Read: Acts 11:19-29
In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (v. 26)
It’s astounding to me that there was an actual moment in time with precise geographical coordinates when the followers of Jesus were first called Christians. Christian literally means “little Christs.” It was given as a term of derision, but the earliest believers wore it as a badge of honor. They did what Jesus did. They said what Jesus said. The similarities between the Lord and his followers were so precise that there was nothing more left to call them but “little Christs.” Clearly, this must be the highest goal for our lives too.
I have been preaching and teaching the gospel for over 50 years. While I certainly can’t remember all the sermons I have preached, I most definitely remember one of the first. It was in a poorly attended little Bible church off Capital Avenue in Battle Creek, Michigan. My dad, who was a building contractor, had recently built it. He must have told the pastor that his son was studying to be a preacher, so I got invited. There weren’t many people there to hear my feeble attempt at preaching, but this is what they heard that night. Jesus loves us so much and trusts us so much that he is willing to let us bear his name—it was a challenge then and it remains a challenge now.
We are followers of Jesus. We are Christians. We bear his name, and we must act accordingly.
As you pray, confess your love for Jesus, and ask him to help you bear his name and act accordingly.
Dr. Timothy Brown is the Henry Bast Professor of Preaching and President Emeritus at Western Theological Seminary where he served from 1995-2021. Tim continues to actively coach and encourage former students and pastors who seek help in their preaching life and he has become a certified public school substitute teacher so that he can continue investing in the lives of young people. He is married to Nancy and together they have three children and ten grandchildren.
