1 1 0 9
Acts chapter 14 verse 1 at Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue
there they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed but the
Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the
brothers so Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there speaking boldly for the Lord who
confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders the people
of the city were divided some sided with the Jews others with the apostles there was a plot afoot
among the Gentiles and Jews together with their leaders to ill treat them and to stone them
but they found out about and fled to Lyconian the Lyconian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the
surrounding country where they continued to preach the good news in Lystra there sat a man crippled
in his feet who was lame from birth and had never walked he listened to Paul as he was speaking
Paul looked directly at him saw that he had faith to be healed and called out stand up on your feet
at that the man jumped up and began to walk when the crowd saw what Paul had done they shouted in
Lyconian language the gods have come down to us in human form Barnabas they called Zeus and Paul
they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker the priest of Zeus whose temple was just outside the city
brought bulls and reeds to the city gates because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them
but when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this they tore their clothes and rushed into the crowd
shouting men why are you doing this we too are only men human like you we are bringing you good news
telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God who made heaven and earth and sea and
everything in them in the past he let all nations go their own way yes he has not left himself without
testimony he has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons he provides you
with plenty of food and fills your heart with joy even with these words they had difficulty keeping the
crowd from sacrificing to them then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over they
stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city thinking he was dead but after disciples had gathered around
him he got up and went back into the city the next day he and Barnabas left for Derby
they preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples then they returned to
Lystra Iconium and Antioch strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith
we must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God they said Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for
them in each church and with prayer and fasting committed them to the Lord in whom they had put
their trust after going through Poseidia they came into Pamphylia and when they preached the word in
Perga they went down to Atalia from Atalia they sailed back to Antioch where they had been committed to the
grace of God for the work they had now completed on arriving there they gathered the church together
and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to to the
Gentiles and they stayed there a long time with the disciples
thanks very much
well just to remind people that while we go through this section on Wednesday evenings in our gospel
communities we pick up on the same study we apply it a little bit more it's an opportunity to go
through in further discussion and questions that you may have as we seek to apply it to our lives and
to us as a church so come along on Wednesday evenings and be involved in that and of course if you have
other questions at the end please feel free to talk with me afterwards but keep your Bibles open there
at Acts 14 and it's a wonderful adventurous story and we're going to hear what God has to say to us
from this let's pray first of all
father thank you for your servants of years ago people like Paul and Barnabas
who went from place to place to bring the good news
thank you for your friends thank you for your friends thank you that the good news came to countries like Ireland
thank you that people came to us
whether from home or friends or through some other means
we pray that the good news of Christ would impact us afresh this morning and that you would help us together individually and as a church family together
see the different ways in which we have been called to be ongoing servants of that same gospel
empower us fill us with your spirit as we hear you today amen
well do you remember the mission impossible films have you seen them it begins with mission commander swanbeck speaking to agent ethan hunt via a recorded message
