What's it worth? The question arises in the early church as to whether Jesus' free gift of salvation is really free. Some begin preaching about adding to the work of the cross in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas journey to Jerusalem to seek God's will on the matter.

It can be hard to bounce back after getting knocked down. But God's grace is sufficient. Paul and Barnabas press thru to the end on their first missionary journey, and the name of Jesus is magnified.

Get back up again. Paul shares in the synagogue at Antioch that both the death and the resurrection of Jesus were foretold. Since Jesus was raised, we can be justified and saved.

BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 13:27-52 | MATTHEW 5:3 | ISAIAH 55:1 | ROMANS 3:12 | ROMANS 3:23 | JOB 2:9-10 | JAMES 5:11 | GENESIS 50:20 | JOHN 5:39-40 | JOHN 19:30-34 | MATTHEW 27:22-26 | MATTHEW 28:11-15 | LUKE 24:2 | JAMES 1:2-4 | 1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-7 | ACTS 1:3 | HEBREWS 10:4 | JOHN 1:29 | MATTHEW 11:28-30 | EPHESIANS 2:8-9 | ROMANS 1:16-17

He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Walking with Jesus well requires the art of listening. As Paul preaches in the synagogue at the next stop on their first missionary journey, he recalls Israel's history in which listening to God is a recurring theme.

And they're off! Paul and Barnabas head out on the first recorded missionary journey. They step through the open doors presented to them, but not everyone welcomes them with open arms.

A new wave of reaching the world begins. The Lord calls upon those who are faithful. The Holy Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul away from Antioch, directing them to step out and take the gospel forward.

Somebody is watching. The Lord sees the threat to the Christians as Herod uses them as political pawns to gain influence in the region. But the praying church witnesses a miraculous answer to their intercession, and God has the final word with Herod.

Not every mission is impossible. The church in Jerusalem is shocked to find out that Peter ate with Gentiles when sharing the gospel. But the Holy Spirit is moving the believers to take the message of Jesus into new territory. Jesus calls his followers to have a missions mindset.

The work of Jesus knows no boundaries. Peter is divinely directed to go to the home of an unlikely candidate for the gospel. He observes that power of the message of the cross knows no prejudice.

Take a look around you. It's a sphere of influence the Lord has appointed to you. Peter makes the trek to Lydda then Joppa where he discovers Jesus has expanded his sphere for the gospel.

BIBLE VERSE References: ACTS 9:20-32 | JOHN 1:35-42 | 1 CORINTHIANS 2:9 | MATTHEW 18:20 | ACTS 3:6-10 | 1 KINGS 8:19 | 1 CHRONICLES 22:8 | 1 CHRONICLES 27:25-34 | 2 CORINTHIANS 10:12-18 | JOHN 15:2 | JOHN 3:30 |