October 22, 2023
Good News | Acts 13:4-12
Against The Darkness
We’ve heard great stories of the Holy Spirit at work in exceptional ways. The church in Antioch felt the Spirit prompt them to do something intentional and put a plan together. The plan was to send out two of their number to let the wider world know of the good news of Jesus. Planning is important but executing the plan is at least as important. Having the strength and capacity to carry on with the plan, through thick and thin, is the story we now find ourselves in. Barnabas and Paul show us what it looks like when Christians begin to intentionally share their faith.
Songs for this week: Spotify
- Have you ever been on a Mission trip? What was that like? Were things planned? What happened that you were trained for? What happened that you weren’t trained for? What was the state of your soul (agitated, anxious, exhilarated…) during the trip?
- “Stay together, start simple, keep moving.” Which of those 3 points do you need to hear right now? Explain.
- Having eyes to see into the spiritual realm (like when Saul called Elymas a child of the devil) sounds like a superpower. Have you or someone you know experienced seeing things about a situation or a person that was revealed to you by God?
- Sergius Paulus was intelligent, but his intelligence almost worked against him. What strength do you have that could work against you if you were to build your ego and confidence around it?
- What does the term ‘spiritual warfare’ mean to you?
Share with a friend
Recent Sermons
Like Our Rabbi Jesus has much to say about how life is intended to be lived. We’re always learning; that means, consciously or otherwise, we have teachers. Jesus warns that some teachers are dangerous! They are like the blind leading the blind. In the end, you will become like your teacher. Choose wisely.
Romans 12:1-2 - Jesus’ invitation is to follow him: to be with him, become like him, and do what he did. We surrender control to Jesus, resist the pattern of the world that shapes us, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit for transformation.
Mark 1:16-18 -We begin our series on Practicing the Way—exploring how Jesus’ rhythms of prayer, fasting, solitude, and Sabbath invite ordinary people to grow in grace and intimacy with God
Acts 17:16-34 -Paul shares the hope of Jesus in everyday language, guiding seekers toward truth and showing where their search for God had gone astray.
Acts 13:1-5 -The first Christians had small groups! They knew, because Jesus modelled it, that we’re much better in groups than we are as individuals. The group that gathered in Antioch was diverse, zoned in on Jesus and figuring out how to be outward-facing. Your own group will want all that and more!
Acts 8:9-25 - Simon put on a good show (literally!), but his heart was full of bitterness. He wasn’t healthy and wasn’t taking the steps to be healthy. What about us today?
