Celebrating the Journeys
July 11, 2024
Welcome to Church! Whether you are joining us in person, or on line, we believe the Holy Spirit will be at work in your life. We are happy you have chosen to join us!
The Second Missionary Journey – 15:36-18:22
Week One – On the Road Again
Acts 15:36-16:10
Series Key Truth – Life is a journey and Christ gives us a mission. When we combine the two, we can change the world.
Observation #1 – The expansion of Christianity was miraculous.
Observation #2 – The 1st Missionary Journey showed them what the Holy Spirit could do in and through them.
The Bumpy Beginning
Acts 15:36-41
Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
Takeaway #1 – We can go our separate ways and come back together again.
2 Timothy 4:9-11
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
The Message Spreads and Leaders Emerge
Acts 16:1-5
Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.
Takeaway #2 – The work of God needs people who are willing to go all in.
The Spirit Gives Direction
Acts 16:6-10
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
Takeaway #3 – Closed doors can be the best things ever!