February 7, 2024 • 40 mins
Join us, your hosts Kyle Morris, Dakota Smith, and David Glavin, as we unveil the new visual dimension of the Be Disciples podcast. We're stepping into the world of video podcasting to bring the Word to you with greater impact, responding to the pulse of contemporary culture with the wisdom of the Scriptures.
Witness the delicate dance of upholding doctrine while gracefully navigating diverse cultural practices as we unpack the story of Timothy's circumcision. This narrative invites you to consider the art of compromise for the greater good of the Gospel, and how we too have learned to adjust our practices to connect more deeply with our congregations. Join us in exploring the nuances of leading with humility, the significance of local traditions, and the importance of being sensitive to the unique dynamics within each community we serve.
Finally, we delve into the stirring account of Paul's missionary excursions, a testament to the power of discerning and embracing God's will. Through personal anecdotes and shared wisdom, you'll glean insights on the challenges of shepherding a flock, the patience required to witness the fruition of one's ministry, and the joy of seeing God’s hand at work in places we never expected. Tune in for an episode that not only aims to guide you in spiritual growth but also celebrates the unexpected harvest that awaits when we follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to the Be Disciples podcast with your
hosts Kyle Morris, Dakota Smithand David Glavin.
For those of you listening tothe audio only of the podcast,
this is our second attempt nowat the video podcast.
So if you go to YouTube and yougo to our channel right here,
as you can see on the video,it's our Ottawa Bible Church
(00:31):
channel, but the Be Disciplespodcast will be under the videos
there and you'll be able tofind us.
And so this is episode 106.
Right now we're in ourmakeshift studio.
Guys.
We're actually building onedownstairs in the basement to
have at all times, but right nowwe're on the stage in our
sanctuary.
All the band stuff is set uparound us.
(00:51):
This is kind of David's domainmost of the time, and so we're
excited for the video podcast.
We're excited to add thatelement for our community to see
our faces, to get to know us alittle bit more.
So I'm excited.
What do you guys think?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, the first thing that I just want to say is,
depending on how you view whatwe're attempting to do, it can
give you a positive or anegative view.
You know why do we need allthose cameras and microphones
and that kind of thing?
But really, I think we'reseeking to utilize things that
God has given us so that we canreach our community in another
(01:27):
way Providing content for thecommunity, giving them biblical
exposition, biblical doctrine,so that, hey, if we can't get
them into the church building ona Sunday morning, then
hopefully we can reach them intheir home or on their way to
work, and then from there theystart to feel comfortable.
Okay, I see what they'reteaching, you know, and even
(01:48):
giving healthy responses withhot topics in culture, whatever
it might be, when things in ourworld happen right away, this
platform, this avenue, allows usto give a prompt Christian
response, something that's muchneeded for our world, and so
we're grateful for your hardwork setting this up.
But we also think this will bea modality of evangelism.
(02:11):
This will be a modality ofChristian education.
Thanks for Ottawa and FranklinCounty.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, we found in this generation, I would say you
know millennials and younger.
When you look for a church, youtend to look online.
You do, and you do things likeFacebook, instagram, YouTube.
You want to get to know, maybethe pastors, as with everything
else.
Yeah.
So that's the feedback we'vegotten, and so really to add the
(02:38):
element to our podcast thatwe've never added before is just
going to be able to help peopleget to know us a little bit
more, and I think that's a goodthing, because people want to
know who they're going to golisten to and what their
reputation is like, and so wejust want to represent God's
word as well as we can.
It's our heart's desire toteach God's word, as is to
(03:00):
exposit the word and centereverything we do around God's
word, and so that's our heart,that's our purpose, and we want
you guys, the listeners, to takewhat we do here and apply it to
discipleship relationships, andwe've always been when it comes
to this podcast.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, david, a couple of thoughts from you.
This is all of our first timedoing this kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, and it was my first time doing a podcast when
I first joined you guys, and nowwe're adding video, so I'm
having to be very intentional.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Notice David recently got a haircut.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Got a haircut.
Yes, sitting up straight.
Yeah, mining the profile.
But I think that the video alsoadds in the ability to see the
relationship and I was.
You know I could make a jokeabout.
I usually glare at you whiletrying to sound happy on the
non-video podcast.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
But you can't do that anymore.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
It was an opportunity to see the genuine
relationships.
Yeah, enjoy.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
We're excited to reach the community with
Christian education.
Let's just call it that Puttingforth a healthy Christian
worldview.
The church typically is behindin matters like this, but now
we're stepping into that realmand saying how can we lift high
the Word of God so that it caninfiltrate, immerse people's
(04:18):
hearts and minds?
That's the goal.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah.
So let's go ahead and pray andwe're going to get back into the
book of Acts because that'swhat we've been studying.
So if you want to catch up onthe book of Acts and you've only
been introduced to us on thevideo you can actually go to
bdisciplespodcastcom or you cango to autoababachurchcom.
Find our podcast and all of ourepisodes.
We have over a hundred episodes.
We've gone through the book ofMark.
(04:41):
We have different interviewswith people like Greg Koko, dr
Gary Habermas, costi Hinn allkinds of different people, but
you can check us out there,catch up on our podcast, but
let's pray.
Father, I thank you just againfor the resources, for the means
, for the opportunity, for theopen doors to do this type of
thing.
We enjoy studying God's Wordand we want to share it with as
(05:06):
many people as we possibly can.
This podcast is something thatis under the umbrella of the
church.
We do this because we love you,lord, we love the church and we
want people to hear God's Word.
So be with us today as we study.
Thank you for these men whohave dedicated their lives and
service to you, and just be withus today, lord.
(05:27):
In Jesus' name, amen, amen.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
It's been a while since we've had an episode
specifically out of the book ofActs.
We last ended where Paul'ssecond missionary journey began
and that, unfortunately, iswhere we saw Paul and Barnabas
part ways.
The issue was over.
John Mark, barnabas, being theencourager, said I want to stay
(05:52):
with him and not give up on thisyoung man.
And Paul said listen, anyonewho puts his hand to the plow
and looks back is not fit forthe kingdom of heaven.
And Paul said I'm going and I'mtaking Silas with me.
So sorry, barnabas, but youknow, maybe two ministries will
be started out of this, but I'mheaded on my second missionary
journey, and so we ended chapter15 there.
(06:17):
We also saw the ministry of,you could say, the Gentiles
having great success, and therewas an issue there Should the
Gentiles be circumcised like weare?
And then that led to theJerusalem Council.
So these are some things we'velast spoken about.
But today we enter into chapter16, verse, one which the header
(06:38):
or the title of this chapter isthe Macedonian vision.
So this is where Paul headsinto Europe and this is where
Paul essentially begins a secondmissionary journey.
So there's a lot to talk abouttoday.
While I read the first 15 verses, and we continue.
Here we go.
Paul came also to Derby and toLystra, and a disciple was there
(07:01):
named Timothy.
This is the first time we seeTimothy in the Bible.
Timothy was the son of a Jewishwoman who was a believer, but
his father was a Greek and hewas well spoken of by the
brethren who were in Lystra andEconium.
Paul wanted this man to go withhim and he took him and
circumcised him because of theJews who were in those parts,
(07:23):
for they all knew that hisfather was a Greek.
Now, while they were passingthrough the cities, they were
delivering the decrees which hadbeen decided upon by the
apostles and elders who were inJerusalem for them to observe.
So the churches were beingstrengthened in the faith and
were increasing in number daily.
I think these first five verses, this is enough to chew on and
(07:45):
talk about.
Guys, what would you say?
Some initial observations,david start us up.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
I think it's interesting to note the
consideration because of theconflict that in previous
chapters over circumcision andthe decision to not add to the
expectations of new believerscircumcision.
But now there's an intentionaldecision to circumcise Timothy,
(08:14):
considering the fact that hismother is Jewish, that he is
faithful to the Lord, but that,his father not being Jewish, he
wasn't circumcised.
So it's not that it was anadded sort of commitment, but
it's just something that wasn'tdone because his father was
Greek.
So there's I don't think ittakes away from the decision
(08:39):
that was made not to forcepeople, but that doesn't mean
that circumcision cannot stillbe an important sign.
Yeah and used.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Yeah, I think seeing Timothy here, where he comes
from, I think Paul has a seessomething in him.
Both Paul and Timothy are kindof citizens of two different
places, at least from agovernment standpoint, because
Paul is a technically hascitizenship in Rome.
We have Timothy here.
His father is Greek, you know.
(09:11):
So we have the ability to moveabout, the ability to maybe
connect with some other cultures, and I think Paul also sees his
upbringing by his Jewish mother, and we know that even more
because of other things Paulwrote about Timothy, about his
mother and his grandmother thatraised him up to know the Lord,
(09:33):
and so Paul sees somebody who'swilling, ready and able to go
and to continue to learn.
