The Second Missionary Journey – A New Door was Opened

Well, if you would take your Bible and turn to Acts chapter 6, excuse me, Acts chapter 16. Tonight will be in Acts chapter 16. We'll cover verses 1 to 10. Acts chapter 16 verses 1 to 10. Now, we have seen the negative events that took place after the Jerusalem Council and before Paul's second missionary journey. Think about that. We have seen the negative events that took place after the Jerusalem Council and before Paul's second missionary journey. Simply the great missions, evangelism, church planning team of Paul and Barnabas had a split. That's what I mean by the negative events.

After Paul and Barnabas experienced great gospel success on their first missionary journey, we saw that they spent a good deal of time there in Antioch and they were teaching and preaching and ministering there in the church. They were not only evangelists and church planners but we are seeing that they were faithful ministers in the life of the church. We could say it like this, they were church discipleship pastors as well. But when the time came for the second missionary journey, Paul's heart was to go back and revisit those newly planted churches to minister to those believers and to help those new churches grow in maturity in Christ.

But a very sharp disagreement, a public disagreement arose between Paul and Barnabas there in the church at Antioch. Barnabas wanted to take John Mark along to assist them. Of course we know that John Mark abandoned them on that first missionary journey, so Paul did not want to take him on this second missionary journey. Both men were insistent and the conflict became so intense that it led to a complete separation. Barnabas took John Mark and he went one way and Paul took Silas and he went the other way.

Though very painful, this division shows that even godly and useful ministers can strongly disagree and grow their separate ways and still be used of God and that's good for us to see. Though this kind of thing can be very painful, even confusing and hard for some to sort out, this division that we have here shows us that even godly, useful ministers can strongly disagree. They can go their separate ways and still be used of God. I like what J.C. Ryle says, I'm really putting it in my words, he says this situation shows us that the best are not always at their best. That's very good to see.

The best, being Paul and Barnabas, were not always at their best. Well as a result the split turned into two missionary teams, doubling the work of strengthening the churches and in the end both teams continued the same mission in going into the churches. I mentioned this last week in his commentary on the book of Acts. R.C. Sproul focuses not on the divide but on how God sovereignly worked through the conflict. That's a good lesson to see. It's a good lesson to learn because we will see good and godly ministers, even good and godly Christians disagree and sometimes go separate ways in their Christian journey and God used them. God used them.

Now here we are finally at the beginning of Paul's second missionary journey but as we will see some preliminary work needed to be done. We can say that this missionary journey began in verse 1 of chapter 16 but we can really see that it took all starting in verse 10 and what we know as the Macedonian call. But we need to make sure that we do not overlook what I call this preliminary work. To me this prepared Paul and Silas and their mission team for the new work that was to come. Now before we get into the verses I want to point out some themes, some language that we're going to see here. We will see lots of new.

We will see a new addition to the ministry team, a new direction for the work. We will see lots of open doors for the ministry. We will see that God closed some doors and he opened other doors. We will see open doors to new regions of ministry, to new cities of ministry. We will see open hearts, open prison doors and more things open. So we'll see lots of new and open doors of ministry and I'm speaking of what we see here in chapter 16 starting in verse 1 really all the way to verse 40, the entire chapter.

Now before we get into our verses and how we'll approach the message, I do want us to look back at the sharp divide between Paul and Barnabas and their separating departure out of the church at Antioch back in chapter 15 verse 39-41. And there arose a sharp disagreement so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus but Paul chose Silas and he departed having been commended by the brothers, that would be the brothers in the church, to the grace of the Lord and he went through Syria and Cilicia strengthening the churches.

Now with that being said, reread, let's look at verses 1-10 which is where we will be tonight. Paul came also to Derby and to Lystra. A disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer but his father was a Greek. He, that's Timothy, was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra at Iconium and Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places.

They all knew that his father was a Greek and they went on their way through the cities and they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem. This would have been the decision from the Jerusalem council. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and they increased in numbers daily and they went through the region Fergia and Galatia having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come to Mysia they attempted to go into Bithynia but the spirit of Jesus did not allow them.

