The Journey of Discipleship: The Power of Rejection | November 16, 2025

Life is full of moments when we feel rejected—by friends, family, or even by the world because of our faith or convictions. These experiences of rejection are not foreign to us, and they are certainly not foreign to God. In fact, the story of Paul in Acts 18 reminds us that even the most faithful servants of God faced rejection. Paul, after faithfully preaching in the synagogue, was met with resistance and even blasphemy. Yet, instead of allowing this rejection to define him or halt his mission, Paul saw it as an opportunity for God to open new doors and lead him to new people and places.

Rejection, while painful, is not the end of our story. It is often the very tool God uses to redirect us toward His greater purpose. When Paul was rejected by the Jews in Corinth, he did not wallow in self-pity or bitterness. Instead, he moved forward, trusting that God had a plan beyond the closed doors. This is a powerful reminder that our pain is not wasted; God understands our hurt and uses it to bring about new beginnings, new relationships, and new opportunities for His glory.

It is easy to dwell on the past, to replay moments of betrayal or exclusion, and to let those wounds harden our hearts. But God is not in the business of simply restoring us to what we once had; He is in the business of creating something new. He does not want us to live in regret or to curse ourselves with self-imposed limitations. Instead, He calls us to move forward, to trust in His plan, and to believe that every rejection is a step closer to the future He has prepared for us.

God’s redeeming power is not hindered by the opinions or actions of others. Even when people turn their backs on us, God remains faithful. He is always working for our good, opening new paths, and fulfilling His promises. So, rather than fearing rejection, we can embrace it as a sign that God is moving us toward something greater. Let us not stop or give up, but continue to walk in faith, knowing that God’s plan is always better than our regrets.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Rejection Opens New Doors of Opportunity When we experience rejection, it is often God’s way of redirecting us toward new opportunities and relationships that we would not have encountered otherwise. Rather than seeing rejection as a dead end, we can trust that God is using it to move us closer to His purpose and our true calling. This perspective transforms our pain into hope and expectation for what God will do next. [35:58]
• 2. God Understands and Redeems Our Pain God is intimately aware of the pain that comes with rejection. He does not waste our suffering but uses it as a means to bring about redemption and growth in our lives. Even when others turn away, God remains close, working to heal our brokenness and lead us into a future filled with hope. [42:04]
• 3. Let Go of the Past and Embrace the Present Clinging to past hurts and regrets only hinders our ability to move forward. God calls us to stop living in the shadow of what was and to embrace the new things He is doing in our lives. By letting go of the past, we make room for God’s present work and the future He has prepared for us. [43:39]
• 4. Rejection is Better Than Regret Choosing to move forward, even after being rejected, is far better than living with the regret of never trying or never obeying God’s call. Regret keeps us stuck, but faith propels us into the unknown where God’s promises await. It is in moving on that we discover the fullness of God’s plan for our lives. [47:23]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:17] - Communion Preparation
• [09:04] - Year-End Reflections and Announcements
• [09:33] - Opening Prayer and Worship
• [20:45] - The Reality of Rejection
• [25:15] - God Understands Our Rejection
• [26:08] - Jesus’ Rejection Brings Us Hope
• [27:14] - Paul’s Experience in Corinth
• [29:50] - The Pain of Personal Rejection
• [32:07] - Understanding Feelings vs. Reality
• [33:26] - Rejection as Part of Life
• [35:58] - Rejection Opens New Opportunities
• [39:38] - Self-Imposed Curses and Moving Forward
• [42:04] - God’s Redeeming Power in Rejection
• [43:39] - Letting Go of the Past
• [47:23] - Rejection is Better Than Regret
• [48:53] - God’s Amazing Work Through Rejection
• [50:05] - Prayer for the Rejected
• [63:32] - Closing Blessing

Bible Reading

Acts 18:1-11 (ESV) — 1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.
2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,
3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.
6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.
8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.
9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,
10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

Observation Questions

1. According to Acts 18, what was Paul’s initial approach when he arrived in Corinth, and how did the people respond to his message? ([27:14])
2. What did Paul do after he was rejected and opposed by the Jews in the synagogue? ([35:58])
3. Who were some of the people Paul met and worked with in Corinth, and what role did they play in his ministry? ([27:42])
4. What was the result of Paul’s decision to move on from the synagogue and preach elsewhere? ([48:18])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul chose to move on to the Gentiles after being rejected by the Jews in Corinth? What does this tell us about how to handle rejection in our own lives? ([35:58])
2. The sermon mentions that God sometimes uses rejection to open new doors and create new beginnings. How does Paul’s experience in Corinth illustrate this truth? ([40:54])
3. The pastor said, “God is not in the business of simply restoring us to what we once had; He is in the business of creating something new.” What does this mean for someone who is struggling to let go of the past? ([43:10])
4. How does God’s faithfulness and redeeming power show up in the story of Paul, even when others turned their backs on him? ([42:04])

Application Questions

1. Think about a time when you felt rejected—by friends, family, or because of your faith. How did you respond? Did you see any new opportunities come out of that experience, like Paul did? ([35:58])
2. The sermon says that sometimes we let past hurts and regrets keep us from moving forward. Is there a specific regret or hurt you are holding onto? What would it look like to let go and trust God with your future? ([43:39])
3. The pastor talked about “self-imposed curses”—times when we say, “Never again” or “I’ll never trust anyone.” Have you ever made a decision like this after being hurt? How might God want to heal or change your perspective? ([39:38])
4. Paul didn’t let rejection stop him from obeying God’s call. Is there something you feel God is asking you to do, but you’re afraid of being rejected or failing? What’s one step you can take this week to move forward in faith? ([47:23])
5. The sermon says, “Rejection is better than regret.” Do you agree? Why or why not? Can you think of a situation where you chose not to try because you were afraid of rejection? What did you learn from that? ([47:23])
6. When others turn their backs on us, the sermon reminds us that God remains faithful. How can you remind yourself of God’s presence and faithfulness when you feel alone or rejected? ([42:04])
7. Paul found new relationships and ministry partners after leaving the synagogue. Is there someone new in your life right now who might be part of God’s new plan for you? How can you reach out or build that relationship this week? ([27:42])