God gives us encouragement today just as he gave Paul. We don’t have to be afraid or worry about anything, but are to keep telling people about Jesus because Jesus says He is with us. What a great promise! God wants to use our weakness, our inadequacies and overcome our fears to let the power draw people to faith. Let us trust Jesus and move forward courageously as His witness.

The apostle Peter says in 1 Peter 3.15, “we are to sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts” and “be ready to explain the hope we have”. As we see in today’s scripture text, Paul did this very thing in Thessalonica and Berea as He lived out God’s purpose for his life and the results literally turned the world upside down. Today, let’s be encouraged to imitate Paul in living out God’s purpose and mission: living for God’s glory in being disciples and making disciples.

Jesus said, “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd (John 10.16).” Paul and his missionary companions were called to bring other sheep into the fold that lived in Philippi. God does not want us to grow complacent to this same work, but also go bring other sheep into the fold. Today we will look at the universal problem the world has, the unique solution to it and the results and effect of bringing other sheep into the fold has on the missional church.

We must continue as a church to be passionate about Jesus and His call for us to make disciples who go and make disciples. There can be obstacles along the way, but God chooses the right people and puts us in the right place, so that we can present the only message that truly saves. Do you have a passion to see people come to know Jesus? Do you have a passion to see people grow in spiritual maturity? Let’s ask Jesus to give us that passion as a church and let’s jump in with both feet in the work of making disciples.

God has never called us to have it all figured out and to live these perfect pristine lives. Instead He takes ruins and rebuilds broken lives to go and reach the world. It is why He sent Jesus and now through Christ God is fulfilling His mission in the pages of Acts and even in our day. God’s grace is for real life, for everyday living and by it we are saved and rebuilt to be God’s holy people. So, let us be the rebuilt ruins that reach the world.

There are opposing beliefs to the gospel as we see in today’s text, but as we see with the apostles we must boldly proclaim the only truth that can cleanse hearts. Today may we remember the glorious truth of the grace of our Lord Jesus and understand that it is only by and through Him that we can be changed.

In this world we will have troubles. This is one thing we can be sure of. Living as a follower of Jesus Christ is not popular or easy. It will cost us. Paul and Barnabas faced this and they did not fade in their faith or boldness, but faced it head on knowing that there were new and young followers of Christ who needed to be strengthened and encouraged. They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them in their faith even though the pressure was great around them. The soul is the most important issue of life. It is who we are. So, having it strengthened and being encouraged in faith is the most important business of the day.

From God’s work for Israel to us today we see the beautiful picture of redemptive history. The hope of salvation is in Jesus alone and we must take heed to that or otherwise there is the wrath of God to deal with and Paul warns his hearers of that. Paul’s message struck a chord with the people as they begged for them to come again and speak of this awesome salvation in Jesus. Let us long to hear and remember God’s redemptive story.