Acts - Unstoppable: A Church On Fire! | Week 25 | 30 November 2025

Devotional

Day 1: God equips the church for unified maturity.

Grace Cove is called to be a base church that both receives and releases the best people and resources so the body is built up; God gives apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to equip the saints, and the local church partners with gifted teams so members are trained, matured, and sent out for service. [08:46]

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11–13, ESV)

Reflection: Which ministry at Grace Cove best fits your gifts? This week contact that ministry leader or attend one training meeting and commit to serving one hour weekly for the next month.

Day 2: Say yes to God's call, regardless of risk.

Ananias shows what a submitted, obedient heart looks like: a listening relationship with the Lord, honest questions offered in humility, recognition of God's authority, and immediate action when commanded — even when the call seems dangerous or costly; faithfulness is measured by obedience, not by the size of the calling. [21:10]

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:13–16, ESV)

Reflection: Name one person or place God has been nudging you to go but you’ve avoided; today send a single message or make one call to start that visit or conversation this week.

Day 3: God uses even chains to provide platforms.

Paul’s journey reminds the church that the biggest platforms for witness often come in weakness and suffering; imprisonment, trials, and hardship do not cancel God’s purpose but can become the very stage where the gospel is declared before rulers and the powerful. [32:05]

On the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the auditorium with the commanders and the prominent men of the city. At once, when Festus had entered the auditorium and saluted the king, he said, “About a man there is a dispute with the Jews, and to them I have granted a respite, because it seemed to me unfair to send them to Jerusalem before I had examined the man myself. So when they were assembled, I gave them leave to state their case against him. But when the accusers stood up, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.” (Acts 25:23–27, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one present difficulty (job, relationship, health, or location); write one sentence about how God might use it to display His glory, then share that sentence with one person and ask them to pray this week.

Day 4: Trials refine faith toward perseverance and maturity.

Trials are not pointless hardship but God’s refining process; when faith is tested it produces steadfastness and perseverance that lead to maturity, so believers are called to count trials as opportunities for growth rather than merely obstacles to avoid. [33:51]

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4, ESV)

Reflection: Choose one present trial and pick one small spiritual discipline (five minutes of Scripture, five minutes of focused prayer, or a daily gratitude note) to practice each day for the next 14 days starting today; record one sentence about progress each evening.

Day 5: Saved by grace to do good works.

Salvation is a gift of grace received by faith, not by works; yet that gift creates a new identity — God’s workmanship — meant to walk in the good works He prepared in advance, so discipleship includes active service and obedience as the natural fruit of grace. [36:10]

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8–10, ESV)

Reflection: List one concrete good work God may have prepared for you (serving a neighbor, mentoring someone, joining a church planting trip); by Sunday contact the leader or sign up to begin within the next seven days.

Sermon Summary

I’m grateful to be home after a week in Paris—both serving the church there and celebrating my mom’s 80th. Being away reminded me why we, as Grace Cove, keep going: we are a base church, a going church, a generous church, we believe in Ephesians 4 equipping, and we believe in church planting. A base church is mature and fruitful enough to send its best without falling apart; it means the life of Jesus here is strong enough to overflow. Being a going church isn’t a suggestion—it’s obedience to the King’s command to make disciples of all nations. Generosity isn’t just rands and cents; it’s people, time, talents—our most valuable resource is the person God has redeemed. Ephesians 4 gifts are still Jesus’ way of equipping the church to maturity, so we partner widely. And church planting remains the normal, biblical way disciples become communities that carry the gospel further.

Then we looked at two “goers”—Paul and Ananias. The “go” of Acts 9 eventually leads Paul to Acts 25, where decades of ordinary obedience meet a remarkable assignment. Saying yes to Jesus isn’t a guarantee of comfort; Paul’s road was marked by chains, beatings, and weakness, yet in those very places God gave him his biggest platform. Sometimes the stage God gives is a prison, a lion’s den, or a furnace—not because he’s cruel, but because that’s where his glory shines brightest.

Ananias shows us the heart of obedience: a real relationship with God that listens; a posture that remembers he is Lord and we are servants; honest dialogue that still bows; and action that moves molecules, not just feelings. Hearing is not the same as going; the Father still asks his children to show up in the vineyard and work. Trials test and mature our faith, but praise and success test us too. Both lack and abundance ask the same question: Will you use this moment for yourself or for Jesus?

We’re saved by grace, not by works—but that grace comes with prepared works. So as you walk out today, don’t just leave the building. Go—for him. Move your molecules. Offer him your comfort and your success alike. Say with your steps, “King Jesus, I’m going for you.”

