Advancing The Gospel (Part 4)

A miracle, a mob, and a decision to go back—this journey through Acts 14 shows why real gospel impact depends on more than first encounters. We follow Paul and Barnabas from Lystra to Derbe and back again as they strengthen new believers, appoint elders, and teach a countercultural truth few want to hear at first: through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Far from despair, that line becomes a roadmap for discipleship, clarifying how Scripture, community, and perseverance shape us into people who look like Jesus in the places it matters most.

We talk about equipping as the heart of making disciples, drawing on Ephesians 4’s vision for apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to mend what is broken and train believers for works of service. The Greek idea of katartizo—mending nets and setting bones—gives a concrete picture of how the Word heals and straightens what life bends. From there, we challenge the myth of spiritual neutrality: stop feeding on the Word and prayer, and you don’t just stall—you slide backward. Hebrews 5 and 2 Timothy remind us that formation requires steady nourishment so that we can teach others, not just sip milk forever.

We also face the tension between a culture that treats happiness as life’s meaning and a gospel that finds meaning in faithful endurance. Looking at Christ’s example—no deceit, no retaliation, entrusting himself to the Father—we explore how suffering becomes both formation and witness. The early church sang in prisons; today, resilient joy and patient love remain a startling apologetic. If transformation is real, it will appear when comfort is absent. Join us as we step into a deeper, sturdier vision of growth: minds renewed by Scripture, hearts strengthened by grace, and lives that steady others in the storm.

Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5PsykkDEII