Finding Joy in Serving Christ Amidst Challenges

Devotional

Day 1: Joy Comes from Gospel Purpose, Not Circumstances

True joy as a follower of Jesus is not rooted in easy circumstances or personal comfort, but in living for a purpose greater than oneself—the gospel mission of Jesus Christ. When believers put Christ and His calling at the center, rather than their own ambitions or problems, they experience a joy that is sustained by the Holy Spirit, even in the midst of suffering or discouragement. This joy is available to all who choose to prioritize God’s purposes above their own, allowing Christ to take center stage in their lives. [30:38]

Acts 13:52 (ESV)
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have let personal ambition or problems take center stage over God’s purpose? How can you intentionally put Christ and His mission first today?

Day 2: Listen for God’s Call—Individually and Together

Hearing God’s call requires intentional practices: worship, prayer, and fasting. The early church in Antioch positioned themselves to listen for the Holy Spirit’s direction, not just as individuals but as a community. Every believer is called to serve in gospel ministry, and discovering your specific place often happens together with others in the body of Christ. Serving is not just for the church’s benefit, but is essential for your own spiritual growth and fulfillment in Christ. [32:50]

Acts 13:2-3 (ESV)
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: When was the last time you set aside time to truly listen for God’s call—through worship, prayer, or fasting? What is one step you can take this week to intentionally listen for His direction, either alone or with others?

Day 3: Move Your Feet When God Moves Your Heart

It’s not enough to be inspired by God’s call; obedience means taking action, even if it starts small. Like Paul and Barnabas, who began their mission close to home before venturing further, God often calls us to take the next step we can see, trusting Him for what comes next. The Holy Spirit empowers those who are willing to move, and serving is not just about thinking or talking about good works, but actually doing them—together, as a team. [39:21]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Reflection: What is one small, practical step of service or obedience you can take today in response to God’s prompting, even if you feel unsure or unqualified?

Day 4: Expect Obstacles and Opposition—But Don’t Give Up

Serving Jesus will bring both circumstantial challenges and spiritual opposition, sometimes from outside and sometimes even from within the church. Like Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark, you may face discouragement, conflict, or even the temptation to quit. Yet, the call of God and the filling of the Holy Spirit enable you to persevere, work through difficulties, and continue serving with joy. Even when others disappoint or hurt you, you have a choice: to move forward in bitterness or to be filled with the Holy Spirit and grace. [51:35]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: Think of a recent obstacle or conflict you’ve faced in serving others. How might God be inviting you to persevere and respond with grace and the Holy Spirit, rather than giving in to discouragement or bitterness?

Day 5: Always Point to Jesus—He Is the Source of Joy and Salvation

The heart of all Christian service and mission is to point people to Jesus, not to ourselves, our church, or any other figure. Paul’s message in Antioch centered on the person and work of Christ—His death, resurrection, and the forgiveness He offers. Our joy and hope are found in Him alone, and we are called to speak more about Jesus than anything else, inviting others to respond to Him personally. [56:18]

Acts 13:38-39 (ESV)
Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally talk to about Jesus this week, sharing not just about your church or activities, but about the forgiveness and freedom found in Him?

Sermon Summary

Acts 13 offers a powerful picture of what it means to live as a joy-filled follower of Jesus, even in the midst of hardship and uncertainty. Reflecting on personal family stories, I shared the contrast between my mother, often weighed down by discouragement, and my aunt, who radiates contagious joy despite significant suffering and loss. The difference is not in their circumstances, but in their purpose: my aunt’s life is anchored in serving Christ and others, not herself. This is the invitation for all of us—to find joy not in comfort or ease, but in living for something greater than ourselves.

The early church in Antioch models this for us. They were a community marked by worship, prayer, and fasting, intentionally listening for God’s call. When the Holy Spirit spoke, they responded—not just with inspiration, but with action. Paul and Barnabas were set apart and sent out, and the church sacrificed some of its best people for the sake of the gospel. This is a reminder that every follower of Jesus is called to serve, not as a passive passenger on a cruise ship, but as an active crew member on a fishing vessel. Serving is not just for the church’s benefit, but for our own growth and joy in Christ.

Obstacles and opposition are inevitable. Paul and Barnabas faced not only logistical and circumstantial challenges, but also spiritual warfare and even conflict within their own team. Sometimes the Holy Spirit empowered them to overcome; other times, they had to move on. The call of God is what sustains us through these difficulties, not our feelings or circumstances. Even when serving is hard, it is essential—like breathing, even with cracked ribs.