Timothy is young, we know that,but Paul sees an opportunity of
somebody who's who's not goingto back away, and we know that's
big for Paul.
We already saw that right.
People who are unable to getthrough the fact that things are
(09:56):
going to be hard and dangerous.
Paul seems to struggle withthose people, not that they
aren't going to learn and grow,which they were, some of them
will but he sees Timothy as anopportunity and we know that
this, this relationship, isgoing to grow into a father son
like relationship and he has himcircumcised here again, not for
(10:17):
salvation, but because of wherethey're going and what they're
doing.
It's going to be more of areputation thing rather than a
salvation thing, like David wastalking about.
So that's what I see right away.
We see that they're goingthrough the cities, people are
being saved their, their faithis being strengthened, and so
there seems to be positivethings happening.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
In the first five verses, yeah, you'll notice, in
the book of Acts, whenever amovement of the Holy Spirit has
taken place, there seem to bethese little appendages, or
these little ligaments, or youcould say like sewing two
passages together, and thoseappendages, those connections,
those bridges, always findthemselves sounding like verse
(10:58):
five.
So the churches are beingstrengthened into faith, in the
faith, and we're increasing innumber daily.
I mean, we've already seen thatmultiple times in Acts.
Every time the Holy Spiritbrings about something, the
churches are strengthened,they're encouraged, they grow in
number.
I think, while there's muchmore to say about these first
five verses, it's reallyimportant to see you know this,
(11:20):
this bridge in verse five,because it means that we should
be expecting other movements ofthe Holy Spirit.
It also means that when theHoly Spirit moves in our
churches or does something, weshould expect encouragement, we
should expect the increase innumbers, and so that's really
encouraging to see.
I'm also looking at just thislittle note that's made of
(11:42):
Timothy in verse two.
It says he was well spoken ofby the brethren who were in
Lystra and Deconium.
To be well spoken about means,like you know, whenever your
name comes up, somebody hassomething positive to say,
they're impressed with you, andit's not just one location he
was spoken well of within, itwas two locations he was spoken
(12:03):
of well, and so that just, Ithink, adds to the height of
this young man.
If you're reading the book ofActs, which Luke is writing for
most excellent theophilus, thereader is now thinking my
goodness, who is this young manin the faith?
And I'm sure you guys all hadmoments in your younger years
when you first caught on firefor the Lord and you were
walking with him.
(12:23):
What were people saying?
People were taking note of it.
Right, you were gaining areputation, by a way of, of
God's favor, and that's anexciting place to be in as a
young man.
Sometimes the call onsomebody's life is just start
listening.
What are people saying of themfrom a young age.
It's not a rubber stamp, butoftentimes we have to look at
(12:45):
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Yeah, I mean, I think when the call to ministry came
I was not living.
My reputation was not good likethat of Timothy's Sure Right.
So I went to a church thatwatched me grow up, struggled.
The reputation was he doesn'ttake anything seriously, why
would I believe him?
And so it took some time tobuild a new reputation, because
(13:11):
I had to show them that I wasserious.
I had to show everybody that Iwas serious.
And so here we don't see thatwith Timothy, we don't we.
We see him being raised acertain way but also having a
reputation in a certain way.
Not that Timothy doesn't makemistakes, but I think we have to
see that our reputation has tobe rebuilt at times through
(13:33):
Christ and not on our own doing.
And if we have a true call toministry and we're really
following the Lord, ourreputation will change and then
our testimony will become thatof the grace of God that has
come on my life to change thedirection of my life, to do the
work of the Lord.
And then we get to glorify Godin it, because it wasn't I
didn't do it, but God did it.
And so a reputation is reallyimportant for a Christian.
(13:57):
It doesn't matter if you'recalled to ministry or not, it is
your testimony and so make surethat I think we just need to
continue to follow the Lord andbuild that reputation so when
those opportunities come to showthe gospel, they believe you.
I believe you because you liveit.
So I'm going to take your workfor it.
I'm going to look at the Bibleand your life reflects it, and
those, all those things match upand that's what the Lord wants
(14:20):
for our lives.
So Timothy is that guy and Paulknows it, and Paul has been a
pretty good, I think, barometerof character up to this point.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I think there is another side to that where you
said early, early on, you had tobuild your reputation because
you came out of a community thathad seen you and knew your
flaws.
But I mean, I had a similarexperience, except that I did
have a good reputation.
My father was a pastor and Idid behave myself and was active
(14:52):
in the church and was active inministry and people did speak
good of me and encouraged me andasked me if I was going into
the ministry.
But there's another side tothat.
I think we have to guardourselves as young people
against pride and the otherthings that come in when people
are speaking good of you andencouraging you, and also
guarding our hearts to know thatwe're still humbly accepting a
(15:13):
call to ministry, that there isstill much to learn, even though
people are encouraging us.
And I think that for Timothyhere, just the Paul encouraging
him or having him be circumcised, that's like well, people are
talking good about me.
Why am I not good the way I am?
And learning that to ministerto people Sometimes we do have
(15:34):
to change things about ourselves, not necessarily to make people
feel comfortable, but to pavethe way and grease the tracks
for the word, and those arehumbling things for a young
person to accept, becausesometimes we do have a tendency
to say, no, this is the way itis and I'm good.
You've already said I'm good,so why do I have to do anything
(15:55):
else?
But we humbly follow leadershipand accept discipleship.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
I think that's an incredible point to make,
because Timothy, by this point,is obviously an adult.
Many believe that he enteredinto the pastor by his late 20s
to maybe 30 years old andsomewhere around there.
And maybe by the time Paul waswriting to him in 2 Timothy, he
was mid 30s or somewhere aroundthere.
You know, we don't know forsure, but he had to make some
(16:23):
changes.
But you don't see any tensionin Timothy here.
You don't see him raising astink.
He could have said hey, paul,the Jerusalem Council just took
place.
They said that we shouldn'teven trouble the Gentiles, and
if I haven't been circumcised,what's the big deal?
Right?
But he didn't even, I guess youcould say, seek to hold on to
(16:44):
his own rights for the sake ofthe ministry.
What he did was he said youknow, I know what the Jerusalem
Council said, but because we'reentering unreached places, I'm
going to do this for the Lord.
And a statement here that Ithink could be missed but is
like just massive in allactuality is verse three.
Look at what he says.
Paul wanted this man to go withhim.
(17:06):
Can you imagine?
Like the call on your life?
And this is not just some otherperson, this is one of the 12
apostles.
This is a man who is now pavingthe way for worldwide missions.
He's the one that's gonna writehalf the New Testament, and
Paul desires you to go with him.
This is a big deal.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Well, and Paul's the one who brought the issue to the
Jerusalem Council.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
He did, and so.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
And he was willing to still circumcise them.
Right.
And so we know that whateverPaul's doing here, he argued for
the fact that Gentiles did notneed to be circumcised, and so
we know that's not his position.
And so even though he hadTimothy get circumcised here, it
wasn't salvation, because hejust argued the fact that it
wasn't Right.
So we know that for sure,because it's in the text.
(17:53):
We're not making assumptionsabout it.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Let me ask you guys a question when do you find irony
in verse four?
I'm gonna read it.
Tell me what you now think isironic in light of what we've
just been talking about Now.
While they were passing throughthe cities, they were
delivering the decrees which hadbeen decided upon by the
apostles and elders who were inJerusalem for them to observe.
So this is Paul and Timothydelivering these decrees to
(18:17):
other Gentiles.
I mean, what do you think isironic about it now?
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Well, he just had him be circumcised.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Also connected to well.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
In looking at this the second time, in the middle
of verse three, it highlights hesays my version says
indifference.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Read verse three what do you?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
have.
So Paul wanted him to join themon their journey.
In difference to the Jews ofthe area, he arranged for
Timothy to be circumcised.
So it's specifically saying tocontrast the Jews of the area
who are not becoming circumcised, he had Timothy circumcised
(19:02):
Almost.
I mean, as I read that, myfirst response is Paul was
saying, yes, I advocated forthis and, yes, the Jewish
council decided it's notnecessary, but it is still
beneficial, it's still good andwe want Timothy to contrast
what's being done so we don'thave to.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
It's apples to oranges, because the previous
argument was this is necessaryin order for Gentiles to be
saved.
Paul's argument is this isnecessary for Gentiles to be
saved, but for a whole, notherreason it's not necessary for
the Gentiles to receivecircumcision.
It's necessary that Timothyhave a reputation, because I
know where we're going, and soboth deal with salvation, but
(19:45):
from two totally differentperspectives.
