Called, Cleansed, and Sent: Embracing Our Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Baptism as Entry into New Life in Christ

Baptism is not just a ritual but a sign and seal of God’s promises, marking the believer’s entry into Christ’s death and resurrection and calling them to a new life of obedience, trust, and holiness. Through the water, God visibly assures us of forgiveness, adoption, the daily renewing work of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of resurrection, reminding us that even when we fall, His mercy is greater than our failures. [16:36]

Romans 6:3-4 (ESV)
"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."

Reflection:
What is one area of your life where you sense God calling you to “walk in newness of life” today, and how can you take a concrete step of obedience in that area?

Day 2: The Church’s Mission to All Nations

Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations is not a suggestion but a charge for every believer and every church, calling us to move beyond our comfort zones and intentionally reach those who have not yet heard or experienced the gospel, both near and far. The early church, guided by the Holy Spirit, deliberately sent out workers to the ends of the earth, and we are invited to continue that mission with the same clarity and excitement. [42:00]

Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV)
"And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.'"

Reflection:
Who in your life or community might be outside your usual circle, and how can you intentionally reach out to them with the love and message of Jesus this week?

Day 3: The Power and Diversity of the Church

The church at Antioch modeled a Spirit-filled, diverse, and unified community where people of different backgrounds, cultures, and social statuses served together, reflecting the breadth of God’s kingdom and showing that the true mark of the church is unity in Christ, not sameness. This kind of church is open to the Spirit’s leading, values every member’s gifts, and seeks to represent and reach the whole community, not just a select group. [48:07]

Acts 13:1-3 (ESV)
"Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off."

Reflection:
How can you help your church or small group better reflect the diversity and unity of the body of Christ, and what is one step you can take to build a bridge across differences?

Day 4: Serving God with Excellence in Everyday Life

Every act of service, whether in the church or in daily work, is ultimately for the Lord, and believers are called to offer their best, working with joy and integrity as a witness to the world and as an act of worship to God. Even mundane or unnoticed tasks become sacred when done for Him, and our faithfulness in small things opens the door for greater opportunities to serve. [52:25]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV)
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection:
What is one ordinary task or responsibility you have today that you can intentionally offer to God as an act of worship, and how might that change your attitude as you do it?

Day 5: Recognizing and Responding to Spiritual Opposition

Even when we are faithfully following God’s call, we may encounter opposition—not always because of our own failings, but because spiritual forces resist the advance of the gospel; yet, filled with the Holy Spirit, we are called to discern, stand firm, and bear witness so that others may come to faith. The story of Paul and Barnabas reminds us that God’s truth prevails, and our clear testimony can lead even the most unlikely people to believe. [59:11]

Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV)
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

Reflection:
Where have you recently experienced resistance or discouragement in your walk with God, and how can you prayerfully stand firm and bear witness to Christ in that situation today?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered around the powerful words of Jesus’ Great Commission and the apostle Paul’s teaching on baptism, remembering that in Christ, we are called, cleansed, and sent. Baptism is not just a ritual but a sign and seal of God’s covenant promises—His forgiveness, adoption, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the hope of resurrection. As we witnessed Jeff and Cindy’s baptism, we were reminded that God’s grace is the foundation of our new life, and that we are called to a new obedience: to love God fully, forsake evil, and live holy lives, always trusting in God’s mercy when we fall.

We then turned to the story of the church at Antioch in Acts 13, a pivotal moment when the early church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, deliberately set out to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. Antioch was a diverse, Spirit-filled, and active community—rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, educated and uneducated—united not by background but by the blood of Christ. This church was marked by worship, prayer, fasting, and a willingness to serve and send. Their worship was not self-focused but God-centered, asking not “what did I get?” but “what did I bring to God?”

The church’s deliberate, Spirit-led mission is a model for us today. We are called to be faithful in the small things, to serve with excellence in every area—whether teaching, cleaning, leading, or simply showing up. Fasting and prayer are not just ancient practices but vital ways to sharpen our spiritual hearing and align ourselves with God’s purposes. As we step out in ministry, we should expect both fruit and opposition. Sometimes resistance is not a sign of failure but evidence that we are pressing into enemy territory, and we must discern where God is working and where Satan is opposing.

Our church is already seeing God’s hand in new ministries and outreach, but the challenge remains: to keep pressing forward, to be open to the Spirit’s leading, and to recognize that faithfulness in little prepares us for greater things. May we be a church that reflects the diversity and unity of Antioch, that serves with joy, and that boldly proclaims Christ to a world in need.

