Purpose Church

Following Jesus was never meant to be easy -- but the road is worth it.

This week in our "Scent" series, we dove into Acts 13 and 14, where Paul and Barnabas modeled what it truly means to be sent. Stoned, expelled, plotted against -- and yet they turned around and went back through every city that tried to stop them. Why? Because the people they had witnessed to needed more than one encounter. They needed someone to return, strengthen, encourage, and remind them to keep the faith.

Hardship is not a sign that something has gone wrong. It is the road that leads into the kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). And your greatest responsibility in the middle of it is to keep proclaiming, keep watering, keep going back.

Who on your list needs you to return this week?

What if the thing holding you back from your purpose is the one thing you have not yet surrendered? This Sunday, three young voices challenged us with a question that cuts deep: if the Holy Spirit called you today and set you apart, would you be ready?

From Acts 13 to Romans 12, we were reminded that God cannot send what has not been surrendered. Paul's transformation from Saul to one of history's greatest missionaries did not happen overnight. It began with surrender, continued through renewal, and was confirmed by faithful, patient service.

Where is your treasure? Are you living in a way that God approves of, or the world? You cannot get to Acts 13 without Romans 12. Surrender comes before the sending.

If something stirred in you today, do not hesitate. God is not asking for part of you. He wants all of you.

Pressure reveals what is inside of you. When the early church faced maximum opposition — James martyred, Peter imprisoned, Herod emboldened — what came out was not panic, not silence, not retreat. What came out was ektenōs. Stretched-out, Gethsemane-level, earnest prayer. And the Word multiplied.

Acts 12:24 reminds us that despite every attempt to stop the gospel, the Word of God grew and multiplied. Plēthunō. That is the pattern. Pressure does not stop the mission. It spreads it.

Paul declares in Romans 8:37 that we are not just survivors — we are more than conquerors. Hupernikaó. Overwhelmingly prevailing through Him who loved us. Hard pressed but not crushed. Persecuted but not abandoned.

The question is not whether the pressure will come. It will. The question is — what are you full of when it does? We were filled. We were scattered. Now we are sent.

Before Antioch, followers of Jesus were called disciples, saints, believers, brothers, witnesses, followers of the Way. Then a city watched how they lived and gave them a new name. Not because of what they claimed. Because of how they moved through the world.

Christians. Jesus People.

Acts 11:26 records it happening for the first time in history. Ordinary, unnamed, scattered people responded to pressure with proclamation instead of retreat, and an entire city ran out of existing words to describe them.

The question is not what we call ourselves. The question is what do they call us? Are the people in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and families seeing something in us that demands a new word? This Sunday we closed our WITNESS series the same way it began, with three names on a card and a God who goes before us. Join us as we step into SENT.

What if the person you least want to talk to is the very one God has placed on your heart? In Acts 10, Peter is called to cross every boundary he knew -- and what waited on the other side of his obedience changed everything.

God does not show favoritism. He accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right (Acts 10:34-35). That includes the people on your list -- yes, even that one.

You are only here because someone was willing to go to their uncomfortable Samaria for you. Now it is your turn. Write the names down. Pray over them. Go.

Join us as we continue our Scattered series and discover what is waiting on the other side of your yes.

The early church didn't have a perfect strategy. They had a Savior. When persecution came, they didn't shrink back—they scattered. And wherever they went, the gospel went with them.

Philip was just a table server. But when he was scattered into Samaria, he preached Christ boldly. The result? Signs, wonders, and great joy filled an entire city. Acts 8:8 reminds us that obedience in uncomfortable places leads to harvest.

Your workplace, neighborhood, and relationships aren't accidental. You've been scattered there on purpose, for the sake of others. The question isn't whether God has placed you somewhere strategic—He has. The question is: will you go as a witness?

This week, take one step toward your "Samaria"—that person or place outside your comfort zone. One conversation. One act of kindness. Wherever you go, go as a witness.

"We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20

When the early church was arrested, threatened, and commanded to stay silent about Jesus, they responded with unstoppable conviction. Eleven powerful groups aligned against them, yet they declared: WE CANNOT HELP BUT SPEAK.

The same pressure exists today—fear of rejection, professional cost, social consequences. But here's the truth: if Jesus is truly the only name by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12), then silence isn't humility—it's negligence. The people on your "Holy Hit List" need more than your politeness; they need the name that saves.

You don't need a degree or all the answers. You just need to have been with Jesus. And if you have, you have something to say. The Spirit doesn't fill you to sit still—He fills you to speak.

Who are your three?

What if the difference between an ordinary day and a miraculous moment is simply having eyes to see?

Peter and John walked the same path every day, past the same beggar at the Beautiful Gate. But after Pentecost, everything changed. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they finally SAW him. They didn't offer silver or gold—they gave something far greater: "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!" (Acts 3:6)

Their boldness wasn't in their own power. They relied completely on Jesus' authority. And a man who had never walked in his life jumped up, praising God!

Here's the challenge: Are you walking past miracles waiting to happen? When we're filled with faith and obedient to the Spirit's leading, our everyday paths become opportunities for God's power to break through. The nearness of God produces worship—both in us and in those we encounter.

Be bold. Be obedient. Honor God with everything—your time, your worship, your wealth, your attention. Then watch Him fill your life to overflowing.

When's the last time you were truly filled with awe? Not just impressed, but genuinely amazed by what God is doing around you?

This Sunday, Dan from Children's Cup challenged us to become "treasure seekers" - people who look for the beauty and value God has placed in everyone around us. From kids in Belize finding hope through a simple meal, to a mom in Mexico whose life was transformed because someone refused to walk past her barren field.

The early church in Acts 2:42-43 devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, and prayer - and EVERYONE was filled with awe. Not because of the miracles, but their awakened hearts created the environment for miracles to happen.

Here's your challenge this week: Be a noticer. Look for the treasure in the person driving too slow, the neighbor you pass by, the coworker who frustrates you. God has planted hidden gardens everywhere - will you help them bloom?

What happens when heaven meets earth? On the Day of Pentecost, a sound like a mighty rushing wind filled the room, tongues of fire fell, and 120 ordinary people became extraordinary witnesses. This wasn't strange—it was the fulfillment of God's promise.

The same Holy Spirit that breathed life into creation, that led Israel through the wilderness, that filled Jesus at His baptism, is available to YOU today. Not reserved for a select few, but for ALL who would receive. You don't need a theology degree to share your story—you just need to be filled with power.

Here's the truth: you can't give away what you haven't received. Before we can be effective witnesses, we must acknowledge our emptiness and allow God to fill us afresh. The world is waiting for your good news, spoken in a language only you can share. Holy Spirit, come and fill us again.