So passing by Mysia they went down to Troas and a vision and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia was standing there urging him and saying come over to Macedonia and help us. And when Paul had seen the vision immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Now let me show you how I want us to approach the verses in the message. First I want us to see that a new worker was added. That's obvious right there in verses one to three. And then second how the old work was continued. This is in verses four and five.

And then last I want us to see a new work was opened. A new work was opened. So we have a new worker, an old work, and a new work. A new worker, an old work, and a new work. So let's get started. Number one I want us to see a new worker was added verses one to three. A new worker was added. But before we get into this new worker who is obviously Timothy we need to see the context in which this all takes place. Really should be obvious. Comes right out of verses. Luke tells us that Paul made his way back to Derby and Lystra which were the cities in the edge of the Galatian region.

And these were the cities that Paul and Barnabas evangelized back on their first missionary journey. And think about the feelings and the memories that must have been swirling in Paul's mind and heart. Yes he was reconnecting with those new believers in those churches. Yes he was eager to minister to them and to strengthen them in the faith. But remember he was revisiting the city where he was stoned and left for dead. But no matter how Paul felt and no matter the fears that he may have had he knew that God had a work for them in strengthening those new believers in those new churches.

But here in verse two we find that when they were in Lystra a disciple named Timothy came to their attention. And if we know the story Timothy was added to their ministry team as a kind of ministry assistant. Lots of people will say that he took the place of John Mark. And I want us to take the time to learn about this new worker who was added. But first notice who Timothy was. Right away we see that he was a disciple and most believe that Timothy was converted to Christ the first time Paul was in Lystra. That would have been the first missionary journey.

Scholars believe that Paul personally played a part in his conversion to Christ because of what Paul says of Timothy in other places. I'll give you two examples. In 1 Corinthians 4.7 Paul calls Timothy and I'm quoting the verse "my beloved and faithful child in the Lord." In 1 Timothy 1.2 he refers to him as my true child in the faith. And Luke tells us a good bit about his personal family life here as well. He was the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer but his father was a Greek and it does not appear that he was a believer.

And in 2 Timothy 15 Paul tells us that Timothy's mother and grandmother were believers and they played a big part in Timothy's spiritual life and development. So we see a good bit of who Timothy was. Now I always think of some things that are very practical that we can learn when I come across this information with Timothy. Look God can use a broken home. It appears that his father was not a believer and many believe he was even passed away. So we would say that Timothy came from a broken home. God can still work in a broken home. And then second don't discount the influence that a mother and a grandmother can have on a son.

Look at how God used his mother and grandmother. And of course you could probably add to some lessons that we could learn there. But second notice his reputation. Look at verse 2. Paul came also to Derby and to Lystra. A disciple was there named Timothy the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer and his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Luke tells us that Timothy was well spoken of, respected among the believers of two cities. You see that? So Timothy was a young man, a relatively new believer, but he had a godly reputation among believers or churches in two cities.

And right here John MacArthur jumps to first Timothy 3.2 and the requirement that church leaders are to live a life above reproach. I think that's a good connection. We can see that he was very well respected, obviously living a life above reproach. Simply even though he was a young man, even though he was young in the faith, he was respected as a man of faith, he had a godly reputation among believers in two churches in two cities. His spiritual maturity and devotion was seen by the believers there. Now there is a lesson here. We always hold to God's standards and qualifications when selecting and appointing leadership in the church.

I mean we see that he is about to be added to the missions team. And it's no coincidence that God shows us that he was a man of great spiritual respect. And so we always hold to God's standards and qualifications when we are selecting and appointing leadership in the church. Now it's obvious when we're dealing with things like elders and deacons because the qualifications are listed. But we should always look for biblical godly standards in all of those who teach, in all of the workers who serve in the life of our church, especially those who minister to our children, you see. But notice his addition to the team.

Here in verse 3 we see that Paul wanted to take young Timothy along on their mission's journey. But look at what they did. Verse 3. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and he circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places. For they all knew that his father was a Greek. Now right here there are probably a few questions running around in our minds. What in the world is happening here? Why did Paul do this? Why did Timothy do this? And is this a contradiction to what was decided at the Jerusalem Council?