Key Takeaways

1. Baptism is a profound sign of God’s covenant grace, not just a symbol but a seal of forgiveness, adoption, and the Spirit’s renewing work. It calls us to a new life of obedience, but also assures us that when we fall, God’s mercy is greater than our failures. Our identity is rooted in Christ’s death and resurrection, and this shapes how we live and hope. [16:36]
2. The church at Antioch models a Spirit-filled, diverse, and unified community. Their strength was not in sameness but in their willingness to serve together across lines of race, class, and background, all under the lordship of Christ. God uses churches that reflect the breadth of His kingdom and are open to the Spirit’s leading. [48:07]
3. True worship is God-centered, not self-centered. The original meaning of “liturgy” is to serve at one’s own expense, reminding us that our gatherings are offerings to God, not performances for ourselves. The question is not what we receive, but what we bring—our attention, our hearts, our service. [50:52]
4. Fasting and prayer are essential practices for discerning God’s will and sharpening our spiritual sensitivity. They are not for show, but for deepening our dependence on God and opening ourselves to His direction. Regular fasting, even if unfamiliar, can be a powerful way to listen for God’s voice and align with His purposes. [54:54]
5. Faithful ministry will encounter opposition, sometimes from unexpected sources. Resistance is not always a sign of personal failure; often, it is evidence that we are advancing God’s kingdom and facing spiritual opposition. We must discern the source of resistance, stand firm in truth, and continue to witness boldly, trusting that God will use even opposition to draw people to Himself. [58:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[16:36] - The Meaning and Promise of Baptism
[17:49] - Baptismal Vows and Congregational Affirmation
[22:05] - Commitment to Discipleship
[23:12] - Confession of Faith and Prayer
[24:08] - Baptism of Jeff and Cindy
[26:02] - Congregational Praise and Prayer
[27:37] - Prayers for Needs and Missionaries
[29:28] - Praying for Ministry Partners
[30:27] - Social Ministries and Testimonies
[32:42] - Sharing Good News and Announcements
[35:25] - Community Projects and Offerings
[37:20] - Acts 13: The Church at Antioch
[42:00] - The Church’s Deliberate Mission
[48:07] - Antioch: A Diverse and United Church
[50:52] - Worship as Service to God
[54:54] - The Practice and Purpose of Fasting
[56:42] - The First Missionary Journey
[58:35] - Opposition and Spiritual Warfare
[61:48] - Applying the Antioch Model Today
[66:08] - The Challenge to Press On
[67:04] - Closing Prayer and Benediction
[77:24] - End

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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Bible Reading

- Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

- Romans 6:3-4
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

- Acts 13:1-12
(The story of the church at Antioch, the sending of Barnabas and Saul, and their encounter with opposition.)

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Observation Questions

In Matthew 28:18-20, what specific instructions does Jesus give to his followers?
According to Romans 6:3-4, what does baptism symbolize about our relationship with Jesus?
What do we learn about the church at Antioch from Acts 13:1-3? What kind of people made up this church, and what were they doing when the Holy Spirit spoke? [37:20]
In the story of Paul and Barnabas’ first missionary journey, what kind of opposition did they face, and how did they respond? [58:35]

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Interpretation Questions

The sermon said that baptism is not just a ritual, but a sign and seal of God’s promises. How does this understanding of baptism affect the way someone might view their own baptism or the baptism of others? [16:36]
The church at Antioch was described as diverse and unified, with people from different backgrounds serving together. Why do you think God chose to use such a diverse group for this important mission? [48:07]
The sermon pointed out that true worship is God-centered, not self-centered. What does it look like for a church or a person to focus on “what did I bring to God?” instead of “what did I get?” [50:52]
The early church practiced fasting and prayer to discern God’s will. Why might these practices be important for us today, and what might we miss if we neglect them? [54:54]

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Application Questions

The sermon reminded us that baptism calls us to a new life of obedience, but also assures us of God’s mercy when we fall. Is there an area of your life where you need to trust God’s mercy more deeply, or where you sense God calling you to new obedience? [16:36]
The church at Antioch was made up of people from different races, classes, and backgrounds, yet they served together in unity. Are there people in our church or community who are different from you that you could get to know or serve alongside? What might be a first step? [48:07]
The sermon challenged us to ask, “What did I bring to God?” when we gather for worship. This week, what is one specific way you can prepare your heart to offer something to God—your attention, your service, your praise—when you come to church? [50:52]
Fasting and prayer were described as ways to sharpen our spiritual hearing. Have you ever tried fasting as a spiritual practice? If not, what might be a simple way to start? If you have, what did you learn from the experience? [54:54]
The sermon said that faithful ministry will encounter opposition, and that resistance is not always a sign of failure. Can you think of a time when you faced resistance while serving God? How did you respond, and what did you learn from it? [58:35]
Our church is seeing new ministries and outreach, but the challenge is to keep pressing forward and be open to the Spirit’s leading. Is there a ministry or area of service you feel drawn to, even if it feels small? What is one step you could take this month to get involved or support others? [01:06:08]
The sermon encouraged us to be faithful in little things, serving with excellence whether teaching, cleaning, leading, or simply showing up. What is one “small” act of service you can do this week as an offering to God? [52:25]

