Momentum - Week 13
Today, I will preach a bit of an uncommon message that is not preached often.
The Momentum Series from Acts has focused on the life-changing power of the message of Jesus and the initial growth, persecution, and spread of the Gospel.
This sermon will be one of the most difficult sermons I have ever preached. It will be difficult, because it will sound self-serving. And, because it sounds like it is self-serving, that makes it the most difficult. The message may also sound critical of the church or people in our church. I assure you it is not.
In our main passage of scripture, we see the risk and reward of what happened when God called Saul and Barnabas into full-time ministry.
Acts 13:1-4 (NLT2)
Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. 2 One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” 3 So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. 4 So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.
As this group prayed, the Holy Spirit spoke to each of them and said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.”
When it comes to understanding leadership positions inside the church, understand that…
THE SPIRIT CALLS AND
THE CHURCH SUPPORTS
I ran to Jesus in the summer of 1991. But from 1993 to 1996, I ran from the Spirit leading me into full-time ministry. During my quiet times, as I prayed, read scripture, and poured my heart out to God, I sensed the Holy Spirit talking to me and telling me that He wanted me to go into full-time ministry. The first time I sensed that call, I said “no.”
Then slowly, my walk with God began to deteriorate. I stopped reading my bible on a daily basis. I stopped praying as often. And I missed my time with God.
So, I slowly began my daily quiet time again. I read more and more of the bible, I poured my heart out to the Lord. I began growing in my relationship with God again…then…The Holy Spirit spoke to me again and told me He wanted me in full-time ministry. I said “no.” Again, my walk with the Lord crumbled.
And I missed God, again. I knew I was saved. I knew I was born again. But I missed growing in my relationship with God, and my heart ached. So, slowly, I began getting in the habit of reading scripture, praying daily, and pouring my heart out to God. And, once again, I heard clearly from the Lord that He wanted me to surrender to full-time ministry.
I said, “I want to be a Kindergarten teacher and write children’s books. I’m in the Early Education major in school.” But this time I added, “Please don’t let my relationship with you crumble. I will pray about this for one week, and if you are really calling me into full-time ministry, please give me a sign.”
On day one of that week, a friend asked me if I sensed God was calling me into ministry. On day two, a person I barely knew asked me if I sensed God was calling me into full-time ministry. And on day three of that week, I was having a conversation with a complete stranger, and they asked me if I sensed God was calling me into full-time ministry. I did not NEED a day four, five, six, or seven. I sat up in my bed half the night on the third day, and I surrendered my plans to God. I told him I was sorry for running, and I surrendered to full-time ministry.
Any person who serves in full-time ministry must serve with the deep conviction that the Spirit of God called them into ministry, and people around them should affirm that calling. That’s what happened with Saul and Barnabas. God spoke to each of those godly men whom Paul and Barnabas surrounded themselves with. So they fasted and prayed some more, and sent them out to complete the special purpose God had for them.
Paul and Barnabas were gone for roughly one and a half years. They traveled over 1200 miles round trip, visited at least 10 cities, led people to Jesus, and appointed Pastors/Elders to lead the churches. Then, returned to Antioch. Paul and Barnabas carried the message of Jesus “to the ends of the earth.” And that is the primary calling for every person God calls to full-time ministry.
The responsibility for those called is to be willing to “go.” And the responsibility of the church is to support. When the church supports those who are called, the life-changing message of Jesus continues to spread:
THE SPIRIT LEADS AND
PEOPLE ARE REBORN
So, as their adventure unfolded, they preached from town to town, and they arrived in a different city named Antioch, where they were invited to teach in the synagogue. And when Paul finished preaching, people begged them to come back the following week to preach again. So they came back the next week…
Acts 13:44 (NLT2)
The following week, almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord.
And almost the entire city showed up to hear them preach…including the Gentiles. The Gentiles were ANY person who was not Jewish. And look how the Gentiles responded…
Acts 13:48 (NLT2)
When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers.
Gentiles repented of their sin and surrendered their lives to Jesus. Paul and Barnabas traveled to Iconium. And…
Acts 14:1 (NLT2)
The same thing happened in Iconium. Paul and Barnabas went to the Jewish synagogue and preached with such power that a great number of both Jews and Greeks became believers.
The only reason why God calls men and women into full-time ministry is so that more and more people experience the life-changing hope of the Good News. And, I wish I could tell you that Pastoral ministry was super easy. If God is calling you to full-time ministry, you need to consider the risk of the calling.