This may be hard for us to understand in our day and in our culture, but when we get into it we'll see that it's really easy. Let me explain. The determination made at the Jerusalem Council was clear. It was simple. Circumcision, no law keeping, no Jewish ritual or tradition was necessary in order to be saved. Period paragraph. Jew and Gentile were saved by grace through faith. No works attached, no works needed for salvation. That was settled. But that was not the issue here with Timothy. Paul was not adding works to his salvation. As a ministry assistant to Paul and Silas, that's what he became.

He would have been working with Jews and Gentiles, and it was vital that there be no point of hindrance, no point of offense in mixing and ministering among Jew and Gentile. Specifically, this was a matter of not putting a stumbling block between their ministry team and the Jews they would encounter. Think about it. The people of the region knew that his father was a Greek. And when Paul and Silas and Timothy engaged the Jews and they went into the synagogues, if the Jews knew that Timothy was uncircumcised, that would have been an immovable hindrance to their message in their ministry. So this was not a matter of Timothy's salvation.

This was not a matter of his personal spiritual character. This was a matter of not being a hindrance in their ministry among the Jews in their entire second missionary journey. Now this is a lengthy passage of scripture, but it needs to be read here. They were literally living out what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9, 19 to 23. I'll read those verses. 1 Corinthians 9, 19 to 23. Paul says, "For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews, I became as a Jew in order to win the Jews.

To those under the law, I became as one under the law, though not being myself under the law, that I might win those under the law. To those outside of the law, I became as one outside the law, not being outside the law of God, but under the law of Christ, that I might win those outside the law. To the weak, I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." Now let me pause here and give a little bit of an explanation as to what Paul is saying.

He is saying if I am among Jews who are abiding by those Jewish dietary laws, I am going to fall right in there with them so I can win them. If I am around Gentiles who are taking in food sacrificed to an idol, I am fine. I fall right in there with them. Now he does not violate clear commandments in Scripture, no. You see what I am saying? Well that is exactly what they were doing with Timothy. Now there is a great lesson here. We should look into our lives and ask, are there things in our lives that can be a hindrance to the gospel and the ministry of the church? Are there things in our lives?

Are there things in our family that can be a hindrance to the gospel and the ministry of the church? Maybe it would be good for you and your wife. Maybe it would be good for you with a couple of brothers, a couple of sisters to discuss that and kind of make possible lists of things that could be in our lives, in our culture, that can be a hindrance to the gospel and the ministry of the church. I will give you one. That is the way I view alcohol. I cannot tell you from Scripture it is a sin to drink. I cannot. The Scriptures do not say that. Drunkenness certainly is a sin. We know that.

But I know according to Romans 14 that I will call someone to stumble if I drink. And so if I cause one to stumble, it is not worth it. First of all, I do not need that kind of a temptation in my life. It is just not worth it. So there are many things that I point to to say alcohol is not good for me. But one of the biggest is I know that it will cause some to stumble. And if it causes someone to stumble, I am not doing it. Sometimes people will talk about the use of tobacco here, whether you are smoking or chewing tobacco or dipping, that kind of thing. You cannot draw a straight line from heaven to hell with tobacco use. You just cannot.

But does it cause people to stumble? Will it cause people to invalidate our Christian witness? You see, these are the kinds of things that can be a hindrance to the Gospel and the witness of the Church. And it is interesting to think about and talk about. But there is a missions lesson here. I really picked this up from John MacArthur. He says that missionaries must be sensitive to the unique characteristics and aspects of the cultures in which they work. Let me restate that. Missionaries must be sensitive to the unique characteristics and aspects of the cultures in which they work. That is what Paul and Silas and Timothy were doing.

They knew they would be engaging the Jews. And I think about those who are missionaries maybe in a Muslim nation, in a Muslim culture. They may have to live in such a way where they don't offend Muslims that can seem strange to us. So here in verses 1-3, we see that a new worker Timothy was added to the missions team to serve as a ministry assistant to Paul and Silas. A few more things here about Timothy. Of course he was called of God. Now we don't see that in Acts. Paul mentions this in 2 Timothy 1.16 when he calls young Timothy to fan in the flame the gift and the calling of God upon his life. So we know he had a call.