No, circumcision is notnecessary for salvation, but, on
the other hand, sometimes youhave to lay down your rights so
that you're reputable in aministry setting, and so that's
what Paul's calling Timothy todo, which is really unique.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah, so do you guys?
Can you guys think of anythingtoday that's similar to what
Timothy's doing, or what Paul'scalling Timothy to do in a
ministry setting, moving to anew place, a new culture?
What are some things?
If you guys experiencedanything, we're like, I think I
need to change something, notsalvific, not anything like that
, but just I need to adjust theway I'm doing something,
(20:23):
something I've never done before, something I didn't grow up
with.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Not that it comes off the top of my head, David.
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Well, there's one thing and Audrey can scold me
later for mentioning this, butthere's.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Oh, Audrey's on the podcast.
Hi, Audrey.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Well, this is specific to women more than men,
but we do have some women inour church who cover their heads
in worship and they wear, Icall it, a doily or whatever,
but to cover their heads,because scripture does call
women to cover their heads inworship and men are not supposed
to cover their heads and in ourcontemporary church that's not
(21:01):
a common practice.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
But it seems it's interpreted differently.
It is yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And it's a sign of reverence.
And Audrey and I did have aconversation.
She's like I see that somewomen are doing this and I've
been kind of thinking about that.
Is that something that I shoulddo as a sign of reverence and
we talk through it?
She hasn't done that.
But there is something withinpractices in the church that we
(21:26):
can become legalistic and dothings because we feel we have
to, but there are things that wecould be shut off to Like I
don't have to do that, why do it?
I don't have to cover my headas a woman, but if it is a way
that the Lord can show mehumility and reverence before
him and under my husband, thenis that something I should
consider.
I think that that's one exampleof something that could be done
(21:52):
and I commend the women who dothat, because not all women do
and they do it before the Lordand it doesn't matter what
everyone else is doing.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah, and I don't think this one.
My example is necessarilysomething I had to do, but the
Lord had me do it, which waswork on a farm.
Sure when I moved here to Kansas.
Now that has nothing to do,necessarily that's super
spiritual but when I moved here,a family here in Ottawa the
Sylvester family, you know hiredme so I could work and then I
(22:21):
could do part time at the church.
What that allowed me to do islearn a culture that I didn't
know about.
I grew up in Arizona and Imoved to the Midwest to where
everyone farms, at least wherewe live, big farming community.
It's a normal thing.
Weather patterns matter,seasons matter.
I know when a busy season isfor them in ministry and when
the down season is, and soconnecting with farmers
(22:45):
throughout the year is going tochange.
And so just the knowledge, togain a knowledge of the culture,
of the what, the rhythms oflife of people.
I think that helps.
It helped me understand that.
Hey, it's right, now it'sFebruary, we're in winter time.
I know they planted wheat, butsoon spring's coming up and
(23:05):
they're going to get the fieldsprepped and they're going to get
ready for planting and they'regoing to wait for the
temperatures to get to a certainpoint and they're going to get
their planters ready and they'regoing to fix the tractors that
they need to get fixed.
I mean they're going to bebuying seed, they're going to be
getting ready to buy chemicalsif they need that, so just all
that kind of stuff.
Like I wouldn't have known anyof that.
But now when I talk to somebodywho's a farmer, I have all that
(23:29):
to connect with them, to askthem how things are going, and I
actually understand it.
I'm not just asking to ask.
So I think any of those thingsthough it isn't as serious as
circumcision in scripture Ithink when we go into a new
ministry context that may not beour hometown, we're going to
need to learn some things andchange maybe some things.
(23:49):
They may do worship differentthan what you're used to.
They may do prayer differentthan you're used to.
Whatever that may be, itdoesn't mean what they're doing
is bad, so you may need toadjust to them rather than
making a bunch of changes rightaway and causing some issues
there, and so I think it's justgood to be aware.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Also as a pastor in a particular community.
Scripture calls us to be joyfulwith those who are joyful, and
mourn with those who are mourn,and grieve with those who grieve
.
And as a pastor, we minister tofolks in those circumstances
and people grieve and mourn overdifferent things differently in
those places.
And also, another element tothe farming is that where I
(24:27):
might be frustrated because it'sbeen raining for eight days and
I don't want to wear myumbrella or I'm getting wet, I
can't take the kids out to play,they're getting crazy.
You know, a farmer is mayberejoicing over that, depending
on the season, depending onwhether or not it's been too
much rain.
The snow, you know, a firstsnowfall of the year is good for
(24:48):
farmers, you know, because itlays the foundation of moisture
through the winter.
And there are things that wewouldn't understand, you know,
in a different culture, as towhy people are upset about
something or praying for God todo a particular thing.
So yeah, there's many layers tothat.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
I think maybe to wrap a bow on verses one through
five.
Well, initially, upon readingit, we don't see that there's
much there.
I think it's actuallyappropriate to spend much time
on Timothy, because we're goingto be seeing him for the rest of
Acts and we're going to see himthroughout the New Testament in
a number of epistles andletters, especially as Paul
writes to him first and secondTimothy.
(25:30):
So from there we see, maybe youcould say the exemplification
of why Timothy is well spoken of.
He can do whatever is necessary, even laying down his own
rights for the sake of thegospel.
That's why he's well spoken of.
That's probably why Paul wantedto bring him with him.
Right, this is a test of somesort.
(25:52):
I want to bring him.
Looking at verses six, all theway to 15, we continue.
Then they pass through thePhrygian Engalation region,
having been forbidden by theHoly Spirit to speak the word in
Asia that's modern day Turkey,asia Minor and after they came
to Missia they were trying to gointo Bethany and the spirit of
(26:13):
Jesus did not permit them.
So there's two hindrances fromthe Holy Spirit.
Verse eight and passing byMissia, they came down to Troas.
A vision appeared to Paul inthe night, a man of Macedonia
was standing and appealing tohim and saying come over to
Macedonia and help us.
(26:34):
When he had seen the vision,immediately we sought to go into
Macedonia, concluding that Godhad called us to preach the
gospel to them.
So, putting out to sea, fromTroas we ran a straight course
to Samothrace and on the dayfollowing to Neapolis and from
there to Philippi, which is aleading city of the district of
Macedonia, a Roman colony, andwe were staying in this city for
(26:58):
some days.
And on the Sabbath day we wentoutside the gate to a riverside
where we were supposing thatthere would be a place of prayer
and we sat down and beganspeaking to the women who had
assembled.
So, verses six through 13, Ishould actually say what are
some major movements that youall are observing in the text.
(27:20):
How can we begin part two ofthis discussion?
Speaker 3 (27:24):
the leading of the Spirit.
These are ambitious men who areon a journey to spread the
gospel and they could be set intheir ways and saying, no, we
have to get every single town.
But they are sensitive to theleading of the Spirit.
That gives them caution.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Yeah, we see, don't come somewhere.
And then we see Paul getting avision to go somewhere.
So we get both in the samemiddle section and so the Spirit
is leading and not allowingthem or allowing them to pass
through certain areas, directingtheir path.
So, whatever the reasons were,we don't know that's not
(28:03):
explained here specifically whythey went here, why they didn't
go there.
I'm assuming there's danger,trouble, something that just
wasn't good.
They weren't ready for thegospel, they weren't whatever
that may be, I think.
But they listened, paullistened and they went and they
were listening to the HolySpirit and being guided by the
Holy Spirit.
(28:24):
We talked about prayer this lastSunday and Paul speaks of this.
Paul speaks of theunderstanding of God's will for
their lives and I think that'swhat they're following.
They're following God's will,even their steps, their travel.
Each place they go, they'rewilling and ready to stop and to
turn and to go wherever theyneed to.
That the Holy Spirit says thatthey need to go.
(28:45):
So it isn't just a call toministry, we see, but a
continual following in the stepsof that ministry.
It's not about where they wantto go, it's about where the
Spirit wants them to go.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
So often, I think what we do is you know, we test
the will of the Lord and we sayGod, are you leading in this way
?
And because we are timid, weassume, maybe all too often,
that the Spirit is saying no.
In other words, I think ourproblem today is the reverse
(29:15):
effect, where we're almostalways assuming that the Lord is
saying no when really he wantsus to dive in, and here, I think
, it's the opposite, whereasthey're willing and ready to go
anywhere, and so this is reallyan anomaly.
This is not the norm, becausewe know the Great Commission
calls them everywhere, but ifthe Spirit has to interrupt you
(29:36):
from going, rather than thanking, the Spirit interrupts you in
order to go.
Those are two different things,right.
And so twice they're permittednot permitted by the Holy Spirit
, but then it's only because God, the Holy Spirit, has other
things that he's been working onpreparing hearts and minds for
them to eventually reach a placeof fruitfulness.
