Author: David Worcester

Lead Pastor of Compass Church http://CompassChurchSD.com #Jesus, #Family #ChurchPlanting #CollegeMinistry. #Missions http://GospelAppointments.com @collegiatecoll

Are You Ready To Suffer and Even Die For Jesus? – Acts 21:1-17

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From my reading in Acts 21:1-17 in the One Year New Testament.

The Apostle Paul felt that he needed to go to Jerusalem.  He was warned on several occasions that if he went to Jerusalem there would be trouble!  Here is Paul’s response.

“Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 21:13

Could you say the same thing? When following Jesus is inconvenient are you willing to obey him?

 Are you willing to sacrifice your life and even die if it meant following Him?

Jesus asks us to take up our cross and follow him. For some the idea of dying for Jesus is glamorous but living for him is sometimes even harder!

It is easier to talk about dying for Jesus than it is to actually live for him!

I challenge you to start obeying Jesus no matter how hard it is now so that if you are ever asked to lay down your life for him then you will be ready.

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One Message, One Mission, One Life, Make It Count – Acts 20:17-38

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From my reading in Acts 20:17-38 in the One Year New Testament.

God has given you one life on this earth.

He has given Christians one primary message that will change people’s lives forever. Jesus has given us one mission that is worth giving our lives for. The Apostle Paul explained his message and mission in passionate terms to the Church in Ephesus right before leaving them.  First he reminded him of his message…

“I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.” Acts 20:20-21

One Message

Paul’s one message should be our one message.  The gospel! Those of us called to preach especially should never shrink back from preaching it.

The good news Paul preached included turning from sin, turning to God and having faith in Jesus. If you don’t preach that people must turn from sin and to God then you are preaching a different gospel than Paul.

One Mission

Paul had a specific mission given by God, but I believe we can learn from his passion.

“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” Acts 20:24

Paul didn’t care about his own life.  What he cared about what fulfilling the mission God gave him.

Are you wholeheartedly pursuing the mission God has given you?  If not why not?  

Have you been pursuing your own personal mission instead of God’s mission for your life? 

Paul was passionate about sharing how everyone they can experience God’s grace!  All believers are all to play a role in spreading this gospel to others. Everyone is not called to do what Paul did, but we all should do something!

Life is to short to waste is trying to make life here perfect. It never will be, so why try!

One Life, Make It Count

Paul made his life count!  You can feel his passion dripping off these words. His life was lived on purpose. He was even willing to face suffering and death in order to make his life count for Jesus.

I want to encourage you to realize the urgency of this one message and mission,  that without Jesus people will spend eternity in Hell.  We can make a difference in people’s lives for eternity! Let’s make this one life count!

One message, one mission, one life, make it count!

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Why I Believe In Ministering As A Team – Acts 20:1-16

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From my reading in Acts 20:1-16 in the One Year New Testament.

I love working with teams of people to do ministry.

I have been blessed at this point with seven people on staff and it is a joy to share the load.  We all get to celebrate a lot more because when one person succeeds we all do!

Some ministry organizations don’t really believe in the team approach.

They spread people out to cover more ground, but in doing this sometimes people get lonely and depressed.  I even heard of an organization that wouldn’t let brothers minister in the same city!  You wouldn’t want James and John ministering together that might get crazy.

Jesus had a crew go with him every where and even the Apostle Paul had a crew,

“Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica; Gaius from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.” Acts 20:4

We don’t know the exact number of guys Paul had on his team but at least seven or eight including these men, Luke and Silas.

Paul was very gifted, but knew his work would be better accomplished with a team.

This year the Miami Heat had the best player in the NBA, LeBron James. But they didn’t win the Championship because they didn’t have the best team. The San Antonio Spurs had the best team!

Not only is working with a team more effective, it gives the leader an opportunity to multiply himself.

Paul was intentional about passing on what he knew to other men who would be able to pastor and plant churches. Bringing people with you as you minister is in my opinion the best way to train because they get to learn to do ministry first hand.

If God has put a ministry on your heart, don’t just run out and do it yourself, do all you can to recruit a team!

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The Gospel Threatens Our Idols – Acts 19:21-41

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From my reading in Acts 19:21-41 in the One Year New Testament.

When we take the good news of Jesus seriously our idols are worthless.

Often people have something to loose when idols are threatened.

Marketers thrive on idols.

Comfort. Popularity. Fun. Success. Happiness. These are all potential idols that advertisers promise when you by their products. These things are not bad in themselves, they are bad when they are put above all else and ultimately above God in our lives.

An idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives.

In Ephesus Paul encountered people who literally lost business because Paul was preaching that Jesus was the one true God and all other idols are false! A silversmith named Demetrius lost a lot of business because his silver idol business was suffering! Here’s what he said,

“But as you have seen and heard, this man Paul has persuaded many people that handmade gods aren’t really gods at all. And he’s done this not only here in Ephesus but throughout the entire province!” Acts 19:26

This was bad for the idol business and it ended up starting a riot! If the god’s were not really god’s then what is the point of them!

When Jesus enters our lives there is no room for idols.

Are there any idols in your life that you need to get rid of?

If so, make like the Frozen girl and let it go!

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Join The Greatest Movement Ever – Acts 19:1-20

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From my reading in Acts 19:1-20 in the One Year New Testament.

The good news has been spreading and will continue to spread until Jesus comes back!

Paul experienced the contagious nature of the good news in the provide of Asia.

“Then he held daily discussions at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia—both Jews and Greeks—heard the word of the Lord.” Acts 19:9–10

Paul taught in the lecture hall and the gospel spread through out the whole region.

People must have come in, received Christ, and went back to preach to their hometowns. This is the power of spiritual multiplication.

There is no way that everyone in the province of Asia at that time could have heard Paul speak in that hall.