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Sermon Clips

The first 12 chapters of Acts tell a story of the church centering around Jerusalem and Judea, Samaria, but now it's moving to the uttermost parts of the earth, and that includes a steady focus on reaching Gentiles. [00:40:34]

The Christian church is now poised to take the greatest of all steps. They had decided quite deliberately to take the gospel to the entire world. It was a decision taken under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It wasn't a haphazard approach. [00:41:42]

There is still a sense in which the book of Acts is still being written. The church of Jesus Christ still moves out to reach the ends of the earth. [00:42:30]

Our approach needs to be just as deliberate today and clear as it was in the early church, as they moved under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And this is how we should be as a church, as a denomination, and as individuals. [00:42:43]

We see in this church how strong and healthy they were. They were exercising the spiritual gifts. They were serving one another. They were ministering. They were active, engaged in ministry. And these are the types of people that God uses. [00:43:32]

If you are faithful and little, he will continue to give you more and more. He grows the capacity of the church. [00:43:58]

This was a group that was brought together under the power of the Holy Spirit. They served one another. They ministered together, not looking down their noses, not making judgments, but understanding that they were the church of God that had come together. [00:48:45]

The church of God is not a church of party. The church of God is not a church of tribes. The church of God is a church that has been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ. [00:49:02]

The church ought not be the church of just one race or just one class. But the church in Antioch was broad and wide, reflected the society in which it lived. And that is the kind of church that God can use. [00:49:23]

What we are doing here this morning is a service, not to us. And we often think of it like the church needs to serve my needs. No, it's a worship service to God. God is the audience of a worship service. Think about that. [00:50:58]

We ought not be thinking, what did I get out of this this morning? But we ought to be thinking, what did I render to God this morning? What did I bring to him this morning? Did I give him my full attention? Was I present? Was my heart released in ministry, in song to God? [00:51:17]

Colossians takes that same idea of sending out Paul and Barnabas and assigns it to all of us. No matter what we're doing, we serve the Lord. It's our calling. So even work ought to be a joyful service to God. [00:52:25]

So even if you're in a job that is mundane or feels boring, do it well. Do it with excellence. Be at the top of your game. Offer your gifts to God. Don't go to work with bad attitudes. Set ourselves apart as Christians. [00:52:51]

We ought to have the world say of us, I don't know what about those Christians or what's their deal, but oh my, are they ever good workers? Are they ever good faithful people? I would hire them in a heartbeat. That ought to be our witness in the world. [00:53:07]

Fasting ought not to be a thing that we do for show or that we do to impress other people. It ought to be a thing that say, God, I'm going to not eat so I can focus more purely strongly on you for a season. [00:55:39]

It's a way to sharpen your ears and your listening to hear what God has to say. Something that I think we probably need to make a part of our routine. [00:56:01]

Interesting that sometimes we can be the right place in the right time and the right people and still find opposition. These guys were the right place, the right time, the right people, and they found opposition. [00:58:22]

Sometimes opposition doesn't come from personal sin or from you doing something wrong. Sometimes it's Satan out there trying to stop us. Satan does not want the ministry to go forward. [00:58:51]

Satan's mission is to kill, steal, and destroy. But Jesus says, I have come that you...you might have life and have it to the full. [00:59:11]

Faith is not a fairy tale. Faith is not pie in the sky, but faith is based on the historical reality of Jesus Christ and what he did. [01:01:23]

We looked this morning at a church called Antioch, a church that is representing the community because the gospel is for not just us, but for the community. [01:02:04]

So the challenge today is to recognize where God is working and to recognize where Satan is trying to oppose us. To give strong and clear testimony so that the intellectually curious will come to know Jesus. To be strong in teaching and preaching and to be going out and not just staying. [01:06:08]

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Called, Cleansed, and Sent: Embracing Our Mission

Devotional

Day 1: Baptism as Entry into New Life in Christ

Day 2: The Church’s Mission to All Nations

Day 3: The Power and Diversity of the Church

Day 4: Serving God with Excellence in Everyday Life

Day 5: Recognizing and Responding to Spiritual Opposition

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Called, Cleansed, and Sent: Embracing Our Mission

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