The Truth About Serving the Lord

Sermon from cong readings in Acts 13-15, Oct 7, 2007 – bk@kluth.org

NOTE: The "table" showing Paul's 1st missionary journey travels is at the bottom of this page.

 

1 - Serving the Lord can include lots of turns in your life

Prov 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but the purpose of the Lord prevails.

 

2 - Serving the Lord can include Spirit-led, personal and circumstantial leading

Acts 13:2-4 (In Antioch) The Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.  The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit.

 

3 - Serving the Lord is not always easy

Prov 24:16 Though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again,

 

4 - Serving the Lord reaches people for Christ and strengthens the believer and local church

Acts 14:20  (In Derbe) They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples.

Acts 14:21-23 They returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith…Paul & Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church.

 

5 - Serving the Lord will include short-term and sometimes difficult relationships

Acts 13:13 From Paphos…John left them to return to Jerusalem.

Acts 15:39-41 [Paul and Barnabas] had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company.

 

Place and verses

Activities

Transition Points

Antioch in Syria

v13:1-4

Worshipping, fasting, prayer

Holy Spirt’s leading.

Church prays.

Salamis, SE Cyprus v13:5

Proclaim the Word of God

Traveled throughout the whole island

Paphos, SW Cyprus  v13:6

Sorcerer blinded.

Proconsul believes.

Decided to said to Perga

Perga

v13:13

John departs and returns to Jerusalem.

Decide to go on to Pisidan Antioch

Pisidan Antioch

v13:14-50

Preaching in synagogue.

Almost whole town comes.

Word of the Lord spreads throughout whole region.

Leaders stirred up persecution and expelled them from the region.

Iconium

v13:51-14:6

Preached in synagogue.

Signs/wonders.  City divided.

Discover plot to stone them, moved on.

Lystra

v14:6-19

Preached the good news.

Crippled man healed.

Crowds worshipped them as gods.  Stoned & left for dead.

Came back into city after stoning.  Left next day for Derbe.

Derbe

V14:20

Preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples.

Decided to return to other cities to help believers.

Lystra, Iconium and Antioch.

V14:21-23

Strengthened and encourage the disciples to remain true to the faith (even in hardships).

Appointed church elders.

Decided to move on.

Pisidia, Pamphylia, Perga. v14:24

Preached the Word.

Decided to sail on to Antioch.

Antioch Acts 14:26-28

Reported what had been done.  Stayed a long time.

Stayed until they were sent to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem

Participated in a council about gentile believers.

Sent to deliver the news to Antioch believers.

Antioch

Acts 15:36-41

Taught believers and had a  major disagreement.

Decided to go in separate directions.

 

 

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DAILY BIBLE READINGS for this week, read Acts 16:1-19:20, Ps 77