Key Takeaways

1. A base church sends its best Maturity is not measured by polish but by the capacity to release people without losing health. A church that bears fruit at home can afford to be generous abroad. Sending isn’t a loss; it’s evidence that Jesus is the true center and supply. Our going is the overflow of a strong, rooted home. [05:39]
2. Obedience will include real suffering Saying yes to Jesus doesn’t guarantee comfort; it often confronts it. Paul’s path was marked by scars, not applause—and still he called it gain. Taking up the cross means choosing Jesus’ call over our preferences, trusting the reward he keeps, not the one we can count. Hope grows deep roots when comfort isn’t the soil. [20:34]
3. Honest prayer, then decisive action Ananias wrestled with God, named his fears, and still went. Honest doesn’t mean defiant; it means real talk that ends in real obedience. Faith isn’t finished until our bodies move—molecules in motion toward the thing God asked. Amen without action is agreement, not obedience. [27:27]
4. God gives platforms in weakness Paul stood before power in chains, not in comfort—and that’s where God amplified his voice. Joseph, Daniel, and the three friends found their stage in places no one would choose. Don’t despise the hard room you’re in; it may be your most strategic pulpit. Weakness can carry a stronger echo than ease. [32:05]
5. Praise and success also test us We often brace for trials of loss but forget the test of gain. Fame, increase, and open doors expose whether we’ll hoard or steward. The question is never what we have, but whom we honor with it. Let blessing become a megaphone for God’s glory, not a mirror for ours. [34:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:58] - Joy to be home
[02:18] - Paris ministry highlights
[03:55] - Family visit and being sent
[04:18] - Why we go as a church
[04:53] - What a base church means
[05:59] - Obeying the Great Commission
[07:01] - Generosity beyond money
[08:20] - Equipping through Ephesians 4 gifts
[10:39] - Why church planting matters
[17:29] - Paul and Ananias: first steps
[20:34] - Taking up your cross
[27:27] - Obedience is action, not theory
[32:05] - Platforms found in weakness
[36:10] - Saved by grace for good works
[37:31] - Sent to go for Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

- Ephesians 4:11–13 — "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." - Acts 9:15–16 "But the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel, for I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.'" - Ephesians 2:8–10 "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Observation Questions

Read Ephesians 4:11–13. What specific purposes for church leaders does the passage list, and how do those purposes connect sending people out with building the church at home? (passage observation)
In Acts 9:15–16, what two things does the Lord say about Saul (Paul)? How do those two truths sit together—being "chosen" and being called to "suffer"? (passage observation)
The pastor listed five reasons Grace Cove “goes” (base church, going church, generous church, Ephesians 4 equipping, church planting). Which of those five reasons did he describe as proof that the church can release people without falling apart? [04:40]
The pastor contrasted hearing God with actually moving (the "molecule mover" idea). What story or example did he use to show the difference between saying “Amen” and physically going to obey? [27:27]

Interpretation Questions

What would it practically mean for a local church to be a "base church"—that is, mature enough to send its best without collapsing—and what signs should leaders look for to decide whether to release people? [05:39]
How should a believer understand the relationship between being “chosen” for gospel work and the likelihood of hardship, given Paul's example and the statement "I will show him how much he must suffer"? [20:34]
When the sermon claims the most valuable resource is "people — your bum in the seat," how should that claim shape a church's decisions about generosity, sending, and planting? [07:01]
The preacher argued that sometimes the greatest platform comes at the point of weakness (prison, fire, trial). How should one interpret and respond to God opening a platform in a season of suffering? [32:05]

Application Questions

Identify one comfort, position, or success in your life that you are reluctant to offer to Jesus if he asked you to give it up. What is one concrete step you will take this week to begin offering that area to him? [20:34]
Name one person, ministry, or church plant you could serve with your time or talent in the next 30 days. What exact action will you take this week to connect with them (call, sign up, email, show up)? [04:18]
Think of a "God prompt" you have already heard (a nudge to visit, call, give, go). What is the single next physical step you will take to move molecules toward obedience (pick up the phone, book the ticket, send the text)? Set a day and time to do it. [28:25]
Evaluate Grace Cove (or your own small group) with honest specifics: name one sign that the church is a healthy "base church" and one weakness that would make sending people risky. What is one thing you personally will do in the next month to strengthen that weakness? [05:39]
Recall a recent success, blessing, or season of praise in your life. Did you instinctively hoard it or steward it for God's glory? Identify one concrete way you can use that blessing in the next week to point people to Jesus (invite someone, give, teach, serve). [34:56]
Is there a small, Ananias-level "go" that feels risky or odd (a one-time visit, a short trip, an awkward conversation)? Describe it and commit to the first tangible step you will take this week. Share the step with one person for accountability. [21:10]

Sermon Clips

``Jesus gave the great command and the great commission, go out into all the worlds, preaching the gospel, making disciples of all nations. We believe that is not a suggestion. It's a command that we need to go. And so we do. Not only do we go to our neighbors next door. Not only do we go to our suburbs. Not only do we go to cities next door and provinces next door and countries next door and continents next door. We go everywhere. Wherever there's an open door, we will go. We go to first world countries. We go to third world countries. We go to every nationality, tribal time. We are obedient to the great commission. [00:05:59] (43 seconds) #GoMakeDisciples

By generosity, I don't mean just about financial generosity. I mean generosity with our time, our talents, and our resources. We always put generosity down to ransom cents. But the most valuable resource that we have here is your bum in the seat. It's you. You are our most valuable resource. Jesus Christ died for you. That means you are highly valued. Highly, highly valued. God the Father, he didn't throw down a big wad of cash into the world and say, here we go. I love you so much. He sent the most valuable thing he had was himself in Jesus Christ. [00:06:53] (41 seconds) #ValuePeopleFirst

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Acts - Unstoppable: A Church On Fire! | Week 25 | 30 November 2025 | 09:30