51)
• Jesus was led by the Spirit (Luke 4:1)

4. The Spirit takes the initiative
• “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is
your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform
any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to test and approve
what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and
perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2)
• “We have as much of God as we
actually want.” (A.W. Tozer)

5. Leaders responding to the Spirit
• The issues were certainly challenging
• Leadership is service
• They had the command of Jesus (Matthew
28:19)
• The Word of God (Isaiah 49:5)
• They responded to the leading of the Spirit
• They sent Barnabas
• He searched for Saul
• Leaders in tune with the Spirit

6. A Church empowered by the Spirit
• A gospel centred church
A big view of the gospel
• A good grasp of Scripture
• A sensitivity to the Spirit
• A heart for the poor
• Christians – ‘Christ followers’, ‘those of the
household of Christ’ or ‘belonging to Christ’
Losing the protection afforded to Judaism
Being different