here's how it starts good morning mr hunt your mission should you choose to accept it involves the recovery of a stolen item named chimera
you may select any two team members but it's essential that you have a third member of your team and that is naya nordoff hall
you have 48 hours to recruit miss hall and meet me in seville to receive your assignment
as always should any member of your team be caught or killed the secretary will disavow all knowledge of your actions
this message will self-destruct in five seconds
you remember it exciting isn't it
well axe has a similar theme the book is a recorded message outlining the mission of god
and our mission commander is the risen lord jesus who gives us the church his assignments
so if we were to turn axe into a feature-length film and to see it on the hollywood screens
it might go something like this good morning christian
your mission should you choose to accept it involves
speaking the good news of jesus christ to all peoples in all nations
your team members
are the church family
but it is essential that you also have with you the holy spirit
he will empower you enable and equip you to complete your mission as always it is possible that your team or team members
will be caught or killed
should this happen
your captain will ensure the mission
is completed
this message will be repeated
till all have heard
now while axe introduces us to god's mission
it also introduces us to god's mission strategy
god has chosen his church the people that belong to him
to be the means they're at the very heart of his strategy
in bringing the good news of jesus to all nations
and the way that that happens is very simply this
churches
are to plant churches
and that's what we have here in chapter 14
when the gospel is preached from city to city and place to place
look what happens
look at verse 23 of chapter 14
paul and barnabas appointed elders
for them in each church
and with prayer and fasting committed them to the lord
in whom they had put their trust
reaching out with the gospel lead to churches
being established
you see god's missionary strategy is this
that churches would reach out with the good news
and establish new churches
who in turn reach out with the good news
and establish new churches
that's the cycle
and that's the pattern
and crucially the team members
the people who have been called to do it
are people like you and me
the church family
there is no such thing as an individual christian
who goes on about their own business
it is a gathering
a people together
the question is
are we going to accept
this mission
from our commander
the risen lord jesus
well before we see what is involved in church planting
let me just mention a few things here
what are we doing in terms of church planting
well we've got kinsale haven't we
so there's people here who are involved in the kinsale project
the aim
to see a church established
in that town
so it applies to those who are specifically involved
well you maybe think
well i'm not involved in that
well
this church here
in some ways this is an ongoing church plant
we're not fully established in terms of
we're actually still reliant
on outside support
financial support
for us to be able to function the way that we do
so in some ways we are still
in a church planting state
but then of course there are other places
and other ways in which we can be involved
there are other churches
around the globe that need our support
and need our help
maybe it means one of you
or me
or somebody
being sent by this church
to be involved in church planting
so it's extremely relevant
to us all
and what we want to look at here this morning
are four things
that we need in place
to see churches
planting churches
the first one is this
there must be a faithful communication
of the gospel
look at verse one
and what we're going to do is
we're going to look at the first four verses
and just see
how each of those verses
are expanded
and worked out
through the rest
of chapter 14
so verse
one we'll get to in a minute
wherever God's people went
there was a clear
and consistent focus
verse one
at Iconium
so they're in Turkey
Paul and Barnabas
went as usual
into the Jewish synagogue
and there they spoke
so effectively
they were speaking
the good news
that a great number
of Jews
and Gentiles
believed
and in case we forget
what our risen commander
has called us to do
we are reminded
again and again
verse seven
they went to other places
where they continued
to preach
the good news
