October 19, 2025 - Live!

As we near the end of our journey through Acts, we find Paul once again in the midst of relentless adversity. From the moment he said “yes” to Jesus, Paul’s life has been a series of storms, betrayals, and hardships. Yet, despite the unending nature of his trials, Paul’s story is not just about surviving—it's about living with purpose. The question we often ask is, “Why do I keep going through so much?” But a more powerful question is, “Why do I keep making it through?” The answer is that God’s grace has preserved us, not just for our own sake, but so that we can be agents of restoration for others.

Paul’s arrival on the island of Malta after a shipwreck is a vivid picture of God’s sovereign protection. Strangers—people who were nothing like him—showed him unusual kindness. Sometimes, God uses those outside our circles, those we least expect, to bless and sustain us. The church should be a place like Malta, where everyone, regardless of background, finds warmth and welcome. But Paul doesn’t just receive; he contributes. Even after all he’s endured, he gathers sticks for the fire, reminding us that those who are grateful to be kept by God are eager to give back.

Yet, as Paul gathers sticks, a snake bites him. The snake, camouflaged among the sticks, represents the hidden dangers and betrayals that often come from unexpected places. But God allows the bite without letting the venom do harm. Paul is bitten, but not bitter. The fire reveals the true nature of those around us, and God’s grace keeps us from being poisoned by the malice of others.

Paul’s snake-bitten hand becomes the very instrument God uses to heal Publius’ father, who suffers from a recurring, internal illness. The public wounds Paul endured become the means by which he ministers to the private pain of others. Our scars, our public failures, and our visible struggles are not wasted; they are transformed by God into sources of healing for those suffering in silence. Just as Jesus’ own hands bore the marks of death and yet brought resurrection, so too are we called to move from mere survival to purposeful living—healed so that we can heal others. The cycles of pain and defeat are broken not just for our freedom, but so we can be conduits of God’s grace to a hurting world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Preservation Has Purpose The relentless storms and trials we face are not just obstacles to endure, but opportunities for God’s sovereign protection to be displayed. Our survival is not an end in itself; God keeps us so that we can become agents of restoration and hope for others. The question is not just why we suffer, but why we keep making it through—because God has a purpose for our preservation. [56:42]
• 2. Blessing Often Comes from Unexpected Places Sometimes, the people God uses to bless and sustain us are those who are nothing like us—strangers, outsiders, or “barbarians.” We must be open to receiving kindness from unexpected sources and, as a church, strive to be a community where everyone is welcomed and valued, regardless of their background or status. God’s provision often comes through the hands of those we least expect. [62:37]
• 3. Gratitude Leads to Generosity Paul’s willingness to gather sticks for the fire, even after all he’s endured, is a powerful reminder that those who are grateful to be kept by God are also eager to contribute. Fires of community and faith do not keep burning on their own; they require the fuel of our prayers, service, and encouragement. True gratitude is expressed not just in receiving, but in giving back to sustain others. [69:51]
• 4. God Protects Us from the Poison, Not Always the Bite The snake that bites Paul is a metaphor for the betrayals and attacks we sometimes face, even from those who seem safe. Yet, God allows the bite without letting the venom destroy us. We may be wounded, but God’s grace keeps us from becoming bitter or poisoned by the malice of others. Our testimony is not that we were never bitten, but that the bite did not define or destroy us. [79:39]
• 5. Your Scars Are Instruments of Healing The very hand that was bitten becomes the hand that heals. Our public wounds and visible struggles are transformed by God into sources of healing for those suffering in private. The cycles of pain and defeat can end with us, as we allow God to use our scars to minister to others. Just as Jesus’ wounded hands brought resurrection, so our snake-bitten hands can bring hope and restoration to a broken world.
  
  ** [84:32]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [50:10] - Paul’s Relentless Trials
• [53:45] - Shipwreck and Storm on Malta
• [54:44] - Relating Paul’s Suffering to Our Own
• [56:42] - Shifting from Surviving to Living
• [59:18] - God’s Purpose in Preservation
• [62:37] - Blessing from Strangers
• [66:34] - Radical Hospitality and Community
• [69:51] - Bringing Your Sticks to the Fire
• [71:43] - Snakes Among the Sticks
• [74:30] - Fire Reveals True Nature
• [79:39] - Bitten but Not Bitter
• [82:15] - God Uses the Bitten to Heal
• [84:32] - Scars as Instruments of Healing
• [86:23] - God’s Grace for Internal Struggles
• [93:47] - Breaking the Cycle and Altar Call
• [99:14] - Invitation to Christ and Closing

Bible Reading

Acts 28:1-10 (ESV) — 1 After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.
2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold.
3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.”
5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days.
8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him healed him.
9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.

Observation Questions

1. What did the people of Malta do for Paul and the others when they arrived on the island? ([01:02:37])
2. What was Paul doing when he was bitten by the snake, and how did he respond to the bite? ([01:09:51])
3. How did the people of Malta interpret Paul’s snake bite at first, and how did their opinion change? ([01:16:08])
4. What did Paul do for Publius’ father, and what was significant about the hand he used? ([01:24:32])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says, “God sovereignly safeguards God’s servants so that they can be agents of restoration for others.” How does Paul’s experience on Malta show this truth? ([59:18])
2. The people who helped Paul were “strangers” or “barbarians.” What does this suggest about how God provides for us and who He might use? ([01:02:37])
3. The snake bite did not harm Paul, and he was able to shake it off. What does this teach about God’s protection and the difference between being wounded and being destroyed? ([01:19:39])
4. Paul’s public wound (the snake bite) became the means for private healing (for Publius’ father). What does this say about how God can use our visible struggles to help others? ([01:24:32])

Application Questions

1. The sermon asks, “Not why do I keep going through, but why do I keep making it through?” When you look back at your own storms and hardships, can you see ways God has preserved you for a purpose? What might that purpose be? ([56:42])
2. Paul received kindness from people who were nothing like him. Are there “strangers” or unexpected people in your life who have blessed you? How can you be more open to receiving and giving kindness across differences? ([01:02:37])
3. Paul didn’t just warm himself at the fire—he brought sticks. In your church or community, what are some “sticks” you can bring to help keep the fire burning for others? (prayer, encouragement, service, etc.) ([01:09:51])
4. The sermon says, “God protects us from the poison, not always the bite.” Have you experienced betrayal or hurt from unexpected places? How did you respond, and what would it look like to be “bitten but not bitter”? ([01:19:39])
5. Paul’s snake-bitten hand became the hand that healed. Is there a public wound or struggle in your life that God might want to use to help someone else? How could you share your story or scars to bring hope to others? ([01:24:32])
6. The church is called to be a place like Malta, where everyone finds warmth and welcome. What practical steps can your group or church take to make sure no one is left out in the cold? ([01:06:34])
7. The sermon ends with a call to move from surviving to living. What is one area of your life where you need to stop just surviving and start living with purpose? What’s a first step you can take this week? ([57:56])