The Macedonian Call

Series: The Book of Acts
Speaker: Pastor Steve Harrison
Preached at: Grace Church
Date: May 17, 2026

Overview

This sermon continues Grace Church’s ongoing series in the Book of Acts. Pastor Steve walks through Acts 15:36–16:15, tracing Paul’s second missionary journey through four distinct movements: Conflict, Concession, Call, and Conversion. Each section reveals something profound about who God is, how He works through imperfect people, and what He calls His church to do in response to a lost world.

Recap of the Previous Week

• Last week’s message covered Acts 15 — The Jerusalem Council
• Paul and Barnabas traveled to Jerusalem to address whether Gentile believers must observe the ceremonial requirements of the Law (e.g., circumcision)
• The council affirmed: salvation comes through grace alone in the Lord Jesus Christ, not through works
• Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Judas (not Iscariot) returned to Antioch with a letter of unity and joy
• The church was strengthened; many came to Christ

Sermon Structure: Four Sections

Section 1 — Conflict: A Sharp Disagreement

📖 Acts 15:36–41

“And after some days, Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are.'”
— Acts 15:36
What happened:

• Paul desired to revisit new believers from the first missionary journey to encourage fledgling churches — a demonstration of his great pastoral love and concern
• Barnabas wanted to bring his cousin, John Mark, along
• Paul refused — John Mark had previously deserted them in Pamphylia (Acts 13)
• The result: a “sharp disagreement” — the Greek word used indicates violent explosion, intense conflict, anger, and irritation — not a mild or polite dispute
• The two parted ways:
  • Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus
  • Paul chose Silas and departed for Syria and Cilicia, commended by the brothers to God’s grace
    Key observations:
• Barnabas lived up to his name as an encourager — he wanted to extend grace and a second chance to the young John Mark
• Paul prioritized mission faithfulness above personal relationship
• Scripture does not declare one man right and the other wrong — God blessed both
  

  “God can work through all sorts of means to advance His gospel. He may even bring about growth through separations.”
  — Cited Commentator
  God is a God of Second Chances — The Restoration of John Mark:

• John Mark, rejected by Paul, was not rejected by God
• He went on to write the Gospel of Mark — impacting millions of believers throughout history
• Evidence of eventual reconciliation:
  • 📖 Philippians 1:24 — Paul affectionately calls Mark a “fellow worker”
  • 📖 2 Timothy 4:11 — At the very end of his life, Paul specifically requests: “Bring John Mark with you, because he is useful to me in ministry”
  • 📖 1 Corinthians 9:6 — Paul references Barnabas with no hint of tension, placing them as equal apostolic workers
    Application:
• Conflict is real — even among the most devoted leaders of the early church
• The Bible does not shy away from the messy realities of human relationships
• We are all flawed humans; we hurt and offend one another
• Biblical resolution and reconciliation are possible — and are modeled here for us
• In marriage, family, and the workplace: are we willing to humble ourselves, confess, and seek restoration?
• Paul urged Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians) to be reconciled — this same call extends to us

Section 2 — Concession: For the Sake of the Gospel

📖 Acts 16:1–5

“Paul also came to Derbe and Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”
— Acts 16:1–3
What happened:

• Paul and Silas travel to Lystra and meet Timothy — a young man in his late teens or early twenties with an excellent reputation
• Timothy’s mother and grandmother were Jewish believers (likely converted through Paul’s first missionary journey); his father was Greek and pagan
• Paul invited Timothy to join the team — and had him circumcised
  Why circumcise Timothy when Paul just fought against this at the Jerusalem Council?
• At the Jerusalem Council, Paul refused to circumcise Titus — a fully Greek Gentile — because doing so would have compromised the truth of the gospel
• Timothy’s case was different: his mother was Jewish, making him Jewish according to rabbinic law — circumcision was therefore a cultural and relational matter, not a doctrinal one
• This was not necessary for Timothy’s salvation — it was a strategic concession to remove unnecessary offense and open doors among Jewish communities
  📖 1 Corinthians 9:20, 22

  “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews…I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”

• Paul did not compromise gospel principles — he exercised wise strategic flexibility
• He conceded on non-essentials while remaining completely grounded in the gospel of grace
  Result:
• Churches were strengthened in faith
• People were being converted daily
  Application — Removing Unnecessary Hindrances:
• Are there things in our lives that unnecessarily offend or hinder the gospel?
• Example: Hudson Taylor in China — wore Chinese dress, grew his hair out, horrifying British missionaries — but God used his cultural flexibility to reach Chinese people in remarkable ways
• We are called to become all things to all people for the sake of gospel expansion

Section 3 — The Call: The Macedonian Call

📖 Acts 16:6–10

“And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
— Acts 16:6–10
What happened:

• Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled through Phrygia and Galatia — the Holy Spirit forbade them to speak in Asia
• They attempted to enter Bithynia — the Spirit of Jesus stopped them again
• They arrived at Troas
• Paul received a night vision: a man from Macedonia crying out, “Come over to Macedonia and help us”
• The team concluded together that God was calling them to Macedonia — and immediately obeyed
  Key truths about God’s guidance:
• God guides through open and closed doors
• God’s guidance is rational — it makes complete sense in retrospect
• God’s guidance is personal and communal — there was a witness within the team
• God’s guidance often comes gradually and unpredictably
• God superintends His mission because it is His mission — His people are His ambassadors
  Personal illustration — Pastor Steve ‘s Own Macedonian Call:
• Pastor Steve recently visited a nation with over 30 million people — not one single church building in the entire country; no public cross on display; 99.9% unreached (0.01% believers)
• He traveled to a remote, mountainous region through coffee plantations, praying for God to lead them
• They met three men who had never met an American, never met a Christian, never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ
• As they prayed for these men, Pastor Steve was overcome with grief: “Lord, it’s been two thousand years since You died and rose again — surely, Lord, You’d have us do something about this at Grace Church”
• Upon returning, the leadership team felt God’s call to give as much as possible to reach that nation
• This was a personal Macedonian call — a moment where God broke his heart for the lost
  Quote from R.C. Sproul:

  “I’ve never seen a vision of someone pleading with me to come somewhere and help them…But I do hear the cry that comes from all over this globe of people who are in desperate need of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the help of the church. We must have ears always to hear the cries for help that come to us.”
  Application — Responding to the Macedonian Call:

• God calls us to hear the cry of the lost — across the street and around the world
• Grace Church’s mission strategy: Engage — Everyone Making Disciples
  • This is not the job of paid professionals; God uses broken, ordinary people
  • No Place Left — God’s heart is that everyone hears the good news of Jesus
  • Think of your neighbors and the nations God has brought near
  • Glorify God — He alone is worthy
  • Actively pray — ask God for open doors daily with the lonely and lost
  • Generously give — time, resources, and abilities with an eternal focus
• “I urge you today to take a step and engage with God in the mission He has given us.”

Section 4 — Conversion: Lydia

📖 Acts 16:11–15

“One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.”
— Acts 16:14–15
What happened:

• From Troas, Paul and the team sailed across to Neapolis, then traveled to Philippi — a leading city of Macedonia and a Roman colony
• This was the first time the gospel was ever proclaimed on the European continent — far bigger than Paul’s original plan to simply encourage existing churches
• On the Sabbath, they went outside the city gate to the riverside — finding a group of women in prayer (there was no synagogue in Philippi)
• Among them: Lydia — a wealthy Gentile businesswoman, a seller of purple goods from Thyatira, already a worshiper of God
• Paul proclaimed the gospel — and the Lord opened Lydia’s heart
• Lydia and her household were baptized immediately
• She insisted the team stay at her home — which became the center of the church in Philippi
  Key theological truth — God’s Sovereignty in Salvation:
• It is only the Holy Spirit who can open hearts and minds to receive the gospel
• No one comes to Christ on the basis of their own intellect, spiritual sensitivity, or moral goodness
• Paul’s preaching was the means; God’s sovereign grace was the saving initiative
• Even if we stumble in presenting the gospel, the Holy Spirit can take those seeds and cause them to germinate in a heart
  Quote from John Stott:

  “We know that, although the message was Paul’s, the saving initiative was God’s. Paul’s preaching was not effective in itself; the Lord worked through it. And the Lord’s work was not itself direct; He chose to work through Paul’s preaching. It is always the same.”
  The [HARDWARE HIGHLIGHT] — Our Core Responsibility:
  The group’s responsibility is to share about Jesus and the gospel, and let the Holy Spirit do the work of transforming hearts, minds, and lives.

• This takes the pressure off us — God saves; we share
• Our responsibility: share our story, share His goodness and grace, proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ — and leave the results to God
  Application:
• What is stopping us from sharing the gospel? Fear? Pride? Complacency? Lethargy?
• Lydia’s story gives us great hope and courage
• God gave Paul the privilege of leading Lydia to Christ — maybe God could use you to lead someone to Christ
• We are His ambassadors — sent by the King to represent Him across the street and around the world
• Recognizing God’s sovereignty makes us more confident to speak to unbelievers and more committed to prayer

Closing Application: Four Responses

1. Conflict — We will all face relational challenges in doing God’s work. Walk humbly and graciously. Seek reconciliation and restoration. Own your sin; confess, repent, and apologize.
2. Concession — Remove unnecessary hindrances to gospel expansion. Ask: Are there things in my life that are unnecessarily preventing people from hearing the gospel?
3. The Macedonian Call — Hear the cry of the lost. Respond to God’s call — locally and globally. Engage, pray, give, and go.
4. Conversion — Trust that God opens hearts. Share your story. Share the gospel. Leave the results to the Holy Spirit.

Closing Prayer (Summarized)

Pastor Steve closed in prayer, asking God to:

• Break our hearts for those around us — neighbors, friends, and those we encounter daily
• Use us — stumbling and ordinary as we are — to faithfully share the good news of Jesus
• Give us a burden for the lost both near and far
• Remind us that we are not responsible to convert anyone — only to share faithfully and leave the results to Him
• Receive all glory as His people make disciples wherever they go
  

  “Help us in our stumbling way to be faithful to share our stories of what You’ve done in our lives, to share the gospel, the good news of Jesus, and to make disciples of Jesus Christ wherever we go — for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Summary prepared for Grace Church congregation and blog readers. Sermon embedded above.