When Comfort Takes a Backseat

Last week, we talked about dealing with conflict as Christians. Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement and parted ways, but God still used them both for His mission. Conflict happens, but how we handle it matters.

This week, we’re going to talk about dealing with something else we face as Christians. This morning, we’re looking at Acts 16:1-5 as our backdrop for this conversation.

Before we dive in, I want to issue a full disclaimer: you’re probably not going to like this message. It may not be one of your favorites. But here’s the reality—God’s Word is not designed for our comfort; it is designed for our transformation.

The writer of Hebrews reminds us:

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

When we open the Bible, we aren’t just reading words on a page—we are encountering the very voice of God, which convicts, challenges, and calls us to a higher standard.

As a pastor, my job is not to protect feelings at the expense of truth, nor to preach truth without love. My responsibility is to speak both grace and truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. If we embrace only grace, we become permissive and compromise holiness. If we embrace only truth, we become harsh and lack compassion. True discipleship means holding both in balance—truth that convicts and grace that restores.

Paul warns Timothy about a time when people will resist sound teaching in favor of what is easy to hear:

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

We live in a culture where many prefer a customized gospel—one that soothes rather than sanctifies, that affirms rather than transforms. But the church is not meant to be a place of convenience; it is a place of renewal, where we are called to surrender our own ways and walk in obedience to Christ.

With that said, let’s turn to today’s passage, and then we’ll pray.

Acts 16:1–5 ESV

1 Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

Pray

Alright, can I vent for a second? I promise we’ll get into the Bible, but first—I need to talk about something that deeply disturbs me. Something that, quite frankly, keeps me up at night.

Why—WHY—can’t people put their shopping carts back where they belong?!

It’s not hard. The cart station is RIGHT THERE. You walked all over the grocery store, but now, suddenly, that extra ten steps is where you draw the line? You were strong enough to push a fully loaded cart through the aisles, but now that it’s empty, it’s just too much?

And let’s talk about the people who push it halfway toward the station, give it a little shove, and just hope for the best. Like, what are we doing here? Are we trusting Jesus to take the wheel of our shopping cart? Because I’m pretty sure He has better things to do.

Or even worse—the ones who leave the cart right next to the station, but not actually inside it. That’s next-level chaos. That’s like bringing your dish all the way to the sink but refusing to rinse it. That’s like making your bed but leaving one pillow on the floor. That’s like parking your car in the garage but leaving the door wide open for thieves!

And look, I know I’m joking, but I genuinely believe the shopping cart test is a test of character. Because think about it—there’s no reward for putting it back. No punishment if you don’t. It’s just a simple, inconvenient thing you choose to do (or not do) for the good of others.

I promise we’re getting to Acts 16, but first, I need to ask again—why can’t people put their shopping carts back?

I mean, come on! It’s such a simple thing! And yet, people will do mental gymnastics to justify why they don’t need to return it. “Well, it’s kinda windy, so maybe it’ll roll into the cart station on its own.” Or, “You know, I’m actually providing job security for the cart guy.”

It’s not the cart guy or girl (politically correct joke)’s job to run all over the parking lot like they’re competing in an Olympic scavenger hunt. Their job is to collect the carts from the cart station, not act out the plot of the Taken movies in order to find shopping carts.

But let’s be honest—we value our convenience over someone else’s effort. We think, Eh, it’s just one cart. Someone else will get it. But multiply that by dozens of people doing the same thing, and suddenly, the parking lot looks like a scene from a post-apocalyptic grocery store wasteland.

And just when I thought I had seen it all, last night Alyssa and I went to a movie in Stonehill. I was already planning on going on this little rant today, but as we walk out of the theater—low and behold, look what I see.

(Show the picture of the cart.)

Y’all. Target is on the other side of the shopping center. That cart had no business being there. That means somebody pushed their cart across the parking lot, past multiple businesses, and left it at the theater.

I don’t even know what to say at this point. I don’t know if I’m more frustrated or impressed! Like, you had the energy to push it that far, but you couldn’t turn around and take it back? Did you just reach a point where you said, “You know what? This is where this cart lives now.”

