Unsung heroes : Silas

Sending Hero’s

Good morning Community in Christ today I am picking up where Gary and I have been preaching about the unsung heros of the new testament. And today we are talking about Silas or Silvanus.

the most obvious story comes from acts:16:25 (we beatenup, locked up and wrongfully persecuted– paul an silas - are praising God. rejoice in our suffering. Some of us might say we could do it… But could you? and how do you tell someone to be happy when they are sad? How do we ourselves find the Joy of Jesus’, the promise of eternity when the outlook seems so Bleak. And should we tell someone that they should rejoice in their suffering. Does our suffering bring glory to the lord? How do we pray in the chaos of the storm. I could tell you a thousand stories of when I couldn’t recognize the blessing of hardship. I used to cry as a child when the rain came. not because I couldn’t play outside but because usually my knees would start hurting.

mostly my right knee. I was not praising the lord during those times I was focusing on the pain asking why me? I was 9 not knowing that I had Rheumatoid arthritis.

when somone in our family dies do we rejoice in the lord? when we are corrected in our sin do we rejoice in the lord? If your speeding and the cop who was following you for a half mile puts on his blinker and turns, you probably thank God that they didn’t pull you over even if you were going a little faster than the speed limit. I think I have said “thank God” a few times where God knew I deserved correction. the heart of our message focuses on people facing hardship but turning to the lord. So I have 3 main parts of these thoughts on Silas our unsung Hero Today.

Text:

Silas a Servant is called. The service is the heroic act.

Silas first appears on the pages in scripture as a trusted leader at the Jerusalem Council in AD 49 (Acts 15:22). by this time in scripture he wasn’t new to faith—he had already “risked his life for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” according to (Acts 15:26). Everything about him points to someone who had walked with Jesus’ people from the early days, shaped by faith, proven by sacrifice, and ready to serve when the call came.

When the apostles and elders chose messengers to carry the council’s decision, Silas was the kind of man they needed—faithful, fearless, and trusted by the whole church. His life testified that authority in the gospel is not about his position but about proven character shaped in community. In Silas, we see how unity and Spirit-given authority work hand in hand to advance Christ’s mission. Silas did more than carrying the message he lived it.

Lets start off with his Commission in Acts 15:22-23

Our mission to share the gospel is backed by the authority of Christ and the church, reminding us we are never alone in fulfilling God’s Great Commission.

read Acts 15:22-23

first point is

1. Unified in Community (Acts 15:22)

When the Jerusalem Council faced a difficult decision, they didn’t act alone. They chose trusted, proven leaders—including Silas—to carry their message to Antioch. Silas’ selection reminds us that character, faithfulness, and unity are essential for advancing the gospel.

And notice this: the same Silas who was chosen in unity would later walk side-by-side with Paul, even singing hymns in prison after persecution struck (Acts 16:25). His life shows us that those who are faithful in community are often called to be faithful in hardship.

-point

God often prepares us in fellowship and shared discernment so that when trials come, we are ready to serve Him boldly, with joy, and with unwavering faith.

my Second point is

2. Commissioned with Authority (Acts 15:23)

Silas wasn’t just sent on a mission—he was sent with authority. Not authority of his own making, but authority rooted in Christ and confirmed by the church.

Look at Acts 15:23: “With them they sent the following letter: The apostles and elders, your brothers, to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia: Greetings.”

This letter carried the weight of the whole Jerusalem Council. And notice—Silas wasn’t just a courier delivering a message like a mailman. He was chosen as a representative—a living, breathing witness of the church’s decision and Christ’s authority. His presence gave the message credibility.

That’s important: When the church sends, it’s not just people sending—it’s God commissioning. The authority of Christ flows through His body, the church. And Silas carried that authority.

We see the fruit of this in Philippi. Acts 16:25 tells us: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”

Think about it—why could Silas sing when his back was torn open from the rods? Why could he worship when his feet were locked in stocks? Because he knew he was not there by accident. He was commissioned by God. He was where Christ had sent him, backed by the authority of heaven and affirmed by the church. This Spirit-given authority gave him confidence to preach, teach, and even endure suffering. We see this clearly in Philippi, where he and Paul were beaten and thrown into jail—and yet, at midnight, they were singing hymns to God (Acts 16:25).

This isn’t just Silas’ story—it’s God’s pattern. Over and over, we see this equipping in Scripture:

Daniel and his friends—given wisdom, courage, and steadfastness before kings and in the furnace (Daniel 1–3). Even when the soldiers of Nebuchadnezzar perished at the flames, God’s people were sustained by His power.

Jeremiah—called before birth, equipped to speak words that would uproot and plant nations (Jer. 1:5–10).