in verse 24
after going through Pisidia
they came to Pamphylia
and when they had preached
the word
in Perga
they went down
to Atalia
so
that is the focus
now the problem
is not knowing
that this is what
we should do
I think we're all
clear about that
the difficulty is
is what do I say
how do I actually
communicate
this message
well look at how
Paul communicates
the gospel
Paul has just
healed a man
who has been
lame from birth
and we're going to
come back to him
in a little while
but look at the response
of the people
to Paul
after this healing
verse 11
when the crowd
saw what Paul
had done
they shouted
in the Lycanian language
the gods
have come down
to us
in human form
Barnabas
they called Zeus
he was the kind of
the main god
amongst all the gods
so Barnabas
was called Zeus
and Paul
they called Hermes
because he was
the chief speaker
and the priest
of Zeus
whose temple
was just outside
the city
they brought bulls
and wreaths
to the city gates
because he and the crowd
wanted to offer
sacrifices
what a response
nobody has ever
done that for me
it's quite extraordinary
isn't it
to be thinking
they were gods
now we mightn't
find many followers
of Zeus
and Hermes
today walking
around Carigoline
or Cork
but we have
lots of people
in fact
all of us
have our own gods
that we worship
and follow
we all sacrifice
to these gods
we all give our life
to someone
or to something
in the hope
that it's going
to bring us
joy
and happiness
and peace
to our lives
so we give our lives
to things like
our job
to leisure
in the hope
that it's somehow
going to satisfy us
we give our lives
to our partners
to our spouse
we give our lives
to our children
in the hope
that they are the ones
who are going
to fulfil us
we sacrifice
daily
at the altar
of family
and work
and sport
longing
to be filled
Tim Keller
is helpful here
in his book
Counterfeit Gods
this is how he explains
that he says
each one of us
has our own temple
or shrine
whether it's
office towers
spas
and gyms
studios
or stadiums
where sacrifices
must be made
in order to procure
the blessings
of the good life
and ward off
disaster
but the problem
is
these gods
will always
fail us
they always
leave us
empty
longing for
something more
so look at how
Paul responds
verse 14
when the apostles
Barnabas and Paul
heard of this
though somebody
had obviously
translated it
to them
they tore their
clothes
and they rushed
out to the crowd
shouting
men
why are you
doing this
we too
are only men
human
like you
we are bringing
you good news
telling you to
turn away
from these
worthless things
these empty
unfulfilling
gods
and to
turn to
the living
god
who made
heaven and
earth
and sea
and everything
in them
you see the
reality is we
are never going
to find our
true meaning
and our
purpose
in or
in anything
else but
the living
god
trying to
find our
joy in
someone else
or something
else is
either going
to disappoint
you or
it's going
to destroy
you
we are only
truly satisfied
when we repent
and turn to
god
verse 16
in the past
he let all
nations go
their own way
going their
own particular
path
but yet he
has not left
himself without
testimony
each day god
is telling us
that he is here
he has shown
kindness by
giving you
rain from
heaven
crops in
their seasons
he provides
you with
plenty of
food
and fills
your hearts
with joy
god is so
gracious
giving us
one good
gift after
another
and if he
does this
to us
even when
we turn
away from
him
how much
more
will he
fill our
hearts
with joy
when we
turn to
his son
jesus christ
this is a
message of
good news
this is what
fills the
hole in
every single
human heart
christ alone
meets our
deepest need
he satisfies
our greatest
longing
this is the
message
that we can
begin to
communicate
to people
around us
so first
in our
church planting
ministry
we need
a faithful
communication
opposition of
the gospel
to the
people
around us
second we
need to
prepare for
consistent
opposition
this gospel
may be good
news but you
know what
not everybody
will like it
look at verse
one the end of
verse one
there they spoke
so effectively
that a great
number of jews and
gentiles believed
but the jews who
refused to
believe stirred up
the gentiles and
poisoned their
minds against the
brothers and it
wasn't just clever
arguments or verbal
abuse verse five
there was a plot of
foot amongst the
gentiles and jews
together with their
leaders to will
treat them and
stone them but they
found out about it
and they fled
however just
because you move
to another place
or another location
or from one office
to another office
it doesn't mean to
say the opposition
