1. Disciples - Christians Acts 11:26

2. The Word Misused Not all believers, Jn. 12:42; Acts 26:27,28 Not all good people, Acts 10:1-4; 11:14 Not all religious people, Acts 26:5,9 One must believe, be good and religious, but that does not make him a Christian.

3. What we are Called, Acts 11:26 Called – “in the NT to utter a divine communication, to be divinely instructed, receive a revelation or warning from God, to receive an appellation” (Bagster). Barnabas and Saul “taught many people and called the disciples Christians first in Antioch.” ( Divine: Mt. 2:12,22; Lk. 2:26; Acts 10:22; Rom. 7:3; Heb. 8:5; 11:7; 12:25 )

4. Quotes Spurgeon: “I look forward with pleasure to the day when there will not be a Baptist living. I hope they will soon be gone. I hope the Baptist name will soon perish; but let Christ’s name last forever.” John Wesley: “Would to God that all party names and unscriptural phrases and forms which have divided the Christian world were forgot; that we might all agree to sit down together as humble, loving disciples at the feet of the common Master, to hear His word, to imbibe His spirit, and to transcribe His life into our own.”

5. Quotes Martin Luther: “I pray you to leave my name alone, and call not yourselves Lutherans, but Christians. Who is Luther? My doctrine is not mine. I have not been crucified for any one…How then does it befit me, a miserable bag of dust and ashes, to give my name to the children of Christ. Cease, my dear friends, to cling to these party names and distinctions; away with them all; and let us call ourselves only Christians after Him from whom our doctrine comes.” (via Guy Woods, Sermons)

6. What We Are To Be, Acts 26:28 Agrippa realized Paul was trying to convert him to Christ. The choice was his – no direct operation. He was not persuaded to make the commitment (v. 29).

7. What We Are To Suffer, 1 Pet. 4:16 Should not feel shame for being a Christian as would for murder, thief, evildoer or busybody (v. 15) Glorify God in the matter of being a Christian – the property of Christ (1 Cor. 6:19,20)

8. A Name of Distinction, 1 Cor. 1 To be “Of Paul” – two things essential: (1) Paul crucified, (2) baptism in his name. To be “of Christ” – two things essential! Could one be “of Christ” before He was crucified? Could one be “of Christ” before he is baptized?

9. A Patronymic Name “A name showing descent from a given person as by the addition of a prefix or suffix” (Webster). Ex. – Jamerson, Floridian, Alabamian Believe – turn – continue with the Lord Acts 11:20-26