And honestly? This is exactly how so many of us treat obedience to God.

We push just far enough to make ourselves feel good. We go just far enough to ease our conscience. We’re all in when it’s easy, but the moment it requires a little extra effort? We stop.

We convince ourselves that someone else will step up. Someone else will serve. Someone else will give. Someone else will reach the lost.

And that’s the problem.

We’re more than willing to go out of our way for things we value. We’ll rearrange our entire schedule for work, for sports, for entertainment. But when it comes to stretching ourselves for the sake of the Gospel, suddenly, we’re ‘too busy.’

And that’s why, when I read Acts 16:3, it caught me off guard.

At first glance, it seems like Paul is making a decision that doesn’t quite add up. Like he’s contradicting everything he had just stood for.

Because let’s just talk about how weird this looks on the surface.

In Acts 15, we just settled the issue! The Jerusalem Council made it crystal clear—Gentiles do not need to be circumcised to be saved. Paul was literally fighting against people who were pushing circumcision as a requirement for salvation.

And then… literally one chapter later, Paul turns around and has Timothy circumcised.

Excuse me? What?

At first glance, this feels like the ultimate “Do as I say, not as I do” moment. It’s like preaching about the importance of patience and then losing your mind in traffic on the way home. It’s like me ranting about shopping carts and then leaving mine next to my car. (I would never, by the way. I am not a hypocrite.)

But here’s the thing—this wasn’t a contradiction. It was a strategy.

Timothy was half-Jewish, and the Jewish people in the region knew that. If he remained uncircumcised, it would have been a major stumbling block to the very people Paul was trying to reach. So, Timothy voluntarily chose discomfort to remove unnecessary barriers to the gospel.

This wasn’t about salvation—this was about access.

Timothy could have refused. He could have said, “Paul, I love Jesus, I love missions, but I do not love this plan.” But instead, he put aside his own comfort to make sure nothing got in the way of sharing the gospel with the people they were called to reach.

And that’s the tension we have to live in as followers of Jesus—knowing that while our faith is rooted in the grace, of God, sometimes we willingly set aside our own rights and comfort for the sake of others.

And that’s exactly what we’re talking about today. I’ve titled this message When comfort takes a backseat.

Timothy had a choice. He could have said, “Paul, I’m all in for ministry, but this right here? This is where I draw the line.” But instead, he willingly chose discomfort and pain so that nothing would stand in the way of the gospel.

And let’s be real—some of us can’t even walk an extra ten feet to return our shopping cart, much less something like this.

Timothy’s circumcision wasn’t about salvation. It wasn’t sinful for him to remain uncircumcised. But for the sake of the gospel, it was better that he was.

There are things in our life that aren’t sinful. That we have to be willing to let go of.

Listen—I love football. Football itself isn’t sinful. (Though, depending on how your team is playing, it might bring out some sinful reactions.)

But did you know that church attendance in America drops by about 20% during football season?

Why? Because some people’s faithfulness to church is based on their team’s kickoff time.

I mean, Jesus is Lord… unless my team plays at noon.

And listen, I get it. You don’t want to miss the game. So maybe the answer is simple—just become a college football fan. Those games are on Saturdays, so now you can love Jesus and your team at the same time.

But in all seriousness, what does it say about us if we can prioritize a football schedule over our time with God?

Listen, the goal is not just church attendance. The goal is daily discipleship.

But here’s the question—how do we expect to grow as disciples of Jesus if we stay home whenever it’s more convenient for us?

Let’s put this in perspective:

Timothy was literally willing to give up flesh for the sake of the gospel.

When It Comes to the Gospel, We Have to Be Willing to Give Up Personal Preferences.

I’m almost positive Timothy’s personal preference was not to be circumcised. I mean, I don’t think that was on his bucket list.

But he was willing to put his personal preference aside for the advancement of the gospel.

I want to be very clear— it is not my job to advance the gospel.