is going to stop
verse 19
then some jews
came from
Antioch and
Iconium and
they won the
crowd over they
stoned Paul
dragged him out
the city
thinking he
was dead
sometimes we
look at this
book and think
oh it was so
easy they just
preached and
people became
followers of
Jesus
now these guys
he was stoned
thinking he was
dead
this is how
hard it was
throughout the
history of the
church God's
people have
always faced
opposition to
the gospel
in fact today
in this decade
more people are
imprisoned and
killed for
telling the
gospel than
at any other
time in history
put together
the issue
for us is not
will I face
opposition
but when
I face
opposition
in other words
we have got to
be prepared for
it
even in a
so-called
Christian country
as Ireland
look at
verse 21
they had
preached the
good news
in that city
this was in
Derby
and they
had won a
large number
of disciples
then they
returned to
Lystra and
Iconium and
Antioch
they had
already been
there
then they
went back
to them
why did
they do
that
well verse
22
to be
strengthening the
disciples
and encouraging
them to remain
true to the
faith
why we
must go
through many
hardships
to enter
the kingdom
they said
let's be
honest with
ourselves we
don't do
hardship and
suffering very
well
in fact as
soon as
something gets
difficult we
want to quit
don't we
we want
out
but if we
know in
advance that
things are
going to be
tough if
we're told
they're going
to be tough
we can
actually prepare
ourselves for
that eventuality
we can be
ready and
equipped as
God's people
and the way
to prepare for
opposition is
not to get
away look at
verse 22
to strengthen
the disciples
and encourage
them to remain
true to the
faith
now that's
the responsibility
of each and
every one of
us here
that's why we've
had students up
here on the
last couple of
Sundays because
we need to
strengthen them
we need to
encourage them
as they go
into a hostile
environment of
university life
where it is
hard
we need to
get alongside
them we need
to be praying
for them
we need to
speak the
gospel into
each other's
lives whether
you're going
into work
whether you're
at home
wherever you
are
Alex preached
a great sermon
on that very
subject you can
listen to it
again online
from first
Thessalonians
all about asking
each other how
is your faith
encourage
spend time
one to one
reading
praying
just do it
make it
natural
I spoke with
somebody this
week and they
said it should
be so natural
for us just
to open the
Bible and
read not to
have it to
explain why
we're doing
it not to
have to explain
why we're
praying but
just to do
it to
encourage each
other in the
faith
things
okay we
mightn't live in
an area where
we're going to
be imprisoned
or killed
but we do
live in an
increasingly
secular place
where the
Christian faith
is just not
tolerated
and if you
are to
identify yourself
as a follower
of Jesus
whether you're
in school
or if anywhere
else if somebody
knows that you're
a Christian
they're going to
think you're
mad
bad or
sad
and it's
going to be
tough
so let's
strengthen each
other in the
faith
speak the
gospel
pray for each
other
so may there
be a faithful
communication of
the gospel
and let there
be a preparation
for consistent
opposition
third
we need a
clear purpose
of signs
and wonders
in our
church planting
endeavours
the gospel
may be opposed
by people
but God
has confirmed
the truth
of his gospel
in amazing ways
we can believe
it
it's true
look at what
it says
in verse 2
and 3
we'll read
verse 2
again
the Jews
who refused
to believe
stirred up
the Gentiles
pointed their
minds against
the brothers
so Paul and
Barnabas spent
considerable time
there speaking
boldly for the
Lord who
confirmed the
message of his
grace by
enabling them
to do miraculous
signs and
wonders
now when we
read a section
like that we
usually get two
reactions and
I'm going to
judge you'll get
these two reactions
here within this
group
one person
will say
oh but these
things are
finished
the miraculous
is finished
we don't need
them anymore
we've got the
bible
somebody else
might say
oh this is
exciting
great
when can we
kind of move
on from the
gospel stuff
and get down
to the real
work of the
church and see
some miracles
happen
well
maybe it's no
surprise but I
actually think
both of those
responses are
wrong
let's see
what the
text says
first
signs and
wonders
are not
the gospel
we must
never think
that the
miraculous
is a suitable
replacement
for the gospel
it's not that
some churches
are into
well you know
the church
over there
they're into
telling people
about Jesus
they're great
at doing the
preaching side