Above all, our focus must remain on Jesus. Paul’s preaching in Pisidian Antioch points relentlessly to Christ: his life, death, and resurrection as the fulfillment of God’s promises and the source of forgiveness and freedom. Our joy is rooted not in what we do, but in who Jesus is and what he has done. As we serve, we are called to point others to him, not to ourselves, our church, or any other figure. There is always “more beyond” in following Jesus—more adventure, more growth, more joy, as we are filled with the Holy Spirit and live for his purposes.

Key Takeaways

1. Joy is found in living for a purpose greater than yourself. True, lasting joy does not come from easy circumstances or personal comfort, but from aligning your life with the mission of Jesus. When Christ and his gospel take center stage, even suffering and loss can become opportunities for deep, contagious joy. [28:59]
2. Every believer is called to serve, and serving is essential for spiritual growth. Christianity is not a spectator sport; it requires active participation. Whether your role is visible or behind the scenes, you were created in Christ to do good works, and stepping into service is how you grow into the fullness of your calling. [32:50]
3. The call of God sustains us through obstacles and opposition. Feelings will fluctuate, and difficulties—both external and internal—are guaranteed. It is the certainty of God’s call, confirmed in community, that keeps us moving forward when we feel like quitting. [39:21]
4. Expect both circumstantial and spiritual opposition, but also expect God to work. Serving will bring challenges—logistical, relational, and spiritual. Yet, in the midst of opposition, God is at work drawing people to himself, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to persevere and see fruit, even if it looks different than we expect. [44:26]
5. The ultimate focus is always on Jesus, not ourselves or any other figure. Our words, actions, and service must continually point to Christ—his life, death, and resurrection as the source of forgiveness and freedom. The measure of our ministry is not how much we talk about ourselves, our church, or even cultural figures, but how faithfully we exalt Jesus. [56:18]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Family Stories: Joy and Suffering
[03:30] - The Source of Contagious Joy
[06:10] - Acts 13: The Church on Mission
[09:00] - Filled with Joy and the Holy Spirit
[12:00] - Gospel Purpose Over Personal Ambition
[15:30] - Listening for God’s Call
[19:00] - Serving: From Cruise Ship to Fishing Vessel
[22:30] - Discovering Your Place in Ministry
[26:00] - The Power of Community Confirmation
[30:00] - Moving Your Feet When God Moves Your Heart
[34:00] - Expecting Obstacles and Opposition
[38:00] - Spiritual Warfare and Perseverance
[42:00] - Conflict Within the Team
[46:00] - Pointing to Jesus: The Heart of Our Mission
[50:00] - The Gospel: Forgiveness and Freedom
[54:00] - Next Steps: More Beyond

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Acts 13 (ESV) — Key verses for focus: Acts 13:1-3, 8-12, 38-39, 48-52

> 1 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. 2 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.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
> ...
> 8 But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him ...
> ...
> 38 Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
> ...
> 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. ... 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Observation Questions

What practices did the church in Antioch engage in that helped them hear God’s call? (see Acts 13:2-3; [32:50])
What kinds of opposition did Paul and Barnabas face on their journey, both from outside and within their team? (see Acts 13:8, 13, 45, 50; [45:34])
According to the sermon, what was the difference between the pastor’s mother and his aunt when it came to experiencing joy? ([28:59])
In Paul’s sermon at Pisidian Antioch, what is the main message he points people to? (see Acts 13:38-39; [56:18])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think the early church made worship, prayer, and fasting such a priority when seeking God’s direction? How might this have shaped their ability to hear and respond to the Holy Spirit? ([32:50])
The sermon compares serving in the church to being on a fishing vessel rather than a cruise ship. What does this analogy suggest about the expectations and mindset of a follower of Jesus? ([32:50])
The pastor says that “the call of God is what sustains us through difficulties, not our feelings or circumstances.” How does this perspective help someone keep going when serving gets hard? ([39:21])
Paul and Barnabas faced both circumstantial and spiritual opposition, and sometimes even conflict within their own team. What does this teach us about the reality of serving in ministry and how should we respond? ([50:11])

