In our world, you can have joy, or you can have suffering. What you can’t have is both. But this passage shows us that suffering can actually be one of the most powerful ways the joy of Christ comes alive in you.

Every human needs to be safe, seen, soothed, and secure. Instead, most of us feel the pressure to perform for the love we need. Jesus offers us the ultimate experience of being safe, seen, soothed, and secure, because Jesus offers us true peace.

Hopelessness is almost like an epidemic today. Where do we find the hope we need? This passage shows us where to find a living hope. 

You can be looking right at something, but without the right frame, it makes no sense. The kingdom of God can be like that. At the end of the book of Acts, the apostle Paul gives us a frame to make sense of the kingdom. 

Suffering creates a crisis of confidence in God. But when we see how Paul navigates this storm, it shows us how God is with us in our storms.

Politics matters, because politics is powerful. But because it’s so powerful, it’s crucial to understand how the gospel relates to politics and what that means for Christians. This passage shows us. 

We all long for a place to belong and a purpose in life.  In Acts 20, we see God's people joined together in his mission.  The church as a fellowship of God's people on mission is called to walk together, to walk through tears and trials, and to testify to the wonderful hope we have because of God's grace.

We are creatures of desire, but our desires always seem heartbreakingly beyond our reach. What do we do with that? In this passage, Paul shows us how the gospel affirms, critiques, and ultimately fulfills our deepest desires. 

How should we live when the Powers-That-Be insist that we accept realities and rules that violate our faith? Not an easy question. There are several options. This passage and sermon reveal the one perfect answer. 

These days it can be suspect and even unpopular to talk to other people about Jesus. Read the book of Acts, chapter 18, and listen to this sermon to understand why “sharing the Gospel” is basic to being a Christian and a blessing to the whole world.