Too many people think it’s the pastor’s job to share the gospel. Listen to me—it is NOT the pastor’s job. It’s OUR job.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Great Commission wasn’t given to pastors only. It was given to believers. That means you. That means me. That means all of us. Jesus didn’t say, “Invite people to church so the pastor can disciple them.” He said, Go.

The Greek word for “go” here implies an ongoing action—as you go about your life, make disciples. That means at work, at the grocery store, at family gatherings—wherever you are, you carry the responsibility to share Jesus.

If you’re a follower of Christ, then discipleship is not optional.

So the real question is: Are we obeying, or are we outsourcing our responsibility to someone else? Paul reminds us

Romans 10:14 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

This verse is sobering. People cannot believe in Jesus if they never hear about Him.

This means the salvation of others is directly connected to our obedience.

God could have written the gospel in the sky. He could have sent angels to do it. But He chose to use us.

The question is—are we doing our part?

We all have to give up our personal preferences for the gospel.

Not just me as the pastor. but it’s not just our preferences.

We Also Have to Be Willing to Give Up Time

Let’s be real—we love using time as an excuse for why we can’t do something.

Let me give you an example: “I would love to have a devotional time… but I just don’t have time.

(Read short devotional as an illustration)

That took 2 minutes.

You’re telling me you don’t have time?

Listen, you don’t have a time problem. You have a priority problem.

Because guess what?

Time bends to what you prioritize.

Let me prove it to you.

You don’t have time to pray, but somehow you had time to scroll on social media for 45 minutes. Check your screen time. I promise you will be shocked.

You don’t have time to read the Bible, but you managed to watch an entire season of a Netflix show in one weekend.

You don’t have time to evangelize, but you had plenty of time to argue with strangers on Facebook.

We act like we have no time, but the truth is—we just don’t prioritize the right things.

The reality is, we make time for what we truly care about.

If someone gave you ten thousand dollars a month and said, “You can only have it if you spend an hour reading your Bible every morning,” would you find the time? Of course you would. Because when something matters to us, we make room for it.

“But here’s the reality— we adjust our schedules for what we truly care about. We wake up early for work. We stay up late for Netflix. We drive across town for a dinner reservation. We cancel other plans for a last-minute trip or a game. We find the time when something matters to us.

Yet, when it comes to making time to gather in prayer, suddenly, we’re ‘too busy.’

If we can shift our schedules for entertainment, for friends, for personal goals—why do we hesitate to shift them for God?

And let’s be real—it’s not like we don’t have options. We even have a virtual link for Saturday morning prayer. You don’t even have to leave your house! And yet, we still don’t make time.

But do you know who did make time?

The early church wasn’t just casually praying when it was convenient—they were devoted to it. They made gathering in prayer a priority because they knew their faith wasn’t meant to be lived alone.

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Saturday morning prayer isn’t just another event—it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to grow, to intercede for others, and to position ourselves to hear from God in a way we might miss otherwise. It’s not about obligation; it’s about invitation.

So the real question isn’t ‘Do I have time for God?’ The question is, ‘Is God important enough for me to make time for Him?

What if instead of saying “I don’t have time,” we said “I’m making time”?

Because the truth is: We don’t find time. We make time.

So let me ask you—if the early church was devoted to prayer, why do we treat it as optional? Is God important enough for you to make time for Him?”

Now, let me be clear—I understand that we have demanding jobs, responsibilities, and families to take care of. This is not about neglecting those responsibilities. Some of us have to work on Saturdays, and I completely understand. This isn’t about guilt or pressure.

This isn’t about making church the center of your schedule—it’s about making Jesus the center of your schedule. It’s not about quitting your job, neglecting your family, or abandoning your responsibilities. But it is about making sure that in the midst of all those things, we are still prioritizing time with God—and the community He’s called us to.

Because the truth is, our faith was never meant to be lived in isolation. The early church devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, and prayer together . They understood that following Jesus isn’t just a personal decision—it’s a shared commitment.