See, the truth is:
MINISTRY YIELDS RISK AND REWARD
In Acts 13 and 14, we talked about how Jews and Gentiles heard the message and gave their lives to Jesus…but there are also some risky moments that Paul and Barnabas faced as well.
While almost the whole city showed up at the synagogue to hear Paul preach…the Jewish leaders did not like the message Paul and Barnabas taught. While Jews and Gentiles were repenting and receiving Jesus as their Savior…
Acts 13:50 (NLT2)
Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town.
Do you see the risk? As soon as they finished preaching, a mob came after them and chased them out of the town. Paul and Barnabas went to Iconium, preached the message of Jesus, and a great number of Jews and Gentiles became believers, but…
Acts 14:2 (NLT2)
Some of the Jews, however, spurned God’s message and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against Paul and Barnabas.
They stayed as long as they could in the city, but half of the city didn’t want them there…
Acts 14:5 (NLT2)
Then a mob of Gentiles and Jews, along with their leaders, decided to attack and stone them.
So Paul and Barnabas traveled to the city of Lystra and preached the same message…and the Jews from Antioch hated the message so much, they traveled from Antioch. And in 14:19 we read that they…
Acts 14:19 (NLT2)
… won the crowds to their side. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead.
Ministry yields RISK and REWARD. Paul and Barnabas were chased out of towns. Paul was stoned. Beaten. Rejected. And yet, they kept going because of the special calling of God. And, as Paul continued to live out the calling of God, he would eventually be beheaded by Nero in the city of Rome. So what about the rest of the early church leaders? What happened to them?
Church Historians tell us the fate that some faced:
Peter was crucified upside down.
Andrew was crucified in Greece.
Thomas was killed in India.
Philip was tortured to death in Asia-Minor
Matthew was stabbed to death in Ethiopia
Bartholomew was killed
James was stoned, then clubbed to death
Simon was killed after refusing to worship a sun god in Syria
John was exiled to the Island of Patmos – then a Latin legend said he was boiled in oil
Why did these men keep going? Because of the conviction of their calling. And, like all followers of Jesus, they longed to hear Jesus say to them, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
Remember, I told you at the beginning, parts of this sermon might sound self-serving. But, it truly is not. The reward for ministry is not just spiritual. Churches should support their Pastors and church staff by being a financial blessing to them. Pastors are often afraid to teach the church how to support the Pastor. According to scripture, Pastors who preach the good news should be supported by their church.
Paul writes:
1 Corinthians 9:14 (NLT2)
In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.
So, we see that part of the reward of a call to ministry is that those called are supported by the church, not once, but in an ongoing manner. And, Paul even goes on to say to Timothy that…
1 Timothy 5:17 (NLT2)
Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching.
I told you it would sound self-serving.
Churches should provide for their Pastors in such a way that, financially, a Pastor should never have to struggle to make ends meet, and is free to focus on the calling God has given him. Provision from the church is God’s design to care for Pastors, church staff, and those called to full-time ministry.
So, let me ask you…
IS GOD CALLING YOU?
Pastoral ministry is not glamorous. In 2025, an estimated 15,000 churches in the US will close or lose full-time pastors. Enrollment in seminaries continues to decline year after year. Those who are in ministry are burning out at a rapid rate.
A recent Barna survey reveals that:
75% of pastors report being extremely or highly stressed
90% work 55–75 hours per week
90% experience weekly fatigue
70% say they are underpaid
40% have a serious conflict at least once per month
65% of pastors report feelings of loneliness or isolation
51% do not receive regular encouragement
Why does this matter? Because Pastors and ministry leaders are GIFTS that God has given to the church.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NLT2)
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.
Do most churches treat their pastors as the gift God says they are? I wonder if fewer people are surrendering to God’s call to serve Him in full-time ministry, because they have often seen how Pastors and church leaders are treated by religious people.
Maybe, growing up, they heard their parents criticize Pastors on the way home from church. Maybe they see how Pastors are spoken to in church business meetings. Maybe they see how the Pastor is voted out because people don’t like change. Maybe they see how there is no grace for the Pastor’s wife who shows up at church with baby spit-up on her shirt and mismatching socks.
Now, there are bad Pastors. There are those who are greedy, immoral, corrupt, and abusive. But if the church doesn’t have a Pastor like that, they should treat them as a gift and do all they can to keep that Pastor and support those called to ministry. So, again I ask, is God calling you?
If you sense that He is, commit it to prayer. Talk about it with others.
If he is, be convinced and convicted in the core of who you are, because ministry will be difficult, and without a clear calling, you will lack the conviction to stay in ministry for the rest of your life.