Called by God, Acts 16:1–10
Acts 16:1–10
God calls us to follow Him, sometimes requiring sacrifice, and He moves us toward people who need the love and truth of Christ.
Timothy: Called to Ministry
Acts 16:1–5
Paul meets Timothy, a young Christian who has a reputation for caring about others and the teachings of Jesus. Paul recognizes Timothy’s potential for ministry, but there is a problem: Timothy is Jewish through his mother, but his father was Greek, and he had not been circumcised.
Why did Paul circumcise Timothy?
This was not because circumcision was necessary for salvation. The Jerusalem Council had already made it clear that Gentiles did not need to obey the law of Moses in order to be saved. We are saved by grace through faith, not by our works.
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How is the situation with Timothy different from the situation with Titus?
Read Galatians 2 - Paul had refused to circumcise Titus because doing so would have compromised the gospel.
But Timothy's situation was different.
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Paul knew Timothy would be ministering among Jews who knew his background. Timothy's lack of circumcision could become an unnecessary barrier to the gospel. Paul was willing to give up his freedom, and Timothy was willing to make a sacrifice for the sake of reaching others.
Think About It
What is the difference between doing something because it is necessary for salvation and doing something for the sake of others?
What freedoms or preferences might Christians sometimes need to set aside in order to reach people with the gospel?
Why is it important to make sure our sacrifices do not change or compromise the gospel?
Following God May Require Sacrifice
Paul's example reminds us that following Christ is not always comfortable.
Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, let him take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer famously said: “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”
Being called by God means being willing to surrender our own comfort, preferences, and sometimes even our plans.
What might that look like?
It could mean:
Adjusting our schedule to make time for a neighbor.
Taking someone to lunch and getting to know them.
Investing time in a younger Christian.
Attending a family gathering in order to be a witness.
Putting aside our personal preferences for the sake of someone else.
Jesus reminds us in Luke 12:48: “To whom much has been given, much will be required.”
Think About It
What might God be asking you to sacrifice in order to love or serve someone else?
Is there a preference or comfort you may need to surrender?
Why do you think Christians can be tempted to focus more on what they want to do for God than on the people God wants them to love?
God Closes Doors
Acts 16:6–8
Paul, Silas, and Timothy wanted to preach in Asia, but the Holy Spirit prevented them. Then they tried to go intoBithynia, but again, the Spirit of Jesus prevented them. They encountered closed doors.
A closed door can be frustrating. We may wonder:
Why didn't God allow this?
What would have happened if I had gone through that door?
Did I misunderstand God's plan?
But Paul and his companions trusted God's direction. A closed door meant that particular opportunity was not God's plan at that time.
Think About It
Have you ever had a door closed that you later realized was God's protection or direction?
Why can closed doors sometimes be easier to understand in hindsight?
How can we respond faithfully when God closes a door we really wanted to walk through?
God Directs Us Toward People
Acts 16:9–10
Paul receives a vision of a Macedonian man saying: “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Notice that God doesn't simply show Paul a place. He shows him a person. The call to missions is ultimately about people.
Dig into Scripture; read 2 Corinthians. Paul says that the love of Christ compels us.
The Heart of Ministry
It isn't primarily about:
Building a ministry
Filling a position
Growing an organization
Using our gifts for recognition
It is about people and their souls.
Jesus didn't come to seek and save a ministry.
He came to seek and save lost people.
Think About It
Why is it easy to become more focused on a ministry than on the people the ministry is meant to serve?
Who are the people God has placed around you right now?
Who might God be calling you to love, serve, encourage, or share the gospel with?
If we say we have been loved and rescued by Christ, are we willing to be burdened for someone else?
Jesus willingly left His place with the Father, came to us, and bore the burden of our sin.
Our calling is not simply to do something for God.
Our calling is to love people for the sake of Christ.
This Week Pray: