Acts 13:1-12 August 9, 2026 Catalina Foothills Church

QUOTES
“The Great Commission calls us to work with other believers in the church in order to produce disciples and flood this world with knowledgeable, articulate Christians who worship God and follow Jesus Christ passionately.” -- RC Sproul

“If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward…how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than getting hit by a truck.”
-- Atheist Magician Penn, of Penn & Teller
DISCUSSION
1.) The 5 men mentioned in 13:1 are quite diverse. Some Jewish, some African, and one from a background high up in government. This seems to communicate that the Church at Antioch was quite diverse, as was its leadership. And that the leadership was collaborative, or to put it another way, they did ministry as a team…. No one person was primary. What should we learn, pray for and pursue based upon this text?
Do you know the gospel to transcend all cultures?
2.) Can you relate to the point in the sermon about turning notifications OFF for a sports team because of really only wanting a casual and superficial relationship with the team…. Not be DEVOTED to them. ?
That is a good thing for a sports team, or anything else, but a deadly and lifeless attitude to have about God.
3.) God is the initiator in Gospel Mission. In verse 2 you see that it was the Holy Spirit who said, “Set them apart for a certain work to which I have called them. What difference does it make that God is the one in charge of mission? He’s the most zealous for mission to advance.
How did the quote by the atheist magician, Penn (of Penn & Teller), strike you?
4.) There is a connection between worship, prayer, fasting and the sending of the Church in mission. Simple, expectant devotion to God eventually leads to wanting others to acknowledge the glory of the One whom you worship and to know the goodness of knowing Him through Christ.
5.) The gospel has always been challenging because Jesus reveals Himself as THE way, THE truth, and THE life. We see it confront the magician Elymas here in Acts 13. Where do you see it colliding with our culture? Are you convinced personally? If not, are you investigating?
SCRIPTURE
1 John 5:11-12 John 11:25-26

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Matthew 25

Psalm 13

Psalm 29

Matthew 4:1-11

Ruth 4:13-17

Ruth 1:16-18

What can you expect God to do in the midst of your ordinary callings?Most of the opportunities to demonstrate the Gospel (Mission) are found in your daily lives. FIRST: who is in this story?SECOND question: what happened?THIRD question: How does God work in this?Story in phasesFIRST PHASE: God moves the pieces in his big planSECOND PHASE: God uses the frog to coach the lizardsFirst, Paul helps them interpret.Second, Paul asks them to live in light of the Gospel interpretationThis is what living out the Gospel looks likeReceive him as though he is me Treat me as you would treat himFIRST, Forgive, do not punish, accept as brother.SECOND welcome him back, not as slave, but as brother. He has a new ID!THIRD, send him back to me to help.Next question: And what about you, your ordinary callings as lizards?BUT How do you show the Gospel in your daily calling?#1 Faithful character#2 Cutting against the grain in the name of Christ.#3 Doing Good in any way you canFor more information about Catalina Foothills Church, please visit us at https://cfcpca.org