Also he was appointed we see that he was appointed here by Paul but in 2 Timothy 1.6, Paul reminded Timothy how the leaders of the church laid their hands on them on him when they commissioned him to the work. So he had a call of God. He had an appointment of commissioning and we see that he was prepared. The circumcision was all about preparing him to be able to minister to the Jews alongside Paul and Silas. Now before we move on, what do we need to learn here? What can be applied here? We should be calling and appointing more and more workers in the church as the church grows, as the needs arise. There was a need for Timothy.

We see this in the establishment of our deacons ministry. We need deacons ministry. We need deacons. So we're about as a body appointing and calling deacons to serve. We are revamping and reworking some things that we do in our children's ministry. Travis Crotwell is helping me and so we need more and more workers to be involved in our children's ministry and we should make sure we are prepared spiritually and in all of the areas of our lives so that if we are needed and we are called and we are appointed to serve, we are ready. Question here to ponder over rhetorically. Could we ever send some out into the mission field?

Could we send out a pastor? Could we send others away from our church one day? Sure. And when that time comes, I believe they will be prepared and we'll make those preparations. Next, number two, and I'll be a little shorter here, the old work was continued. The old work was continued. Look at verse four and five. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions, I've been calling them determinations, that had been reached by the apostles and the elders who were in Jerusalem, the Jerusalem council. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and they increased in numbers daily.

Now after Timothy was added to the team as a new worker, look what they did. Here we see that they traveled to, they ministered in, those churches that were established during the first missionary journey. The churches in cities like Derby, Lystra, and Iconium. And look at how they ministered. This is simple. They taught the three things that were decided at the Jerusalem council. First, that salvation was by grace and grace alone. Simply they dealt with any influence, any teaching from those Jewish law keepers that maybe had made their way into those churches.

They corrected that false teaching and they would have taught them the ways of salvation by grace and grace alone. And no doubt they would have used the Old Testament scriptures as well. Second, the commands concerning idolatry and immorality. Of course, this body of teaching would have been hard and fast commandments to stay away from all idolatry, all sexual immorality. These were not matters of commandments. Excuse me, these were not matters of conscience. And then the third thing they taught were the convictions concerning blood and what had been strangled. Of course, these were matters of conscience.

We learned that these were convictions that promoted holy living and this fostered unity of conscience among the Jews and the Gentiles. So they taught the three things that were determined at the Jerusalem council. Salvation was by grace alone. The commandments concerning idolatry and immorality in the convictions concerning blood and what was strangled. And get this, Paul and Silas were ministering like this in the churches before Timothy was added. We see that in chapter 15, verse 40 and 41, as soon as they left Antioch, they were ministering to the churches. So here we see that they continued in what I call the old work.

This was no new work. They were simply going back into the churches in the Galatian region, ministering to them and strengthening them. And look at what came out of this strengthening. Verse five, I'm going to read it in the Amplified. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and they continually increased in number day after day. Luke shows us that because they grew in the faith, they were able to grow evangelistically. And I do believe there's a lesson here for us. Before we can grow in number, we have to be growing in our strength and our maturity as a church.

Before we can grow in number, we have to be growing in our strength, in our maturity, personally and as a body. What happens if the church adds to its body when the body is immature? I think we do see that sometimes today. Then last, number three, a new work was opened. A new work was opened. Here we see that the ministry of Paul, Silas, and now Timothy took a big turn. Doors of ministry were closed to them and a new door ministry was opened to them. And we will see that this was a very important change with far-reaching, very positive ramifications. I'll point that out. But let's read verse six to ten.