but over here
this church
they're great
at doing the
miracle side
no the
emphasis is
clearly on
the necessity
to speak
the gospel
look at the
beginning of
verse 3
so Paul and
Barnabas spent
considerable time
there speaking
boldly for the
Lord
wherever they
went this is
what they did
this was their
focus their
aim their
priority
you see
signs and
wonders
the miraculous
do not
save people
they don't
transform people's
inner heart
in fact
we're told
in Matthew
24
verse 24
that the
miraculous
can even
be imitated
by Satan
he can't
imitate the
gospel
the gospel
is unique
but he can
imitate signs
and wonders
so we must
never get
confused
only the
gospel
the good
news about
Jesus
is going
to save
people
that's why
we are sent
to preach
the good
news
we are not
sent
to do
signs and
wonders
however
second
signs and
wonders
confirm
the gospel
while the
miraculous
can't
save people
they do
have their
place
again look
at verse
3
they spend
their time
there speaking
boldly for
the Lord
who confirmed
the message
of his
grace
miracles
by enabling
them to
do
miraculous
signs and
wonders
let me
quote John
Piper here
I think
he's very
helpful
if you don't
know who
he is
he's a
pastor
in the
states
he said
signs and
wonders
are God's
witnesses
to his
word
they are not
in competition
with the
word
they are not
against
the word
they are not
over
the word
they are
divine
witnesses
to the
value
and truth
and necessity
and centrality
of the word
in other words
we say
they authenticate
the gospel
they are
signs
like massive
big sign
posts
not pointing
to themselves
but pointing
to the gospel
of grace
pointing to
the Lord
Jesus
to say
this message
is true
you can
believe it
and you
can trust
it
so they're
not the
gospel
but they
confirm the
gospel
and third
signs and
wonders
actually
assist
the gospel
by this
I mean
they can
help people
come to
faith
in Christ
and that
seems to
be the
purpose
of the
miraculous
all the
way through
the book
of Acts
if you
read through
the book
of Acts
you'll
discover
that there
are 17
times
where something
miraculous
happens
and immediately
what happens
after
is it
helps
or leads
or assists
somebody
to become
a follower
of Jesus
look at the
way the two
of them
are with
each other
we've got a
great example
of this
here
so look
at verse
8
here we
have in
Lystra
there sat
a man
crippled
in his
feet
who was
lame
from birth
and had
never
walked
he listened
to Paul
as he was
speaking
Paul looked
directly at
him
saw that
he had
faith
to be
healed
and called
out
stand up
on your
feet
at that
the man
jumped up
and began
to walk
miraculous
amazing
but
please
note
this
healing
is not
done
in
isolation
it's
accompanied
by
the
gospel
so
when we
get to
verse 15
after all
this
crying out
thinking
oh
these
are
actually
gods
who've
come
down
what
does he
say
in
verse 15
men
why
are you
doing
this
we
too
are
only
men
human
like
you
we
are
bringing
you
good
news
telling
you
to turn
from
these
worthless
things
to the
living
God
and the
results
of
preaching
this
gospel
well
we
know
some
opposed
so
miracles
in
themselves
actually
don't
save
anybody
but
some
actually
also
believed
and we
see that
in
verse 23
because
Paul and
Barnabas
appointed
elders
for them
in each
church
including
this
place
where
this
miracle
had
happened
and
they
where
am I
and with
prayer
and
fast
had
committed
them
to
the
Lord
in
whom
they
had
put
their
trust
they
had
become
followers
of
Jesus
you
see
God
can
if
he
pleases
use
signs
and
wonders
to
break
cynical
attitudes
to
the
gospel
destroy
false
understandings
of the
gospel
melt
people's
hearts
they
don't
save
but they
can
assist
in
people
believing
well that
leaves us
with one
more
and probably
the biggest
question
that you've
all got
signs
and wonders
today
well while
miracles can
and still
do happen
it is not
something that
we can
make
happen
look at
verse 3
again
Paul and
Barnabas
spent
considerable
time there
speaking
boldly
for the
Lord
the
Lord
is the
emphasis
here
who
confirmed
the
message
of
his
grace
by
enabling
them
to do
miraculous
signs
and
wonders
signs
and
wonders
are
acts
of
God
which
he
enables
people
to
do
as
he
pleases
to
confirm
his
gospel
and to
see
his
word
spread
to
all
nations
in
other
words
we
don't
get
to
decide
when
and
how
that
happens
any
more
than
we
don't
decide
who
becomes
a
Christian
and
who
doesn't
acts
says
an
awful
lot
about
signs
and
wonders
in
the
miraculous
but
they
are
never
seen
as
necessary
or
essential
to
gospel
proclamation
however
that
does
not
mean
we
should
not
pray
for
God
to
work
his
miracles
I
believe
we
should
in
fact
I
believe
