2/15/26: worship service. Acts 16:1-15 “Becoming All Things” Rev. John Black

A rainy Lord’s Day unfolded with a full schedule: announcements, birthdays, and the rare joy of ordaining new officers. The session followed the church’s book of order, examined nominees’ lives and gifts, and required vows that affirmed Scripture, the PCA confessions, and biblical polity before ordaining a ruling elder and multiple deacons. The service included Psalm 22 for corporate praise, the Apostles’ Creed for common faith, prayer for faithfulness, and hymns that both honor God and encourage the congregation toward mutual love.

Ordination proceeded with public questions, promises to strive for purity, peace, unity, and the laying on of hands followed by the right hand of fellowship. These rites signaled both a solemn charge and a communal reception: officers accepted specific responsibilities and the church pledged honor and obedience in the Lord. Prayer and imposition of hands consecrated the moment, and the assembly committed to supporting the new officers in humility and accountability.

A biblical exposition of Acts 16:1–15 traced Timothy’s circumcision, Lydia’s conversion, and Paul’s missionary strategy. Timothy submitted to circumcision to remove barriers among Jewish hearers; Paul adapted outward practice without compromising the gospel in order to win people to Christ. Paul’s phrase “become all things to all people” framed Christian flexibility as gospel-driven, not pragmatic compromise. Strong warnings followed against emotional manipulation or tampering with Scripture; faith must arise from the clear proclamation of God’s word and the Spirit’s work, not from clever techniques.

The narrative of Lydia illustrated how worship and openness to God prepare hearts: God opens ears, and household faith can follow. The sermon pressed for a gospel-shaped balance: steadfast worship that forms worshipers, compassionate outreach that loves neighbor and warns of judgment, and holy fidelity that refuses shortcuts. The closing prayers asked God to fan small sparks of faith into flames, to deepen roots in dry seasons, and to send people out to build God’s kingdom of true worshipers.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Become all things to win [57:15] Paul’s willingness to adapt customs—even Timothy’s circumcision—models strategic humility: outward concessions can remove stumbling blocks without surrendering gospel truth. This approach demands discernment, sacrificial identity shifts, and a readiness to endure discomfort for the sake of souls. Such flexibility flows from love, not expedience; it asks whether personal preference obstructs another’s hearing of Christ. Believers should ask where posture, speech, or custom could be altered to make Christ’s word clearer. [57:15]
• 2. Refuse to tamper with Scripture [01:11:52] Authentic evangelism rejects cunning, emotional manipulation, and doctrinal shortcuts that promise results at the cost of truth. The gospel saves because it is God’s power; human theatrics or watered-down proclamations undermine both conscience and conversion. Integrity requires proclaiming the whole counsel of God and trusting the Spirit to open hearts. Prayerful patience must replace techniques that force decisions before genuine repentance occurs. [71:52]
• 3. Worship seeks true worshipers [01:08:24] Worship functions as both gift and mission: God seeks those who will worship in spirit and truth, and corporate worship forms people who then carry worship into the world. Authentic worship centers on God’s revelation and shapes a people willing to pursue others’ worship of God. Thus liturgy, song, and confession matter not primarily as attraction tools but as formative acts that create worshiping ambassadors. The church’s evangelistic energy should flow from its worship identity. [68:24]
• 4. Love builds credible witness [01:21:31] Conversions like Lydia’s illustrate how hospitality, household faith, and tangible care authenticate the gospel to neighbors. Love that warns, feeds, and stands in solidarity bears witness to the gospel’s seriousness about sin and mercy. Unity among believers strengthens public credibility; internecine strife obscures Christ’s message. Daily acts of sacrificial love function as both sermon and summons to faith. [81:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [03:22] - Announcements & Birthdays
• [08:58] - Call to Worship (Psalm 22)
• [14:38] - Ordination: Order and Qualifications
• [18:30] - Ordination Questions and Vows
• [25:19] - Laying on Hands & Declaration
• [33:59] - Apostles’ Creed & Confession
• [51:39] - Scripture Reading: Acts 16
• [57:15] - Becoming All Things for Gospel
• [71:52] - Rejecting Cunning Evangelism
• [81:31] - Lydia’s Conversion & Household Faith
• [86:53] - Prayer for Faith and Mission
• [88:09] - Closing Hymn and Benediction

1. What specific action did Paul take with Timothy in Acts 16:3, and what was the stated reason for it?
2. According to the account in Acts 16:14, what was the sequence of events that led to Lydia's conversion? What did she do immediately after?
3. In the sermon, what two specific things were mentioned that we are to refuse to do when sharing the gospel? [01:11:52]
4. What does the phrase "become all things to all people" mean in its original context from 1 Corinthians 9? [00:57:15]

1. Paul circumcised Timothy yet argued vehemently against forcing circumcision on Gentiles. How can these two actions be reconciled, and what principle was he applying?
2. The text says "The Lord opened her heart" to respond to Paul's message. What does this imply about the role of human effort versus divine action in evangelism? [01:21:48]
3. The idea of "becoming all things to all people" could easily be misinterpreted as compromising truth for the sake of results. What are the clear biblical boundaries that prevent this approach from becoming mere pragmatism? [01:11:52]
4. How does a church's corporate worship, which is focused on God, actually function as a tool for mission and evangelism? [01:08:24]

1. "Become all things to win some" involves sacrificial identity shifts for the sake of the gospel. [00:57:15] What is one personal preference—in your posture, speech, or custom—that might be a stumbling block to someone else hearing the good news about Christ? What would it look like to lay that down in love?
2. Refusing to tamper with Scripture means we reject emotional manipulation and doctrinal shortcuts. [01:11:52] When you have opportunities to share your faith, where are you most tempted to rely on your own cleverness or pressure rather than patiently trusting the Spirit to work through the clear proclamation of God's word?
3. God is seeking true worshipers. [01:08:24] Does your involvement in the Sunday gathering primarily center on what you get out of it, or on being formed as a worshiper who is then sent into the world? How does this shift in perspective change the way you engage with the liturgy, songs, and preaching?
4. Love builds a credible witness through hospitality and tangible care. [01:21:31] Lydia’s conversion led to immediate hospitality. Who has God placed in your life—a neighbor, coworker, or family member—that you could practically serve this week as a way of showing them the love of Christ?
5. Authentic unity among believers strengthens our public credibility. [01:21:31] Is there a brother or sister in Christ, perhaps even someone you disagree with on a secondary issue, with whom you need to pursue peace and visible love? What is one step you can take to move toward them this week?
6. Paul had a deep anguish for the lost. [01:00:40] When you think about friends or family who do not know Christ, what do you feel? How can you begin to cultivate a deeper love and burden for them that leads to faithful prayer and compassionate action?