And they went through the region of Fergia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia. But the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. See those closed doors? So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia was standing there urging him, calling him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." And when Paul had seen the vision immediately, we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Now Luke shows us three things that happen here. First, God closed certain doors of ministry. Luke shows us how Paul and the team ministered in the Galatian region, and they were about strengthening the churches that Paul had been to before. And Luke tells us that they desired to go further west into the province of Asia. But they were forbidden by God to go there. This truly means they were held back by God. This truly means they were denied going into Asia. But a question why? This was an important area. Later, God worked in that area. Later on, churches in the cities, later on churches in certain cities were born.

We see this church in Ephesus, the church in Smyrna, the church in Philadelphia, Laodicea, Colossae, Sardis, Pergamum, and Thyatira. Those were there in Asia. So why did God block them from going into Asia at this time? And next, Luke tells us they tried to go further to the north into Bithynia, but they were forbidden by God to go there as well. But why? Actually, no reason is given. God does not tell us through Luke why God hindered them from going into Asia and then into Bithynia. Simply, according to the sovereign plan and providence of God, it just was not God's plan for Paul and his team to go those directions.

And another question, how did God do this hindering? What did that look like? We really don't know. As a matter of fact, my resources don't really say much about that. But we do know that God did hinder them. He did stop them, although we do not know how. And out of this circumstance, we have a lesson that we can apply in our lives. Negative guidance is good in that it is proof of guidance. Think about it. Paul and his team experienced closed doors, negative guidance, not just one, but two. And even though it was negative, it was still positive in that God was guiding them.

And look, church, sometimes when we have negative guidance, we can have a tendency to react negatively. Negative guidance is good guidance and it is proof of guidance. I'll give you an example of a long period of time in my life when I experienced this. Many of you know that I left the church in 2006 under some difficult circumstances. Sadly, there was a power struggle that went on in the church and I left in some negative circumstances. But the Lord would not let me go on church staff immediately right after that. I did lots of ministry. I did an interim for a friend. I preached in different places. And I had opportunities to go to churches.

And as I was praying fervently and seeking the Lord for the next direction in my life, when I had opportunities, the Lord would say, "No, stop, wait." The Lord would use Psalm 40 verses one, two, and three, "Wait patiently, no, wait patiently." And that was a difficult time in my life because I was experiencing closed doors, closed doors, closed doors. And I had to just wait. I had to wait. And I struggled thinking negatively instead of focusing on the positive in that there was proof of guidance. And you will find yourself at times where doors will be closed, doors will be closed. You will even be hindered.

You believe there's God's will for you tomorrow, but yet sometimes you have to wait for that will. Negative guidance is good guidance. Although we can fight all kinds of feelings and difficulties during those times. And if you need some counsel there, I'll be glad to help you. And I can help you there. So God closed doors of ministry to Paul and this team. But then second, God opened new doors of ministry. Look back at verse six and 10. They went through the region of Fergia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

And when they had come to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them. See, negative guidance. So passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia was standing there urging him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. So having been stopped from going west and south and from going north and east, they did the only thing they could do.

They ended up in Troas, which was on the coast of the Aegean Sea. And again, it would do us some good to look at our maps. This week in my study, I went back to my maps to get this in my mind. But Luke shows us that Paul and his team ended up at Troas waiting on direction from God, waiting on direction from God. And look, church, waiting can be the hardest work in the Christian life. And finally, God revealed his plan for their ministry direction. In a very dramatic way, Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia, calling them to come over into Macedonia and help them. This is often called the Macedonian Call.

But we need to understand where Macedonia was and what this vision represented. All these things have great, great significance. Macedonia was across the Aegean Sea on the mainland of Greece. And in this region, there were important cities that we will come to know. This is where Philippi is, Thessalonica, and Berea. So Macedonia was this region across the Aegean Sea from Troas, but this was and is important because Macedonia was on the European continent. Now, we need to take a step back and notice how all this comes together and why this is so important.

The man of Macedonia represents this Macedonian call, and this represents Europe and the people of Europe in their need for the gospel and the saving message of Christ. And when Paul, Silas, and Timothy went into Macedonia, they were the very first people to take the gospel onto the European continent. And notice what Paul and the team did. Having received this supernatural summons from God, Paul, Silas, and Timothy wasted no time in obeying the call. Luke says they immediately, he actually says we immediately sought to go into Macedonia. But notice one small detail that Luke gives here.

