God’s Directions For The Church’s Ministries Series

To the Ends of the Earth, Part 21

God’s Directions for the Church’s Ministries

Acts 14:8-28

Dismiss children for nursery (under 4) and children’s church (ages 4-7)

Camper – appreciate your understanding for a time

Introduction

- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”

-- In 2023 we unpacked the beginning of all history (Creation/Fall/Promise)

-- And we looked ahead, anticipated the coming & victory of Jesus (Revelation)

-- But, in order to get to the end, we have to be busy doing the work now (Acts)

- Last time saw: God placed a hunger in our heart to hear the truth of the Gospel

-- It is the “missing piece” that we have – it is this truth that draws us to God

-- The witnessing of Paul and Barnabas revealed this to people in Iconium

-- What they heard (and felt) is the truth that they too needed a Savior

-- This is the same message we have to share today: offering Jesus to all

- Today, we will dive deeper into the ministry of the church

-- Need us to see these simple facts, through one simple action:

-- Being faithful to preach what they knew, and obey what God told them to do!

- Read Acts 14:8-28 / Pray

Point 1 – God’s calling is to witness wherever you are!

- We must realize there are people all over who know very little about God

-- Many people exist today without hope, or without knowing what’s next

-- What becomes critical then, for the CHURCH, is it’s SOLE ministry

- See this: Paul preached in the city streets (v8)

-- If the Jews were meeting together, he would have gone to them

-- Instead, he went to where they were – in the streets of the city

-- They are preaching to any who would hear, inc. a crippled man

-- APP: Speaks to their willingness to go to where this man was located

- But a special message was needed based on their superstitions (vv8-13)

-- KNOW: Superstitious people are open to hearing about faith

- Take this man in the street for example:

• He was helpless, crippled and prob very poor

• He heard (GR: akouó) the gospel being spoken, and,

• His heart was opened because he had a need (more than just physical)

- He had faith (GR: pistis) to be made whole; believed God could do something

-- So in response, Paul commanded that he be healed (power of Spirit)!

- But we need to see something in the people who stopped

-- They too had an affliction: lost; they believed in myths & legends

-- They did now know the power of the Gospel, but rather, had faith in man

- Notice humanity’s common (wrong) response:

-- The people, when seeing God’s power, assumed that they were gods

-- And why not – why not attribute to them godlike names as well? (v12)

-- Barnabas is called Zeus (king of gods); Paul is called Hermes (god of speech)

- Why? They thrived on myths, legends, and manmade things of this world

-- They also were quick to believe stories they “thought” were true

-- The same foundation as folks who follow astrology, crystals, etc.

-- They willingly give themselves to sacrificing to this world’s “gods” (v13)

- Know this, however – there are only two correct sacrifices:

1. The sacrifice that Jesus made for our sin: John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

2. The sacrifice of man, to Jesus, for forgiveness of sin: Luke 9:23, “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”

- TR: So what do Paul and Barnabas give these people? The same thing we must!

Point 2 – What message should we share?

- Paul gives them 5 things to consider: (vv14-18)

1. Men are only men (think: we do what we do) (v15)

2. There is only one living God – and you are worshipping the wrong one

-- Worse yet, you are bringing “worthless things” to God when He wants you!!

3. The living God is the creator of all things

-- Nehemiah 9:6, “You alone are the Lord. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you.”

4. God permits men to live as they want (v16)

-- Critical: He continues to suffer with us (continues to put up with us)