So the only way the gospel could have spread that rapidly is for ordinary Christians to take the good news back to their homes. 

After some other dramatic events later in the same chapter the way the gospel was spreading is described like this,

“So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.” Acts 19:20

What a privilege it is to be a part of the message spreading widely and changing people’s lives.

If you are a part of that then you are a part of the greatest movement in the world.

If you are not already a part of spreading the good news then what are you waiting for?

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Fully Engage The Vision God Has Given You – Acts 18

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From my reading in Acts 18 in the One Year New Testament.

If God has given you a vision then it is your duty to carry it out diligently.

Jesus said some very encouraging things to Paul,

“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” So Paul stayed there for the next year and a half, teaching the word of God.” Acts 18:9–11

Jesus encouraged Paul to speak out for him and promised He would be with him.

When God calls us he will go with us.

These instructions are specifically to Paul, but I do believe that if God has called you to a city then usually there are people there who belong to Him whom he wants you to try and reach.

The lesson I take away from this passage is that Paul obeyed.

He spent the next year and a half teaching the word.

If God calls you to do something, not matter how hard it is don’t give in to fear, don’t get discouraged, speak out, and obey God because he wants to use you.

You may never know all the lives you can touch simply by following the vision God has given you!

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God Put You In This Time And Place For A Purpose – Acts 17:16-34

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From my reading in Acts 17:16-34 in the One Year New Testament.

I am currently on a mission trip in the Toronto area of Canada.

The city where they minister is a very unique place, where over 60% of the people are foreign born.  My parents were called to this strategic time and place for a purpose. Every one of us has been placed where we live for a purpose. In the middle of a speech to people in Athens Paul said,

“God began by making one person, and from him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us.”  Acts 17:26-27

You are where you are, when you are, because God put you there!

This is a life changing thought. The people around you are the people that God has given you to reach. The opportunities in life that he has put in your life are unique to you. The technology and opportunities of this time in life are here for a reason.

This truth should infuse our days with purpose. The opportunities was have in this generation are unique!

Live in this truth today. Seize the opportunities you have to worship God and bring others along in this time and place!

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The Right Way To Listen To A Sermon, Eagerness and Examination – Acts 17:1-15

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From my reading in Acts 17:1-15 in the One Year New Testament.

Church goers spend thousands of hours listening to sermons.

Unfortunately it is very common for people to come to church and not really listen!There is an example in the Bible of a group of people who were better at listening to sermons that others.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”  Acts 17:11 

These Berean jews were more nobel in character because they did two things.

They listened with great eagerness.

When you go to church are you eager to hear what God has to say to you? Are you expecting to hear truth that will change your life?

Part of listening with eagerness is realizing that what is being taught will really change your life!

For example, I am a surfer and I love teaching people to surf.  Now if on this blog post I took 1,000 words to explain the intrecies of how to surf you would probably be board (no pun intended) because most likely you are not reading this in your wetsuit!

But if we were on the beach in San Diego, and you just put your wetsuit on with the sand between your toes and I was explaining how to surf you would be very interested because if you don’t pay attention you are going to fall on your face!

The other thing the Bereans did was examine the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

The didn’t just take what the preacher said at face value. They checked back with scripture for themselves.  It doesn’t matter how good a preacher is, they are human.

I believe that if church goers would approach listening to sermons with the same eagerness of the Bereans that there would be far more solid believers and a lot less false teaching in churches!

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Experience Joy In Hard Times – Acts 16:22-40

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From my reading in Acts 16:22-40 in the One Year New Testament.

One of the most amazing things that our faith in Jesus gives us is the ability to experience joy in hard times!

Paul and Silas were stripped, severly beaten and thrown into an inner dungeon, yet still praised the Lord.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25

This is an amazing example of joy in hard times.

If anyone had the right to throw a pity-party they did. Instead they had a prayer and worship service!  These men understood that even though their present circumstance was bad, God was good!

No matter how bad your circumstances are you can celebrate the goodness of God.

In bad times Christians have a hope that in heaven he will wipe away all our tears and take away our pain!

Our joy in hard times can be a witness to others.

It says that the other prisoners were listing to them. Probably there are some boring nights in the jail cell. Hearing joyful singing was probably not a common occurrence in that dungeon!

Next time you encounter a hard time pray and worship God.

It will help you get your mind off your problems and on to the only one ultimately in charge, it will also be a good example to others!

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Discerning God’s Call For Your Life As You Go – Acts 16:1-21

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From my reading in Acts 16:1-21 in the One Year New Testament.

Discerning God’s call is something that I am faced with questions about a lot as a college minister.

I believe that the way that God calls each person is different. For many people, I believe that one way to discover your calling to to try several things and see where the Holy Spirit leads you.

Paul and Silas were already called to go as missionaries. They were traveling through Asia and wanted to preach in the areas of Phrygia, Galatia, Mysia, and Bithynia. But they were prevented by the Holy Spirit! Here’s a hint: any time the Holy Spirit doesn’t let you go somewhere, don’t go!

Paul and Silas were not standing still, waiting for God to tell them where to go.

They were actively pursuing God’s mission, and the Holy Spirit was able to guide them as they were going. It has been said,

“It’s easier to steer a moving car than a stationary one.”

Especially for young people, it is helpful to try a variety of things and see where God guides you.

This is one reason I really believe in short term mission trips. You don’t need have to receive a special call to go on short trip; just go!  Who knows if God will give you a heart to go back and plant your life there. God spoke specifically in a vision to Paul calling him to Macedonia,

“During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Acts 16:9–10

Paul was actively seeking the place that God wanted him and it was made very clear!

If you are trying to find out what God is calling you to do, pray about it of course, but also try different things and I believe he will guide you!

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