Application Questions

The pastor shared about his aunt’s contagious joy despite suffering and loss, rooted in her purpose of serving Christ. Is there an area in your life where you tend to look for joy in comfort or ease rather than in serving Jesus? What would it look like to shift your focus? ([28:59])
The church in Antioch listened for God’s call through worship, prayer, and fasting. When was the last time you intentionally set aside time to listen for God’s direction? What practical step could you take this week to make space for this? ([32:50])
The sermon says every believer is called to serve, not just for the church’s benefit but for their own growth. Are you currently serving in some way? If not, what is one area you could try, even if it’s just “pushing a vacuum cleaner”? ([32:50])
The pastor mentioned that obstacles and opposition are inevitable, including busyness, fear, or even conflict with others. What is your biggest obstacle to serving right now? How could you invite the Holy Spirit to help you overcome it? ([45:34])
Sometimes serving brings friction with others on the “fishing boat.” Have you ever experienced conflict or disappointment while serving? How did you respond, and what might it look like to move forward “filled with the Holy Spirit” instead of bitterness? ([50:11])
Paul’s message always pointed to Jesus, not to himself or any other figure. In your conversations and service, do you find it easy or difficult to point people to Jesus? What is one way you could make Jesus more central in your words and actions this week? ([56:18])
The pastor ended with the idea that there is always “more beyond” in following Jesus. Is there a next step of faith or service that you sense God might be inviting you into? What would it take for you to say “yes” to that adventure? ([01:00:44])

Sermon Clips

You can be a joy-filled follower of Jesus when you put gospel purposes above personal ambition, when you put gospel purposes above personal ambition and life's problems. See, that joy comes when you get priorities right. And I'm on a gospel mission. I don't let my problems, I don't let my cancer, I don't let my lack of being able to see take center stage. I don't let the problems and obstacles of life take center stage. Christ is center stage. [00:31:24] (31 seconds) #GospelPurposeJoy

I want to remind you that when you follow Christ, you don't board a cruise ship, you board a working fishing vessel, see a cruise ship, it's all about me, what do I want to do today, where's the swimming pool, what's on the buffet, no, we get on a working fishing vessel, which is I roll up my sleeves, and I help fish, what do I need to do, do I need to swab the deck, do I need to pull in the nets, do I need to be at the bridge, do I need to be, you know, cleaning the lunchroom, and when we do our parts for kingdom purposes, that's when we open ourselves up to joy and the Holy Spirit. [00:34:32] (35 seconds) #WorkingForKingdomJoy

Sometimes I don't listen because I don't want to be called you know what I'm saying yeah I know God will call are you in that spot I don't want to pray I don't want to listen because I kind of don't want to get my hands dirty right now the call matters especially through difficult times because I'm going to tell you we'll see in this chapter and we'll see in chapters to come that for Paul and Barnabas and others who go out and for you as well you will hit difficult times and it's the call that keeps you going. [00:39:13] (31 seconds) #AnswerTheCallThroughTrials

If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit start your engine get ready to go and watch the Holy Spirit come along we're created in Christ Jesus not to think about good works. We're created in Christ Jesus to what? Do good works. So move your feet. [00:43:18] (17 seconds) #StartDoingGoodWorks

Serving can be hard it can be painful but it's that important that you keep serving in some way because it is part of your life you can expect opposition but I want to I can I just give you some been working here you know I should have a new year but I don't think you know I'm going to show you encouragement, even as we expect opposition, you can also expect interest in the gospel. [00:49:52] (19 seconds) #KeepServingDespitePain

Sometimes the stress comes from other crew members. In other words, sometimes it's hard to serve alongside John Sheerhart or Scott Garziela or somebody else. Like, I like fishing, I just don't like fishing with you. You know, that kind of thing...But what I want to tell you is it's not going to be all peaches and cream. You're going to have friction, not just outside the church, but with people in the church. Do you trust Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit to work gracefully with one another because it's that important? [00:50:35] (84 seconds) #GraceInChurchFriction

Talk less about our church. Talk less about yourself. Talk less about the lions. Talk about Jesus. It's the word of the Lord, the news about Jesus that spread. That's what we need to speak about. [00:58:07] (16 seconds) #SpeakJesusNotSelf

Here's what I want to be measured on. What do you say about Jesus Christ? That's who we exalt. That's who we lift up. Not politicians, not pastors. We lift up the Lord Jesus. That's our ultimate litmus test. What have you say about him? [00:59:07] (16 seconds) #ExaltJesusOnly

Fill up your tank with the Holy Spirit. I mean, if you're going to get moving, you got to fill up your tank. Get some God time, get some prayer and some fasting, some Holy Spirit time, so that you get more MPG, not miles per gallon, but ministry per gallon. You got to fill up with Jesus. [00:59:33] (17 seconds) #FillUpWithHolySpirit

I don't know how long you've been serving in Jesus, following Jesus, but can I just tell you there's more beyond. We're going to move into that building. That's not the end. There's more beyond. God's calling us to serve with joy and the power of the Holy Spirit. And to do that, we need to be more like him. [01:01:08] (19 seconds) #MoreBeyondTheBuilding

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