Do Hard Things Series

I finally came across a national church survey filled with good news from the pews! Here’s the headline from Christianity Today: “9 in 10 Evangelicals Don’t Think Sermons are Too Long.” This study also confirmed what I know to be true among the people of Edgewood: “They’d like to see more in-depth teaching… [and] they aren’t bothered by too many messages about giving.”

Last weekend we took an in-depth look at what God’s Word says about His creative work in the womb and declared this truth: Because everyone is made in the image of God, everyone is important to God. We also spent time praying about the situation at an elementary school in Moline and were reminded how Satan and his demons target children.

I mentioned one of the best ways to respond is to support and serve with gospel-centered groups like Good News Clubs, Quest Clubs, Young Life, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Another way to make a difference in the lives of children is to partner with Youth Hope, one of our Go Team partners. For more than 85 years, Youth Hope has been bringing hope to youth through literacy programs, kids clubs, tutoring, and after-school programs. Each day Youth Hope transports kids in Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline. They have a creative arts program and offer life-changing weeks at Camp Summit in the summer. In addition, they have a food pantry and a children’s book room.

Here’s a practical way for men to get involved. Incredibly, Youth Hope has been asked by a school in the community to lead a four-month program for fourth grade boys at the Moline Center during the school day on Mondays. They are looking for 25 men to meet with 25 boys one hour a month during the lunch hour on a Monday for a total of four meetings. So far, 11 men have stepped up. Would you consider shining the light of Christ in this way?

We’re continuing in our On Mission study from the Book of Acts. Lord willing, we’ll finish this action-packed book the weekend before Easter. We’ll pick up the pace a bit as we trace Paul’s final journey to Jerusalem and then to Rome. The Book of Acts has no rival as it spans so many different lands, focuses on the Holy Spirit, and celebrates the rise of the multi-ethnic church. Acts helps us know how to act as we live on mission by making disciples of our neighbors and the nations, all for the glory of God.

Please turn to Acts 21 where we’ll learn this truth: If you want to know God’s will, do the will of God you already know.

This chapter gives us three ways to live out the will of God.

1. Do what God wants you to do, even if it’s hard. By way of context, we’re joining Paul on his third missionary journey. He’s just had a tearful goodbye with the Ephesian elders and is continuing his trip to Jerusalem. Acts 21:1 gives us some of the specifics: “And when we had parted from them and set sail, we came by a straight course to Cos, and the next day to Rhodes, and from there to Patara.” The phrase, “when we had parted from them” can be translated, “When we had torn ourselves away from them” and was used of Jesus leaving His disciples in Gethsemane.

Let’s look at a map.

Our family has been on both sides of the pain of parting which often comes from following God’s will. We experienced a tearing away when we left our family and friends to be missionaries in Mexico City. We were on the other end of this pain when our daughter Emily left to serve as a missionary in the Dominican Republic. It was also painful to leave the church we served in central Illinois for 14 years.

The next leg of their journey is described in verses 2-3: “And having found a ship crossing to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail. When we had come in sight of Cyprus, leaving it on the left we sailed to Syria and landed at Tyre, for there the ship was to unload its cargo.” After taking a larger vessel for a longer voyage, they finally arrived at Tyre, on the coast of Israel. We know from Acts 11:19 there were followers of Christ in that region: “Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia...”

Notice how important it was for Paul to gather with God’s people. Even though he didn’t have much time, and he was no doubt tired, he went out of his way to find fellowship according to verse 4: “And having sought out the disciples, we stayed there for seven days.”