Sunday Sermon | Acts: The Gospel to All People - Acts 21:1-16

Acts 21: The Journey and the Will of God

Reading from Acts 21

• The scripture reading is from Acts 21, emphasizing the belief that the word is about God, true, and worthy of honor.

• The passage describes Paul's journey as he sails to various locations including Cyprus and Syria, ultimately landing at Tyre where the ship unloads its cargo.

• Paul stays with disciples in Tyre for seven days; they warn him through the Spirit not to go to Jerusalem.

• After saying farewell on the beach, Paul continues his journey, arriving at Caesarea and staying with Philip the evangelist who has four prophesying daughters.

• A prophet named Agabus warns Paul using a symbolic act involving his belt, indicating imprisonment awaits him in Jerusalem.

Paul's Determination

• Despite warnings from friends and family about potential danger in Jerusalem, Paul expresses readiness to face imprisonment or death for Jesus' name.

• The group ultimately concedes to let God's will be done after realizing Paul's determination.

Introduction by Pastor Travis

• Pastor Travis introduces himself and discusses Story Church's mission of spreading the gospel globally.

• Reflecting on recent church developments since relocating in late 2025; highlights include baptisms and increased attendance during services.

Knowing God's Will

• Today's sermon focuses on "Knowing the Will of God," addressing how believers can discern divine guidance amidst life decisions.

Personal Reflection on Decision-Making

• Pastor Travis shares personal experiences regarding significant life choices between pursuing ministry versus other career paths throughout college years.

Importance of Serious Decision-Making

• Emphasizes that both major life-changing decisions and smaller daily choices should be approached seriously with wisdom rather than emotions or societal pressures.

Understanding God's Guidance

• Asserts that knowing God's will comes from living a submitted life; reassures believers they cannot mess up their divine purpose if they are in Christ.

Key Points on Discerning God's Will

1. The Spirit Leads Us:

• Discusses how the Holy Spirit guides believers into understanding God's will while acknowledging human fallibility in interpreting this guidance.

2. Contradictory Messages:

• Highlights instances where different groups may interpret spiritual messages differently; stresses careful discernment when receiving counsel.

3. Four Councils of God’s Will:

• Introduces four key elements (the Word of God, prayer through the Holy Spirit, conscience, and community/church support), which help guide decision-making processes.

The Four Councils Explained

1. The Word of God:

• Stresses biblical authority as foundational for discerning God's will; emphasizes that any leading must align with Scripture.

2. Prayer & Fasting:

• Encourages being a prayer-saturated community to hear God's voice clearly amid life's noise.

3. Conscience:

• Discusses how one's conscience plays a role in making moral decisions especially concerning gray areas where clear biblical directives may not exist.

4. Community/Church Support:

• Emphasizes reliance on church community for accountability and collective pursuit of Christ's direction in life choices.

Conclusion: Living a Submitted Life

• Concludes that discerning God’s will involves submission to His Word, prayerful dependence on Him, alignment with one’s conscience guided by Scripture, and engagement within a supportive church community.

Understanding the Will of God

Transformative Insights from John MacArthur's Sermon

• The speaker reflects on a transformative sermon by John MacArthur titled "Knowing the Will of God," which provided freedom from the fear of not fulfilling God's hidden destiny.

• MacArthur emphasizes that if one is saved, spirit-filled, and living a submissive life, they are free to make choices in life without fear; essentially, "do whatever you want."

• Psalm 37:4 is cited to illustrate that delighting in the Lord aligns one's desires with God's will, suggesting that God plants His desires within believers.

• Living a submitted life leads to a closing gap between personal desires and God's desires through progressive sanctification over time.

• The speaker shares personal examples of decisions made out of desire while being submitted to God’s will, reinforcing the idea that true freedom comes from submission.

The Cost of Knowing God's Will

• Discipleship requires counting the cost; it involves dying to self and aligning one's wants with Christ's will as stated by John the Baptist: "He must increase as I decrease."

• Seeking good advisors is crucial; surrounding oneself with wise counselors who live out Christian values can guide better decision-making.

• The importance of accountability is highlighted through an anecdote about receiving constructive criticism from a friend who pointed out unaddressed issues in the speaker's life.

Practical Steps for Living Out God's Will

• Spending consistent time with God through prayer and scripture is essential for understanding His will rather than seeking validation for pre-decided paths.

• Recognizing that knowing God's will may require sacrificing personal wants until they align with His greater purpose exemplified by historical figures like Paul and Jim Elliot.

Obedience as Key to Fulfillment

• Emphasizes that conviction must lead to action; identifying next steps toward obedience is vital for spiritual growth and fulfillment in faith.

• Encourages listeners to take courageous steps towards obedience based on their convictions, highlighting that mere acknowledgment without action leads to stagnation.

Life Beyond Comfort

• Reflecting on martyrdom among apostles illustrates how abundant life often comes through sacrifice rather than comfort or safety.

• Pursuing worldly gains at the expense of spiritual health results in unfulfilling lives; true satisfaction lies in serving others and taking risks for Jesus.

Final Reflections on Submission and Salvation

• Questions are raised about how many people chase worldly things while neglecting their souls, urging reflection on priorities regarding family, church, and community involvement.

• The significance of Jesus' sacrifice underscores the seriousness of living according to God's will; believers are called to be active participants in spreading His message.