We have to recognize that even in the middle of our responsibilities, we still have to make choices with our time For God His Church.

Paul tells us in Ephesians

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Paul isn’t giving a casual suggestion—he’s giving a warning.

Time is not passive. It doesn’t wait for you to figure things out. It doesn’t pause when you’re distracted. It doesn’t slow down when life gets busy.

If you don’t control your time, it won’t just control you—it will consume you.

It will consume your energy.

It will consume your attention.

It will consume your passion.

It will consume every bit of space that was meant for God—until there’s nothing left.

We love to say, “I’m just too busy.” But if we’re honest, what we are really saying is, “I’m too busy for God.”

And that’s the real issue.

Because if we don’t make time for God—

We won’t make time to minister to others.

We won’t make time to serve.

We won’t make time to grow in our faith.

And if we aren’t making time for the things of God… then what are we making time for?

Because here’s the truth: Time isn’t wasted—it’s always spent. The question is, what are you spending it on?

If your personal preferences and time are getting in the way of other people’s ability to receive the gospel, it’s time to give them up.

Contrary to what we might think—our preferences and our schedules are not more valuable than the gospel.

And if anyone had the right to hold onto preferences, comfort, and time, it was Jesus.

But He didn’t.

Philippians 2:1–8 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Did you catch that? Paul isn’t just telling us to admire Jesus—he’s telling us to be like Jesus.

Jesus had every right to stay in heaven. Every right to sit in glory. Every right to choose comfort. But instead, He emptied Himself and humbled Himself—even to the point of death on a cross. Why? Because He knew that on the other side of His sacrifice was our salvation.

And now, Paul is saying: That’s the mindset you and I are called to have.

If Jesus gave up everything to reach us, why do we hesitate to give up a little convenience to reach others?

If Jesus humbled Himself, why do we hesitate to humble ourselves in conversations, in service, in prayer?

If Jesus gave up His throne for the sake of the Gospel, why do we struggle to give up our comfort for the sake of the Gospel?

Timothy was willing to sacrifice his own flesh.

Jesus gave up everything—including His body.

So here’s the question:

Will you give up your convenience?

But let me take it a step further.

Because this isn’t just about our own comfort.

On the other side of your inconvenience is someone else’s eternity.

What if the conversation you don’t feel like having is the one that leads someone to Jesus?

What if the time you don’t feel like giving up is the very moment when someone’s heart is open to the gospel?

What if your willingness to be inconvenienced is what God uses to change someone’s eternity?

Timothy endured physical pain to make sure nothing hindered the gospel.

Jesus gave up heaven, His rights, and His life to bring salvation to the world.

And yet, we hesitate to share the gospel because it might feel awkward.

Timothy chose inconvenience for the gospel.

Jesus chose the cross for us.

Now, the choice is yours. Jesus lays it out clearly in Luke 

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Notice who Jesus is talking to in Luke 9:23—“He said to all…”

Who is “all”?

In that moment, Jesus was speaking directly to His twelve disciples—the ones who had already left everything to follow Him. These were the men who had seen His miracles, walked beside Him, and committed their lives to His mission.

And yet, even they needed this reminder: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

But here’s what we need to understand—Jesus wasn’t just talking to them. He’s talking to us. If we claim to follow Jesus, this isn’t optional. This is the standard of discipleship.

Denying Yourself Means:

My comfort is not my priority—Christ is.

My schedule is not my own—it belongs to God.

My preferences are not more important than someone else’s eternity.

Taking Up Your Cross Means:

Being willing to be inconvenienced for the gospel.

Surrendering your plans for God’s purpose.

Choosing to follow Jesus even when it costs you something.

Is your convenience worth more than someone else’s eternity? Because the truth is this—your inconvenience is temporary, but someone else’s eternity is forever.

On the other side of your inconvenience is someone else’s salvation story. Are you willing to pay the price?

So here’s the final question: Are we willing to step outside our convenience for the sake of the gospel? Or are we just hoping our shopping cart of faith gets picked up by someone else?