scripture
teaches
that we
can
pray
for
these
things
and
that
we
can
seek
these
things
but
our
prayers
for
such
things
should
be
for
the
sake
of
the
gospel
of
Jesus
Christ
their
purpose
should
God
enable
is to
confirm
the
gospel
and
assist
the
gospel
so
that
people
come
to
faith
in
Christ
now
this
is a
whole
big
area
that
confuses
a
lot
of
people
and
gets
a
lot
of
churches
mixed
up
but
here
we
need
a
very
clear
purpose
of
signs
and
wonders
in
their
relation
to
the
gospel
fourth
then
we
need
a
trusting
dependence
on
God's
work
verse
four
this
is
after
the
preaching
of
the
gospel
as
we
have
seen
and
then
in
verse
four
the
people
of
the
city
were
divided
some
sided
with
the
Jews
and
others
with
the
apostles
and
I
take
it
that
some
were
opposed
but
also
some
believed
the
same
happened
in
other
places
look
at
verse
21
or
sorry
the
end
of
verse
20
the
next
day
Paul
and
Barnabas
left
for
Derby
verse
21
they
preached
the
good
news
in
that
city
and
won
a
large
number
of
disciples
now
how did
that
happen
how did
so many
people
become
followers
of
Jesus
well
look at
verse
26
from
Italia
they
sailed
back
to
Antioch
where
they
had
been
committed
to
the
grace
of
God
for
the
work
they
had
now
completed
Calvary
in
just
time
and
what do
it
say
verse
27. On arriving there, they gathered the church together, so everybody perhaps in a meeting just
like this, they reported all that God had done through them, and how he had opened the door of
faith to the Gentiles. That's how people became followers of Jesus. The Gentiles were a Bible-less,
church-less, Christ-less bunch of people. They were pagans who were worshipping Zeus and Hermes,
but yet they were completely transformed. They came to faith in Christ, a church was formed in their
own town, and they began to teach the Bible to each other as they encouraged each other in the faith in
all of the opposition. Not because of Paul's power, or because of Barnabas's power. No, it was all because
of God's supernatural work. Look at verse 27, the end again. Because it was God who had opened the door
of faith to the Gentiles. You know what? I can't convince anybody to be a Christian. You can't
convince anybody to be a Christian. Your friends, people within your family who you long to turn to
Christ. You cannot make them a Christian. That's God's work. He alone has the key to open people's
hearts. He is the one who locks that bolted, tightened door that enables people to believe and to put their
trust in Jesus. He opens the door of faith. And as a church, we exercise our dependence upon this
supreme, powerful and awesome God who can cause people to believe. We express our dependence on him
by simply telling people by simply telling people the gospel and praying and praying and praying
that God will open their hearts so that they trust him.
So here is God's strategy for mission. A mission that we have been called on individually.
A mission that we have been called on together as a church. Our risen commander, the Lord Jesus,
has given us our assignment until he should come again. Go and preach the gospel to all nations
in the power of the Holy Spirit. See churches planted in each and every town and community.
And the way that we can do that together is these four things. Faithfully communicating the gospel.
Being prepared for consistent opposition. Having a clear purpose of signs and wonders.
And a trusting dependence on God's work. May that be the case for those who are in Kinsale.
May that be the case for us as a church together. And may this spur us on to send people who are even here today
to new places and to plant new churches as God calls. Let's pray together.
Our Father God, we thank you for this big picture view of your amazing mission plan and your mission strategy
that you would call people like us. This church here in Carragalline
to be at the heart of your mission purposes for this world.
I pray that you would fill us and empower us by your Holy Spirit
causing us to be people who speak the good news wherever we are.
that you would raise up and call people out from this church.
That we may together send them
to be church planters.
That we would get alongside them, praying for them, supporting them and encouraging them.
And maybe now just in the quietness.
That we would all surrender our wills, our dreams and our ambitions.
That we would surrender them to the mission of God.
Father, bless us as a church.
use us to the building up of your kingdom
and to the fulfilling of your mission.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
We're going to sing.
Amen.