Faithfulness to the Gospel: Our Mission Together

Today, we gathered to celebrate not just a new building, but the ongoing mission God has entrusted to us: to be His people, on His mission, in our community. The church is not a building—it’s the people of God, called together to live out and spread the good news of Jesus Christ. Our new facility is a tool, a resource to help us reach more people, but the heart of our calling remains unchanged: to be faithful to Jesus and to His message.

Looking at Acts 14, we saw how Paul and Barnabas modeled this faithfulness. They believed the true gospel message, proclaimed it wherever they went, and endured hardship for the sake of Christ. Their story in Lystra is a vivid reminder that the gospel is not about us, our goodness, or our works—it’s about God’s goodness and His invitation to turn from worthless things to the living God. Paul’s healing of the lame man led to confusion among the people, who wanted to worship him and Barnabas as gods. But Paul redirected all attention to God, making it clear that the message is what matters: the good news that God saves, that He wants relationship with us, and that He alone is worthy.

Faithfulness to Jesus means faithfulness to His message. In a world where the gospel is often misunderstood, diluted, or mixed with other agendas, we are called to hold fast to the true message: that we are broken and sinful, unable to save ourselves, but God in His mercy has made a way through Jesus. Good works are important, but they are not the gospel—they set the stage for the message, but the message must be spoken.

We are also called to spread this message with urgency and intentionality. Paul and Barnabas had a strategy; they leveraged their backgrounds and opportunities to share Christ. We, too, must consider how God has positioned us—in our workplaces, neighborhoods, and relationships—to be bearers of the gospel. And we must be prepared to endure friction, opposition, and even rejection, knowing that spiritual lives are at stake and that the enemy will resist the advance of the gospel.

The challenge before us is simple but profound: believe the true gospel, spread it wherever we go, and endure whatever comes as we remain true to Jesus and His message. Each of us has a next step—whether it’s believing for the first time, sharing with someone this week, or standing firm in the face of difficulty. God has placed us here, now, for such a time as this.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Church Is People on Mission, Not a Building The essence of the church is not found in bricks and mortar, but in the people of God united in purpose and mission. Buildings are tools that can help us reach our community, but our identity and calling are rooted in being Christ’s body, living out His mission wherever we are. This perspective keeps us focused on what truly matters and guards us from complacency or misplaced priorities. [26:31]
• 2. Faithfulness to Jesus Requires Faithfulness to His Message To remain true to Jesus is to remain true to the gospel He proclaimed. In a culture that often admires Jesus but ignores or distorts His message, we must hold fast to the truth: that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works or cultural add-ons. Our allegiance is to Christ and His gospel, not to any other ideology or tradition. [33:32]
• 3. The Gospel Must Be Spoken, Not Just Demonstrated Good works are important and can open doors, but without the clear proclamation of the gospel, people will misunderstand our motives and the source of our hope. The gospel is a message—good news that must be articulated. If we only do good deeds without gospel words, we risk drawing attention to ourselves rather than to God, and we miss the opportunity to invite others into relationship with Him. [45:21]
• 4. Spreading the Gospel Requires Intentionality and Strategy Paul and Barnabas didn’t share the gospel randomly; they had a plan, leveraging their backgrounds and opportunities to reach people. We are called to do the same—considering how God has uniquely positioned us and developing strategies to build relationships and share Christ. Whether through coaching, baking, or everyday conversations, we are to be fluent in the gospel and ready to share it in every context. [63:20]
• 5. Enduring Hardship Is Part of Gospel Faithfulness Remaining true to the gospel will inevitably bring friction, opposition, and sometimes rejection. Paul’s willingness to return to Lystra after being stoned is a powerful example of courage and conviction. We must not shrink back when the message is resisted or misunderstood; instead, we trust that God is at work, and we persevere, knowing that eternal lives are at stake and that God has placed us here for such a time as this. [67:25]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Celebrating Leadership and Community
• [02:30] - The Journey of Genesis Boyne
• [05:10] - What Is the Church?
• [07:30] - The Purpose of a Building
• [10:00] - Prayer of Thanksgiving
• [12:00] - Setting the Scene: Acts 14
• [15:00] - The Cost of Sacrifice
• [18:00] - Paul and Barnabas’ Missionary Journey
• [21:00] - The Miracle in Lystra
• [24:00] - The Crowd’s Confusion and Paul’s Response
• [27:00] - The True Gospel Message
• [31:00] - The Importance of Gospel Words
• [35:00] - Avoiding Add-Ons to the Gospel
• [38:00] - Spreading the Gospel with Strategy
• [43:00] - Enduring Hardship for the Gospel
• [47:00] - Application: Next Steps
• [50:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Reading

Acts 14:8–22 (ESV) —
> 8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked.
> 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well,
> 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.
> 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”
> 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.
> 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.
> 14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out,
> 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
> 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
> 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”
> 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.
> 19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.
> 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.
> 21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,
> 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.

Observation Questions

1. What was the crowd’s reaction after Paul healed the lame man in Lystra, and how did Paul and Barnabas respond to it?
2. According to Acts 14:21-22, what did Paul and Barnabas do after preaching in Derbe, and what message did they give to the new believers?
3. In the sermon, what did the pastor say is the true essence of the church, and how does this relate to the new building?
4. What did Paul and Barnabas urge the people to turn away from, and what did they point them toward instead?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the people in Lystra misunderstood the miracle and wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods? What does this reveal about how people can misinterpret good works or miracles?
2. The pastor said, “Good works set up the message. Good works are not the message. Good works without gospel words make us look good, not God.” Why is it important to speak the gospel and not just do good deeds?
3. Paul and Barnabas faced serious opposition, even being stoned and left for dead. Why do you think they were willing to endure such hardship for the sake of the gospel?
4. The sermon emphasized that faithfulness to Jesus means faithfulness to His message. In what ways can the gospel message be misunderstood or “added onto” in our culture today?

Application Questions

1. The pastor challenged us to see the church as people on mission, not just a building. How does this perspective change the way you think about your role in the church and in the community?
2. Think about your daily life—work, neighborhood, family, hobbies. Where has God uniquely positioned you to be a bearer of the gospel? What is one relationship or setting where you could be more intentional this week?
3. The sermon said, “Good works without gospel words make us look good, not God.” Can you think of a time when you did something good for someone but didn’t share the reason for your hope? How could you have included gospel words in that situation?
4. The message warned against “add-ons” to the gospel, like cultural or political agendas. Are there any “add-ons” you’ve seen or been tempted to include in your own understanding of the gospel? How can you keep the message clear and centered on Jesus?
5. Paul and Barnabas had a strategy for sharing the gospel, using their backgrounds and opportunities. What is one practical step you could take to develop a strategy for sharing your faith (for example, through a hobby, work, or acts of service)?
6. The sermon described enduring friction and even rejection for the sake of the gospel. Is there a situation where you’ve held back from sharing your faith because you feared opposition or awkwardness? What would it look like to trust God and take a step forward this week?
7. The pastor ended by asking, “What is your next step to be true to Jesus and His message?” What is one specific thing you will do this week—believe, share, or stand firm? Who can you ask to pray for you or hold you accountable?