The Cowboy Church at Antioch
Austin Rawles and the Antioch Outlaws
The Cowboy Church at Antioch – DOWNLOAD
Verse 1
They rode down from Jerusalem, where troubles had begun,
With Bibles in their saddlebags and hearts like blazing sun.
They headed out to Antioch, where the dusty trails did wind,
To preach the Word of Jesus, to the lost and to the blind.
They preached to folks forgotten, the ones no one would save,
And soon the Spirit’s mighty wind blew strong across the brave.
The Gospel spread like wildfire in the Antioch land,
And cowboys turned to Jesus, each one took a stand.
Chorus
Oh, the Cowboy Church at Antioch, standin’ firm and true,
With faith like a prairie wind, blowin’ through and through.
They rode the dusty trails, and they shared the Good News wide,
The Cowboy Church at Antioch, with Jesus as their guide.
Verse 2
Barnabas came ridin’, a man of faith so grand,
Saw God’s grace in Antioch and gave them a strong hand.
He told ’em, “Keep to Jesus, don’t let go of the rope,”
And the cowboys there held steady, with hearts filled up with hope.
They didn’t soften the message, no watering it down,
They kept their spurs a-jingling in that little town.
They preached about the holy life, the path that’s good and right,
And Antioch was burnin’ with the Spirit’s holy light.
Chorus
Oh, the Cowboy Church at Antioch, standin’ firm and true,
With faith like a prairie wind, blowin’ through and through.
They rode the dusty trails, and they shared the Good News wide,
The Cowboy Church at Antioch, with Jesus as their guide.
Verse 3
Old Barnabas got Saul, and brought him to the show,
They gathered ’round the campfire where the Spirit’s flames did glow.
They taught the Word for a year or more, till hearts began to burn,
And folks called ’em “Christians” when they saw the truth they learned.
They sent out men and prophets, to every lonesome range,
They didn’t keep the Gospel in, they shared it with the strange.
They gave what they could, with joyful, open hearts,
And the blessings poured down, like rain at the day’s start.
Bridge
They fasted and they prayed, heard the Spirit’s gentle call,
To ride out into darkness, bringin’ light to one and all.
They laid their hands on cowboys, sent ‘em out to fight,
For the Gospel’s truth and freedom, to spread the Savior’s light.
Verse 4
From Antioch to Cyprus, they rode the long, rough trail,
With Jesus in their hearts and the Gospel in their mail.
They reached the darkest corners, the towns where hope was thin,
And the Gospel blazed a fire, a light that shines within.
They rode with grace and courage, with faith as their creed,
They met each trial with steady hearts, planted every seed.
And now that old church’s story is still told and true,
A legacy of ridin’ bold, with the Good News in view.
Chorus
Oh, the Cowboy Church at Antioch, standin’ firm and true,
With faith like a prairie wind, blowin’ through and through.
They rode the dusty trails, and they shared the Good News wide,
The Cowboy Church at Antioch, with Jesus as their guide.
Outro
So saddle up, cowboy, take the reins with pride,
Remember Antioch’s riders, who never did backslide.
They rode for truth and freedom, for Jesus’ holy name,
The Cowboy Church at Antioch, forever ridin’ the flame.
Lyrics and Music by Alan Nafzger
The Church at Antioch
By Alan Nafzger, 2001
They rode down from Jerusalem, faced trouble and trial,
Like cowboys in the desert, they went that extra mile.
They came to Antioch, preachin’ strong and loud,
To folks who never heard the Word, they drew a mighty crowd.
With saddlebags of Scripture and the Gospel in their hand,
They brought the Good News to every soul in that land.
They spread the Word where no one else would dare,
And soon the Spirit of the Lord was fillin’ up the air.
Old Barnabas came ridin’, a cowboy full of grace,
He saw the Lord’s power in that dusty place.
He said, “Hold tight to Jesus, don’t let go of His rein,”
And the folks in Antioch grew like grass after rain.
In a land of temptation, they stood their ground,
Livin’ right and holy in a world gone to town.
They didn’t soften their message or water it down,
They rode straight and true, kept their eyes on the crown.
Barnabas called out Saul to join the dusty ride,
They gathered with the church, with the Good Book as their guide.
For a whole year they taught, till the truth took root,
And folks started callin’ ‘em Christians to boot.
They called prophets, preachers, and teachers to the show,
And the Spirit’s mighty wind began to blow.
They gave what they had, with hearts so bold,
And God’s blessing came like a river of gold.
They prayed and they fasted, heard the Spirit’s call,
Like a campfire lightin’ up the canyon wall.
Sent their best riders to far-off towns,
With the Good News a-blazin’ like a cowboy’s rounds.
They gave their best men for the work ahead,
They rode to the lost, with hearts so red.
And the seeds they planted grew strong and wide,
Like a prairie that stretches from side to side.
From Antioch’s corral, the Gospel took to flight,
They crossed the wide world in the dead of night.
Ridin’ on faith, with nothin’ but trust,
They shared the Good News where the land was dust.
They saddled up their hearts and rode with grace,
Bringin’ truth to every hard, lost face.
Antioch’s cowboys showed the way,
With a Gospel torch to light the day.
So remember that church in Antioch’s town,
When you’re ridin’ lonely, feelin’ beaten down.
They rode through trials and kept the Lord’s name,
And their story still rides on, just the same.
The Gospel’s like a wild mustang, runnin’ free,
It can turn the hardest heart, just wait and see.
The church at Antioch rode bold and true,
And the Lord’s promise, cowboy, still holds for you.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Last Updated on October 29, 2024 by Alan Nafzger