Acts 28:23-31 

 

This is the last chapter in Acts. We’ve seen how the early church operated as a church on the move and how we can apply those ideas to our churches today. Today’s sermon teaches us how to engage with God’s mission and His message and was delivered by guest speaker, Dr. Phil Nation, as our first Equip Sunday message. 

 

Four Principles to Help us Engage with the Mission of God:

  1. With the most important message … Paul made sure to focus on the critical messages. He taught the Gospel and was not ashamed of it. No, he was proud to bring this message to anyone he could. The Gospel is a beautiful message of salvation and redemption and we get to bring that message to the world. Many other messages might distract us,  but it’s important to keep the most critical message as the focus. 
  2. In every situation … Paul was surrounded by doubters just as we are today. The fastest growing religious group in our country are the “nones,” people who claim no religious alignment. They are doubters. And we still need to engage them and present the Gospel to them. Paul was even doing this while under arrest! 
  3. By all possible means … We should use all tools at our disposal to help bring others to Christ. Paul did this. He didn’t back down when people wouldn’t listen. He became all things to all men so he could relate to them and present this important message to them. 
  4. With full assurance … Paul was under house arrest, yet he still did all this with boldness and without hindrance. We can be confident in God’s Word. Confident that the Word will accomplish what God intends. We must remember that this is not our message and that we are just messengers, carrying the Gospel to the rest of the world. The authority of a message comes not from the messenger who carries it, but from the one who dictated it. We carry the most powerful and authoritative message possible, a message from the Almighty. That should give us the boldness to deliver it without feat. Jonah reluctantly delivered God’s message then pouted afterwards. Paul boldly preached the Gospel and proudly suffered the consequences he faced. Be like Paul, not Jonah. 

 

Guest Speaker | Dr. Phil Nation

 

Dr. Philip Nation is the Publisher for Thomas Nelson Bibles. He has served as a pastor, church planter, professor, and publisher. Philip previously directed publishing of adult Bible study material for Lifeway Christian Resources. He is the author of numerous books and Bible studies Discipleship. Currently, he also serves as University Fellow for Arizona Christian University. Philip frequently travels to preach at churches and conferences.