For The Sake Of The Gospel

Billy loved spending weekends at his Grandpa Joe’s house. Grandpa was full of wisdom, stories, and—most importantly—hilarious ideas about “helping.”

One Saturday morning, Billy’s mom reminded him to clean his room before heading outside. Sighing, Billy trudged upstairs, but Grandpa Joe stopped him.

“Don’t you worry, kiddo! I’ll help you clean that room in a jiffy!”

Billy’s eyes lit up. “Really, Grandpa? That’s awesome!”

Grandpa winked and marched straight into Billy’s room. Instead of picking things up, he grabbed a broom, swept everything under the bed in one massive pile, and then dramatically yanked the bedsheet down to cover the mess.

“Boom! Spotless!” Grandpa announced proudly.

Billy scratched his head. “Uh… I don’t think that’s what Mom meant.”

“Nonsense,” Grandpa said, giving a wise nod. “Clean is just the illusion of clean.”

Just then, Billy’s mom walked in. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed a single sock peeking out from under the bed. With a knowing look, she lifted the sheet.

Out tumbled clothes, books, a half-eaten sandwich from who-knows-when, and—worst of all—Billy’s missing homework.

Grandpa chuckled. “Ah. A true helper knows when it’s time to make a quick exit.”

And just like that, Grandpa disappeared down the stairs, leaving poor Billy to explain.

Historical/Cultural Context -

Luke was a physician and a travel companion of the apostle Paul. He wrote the book of Acts. The earliest possible date of Acts is immediately after the events that Luke recorded in, which would have been c. A.D. 62. Acts is addressed to “Theophilus,” about whom nothing more is known. Luke’s broader audience consisted primarily of Gentile Christians like Theophilus who had already “been taught” about Jesus.

Biblical Text -

Acts 16:1–15 NKJV

Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily. Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days. And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - To Become All Things For The Gospel We Must Go Where We Are Told & Live A Gospel Filled Life

Life Point- Become All Things To All For The Sake Of The Gospel

Exegetical -

Acts 16:1–5 NLT

Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.

Homiletical -

So Paul visited Derbe and Lystra which were cities that he had previously visited. Where he came upon a young man who was a believer and had a great reputation amongst believers in multiple cities.

If circumcision is done away with why would Paul ask him to do this?

It wasn’t for salvation so it’s not a salvation issue. No it says it was in deference to the Jews.

In other words it was for the sake of ministry so that the Jews would listen to Timothy. You see because his mother was a Jew with this one act he identifies as a Jew and not a Greek. This is the only reason for this act.

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 NLT

Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

I have seen many people of the so-called undesirable type come to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit through a believer.

But Pastor they are a rough crew and I don’t feel comfortable. Well, It’s time to get over that, step out of your comfort zone and do some sharing of the Gospel.

Matthew 22:1–10 NLT

Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them. “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

It’s time to go to the highways and byways and invite anyone we find there to come into the kingdom.

Notice that in our main text it says this group of men went from town to town giving the letter that was written to Antioch and that it strengthened the believers wherever they went.

It is our job to not just win converts but to instruct them in the ways of God’s Word so that they may be strengthened in their faith.

Illustration -

In the early 1900s, a famous missionary named Hudson Taylor moved to China. He abandoned his Western clothing and adopted the traditional dress of the Chinese people to connect with them. Taylor believed that if he was to reach the Chinese, he needed to understand their culture, live alongside them, and communicate in a way that was meaningful to them.

Life Point - Go & Do Whatever God Calls You To Go & Do

Exegetical -

Acts 16:6–10 NLT

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.

Homiletical -

So next Paul and his company go to two more cities because the Holy Spirit prevented them from going to Asia.

Do you think God wanted the Gospel to go to Asia? Of course He did, it was just not the time for this group to go there. It could be He had someone else going there or it could be that it just wasn’t their time

God answers things in three ways: yes, no, not yet.

So what did they do. They set off for another place but again The Spirit did not allow them to go there.

How does God stop them? We aren’t told. It could a constraint on the inside of them, it could be through circumstances. We don’t know. We do know that it was God’s will that they not go to these places.

So that very same night Paul has a vision. There is this guy in Macedonia begging him to come over there and help them.

So what does Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke do? They decide to follow the vision that God gave them and do what God told them to do.

You know God will put up barriers to us when we are about to go or do something He doesn’t want us to go and do, so long as we are seeking Him. There is the key. You must be seeking God. Do you think Paul was not seeking the will of God as He tried to go to these places? Of course he was.

Are we better than Paul? NO! No matter what decisions we have to make we need to be in an attitude of seeking God’s will. In an attitude of prayer.

1 Thessalonians 5:14–18 NLT

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

God will make you go to places you aren’t even looking at going to sometimes. You know what? That is Okay. He is God and if He wants you to go, you go. If He wants you to stay, you stay.

The key is listening and doing the will of God.

Illustration -

There was a man who often recounts a time when he felt God nudging him to visit a hospital patient. Doubt and fear crept in, but he obeyed. When he arrived, he was met with tears of gratitude from the patient, who had been feeling alone. This powerful moment reinforced for him that following God’s call, even in small ways, can profoundly impact others and fulfill their deep needs. What has God put on your heart to do, that you haven’t been doing?

Life Point - Go To Where The People Are

Exegetical -

Acts 16:11–15 NLT

We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She and her household were baptized, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

Homiletical -

So these men take a boat and land at Neapolis and then get to Philippi. Philippi at this time was a major city of commerce and it was a Roman Colony and they stayed for a few days.

They went to where they thought people would be. Low and behold they found people meeting for prayer. Folks you can’t wait for people to just walk in the back door. You gotta go where people are at. You gotta go to the Walmart, even if you don’t like Walmart. You Gotta go to the parks and the community events and share Jesus.

We have gotten away from that and we need to get back to that. Today everyone wants deliveries to their homes but there are still plenty of people in places too. Go, share Jesus with others. You don’t have to street preach or hold a sign. Just strike up a conversation with someone and maybe give them one of our “your invited” cards.

So what happens when this group goes to the river? Well they meet Lydia who comes to the Lord. She is a well off woman for she is a merchant of expensive purple cloth. She invites them to stay with her at her home.

While they went and shared the Gospel, they needed a place to lay their heads and God provided that place. God will provide when you are doing His will and sharing the Gospel with others. He always provides a way.

Psalm 37:25 NLT

Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.

Illustration -

In the 19th century, William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, dedicated his life to helping the marginalized in London’s East End. He went where the people were: the streets, bars, and smoky dance halls, not just churches. His powerful message and compassionate actions led many to find hope in Jesus. Booth believed that to share the gospel effectively, you must meet them where they are. How will we reach out to our community with love and grace?

Life Principle– To Become All Things For The Gospel We Must Go Where We Are Told & Live A Gospel Filled Life

Call to Action – altar call….