(29:58):
They go to Troas, they go toSamothrae, to Neopolis, to
Philippi, and we know just,we'll find this in the next
episode, but this is where,ultimately, the Philippian
Church is founded.
You get the book of Philippiansbecause of the Spirit's work,
right here in this passage.
Philippi is within the regionof Macedonia, so Paul gets this
(30:19):
vision from a Macedonian mansaying come here.
And Paul says man verse 10,immediately, immediately we
sought to go into Macedonia,concluding, concluding what that
God had called us to preach thegospel to them.
So now there's no longer ahindrance, now there's an open
door.
They're willing and they'reready to go.
(30:40):
I think there's a lot ofprinciple and a lot of
application that can beretrieved out of this passage.
I'll just speak candidly.
I think one of the hardestthings to do as a senior pastor
is to see where I believe theLord is leading, to discern and
detect the voice of the Lord wayin advance, because there's
(31:03):
just as you're intimate with theLord and you've seen his
reputation by impressing onething on your heart after the
next, it's very hard for me thatsometimes I have to wait for
others to catch up with where Ibelieve he's already leading.
In.
A couple of years ago I wouldbe much more frustrated at the
fact that people just couldn'tsee what I was seeing right off
(31:26):
the bat.
Where we are as a church todayand how we're booming and growth
and people are being saved andpeople are being discipled is
exactly where I sense the Lordwas taking us.
And yet being a shepherd and apastor doesn't just mean
outrunning the sheep.
It means going back, gettingthe sheep, shepherding them,
(31:46):
walking with them, helping tosee where we need to go.
And over the last four yearsI've had to really slow down a
little bit and to find a way tohave all this zeal and passion,
but also a prudence and adiligence and a patience, so
that I'm not the only onerunning and that I'm bringing
(32:06):
others in the body with me.
That's been a hard lesson tolearn and I'm still learning it,
but I think I'm better todaythan where I was four years ago,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
Yeah, yeah, I think it's hard, you know, in times of
moves like moving to Kansas,both of us.
You know it was the Lord'sleading, not our own.
I tell people all the time Inever even plan to visit Kansas
in my entire life, maybe for achief's game, but that'd be even
Missouri, so I still want tocome to Kansas.
(32:37):
Yeah, I had no reason to come toKansas, but the Lord led there.
You know, if I got to pick, itprobably wouldn't be Kansas,
right, I'd probably picksomewhere that maybe I visited
on vacation once or somethingFlorida, florida, florida Keys,
texas.
I don't know Just somewhere thatyou know that would have been
where I wanted to go, and so,but I think, and I know now,
(32:58):
that going where the Lord isleading is going to one sanctify
us.
It's gonna teach us the thingswe need to learn.
It's going.
We're gonna be able to see thefruits because he led us there.
We didn't do it on our own.
There's so many things that weget to experience when we go
where God wants us to go, evenif it's undesirable and being in
(33:20):
Kansas, I never felt likeKansas was undesirable.
I just didn't know anythingabout Kansas, and now that I'm
here, it is very desirable,especially living in a small
town where we get to be a partof our community.
We get to see the same peopleall the time.
You get to build relationships.
I think it's a great place tobe and I'm seeing the benefits
that I didn't see beforehand.
(33:40):
That's right, and so wheneveryou go where God's leading, you
get to see the fruit, becauseGod has already prepped that
place for you to go there, andGod's doing the work beforehand
and God does the work whileyou're there, and so that's why
we can glorify His name and notour own, because we can't make
these plans up.
Only God can, because our plansusually fall short or they just
(34:04):
don't produce what we imagined.
But God's plans will produce somuch more, and I think we're
seeing that here with PaulTimothy, the guys traveling.
They're seeing the fruit in theplaces that God has led them to
go, and we get evidence in therest of scripture for that.
Amen.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
And even often God calls us.
We know what God's calling usto and where God's calling us,
but maybe God is calling us inthe direction we didn't expect
to go.
I'm seeing a connection and asimilarity here to where Jesus
and His disciples are going to.
They're going to Jericho and hesays, well, we're gonna go, not
(34:42):
where we would usually go toavoid Samaria, but we're going
to go there.
And he was intending to meetthe woman at the well.
That's right and there are lotsof times that Jesus exemplified
that for the disciples, wherethey would expect to go one way
but Jesus went another becausehe had plans.
We see the Holy Spirit leadingthem and so I see the similarity
(35:03):
where they're going to pray onthe Sabbath but then they meet
these women to talk to, and theSpirit is leading them not to
every village, not to everyplace, but is leading them where
he wants them to go and meetingpeople along the way.
I think you exemplify that inyour discipleship of people.
Often we go pray and I'm likewhy can't we just stay here at
(35:24):
the church and do our meeting,but Dakota wants us to go to a
coffee house 20 miles away.
So we end up meeting, speakingto and encouraging you know five
people, because Dakotaexemplifies that, as a pastor,
that we love people everywherewe go and we share the Lord
boldly, and that's one way thatyou have encouraged me and
taught me that.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Thanks, brother, appreciate those kind words.
On the flip side of that,brownie points.
On the flip side of that, Ithink we've also in ministry,
experienced the decision to goforward with something that we
didn't really feel the Lord wasleading us to.
Major things, minor things,whatever it might be.
And then we come to discoverthere was really no fruit out of
(36:05):
that and it's like, well dang,I should have learned, I should
have known better, and that'swhy it's all the more important.
Just am I feeling like led,prompted by the Lord?
Has prayer been devoted to it?
Has the Lord interrupted me tosay no?
Has the Lord continued toaffirm, to say yes?
Whatever that might be?
And I think an example of theLord having already been doing
(36:28):
something is what are theseladies doing?
You know, on the Sabbaththey're assembling to prayer.
So there's somethingspiritually taking root in an
area where the gospel has notbeen reached yet.
And so you know, you can tellthe difference in ministry.
Sometimes it's a matter of Imay not see fruit from that for
a while, but other times youkind of realize oh man, I think
(36:51):
I just got off on the flesh andI tried to do my own thing.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
So, yeah, I think we're gonna probably in there
today.
Well, I do have one more story.
You have one more?
Speaker 2 (37:01):
No, I got one more story.
I'm just kidding, you can do it, that's all right.
This passage is really close tomy heart because the night
before I was supposed to go toMindanao Island in Zamboanga,
the Philippines, the Lord gaveme this passage to read.
(37:21):
I was flipping through my Bibleand I turned straight to Acts
16 and I read about Paul'svision come over here to
Macedonia and help us.
And this is a hard lesson I hadto learn.
But I read this passage backthen, in 2013, 10 years ago.
It was about midnight the nightbefore I was supposed to catch
my flight and I felt confirmedin my heart that I was supposed
(37:44):
to go.
But I woke up the next morning,fearful of the Lord's leading,
and I didn't get on the plane.
I was working with Bob Tebow,the Tebow family, at the time,
and Bob got really upset at meand he said if you don't go when
the Lord is calling you to go,you're never gonna have stories,
you're never gonna come backand you're never gonna be able
(38:05):
to share about the glory of theLord.
He just almost yelled at me andhe said he looked at me and he
said you're just like Peter.
You're just like Peter and I'dlike took such offense to that,
you know, when I was in my early20s and I remember that was a
pivotal moment in my lifebecause I did.
I was really upset and offendedat the time, but everything
(38:26):
that rebuking.
I think Bob knew I was supposedto go to this dangerous part of
the Philippines.
I think he knew I was gonnaevangelize the area and I was
gonna come back with stories andmy life was gonna be changed.
But I didn't know that yet.
And so a week later he walks upto me and he says if I buy you
a plane ticket again, will yougo?
(38:46):
And I looked him in the eyesand I said, yes, sir, I'll go.
So a week later, got on theplane, went to Zambuonga with
this passage hidden in my heartand I came back and my life has
never been the same since as itpertains to ministry, and I
think it's just important.
We need to actively be open,ready and willing to hear when
(39:12):
we feel like the Lord isspeaking to us, and we need to
do it in a way.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
And you wonder where Tim gets his intensity?
That's right From his dad.
That's right, yes, absolutelyFrom his dad, for the Lord.
So, thank you so much forlistening to the Be Disciples
podcast.
We try our best to post once aweek, maybe three times a month,
so we invite you to come backevery week and see what we're
doing, what we're talking about.
Follow us along in the book ofActs as we have these
(39:37):
conversations.
Again, you can see us on ourown website,
bedisciplespodcastcom, or againat autoabiblechurchcom.
