This week, we continued our Make and Multiply series with a sermon titled Salvation Stories, focusing on the incredible mission God has given us to help write salvation stories. We were reminded that everything we do as a church should lead back to seeing people move from spiritual death to life in Christ. The big idea of the message was simple yet powerful: God gave us the mission of helping write salvation stories.
Mobilized for Mission
Paul’s journey in Acts 16 illustrates how God’s plans often redirect our own. Paul set out with a specific mission, but God led him to Macedonia instead. In this story, and all throughout the Bible, we see that our plans are in God’s hands. We can make plans to adopt, go on a mission trip, or start a new ministry, but ultimately, God is in control. What stands out in Paul’s story is his willingness to go. He went from where the gospel was to where it wasn’t, reminding us that every Christian is mobilized for the mission.
Mobilization may look different for each of us. For some, it could mean getting on a plane and sharing the gospel with an unreached people group. For others, it might be as simple as walking across the street to invite a neighbor to church or sharing your testimony with a coworker. Every Christian is mobilized for the mission, and God has uniquely equipped you for it. Whether you are a teacher, a stay-at-home mom, or a business owner, God has prepared specific works for you to walk in (Ephesians 2:10).
Faithful to the Mission
Paul’s faithfulness led to life change for Lydia. By the riverside, Paul shared the gospel message: we are dead in our sins, but Jesus took our place on the cross, offering us new life through His resurrection. Faithful to the mission means boldly proclaiming the message of the gospel. It’s not just serving meals or doing good deeds—those things can be a means to share, and they are certainly wonderful things in and of themselves, but the gospel is a message that must be spoken. It’s the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16).
God Blesses the Mission
We do our part, but then God blesses the mission. It was the Lord who softened Lydia’s heart and opened her eyes to the gospel, and it’s the Lord who continues to change lives today. We can share the gospel, hold church services, and run outreach events, but only God can bring life change. The story of Lydia reminds us that God is always at work, often in ways we can’t see. From baptizing high school students to seeing lives transformed through college ministries, God gives the increase.
Application: Play Your Part in God’s Mission
If you’re not on the team yet, you can start today by trusting in the gospel message and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. The gospel has the power to change your life, just as it has for so many over the past 2,000 years. For believers, the challenge is this: who do you need to share your story with? How can you be bolder in your witness? As Bill Belichick famously says, “Do your job.” Play your part in God’s mission.
-Andrew Hopper, Lead Pastor