This is the first time he ever says we look back at verse 10. And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia. Now you may not know it, but at times Luke traveled with Paul. So right here it seems that Luke joined the missions team of Paul, Silas, and Timothy. And this will not be the last time we see this. Warren Wiersby points out the three times we see this in the book of Acts. He shows us that there are three "we" sections in Acts.

We see this in Acts 16, 10 to 17, "we." Acts 20 verses 5 to 15, "we." And Acts 27, 1 to 28, "we." And we will see that at times it seems that Luke stayed behind and did some ministry in those cities where they started churches. So what we have here is this. A good bit of what Luke gives us is firsthand information. "We." So here we see that a new work was open to Paul and the new team. It's Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke. They had doors of ministry close to them, and after following the Lord through those closed doors, that led them to the new work and the new ministry in Macedonia. They landed on European soil. And notice what we have here.

Luke Church, on full display, we have the sovereignty of God and the providence of God in evangelism and missions, church planning, and church growth. That's what we have. The sovereignty of God and the providence of God. At that time it was God's will and God's choice that Paul and the team not go to Asia, not go to Bithynia. But it was God's will, it was God's choice, it was God's plan that Paul and the team go into Macedonia, go into Europe. You see that? I mean look, church, this is a lesson on God's sovereignty and God's providence. We believe in God's sovereignty and we believe in the providence of God.

God has a will and a plan and a purpose. And sometimes it can be difficult for us to see. Now, I want to close by offering something that John MacArthur gives at the conclusion of his teaching in his commentary on Acts. He says that what we have here in verses 1-10 illustrate the foundational principles of evangelism. I agree. He says that God uses people with the right passion, with the right priority, with the right personnel taking the right precautions to make the right presentation in the right place. Let me restate that.

He points out that God uses people with the right passion and the right priority, with the right personnel taking the right precautions to make the right presentation in the right place. Some rhetorical questions. What should our passion and priority be? Paul's passion and priority was those churches and the lost. All those churches that he ministered to, his passion, his priority, he stood up at Antioch and said, "Let's go back." His passion and priority was the church. And then when he received the Macedonian call, his passion and priority were the lost. And that should be our passion and our priority.

Folks, I have lived long enough to see when people don't have their passions and their priorities in line with God's will, they suffer in life. Another question. Who should be our right personnel? God's people. God's people. And we have to understand sometimes people come into the life of the church and they leave us and we have to trust the work of the church. Sometimes in the life of the church, we just believe certain people are the right personnel for the work of the church, but they're not.

Some of my greatest disappointments through my years of ministry have been people I trusted and I believe that God was going to use and they turned out not to be those people. So who should be our right personnel? Those that God brings who will stick it out in the life of the church and who will do it right through the years. Those are the kind of people that God can build his church on. Next question. What should be our precautions? Obviously our precautions are different than Paul and Timothy's here. But what I'm trying to show you is this. We should take the right precautions in life and in ministry. And what I mean is this.

We do the work of the church, God's way according to God's word. We live our lives according to God's word, God's ways. What should be our presentation? The gospel, the scriptures, the truth of God's word. Luke Church, in everything we do, we teach the word, we preach the word, we present the gospel. In the day we move away from presenting God's word and the gospel, that is the day we move into presenting something that the world gives us and it never works, it never saves, it never sanctifies, and it kills the church. And what is the right place for us? Right here in Brookhaven. Your street, your neighborhood, your workplace, your family.

In Lincoln County and the counties around us, you do know we're a regional church. Look at where all our people come from. Where is the right place for us? Where God has put us, where we live our lives corporately, where we live our lives personally, and also where God would lead us around the world. So the title of the message, the second missionary journey, a new door was opened. A new door was opened. But oh, it was so good to see the preliminary work that had to be done to get them ready for that door.

And next week we will see Paul and his team sell from Macedonia and we'll see them enter into that new door when they put their feet on European soil. So let's pray, let's commit this to the Lord and then we'll look at some prayer needs.