A growing church - Day 4

Acts 13:1-5 (New International Version)

Barnabas and Saul Sent Off

¹In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ²While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." ³So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

On Cyprus

⁴The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. ⁵When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.


Over the course of his ministry, Paul went on three missionary journeys and covered thousands of miles sharing the gospel. He wanted the message of salvation to reach as many people as possible, and he didn't mind making a long trip to accomplish that goal. How about you? God may call you to go on a short-term mission trip or even to spend a summer away from home so you can share the gospel with others who don't know Christ. There's lots of work to be done at home, but God's call to all of us is to take the good news to the ends of the earth. If believers don't go, then that goal won't be accomplished.

Pray about whether God wants to use you in mission work in the near future.

Pray for those who are serving as Paul did and taking the gospel to new places.