You can come visit us here inOttawa, kansas, and you can find
our podcast on our YouTube page, along with a plethora of
sermons where you can listen toPastor Dakota or myself, as in
(39:57):
his David Leeds worship and seewhat we're doing here at Ottawa
Bible.
So I invite you to check thingsout, to continue to learn and
grow in God's word.
Have a blessed week.
Can't wait for next time.
See y'all In Jesus' name.
(40:27):
Jesus Christ,
Welcome to the Be Disciples podcast with your
hosts Kyle Morris, Dakota Smithand David Glavin.
For those of you listening tothe audio only of the podcast,
this is our second attempt nowat the video podcast.
So if you go to YouTube and yougo to our channel right here,
as you can see on the video,it's our Ottawa Bible Church
(00:31):
channel, but the Be Disciplespodcast will be under the videos
there and you'll be able tofind us.
And so this is episode 106.
Right now we're in ourmakeshift studio.
Guys.
We're actually building onedownstairs in the basement to
have at all times, but right nowwe're on the stage in our
sanctuary.
All the band stuff is set uparound us.
(00:51):
This is kind of David's domainmost of the time, and so we're
excited for the video podcast.
We're excited to add thatelement for our community to see
our faces, to get to know us alittle bit more.
So I'm excited.
What do you guys think?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yeah, the first thing that I just want to say is,
depending on how you view whatwe're attempting to do, it can
give you a positive or anegative view.
You know why do we need allthose cameras and microphones
and that kind of thing?
But really, I think we'reseeking to utilize things that
God has given us so that we canreach our community in another
(01:27):
way Providing content for thecommunity, giving them biblical
exposition, biblical doctrine,so that, hey, if we can't get
them into the church building ona Sunday morning, then
hopefully we can reach them intheir home or on their way to
work, and then from there theystart to feel comfortable.
Okay, I see what they'reteaching, you know, and even
(01:48):
giving healthy responses withhot topics in culture, whatever
it might be, when things in ourworld happen right away, this
platform, this avenue, allows usto give a prompt Christian
response, something that's muchneeded for our world, and so
we're grateful for your hardwork setting this up.
But we also think this will bea modality of evangelism.
(02:11):
This will be a modality ofChristian education.
Thanks for Ottawa and FranklinCounty.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Yeah, we found in this generation, I would say you
know millennials and younger.
When you look for a church, youtend to look online.
You do, and you do things likeFacebook, instagram, YouTube.
You want to get to know, maybethe pastors, as with everything
else.
Yeah.
So that's the feedback we'vegotten, and so really to add the
(02:38):
element to our podcast thatwe've never added before is just
going to be able to help peopleget to know us a little bit
more, and I think that's a goodthing, because people want to
know who they're going to golisten to and what their
reputation is like, and so wejust want to represent God's
word as well as we can.
It's our heart's desire toteach God's word, as is to
(03:00):
exposit the word and centereverything we do around God's
word, and so that's our heart,that's our purpose, and we want
you guys, the listeners, to takewhat we do here and apply it to
discipleship relationships, andwe've always been when it comes
to this podcast.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, david, a couple of thoughts from you.
This is all of our first timedoing this kind of thing.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Yeah, and it was my first time doing a podcast when
I first joined you guys, and nowwe're adding video, so I'm
having to be very intentional.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Notice David recently got a haircut.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Got a haircut.
Yes, sitting up straight.
Yeah, mining the profile.
But I think that the video alsoadds in the ability to see the
relationship and I was.
You know I could make a jokeabout.
I usually glare at you whiletrying to sound happy on the
non-video podcast.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
But you can't do that anymore.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
It was an opportunity to see the genuine
relationships.
Yeah, enjoy.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
We're excited to reach the community with
Christian education.
Let's just call it that Puttingforth a healthy Christian
worldview.
The church typically is behindin matters like this, but now
we're stepping into that realmand saying how can we lift high
the Word of God so that it caninfiltrate, immerse people's
(04:18):
hearts and minds?
That's the goal.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah.
So let's go ahead and pray andwe're going to get back into the
book of Acts because that'swhat we've been studying.
So if you want to catch up onthe book of Acts and you've only
been introduced to us on thevideo you can actually go to
bdisciplespodcastcom or you cango to autoababachurchcom.
Find our podcast and all of ourepisodes.
We have over a hundred episodes.
We've gone through the book ofMark.
(04:41):
We have different interviewswith people like Greg Koko, dr
Gary Habermas, costi Hinn allkinds of different people, but
you can check us out there,catch up on our podcast, but
let's pray.
Father, I thank you just againfor the resources, for the means
, for the opportunity, for theopen doors to do this type of
thing.
We enjoy studying God's Wordand we want to share it with as
(05:06):
many people as we possibly can.
This podcast is something thatis under the umbrella of the
church.
We do this because we love you,lord, we love the church and we
want people to hear God's Word.
So be with us today as we study.
Thank you for these men whohave dedicated their lives and
service to you, and just be withus today, lord.
(05:27):
In Jesus' name, amen, amen.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
It's been a while since we've had an episode
specifically out of the book ofActs.
We last ended where Paul'ssecond missionary journey began
and that, unfortunately, iswhere we saw Paul and Barnabas
part ways.
The issue was over.
John Mark, barnabas, being theencourager, said I want to stay
(05:52):
with him and not give up on thisyoung man.
And Paul said listen, anyonewho puts his hand to the plow
and looks back is not fit forthe kingdom of heaven.
And Paul said I'm going and I'mtaking Silas with me.
So sorry, barnabas, but youknow, maybe two ministries will
be started out of this, but I'mheaded on my second missionary
journey, and so we ended chapter15 there.
(06:17):
We also saw the ministry of,you could say, the Gentiles
having great success, and therewas an issue there Should the
Gentiles be circumcised like weare?
And then that led to theJerusalem Council.
So these are some things we'velast spoken about.
But today we enter into chapter16, verse, one which the header
(06:38):
or the title of this chapter isthe Macedonian vision.
So this is where Paul headsinto Europe and this is where
Paul essentially begins a secondmissionary journey.
So there's a lot to talk abouttoday.
While I read the first 15 verses, and we continue.
Here we go.
Paul came also to Derby and toLystra, and a disciple was there
(07:01):
named Timothy.
This is the first time we seeTimothy in the Bible.
Timothy was the son of a Jewishwoman who was a believer, but
his father was a Greek and hewas well spoken of by the
brethren who were in Lystra andEconium.
Paul wanted this man to go withhim and he took him and
circumcised him because of theJews who were in those parts,
(07:23):
for they all knew that hisfather was a Greek.
Now, while they were passingthrough the cities, they were
delivering the decrees which hadbeen decided upon by the
apostles and elders who were inJerusalem for them to observe.
So the churches were beingstrengthened in the faith and
were increasing in number daily.
I think these first five verses, this is enough to chew on and
(07:45):
talk about.
Guys, what would you say?
Some initial observations,david start us up.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
I think it's interesting to note the
consideration because of theconflict that in previous
chapters over circumcision andthe decision to not add to the
expectations of new believerscircumcision.
But now there's an intentionaldecision to circumcise Timothy,
(08:14):
considering the fact that hismother is Jewish, that he is
faithful to the Lord, but that,his father not being Jewish, he
wasn't circumcised.
So it's not that it was anadded sort of commitment, but
it's just something that wasn'tdone because his father was
Greek.
So there's I don't think ittakes away from the decision
(08:39):
that was made not to forcepeople, but that doesn't mean
that circumcision cannot stillbe an important sign.
Yeah and used.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Yeah, I think seeing Timothy here, where he comes
from, I think Paul has a seessomething in him.
Both Paul and Timothy are kindof citizens of two different
places, at least from agovernment standpoint, because
Paul is a technically hascitizenship in Rome.
We have Timothy here.
His father is Greek, you know.
(09:11):
So we have the ability to moveabout, the ability to maybe
connect with some other cultures, and I think Paul also sees his
upbringing by his Jewish mother, and we know that even more
because of other things Paulwrote about Timothy, about his
mother and his grandmother thatraised him up to know the Lord,
(09:33):
and so Paul sees somebody who'swilling, ready and able to go
and to continue to learn.
Timothy is young, we know that,but Paul sees an opportunity of
somebody who's who's not goingto back away, and we know that's
big for Paul.
We already saw that right.
People who are unable to getthrough the fact that things are
(09:56):
going to be hard and dangerous.
Paul seems to struggle withthose people, not that they
aren't going to learn and grow,which they were, some of them
will but he sees Timothy as anopportunity and we know that
this, this relationship, isgoing to grow into a father son
like relationship and he has himcircumcised here again, not for
(10:17):
salvation, but because of wherethey're going and what they're
doing.