The disciples—commissioned by Jesus, given authority over unclean spirits, sent to preach and heal (Mark 6:7).

The pattern is clear: God calls. God equips. God sustains. His Spirit-given authority strengthens His people to endure what they could never face on their own.

We see this equipping of God over and over again throughout Scripture. Daniel and his friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—were given courage, wisdom, and steadfastness to face impossible trials (Daniel 1–3). Even when Nebuchadnezzar’s own soldiers met their fate at the entrance of the furnace, God’s people were protected and sustained as they faithfully followed His commands. God calls, He equips, and He sustains His people in ways that defy human strength and human expectation.

When God commissions us, He equips us. Spirit-given authority allows us to face trials with joy, courage, and unwavering faith, knowing that we carry the backing of Christ and the church wherever we go.

Third point

3. Continuing the Mission Faithfully (Acts 17:14–15; 18:5)

When Paul had to move on, Silas did not follow—he stayed behind in Thessalonica to strengthen, encourage, and shepherd the believers (Acts 17:14–15). Later, he rejoined Paul at Corinth (Acts 18:5), continuing the mission with unwavering faith. Silas was not merely a supporting character in Paul’s ministry; he was a faithful, Spirit-empowered servant of Christ, willing to step into responsibility and carry the gospel forward, even without recognition or immediate reward.

His example reminds us that the mission of God transcends personal ambition. True ministry is measured not by visibility or selfish praise, but by faithfulness in obedience—strengthening the body of Christ, multiplying disciples, and laying foundations for generations to come. Silas’ steadfastness connects to the 4-generation vision: the way we serve today shapes the faith, courage, and mission of those who follow us—our children, our grandchildren, and the generations yet to come.

Application: This week, reflect on the spaces God has placed you to serve faithfully, even when no one else is watching. Trust that your obedience, endurance, and Spirit-led work are part of a larger, eternal mission, advancing Christ’s Kingdom and leaving a legacy for generations.

Closing Connection to Christ:

Silas’ life—from being chosen at the Jerusalem Council, to singing in prison, to faithfully shepherding believers when Paul moved on—reflects the ongoing work of Christ through His church. Every act of unity, obedience, and Spirit-led courage points back to Jesus, who empowers His people with authority, sustains them in trials, and sends them out on mission.

Christ is the source of the authority we walk in, the courage we need in hardship, and the vision that spans generations. Just as He worked through Silas and the early church, He continues to work through us today, calling us to serve faithfully, live courageously, and invest in the next generation of believers.

Takeaway: We are never alone in Christ’s mission. Our unity, faithfulness, and obedience are His work in us—extending His Kingdom now and for generations to come.

Application: Like the apostles and elders at the Jerusalem Council, we are called to live in unity, guided by the Spirit, and confident in the authority Christ gives His church. Silas shows us what it looks like to be faithful, courageous, and joy-filled in every circumstance—singing in prison, strengthening believers, and staying on mission even when Paul moves on. This week, take up that same posture: walk in Spirit-led unity with your brothers and sisters, serve faithfully wherever God places you, and live in a way that models enduring faith for the next generation. Every act of obedience today is a seed planted for tomorrow, continuing the mission Christ entrusted to His people.

Silas’ story—from being chosen at the Jerusalem Council, to singing in prison, to being left to shepherd believers—mirrors the pattern of Christ’s own ministry: sent by the Father, empowered by the Spirit, steadfast in suffering, and faithful to the very end.

The same Spirit who gave Silas authority and endurance is with us today, sending us into our own mission fields.

Illustration-

Before Abraham, the nations around him were steeped in darkness—worshiping idols of wood and stone, sacrificing their children to false gods, engaging in sexual immorality as part of religious rituals, consulting diviners and omens, and treating the weak with violence and injustice. It was a world without light, where people stumbled blindly in fear, confusion, and sin. Then God called Abraham to step out of that darkness, leaving behind everything familiar to follow Him in faith and holiness. Abraham’s obedience became a beacon, showing that even in the midst of a corrupt culture, God’s light could shine and a faithful witness could be raised up to bless future generations. Centuries later, we see the same Spirit at work in Silas—singing in prison, strengthening believers, and faithfully carrying the mission forward even when Paul had to move on. Just as Abraham stood apart from a dark world, and Silas held the light in trials, God calls us today to shine faithfully, pass the torch of faith to the next generation, and ensure that His light continues to illuminate the world—until Jesus Christ returns. We are not alone the God who keeps his promised is not finished— Our artist is still creating Let’s finish our race strong, living boldly for Him and leaving a legacy of steadfast Christ-followers.