“After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making many disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers. They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.”
- Acts 14:21-22
Paul’s missionary journey was not always the smoothest. Acts 14 records some of the dangers that Paul and Barnabas encountered on their first journey. While they managed to plant churches in each place they went, converting both Jews and Gentiles to the faith, they also received a lot of pushback.
In the last chapter, we got to see a snip bit of Paul’s way of preaching the Good News to Jews in a synagogue. Well, it was well-received, and they even invited him back to preach again the next week. That was until the Jews saw the crowds Paul drew. Everyone in town and their mother wanted to hear the Good News being preached by Paul. This made the Jews, and probably more specifically the Jewish teachers in the town jealous because they could never draw such a crowd. They lost sight of what God was doing in pursuit of what they wanted.
Those leaders sent Paul and Barnabas packing. But not after they made enough disciples establish a church. In chapter 14 they go around the area, continuing to preach the Good News and sharing with others what Christ has, I imagine the message is similar to the outline in chapter 13. Regardless of its formatting, they always point people to Christ for who their Savior is!
At some point in their journey, they decide it's best to go back through every church and return to Jerusalem, in this reversal though the goal is to strengthen and encourage the churches in every town. This chapter reveals to key jobs of the Church that come to impact how each of our lives.
Planting:
While I haven’t referred to it before as planting, most devotionals on this page have been about taking the Gospel OUT. As in learning the Good News enough to share it with others. Whether that is about how God has been working through on huge narrative, or how Christ’s grace is more than enough for us. Its been through writing and reflecting on God’s presence in our lives and more that we can in turn plant seeds of faith in those around us.
This was Paul and Barnabas’ mission for the first time through many of these cities. To introduce people to the story of Christ and what that means for Jews and Gentiles. Their goal was to establish faith in others in the hopes they may come to Christ and be saved from their sins through faith. Planting is not always a huge task but may be as simple as having a conversation with someone about God and the hope that you have in God.
Encouraging:
However, I would be ignorant to say living in faith and trying to have those evangelistic conversations is not hard. Which results in the need for this second part of the Church’s mission. This is more internally focused and seeks to build upon the faith that is already there.
After they established and encouraged the church in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas turned around and started making their way back to Antioch where they started their journey. They went back to Lystra and Iconium, the very towns they were pushed out of because of the jealous leaders. Their goal was not so much evangelistic as much as it was to encourage.
These early believers lived in an interesting time. They did not have leaders who knew a ton of theology, or a New Testament to refer to for understanding their faith. On top of their lack of faith resources, they also lived in a culture that was not welcoming of this growing movement. The Jews were jealous or believed greater restrictions were needed for them to follow Christ. The Gentiles thought this new group was delusional. The Roman officials simply wanted “peace” and order throughout the empire, which meant Christianity was an enemy because of how it shook up the worldview and faith of many. Along with many misconceptions of the faith, like communion bring cannibalism. All that is also only fuel on the fire. For there exists a spiritual enemy, Satan, who is actively opposing the spread of the Gospel.
Not only do we still feel much of that today, but life is simply hard. The finances can look threatening. We know more about mental health than ever and yet with that is knowing more how unhealthy we are. All media (social, local, national) is trying to inform and shape our decisions and viewpoints to their agendas. It’s a crazy world we live in.
Encouragement is such a central function because of the craziness of the world. I am convinced that every Christian needs to know the Gospel well, not only to share it, but to encourage one another to love, good works, holiness, and maintaining the faith. We need one another, we need the church community, we need the Good News. We need to help one another seek first and foremost Christ and His Kingdom. To love God with all of who we are and to relay that same love to others. Encouragement is essential.
Final Blessing:
May we, like Paul and Barnabas, be able to change the route of life we take so we can make time to encourage and build up other believers who need the Gospel to refresh them. This looks like loving them well, holding them accountable for something, or meeting regularly. Whatever it might look like for you to do, we must seek to encourage our fellow followers of Christ.
Now may the Lord of Life and Redemption be with you in every step, every breathe, and every heartbeat of your journey.
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