It's going to be more of areputation thing rather than a
salvation thing, like David wastalking about.
So that's what I see right away.
We see that they're goingthrough the cities, people are
being saved their, their faithis being strengthened, and so
there seems to be positivethings happening.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
In the first five verses, yeah, you'll notice, in
the book of Acts, whenever amovement of the Holy Spirit has
taken place, there seem to bethese little appendages, or
these little ligaments, or youcould say like sewing two
passages together, and thoseappendages, those connections,
those bridges, always findthemselves sounding like verse
(10:58):
five.
So the churches are beingstrengthened into faith, in the
faith, and we're increasing innumber daily.
I mean, we've already seen thatmultiple times in Acts.
Every time the Holy Spiritbrings about something, the
churches are strengthened,they're encouraged, they grow in
number.
I think, while there's muchmore to say about these first
five verses, it's reallyimportant to see you know this,
(11:20):
this bridge in verse five,because it means that we should
be expecting other movements ofthe Holy Spirit.
It also means that when theHoly Spirit moves in our
churches or does something, weshould expect encouragement, we
should expect the increase innumbers, and so that's really
encouraging to see.
I'm also looking at just thislittle note that's made of
(11:42):
Timothy in verse two.
It says he was well spoken ofby the brethren who were in
Lystra and Deconium.
To be well spoken about means,like you know, whenever your
name comes up, somebody hassomething positive to say,
they're impressed with you, andit's not just one location he
was spoken well of within, itwas two locations he was spoken
(12:03):
of well, and so that just, Ithink, adds to the height of
this young man.
If you're reading the book ofActs, which Luke is writing for
most excellent theophilus, thereader is now thinking my
goodness, who is this young manin the faith?
And I'm sure you guys all hadmoments in your younger years
when you first caught on firefor the Lord and you were
walking with him.
(12:23):
What were people saying?
People were taking note of it.
Right, you were gaining areputation, by a way of, of
God's favor, and that's anexciting place to be in as a
young man.
Sometimes the call onsomebody's life is just start
listening.
What are people saying of themfrom a young age.
It's not a rubber stamp, butoftentimes we have to look at
(12:45):
that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
Yeah, I mean, I think when the call to ministry came
I was not living.
My reputation was not good likethat of Timothy's Sure Right.
So I went to a church thatwatched me grow up, struggled.
The reputation was he doesn'ttake anything seriously, why
would I believe him?
And so it took some time tobuild a new reputation, because
(13:11):
I had to show them that I wasserious.
I had to show everybody that Iwas serious.
And so here we don't see thatwith Timothy, we don't we.
We see him being raised acertain way but also having a
reputation in a certain way.
Not that Timothy doesn't makemistakes, but I think we have to
see that our reputation has tobe rebuilt at times through
(13:33):
Christ and not on our own doing.
And if we have a true call toministry and we're really
following the Lord, ourreputation will change and then
our testimony will become thatof the grace of God that has
come on my life to change thedirection of my life, to do the
work of the Lord.
And then we get to glorify Godin it, because it wasn't I
didn't do it, but God did it.
And so a reputation is reallyimportant for a Christian.
(13:57):
It doesn't matter if you'recalled to ministry or not, it is
your testimony and so make surethat I think we just need to
continue to follow the Lord andbuild that reputation so when
those opportunities come to showthe gospel, they believe you.
I believe you because you liveit.
So I'm going to take your workfor it.
I'm going to look at the Bibleand your life reflects it, and
those, all those things match upand that's what the Lord wants
(14:20):
for our lives.
So Timothy is that guy and Paulknows it, and Paul has been a
pretty good, I think, barometerof character up to this point.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
I think there is another side to that where you
said early, early on, you had tobuild your reputation because
you came out of a community thathad seen you and knew your
flaws.
But I mean, I had a similarexperience, except that I did
have a good reputation.
My father was a pastor and Idid behave myself and was active
(14:52):
in the church and was active inministry and people did speak
good of me and encouraged me andasked me if I was going into
the ministry.
But there's another side tothat.
I think we have to guardourselves as young people
against pride and the otherthings that come in when people
are speaking good of you andencouraging you, and also
guarding our hearts to know thatwe're still humbly accepting a
(15:13):
call to ministry, that there isstill much to learn, even though
people are encouraging us.
And I think that for Timothyhere, just the Paul encouraging
him or having him be circumcised, that's like well, people are
talking good about me.
Why am I not good the way I am?
And learning that to ministerto people Sometimes we do have
(15:34):
to change things about ourselves, not necessarily to make people
feel comfortable, but to pavethe way and grease the tracks
for the word, and those arehumbling things for a young
person to accept, becausesometimes we do have a tendency
to say, no, this is the way itis and I'm good.
You've already said I'm good,so why do I have to do anything
(15:55):
else?
But we humbly follow leadershipand accept discipleship.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
I think that's an incredible point to make,
because Timothy, by this point,is obviously an adult.
Many believe that he enteredinto the pastor by his late 20s
to maybe 30 years old andsomewhere around there.
And maybe by the time Paul waswriting to him in 2 Timothy, he
was mid 30s or somewhere aroundthere.
You know, we don't know forsure, but he had to make some
(16:23):
changes.
But you don't see any tensionin Timothy here.
You don't see him raising astink.
He could have said hey, paul,the Jerusalem Council just took
place.
They said that we shouldn'teven trouble the Gentiles, and
if I haven't been circumcised,what's the big deal?
Right?
But he didn't even, I guess youcould say, seek to hold on to
(16:44):
his own rights for the sake ofthe ministry.
What he did was he said youknow, I know what the Jerusalem
Council said, but because we'reentering unreached places, I'm
going to do this for the Lord.
And a statement here that Ithink could be missed but is
like just massive in allactuality is verse three.
Look at what he says.
Paul wanted this man to go withhim.
(17:06):
Can you imagine?
Like the call on your life?
And this is not just some otherperson, this is one of the 12
apostles.
This is a man who is now pavingthe way for worldwide missions.
He's the one that's gonna writehalf the New Testament, and
Paul desires you to go with him.
This is a big deal.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
Well, and Paul's the one who brought the issue to the
Jerusalem Council.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
He did, and so.
Speaker 1 (17:32):
And he was willing to still circumcise them.
Right.
And so we know that whateverPaul's doing here, he argued for
the fact that Gentiles did notneed to be circumcised, and so
we know that's not his position.
And so even though he hadTimothy get circumcised here, it
wasn't salvation, because hejust argued the fact that it
wasn't Right.
So we know that for sure,because it's in the text.
(17:53):
We're not making assumptionsabout it.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
Let me ask you guys a question when do you find irony
in verse four?
I'm gonna read it.
Tell me what you now think isironic in light of what we've
just been talking about Now.
While they were passing throughthe cities, they were
delivering the decrees which hadbeen decided upon by the
apostles and elders who were inJerusalem for them to observe.
So this is Paul and Timothydelivering these decrees to
(18:17):
other Gentiles.
I mean, what do you think isironic about it now?
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Well, he just had him be circumcised.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
That's it.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Also connected to well.
Speaker 1 (18:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:29):
In looking at this the second time, in the middle
of verse three, it highlights hesays my version says
indifference.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Read verse three what do you?
Speaker 3 (18:41):
have.
So Paul wanted him to join themon their journey.
In difference to the Jews ofthe area, he arranged for
Timothy to be circumcised.
So it's specifically saying tocontrast the Jews of the area
who are not becoming circumcised, he had Timothy circumcised
(19:02):
Almost.
I mean, as I read that, myfirst response is Paul was
saying, yes, I advocated forthis and, yes, the Jewish
council decided it's notnecessary, but it is still
beneficial, it's still good andwe want Timothy to contrast
what's being done so we don'thave to.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
It's apples to oranges, because the previous
argument was this is necessaryin order for Gentiles to be
saved.
Paul's argument is this isnecessary for Gentiles to be
saved, but for a whole, notherreason it's not necessary for
the Gentiles to receivecircumcision.
It's necessary that Timothyhave a reputation, because I
know where we're going, and soboth deal with salvation, but
(19:45):
from two totally differentperspectives.
No, circumcision is notnecessary for salvation, but, on
the other hand, sometimes youhave to lay down your rights so
that you're reputable in aministry setting, and so that's
what Paul's calling Timothy todo, which is really unique.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
Yeah, so do you guys?
Can you guys think of anythingtoday that's similar to what
Timothy's doing, or what Paul'scalling Timothy to do in a
ministry setting, moving to anew place, a new culture?
What are some things?
If you guys experiencedanything, we're like, I think I
need to change something, notsalvific, not anything like that
, but just I need to adjust theway I'm doing something,
(20:23):
something I've never done before, something I didn't grow up
with.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Not that it comes off the top of my head, David.
What do you think?
Speaker 3 (20:29):
Well, there's one thing and Audrey can scold me
later for mentioning this, butthere's.
Speaker 2 (20:34):
Oh, Audrey's on the podcast.
Hi, Audrey.
Speaker 3 (20:38):
Well, this is specific to women more than men,
but we do have some women inour church who cover their heads
in worship and they wear, Icall it, a doily or whatever,
but to cover their heads,because scripture does call
women to cover their heads inworship and men are not supposed
to cover their heads and in ourcontemporary church that's not
(21:01):
a common practice.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
But it seems it's interpreted differently.
It is yeah.
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And it's a sign of reverence.
And Audrey and I did have aconversation.
She's like I see that somewomen are doing this and I've
been kind of thinking about that.
Is that something that I shoulddo as a sign of reverence and
we talk through it?
She hasn't done that.
But there is something withinpractices in the church that we
(21:26):
can become legalistic and dothings because we feel we have
to, but there are things that wecould be shut off to Like I
don't have to do that, why do it?
I don't have to cover my headas a woman, but if it is a way
that the Lord can show mehumility and reverence before
him and under my husband, thenis that something I should
consider.
I think that that's one exampleof something that could be done
(21:52):
and I commend the women who dothat, because not all women do
and they do it before the Lordand it doesn't matter what
everyone else is doing.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
Yeah, and I don't think this one.
My example is necessarilysomething I had to do, but the
Lord had me do it, which waswork on a farm.
Sure when I moved here to Kansas.
Now that has nothing to do,necessarily that's super
spiritual but when I moved here,a family here in Ottawa the
Sylvester family, you know hiredme so I could work and then I
(22:21):
could do part time at the church.
What that allowed me to do islearn a culture that I didn't
know about.
I grew up in Arizona and Imoved to the Midwest to where
everyone farms, at least wherewe live, big farming community.
It's a normal thing.
Weather patterns matter,seasons matter.
I know when a busy season isfor them in ministry and when
the down season is, and soconnecting with farmers
(22:45):
throughout the year is going tochange.
And so just the knowledge, togain a knowledge of the culture,
of the what, the rhythms oflife of people.
I think that helps.
It helped me understand that.
Hey, it's right, now it'sFebruary, we're in winter time.
I know they planted wheat, butsoon spring's coming up and
(23:05):
they're going to get the fieldsprepped and they're going to get
ready for planting and they'regoing to wait for the
temperatures to get to a certainpoint and they're going to get
their planters ready and they'regoing to fix the tractors that
they need to get fixed.
I mean they're going to bebuying seed, they're going to be
getting ready to buy chemicalsif they need that, so just all
that kind of stuff.
Like I wouldn't have known anyof that.
But now when I talk to somebodywho's a farmer, I have all that
(23:29):
to connect with them, to askthem how things are going, and I
actually understand it.
I'm not just asking to ask.
So I think any of those thingsthough it isn't as serious as
circumcision in scripture Ithink when we go into a new
ministry context that may not beour hometown, we're going to
need to learn some things andchange maybe some things.
(23:49):
They may do worship differentthan what you're used to.
They may do prayer differentthan you're used to.
Whatever that may be, itdoesn't mean what they're doing
is bad, so you may need toadjust to them rather than
making a bunch of changes rightaway and causing some issues
there, and so I think it's justgood to be aware.
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Also as a pastor in a particular community.
Scripture calls us to be joyfulwith those who are joyful, and
mourn with those who are mourn,and grieve with those who grieve
.
And as a pastor, we minister tofolks in those circumstances
and people grieve and mourn overdifferent things differently in
those places.
And also, another element tothe farming is that where I
(24:27):
might be frustrated because it'sbeen raining for eight days and
I don't want to wear myumbrella or I'm getting wet, I
can't take the kids out to play,they're getting crazy.
You know, a farmer is mayberejoicing over that, depending
on the season, depending onwhether or not it's been too
much rain.
The snow, you know, a firstsnowfall of the year is good for
(24:48):
farmers, you know, because itlays the foundation of moisture
through the winter.
And there are things that wewouldn't understand, you know,
in a different culture, as towhy people are upset about
something or praying for God todo a particular thing.
So yeah, there's many layers tothat.
Speaker 2 (25:09):
I think maybe to wrap a bow on verses one through
five.
Well, initially, upon readingit, we don't see that there's
much there.
I think it's actuallyappropriate to spend much time
on Timothy, because we're goingto be seeing him for the rest of
Acts and we're going to see himthroughout the New Testament in
a number of epistles andletters, especially as Paul
writes to him first and secondTimothy.
(25:30):
So from there we see, maybe youcould say the exemplification
of why Timothy is well spoken of.
He can do whatever is necessary, even laying down his own
rights for the sake of thegospel.
That's why he's well spoken of.
That's probably why Paul wantedto bring him with him.
Right, this is a test of somesort.
(25:52):
I want to bring him.
Looking at verses six, all theway to 15, we continue.
Then they pass through thePhrygian Engalation region,
having been forbidden by theHoly Spirit to speak the word in
Asia that's modern day Turkey,asia Minor and after they came
to Missia they were trying to gointo Bethany and the spirit of
(26:13):
Jesus did not permit them.
So there's two hindrances fromthe Holy Spirit.
Verse eight and passing byMissia, they came down to Troas.
A vision appeared to Paul inthe night, a man of Macedonia
was standing and appealing tohim and saying come over to
Macedonia and help us.
(26:34):
When he had seen the vision,immediately we sought to go into
Macedonia, concluding that Godhad called us to preach the
gospel to them.
So, putting out to sea, fromTroas we ran a straight course
to Samothrace and on the dayfollowing to Neapolis and from
there to Philippi, which is aleading city of the district of
Macedonia, a Roman colony, andwe were staying in this city for
(26:58):
some days.
And on the Sabbath day we wentoutside the gate to a riverside
where we were supposing thatthere would be a place of prayer
and we sat down and beganspeaking to the women who had
assembled.
So, verses six through 13, Ishould actually say what are
some major movements that youall are observing in the text.
(27:20):
How can we begin part two ofthis discussion?
Speaker 3 (27:24):
the leading of the Spirit.
These are ambitious men who areon a journey to spread the
gospel and they could be set intheir ways and saying, no, we
have to get every single town.
But they are sensitive to theleading of the Spirit.
That gives them caution.
Speaker 1 (27:42):
Yeah, we see, don't come somewhere.
And then we see Paul getting avision to go somewhere.
So we get both in the samemiddle section and so the Spirit
is leading and not allowingthem or allowing them to pass
through certain areas, directingtheir path.
So, whatever the reasons were,we don't know that's not
(28:03):
explained here specifically whythey went here, why they didn't
go there.
I'm assuming there's danger,trouble, something that just
wasn't good.
They weren't ready for thegospel, they weren't whatever
that may be, I think.
But they listened, paullistened and they went and they
were listening to the HolySpirit and being guided by the
Holy Spirit.
(28:24):
We talked about prayer this lastSunday and Paul speaks of this.
Paul speaks of theunderstanding of God's will for
their lives and I think that'swhat they're following.
They're following God's will,even their steps, their travel.
Each place they go, they'rewilling and ready to stop and to
turn and to go wherever theyneed to.
That the Holy Spirit says thatthey need to go.
(28:45):
So it isn't just a call toministry, we see, but a
continual following in the stepsof that ministry.
It's not about where they wantto go, it's about where the
Spirit wants them to go.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
So often, I think what we do is you know, we test
the will of the Lord and we sayGod, are you leading in this way
?
And because we are timid, weassume, maybe all too often,
that the Spirit is saying no.
In other words, I think ourproblem today is the reverse
(29:15):
effect, where we're almostalways assuming that the Lord is
saying no when really he wantsus to dive in, and here, I think
, it's the opposite, whereasthey're willing and ready to go
anywhere, and so this is reallyan anomaly.
This is not the norm, becausewe know the Great Commission
calls them everywhere, but ifthe Spirit has to interrupt you
(29:36):
from going, rather than thanking, the Spirit interrupts you in
order to go.
Those are two different things,right.
And so twice they're permittednot permitted by the Holy Spirit
, but then it's only because God, the Holy Spirit, has other
things that he's been working onpreparing hearts and minds for
them to eventually reach a placeof fruitfulness.
(29:58):
They go to Troas, they go toSamothrae, to Neopolis, to
Philippi, and we know just,we'll find this in the next
episode, but this is where,ultimately, the Philippian
Church is founded.
You get the book of Philippiansbecause of the Spirit's work,
right here in this passage.
Philippi is within the regionof Macedonia, so Paul gets this
(30:19):
vision from a Macedonian mansaying come here.
And Paul says man verse 10,immediately, immediately we
sought to go into Macedonia,concluding, concluding what that
God had called us to preach thegospel to them.
So now there's no longer ahindrance, now there's an open
door.
They're willing and they'reready to go.
(30:40):
I think there's a lot ofprinciple and a lot of
application that can beretrieved out of this passage.
I'll just speak candidly.
I think one of the hardestthings to do as a senior pastor
is to see where I believe theLord is leading, to discern and
detect the voice of the Lord wayin advance, because there's
(31:03):
just as you're intimate with theLord and you've seen his
reputation by impressing onething on your heart after the
next, it's very hard for me thatsometimes I have to wait for
others to catch up with where Ibelieve he's already leading.
In.
A couple of years ago I wouldbe much more frustrated at the
fact that people just couldn'tsee what I was seeing right off
(31:26):
the bat.
Where we are as a church todayand how we're booming and growth
and people are being saved andpeople are being discipled is
exactly where I sense the Lordwas taking us.
And yet being a shepherd and apastor doesn't just mean
outrunning the sheep.
It means going back, gettingthe sheep, shepherding them,
(31:46):
walking with them, helping tosee where we need to go.
And over the last four yearsI've had to really slow down a
little bit and to find a way tohave all this zeal and passion,
but also a prudence and adiligence and a patience, so
that I'm not the only onerunning and that I'm bringing
(32:06):
others in the body with me.
That's been a hard lesson tolearn and I'm still learning it,
but I think I'm better todaythan where I was four years ago,
for sure.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
Yeah, yeah, I think it's hard, you know, in times of
moves like moving to Kansas,both of us.
You know it was the Lord'sleading, not our own.
I tell people all the time Inever even plan to visit Kansas
in my entire life, maybe for achief's game, but that'd be even
Missouri, so I still want tocome to Kansas.
(32:37):
Yeah, I had no reason to come toKansas, but the Lord led there.
You know, if I got to pick, itprobably wouldn't be Kansas,
right, I'd probably picksomewhere that maybe I visited
on vacation once or somethingFlorida, florida, florida Keys,
texas.
I don't know Just somewhere thatyou know that would have been
where I wanted to go, and so,but I think, and I know now,
(32:58):
that going where the Lord isleading is going to one sanctify
us.
It's gonna teach us the thingswe need to learn.
It's going.
We're gonna be able to see thefruits because he led us there.
We didn't do it on our own.
There's so many things that weget to experience when we go
where God wants us to go, evenif it's undesirable and being in
(33:20):
Kansas, I never felt likeKansas was undesirable.
I just didn't know anythingabout Kansas, and now that I'm
here, it is very desirable,especially living in a small
town where we get to be a partof our community.
We get to see the same peopleall the time.
You get to build relationships.
I think it's a great place tobe and I'm seeing the benefits
that I didn't see beforehand.
(33:40):
That's right, and so wheneveryou go where God's leading, you
get to see the fruit, becauseGod has already prepped that
place for you to go there, andGod's doing the work beforehand
and God does the work whileyou're there, and so that's why
we can glorify His name and notour own, because we can't make
these plans up.
Only God can, because our plansusually fall short or they just
(34:04):
don't produce what we imagined.
But God's plans will produce somuch more, and I think we're
seeing that here with PaulTimothy, the guys traveling.
They're seeing the fruit in theplaces that God has led them to
go, and we get evidence in therest of scripture for that.
Amen.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
And even often God calls us.
We know what God's calling usto and where God's calling us,
but maybe God is calling us inthe direction we didn't expect
to go.
I'm seeing a connection and asimilarity here to where Jesus
and His disciples are going to.
They're going to Jericho and hesays, well, we're gonna go, not
(34:42):
where we would usually go toavoid Samaria, but we're going
to go there.
And he was intending to meetthe woman at the well.
That's right and there are lotsof times that Jesus exemplified
that for the disciples, wherethey would expect to go one way
but Jesus went another becausehe had plans.
We see the Holy Spirit leadingthem and so I see the similarity
(35:03):
where they're going to pray onthe Sabbath but then they meet
these women to talk to, and theSpirit is leading them not to
every village, not to everyplace, but is leading them where
he wants them to go and meetingpeople along the way.
I think you exemplify that inyour discipleship of people.
Often we go pray and I'm likewhy can't we just stay here at
(35:24):
the church and do our meeting,but Dakota wants us to go to a
coffee house 20 miles away.
So we end up meeting, speakingto and encouraging you know five
people, because Dakotaexemplifies that, as a pastor,
that we love people everywherewe go and we share the Lord
boldly, and that's one way thatyou have encouraged me and
taught me that.
Speaker 2 (35:44):
Thanks, brother, appreciate those kind words.
On the flip side of that,brownie points.
On the flip side of that, Ithink we've also in ministry,
experienced the decision to goforward with something that we
didn't really feel the Lord wasleading us to.
Major things, minor things,whatever it might be.
And then we come to discoverthere was really no fruit out of
(36:05):
that and it's like, well dang,I should have learned, I should
have known better, and that'swhy it's all the more important.
Just am I feeling like led,prompted by the Lord?
Has prayer been devoted to it?
Has the Lord interrupted me tosay no?
Has the Lord continued toaffirm, to say yes?
Whatever that might be?
And I think an example of theLord having already been doing
(36:28):
something is what are theseladies doing?
You know, on the Sabbaththey're assembling to prayer.
So there's somethingspiritually taking root in an
area where the gospel has notbeen reached yet.
And so you know, you can tellthe difference in ministry.
Sometimes it's a matter of Imay not see fruit from that for
a while, but other times youkind of realize oh man, I think
(36:51):
I just got off on the flesh andI tried to do my own thing.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
So, yeah, I think we're gonna probably in there
today.
Well, I do have one more story.
You have one more?
Speaker 2 (37:01):
No, I got one more story.
I'm just kidding, you can do it, that's all right.
This passage is really close tomy heart because the night
before I was supposed to go toMindanao Island in Zamboanga,
the Philippines, the Lord gaveme this passage to read.
(37:21):
I was flipping through my Bibleand I turned straight to Acts
16 and I read about Paul'svision come over here to
Macedonia and help us.
And this is a hard lesson I hadto learn.
But I read this passage backthen, in 2013, 10 years ago.
It was about midnight the nightbefore I was supposed to catch
my flight and I felt confirmedin my heart that I was supposed
(37:44):
to go.
But I woke up the next morning,fearful of the Lord's leading,
and I didn't get on the plane.
I was working with Bob Tebow,the Tebow family, at the time,
and Bob got really upset at meand he said if you don't go when
the Lord is calling you to go,you're never gonna have stories,
you're never gonna come backand you're never gonna be able
(38:05):
to share about the glory of theLord.
He just almost yelled at me andhe said he looked at me and he
said you're just like Peter.
You're just like Peter and I'dlike took such offense to that,
you know, when I was in my early20s and I remember that was a
pivotal moment in my lifebecause I did.
I was really upset and offendedat the time, but everything
(38:26):
that rebuking.
I think Bob knew I was supposedto go to this dangerous part of
the Philippines.
I think he knew I was gonnaevangelize the area and I was
gonna come back with stories andmy life was gonna be changed.
But I didn't know that yet.
And so a week later he walks upto me and he says if I buy you
a plane ticket again, will yougo?
(38:46):
And I looked him in the eyesand I said, yes, sir, I'll go.
So a week later, got on theplane, went to Zambuonga with
this passage hidden in my heartand I came back and my life has
never been the same since as itpertains to ministry, and I
think it's just important.
We need to actively be open,ready and willing to hear when
(39:12):
we feel like the Lord isspeaking to us, and we need to
do it in a way.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
And you wonder where Tim gets his intensity?
That's right From his dad.
That's right, yes, absolutelyFrom his dad, for the Lord.
So, thank you so much forlistening to the Be Disciples
podcast.
We try our best to post once aweek, maybe three times a month,
so we invite you to come backevery week and see what we're
doing, what we're talking about.
Follow us along in the book ofActs as we have these
(39:37):
conversations.
Again, you can see us on ourown website,
bedisciplespodcastcom, or againat autoabiblechurchcom.
You can come visit us here inOttawa, kansas, and you can find
our podcast on our YouTube page, along with a plethora of
sermons where you can listen toPastor Dakota or myself, as in
(39:57):
his David Leeds worship and seewhat we're doing here at Ottawa
Bible.
So I invite you to check thingsout, to continue to learn and
grow in God's word.
Have a blessed week.
Can't wait for next time.
See y'all In Jesus' name.
(40:27):
Jesus Christ,
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.