Preparation for God’s work begins with worship, prayer, and seeking His guidance. Just as the early church in Antioch worshipped and fasted before making decisions, we are called to pause and seek God’s direction before stepping into new seasons or responsibilities. It is easy to rush ahead with our own plans, but true spiritual preparation means ministering to the Lord—honoring Him, worshipping Him, and asking for His wisdom. When we take time to prepare our hearts, we invite the Holy Spirit to lead us, ensuring that our actions align with God’s will rather than our own impulses. [37:09]
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: Before making a big decision this week, will you intentionally pause to worship and pray, asking God to guide your next step?
The central purpose of our lives and our church is to know Jesus deeply and to make Him known to others. Every act of service, every greeting, every lesson taught to children, and every outreach effort is ultimately about helping people encounter Christ. This mission is not always easy and may come with challenges, but it is the heartbeat of our faith community. When we serve, we do so not for recognition or routine, but to point others to the hope and salvation found in Jesus. [42:25]
Acts 13:46-47 (ESV)
And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
Reflection: Who is one person in your life you can intentionally share Christ’s love with this week—through a word, a prayer, or an act of service?
Following Jesus and sharing His message will sometimes bring opposition, misunderstanding, or even persecution. Paul and Barnabas faced resistance and slander, yet they continued to speak boldly and trust God’s purpose. In our own lives, we may encounter criticism or feel pressure to conform to the world’s values, but we are called to remain faithful, knowing that Christ Himself was persecuted. When we face challenges for our faith, we are in good company, and God’s Spirit will sustain us with courage and joy. [51:22]
Acts 13:50-52 (ESV)
But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Reflection: When you face criticism or pushback for your faith, how can you respond with both boldness and joy, trusting God to work through you?
It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and ministry, forgetting to return to the source of our strength—God Himself. The early disciples continually went back to prayer and worship, even as their responsibilities grew. When we make space each day to seek God, thank Him, and surrender our plans, we are filled anew with His Spirit and joy. This daily return to God is not just a discipline but a lifeline, keeping us rooted in His love and purpose no matter what comes our way. [54:27]
Psalm 63:1 (ESV)
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Reflection: Will you set aside a specific time today to turn off distractions and simply pray or worship, asking God to fill you afresh with His presence?
Our lives are meant to be living testimonies of our relationship with Jesus. If someone were to examine your life, would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a follower of Christ? Even in simple conversations, we can give glory to God and point others to Him by acknowledging His grace in our successes and daily blessings. Let your words and actions today reflect the reality that it is only by God’s grace that you are where you are, and let your life shine as a witness to His goodness. [01:02:22]
Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Reflection: In what practical way can you give God the credit for something in your life today, so that others might see His goodness through you?
Today’s gathering was a reminder of the importance of preparation—not just in the practical things of life, but in our spiritual walk with God. We began by celebrating the ways our community is growing and serving, from life groups to outreach events, and giving thanks for the journey God has led us on as a church family. But as we looked into Acts 13, we saw that true preparation for God’s work is not just about planning or busyness; it’s about returning again and again to the source—worship, prayer, and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
Acts 13 paints a picture of a church in Antioch that was thriving not because of their own strength, but because they continually ministered to the Lord—worshipping, fasting, and seeking His direction before making decisions. Barnabas and Saul were set apart for their mission only after the church had spent time in worship and prayer. This is a call for us to pause, to sharpen our spiritual “axes,” and to seek God’s guidance before we rush into action.
We reflected on how easy it is to get caught up in the demands of life and ministry, to run ourselves dry like a van without oil, forgetting to check in with God. Yet, our purpose remains clear: to know Christ and make Him known. Every act of service, every greeting, every lesson taught to our children, is ultimately about pointing people to Jesus. But we must remember that this mission will not always be easy. Just as Paul and Barnabas faced opposition and persecution, we too will encounter resistance—sometimes from those closest to us, or from the culture around us.
Despite these challenges, the early disciples were continually filled with joy and the Holy Spirit because they kept returning to God as their source. We are called to do the same: to worship, to pray, to trust God with our plans and our service, and to let our lives be evidence of our love for Jesus. Even in the face of difficulty, we can be confident that God’s purpose will prevail, and that He has already won the victory.
Acts 13:1-4, 8-12, 42-52 (ESV) —
> 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. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.
> ...
> 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 10 and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.
> ...
> 42 As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. 43 And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
> ...
> 49 And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. 50 But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. 51 But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
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