Small Shifts, Big Faith: What Comes Next? (Part XVI)

Sermon Title: Small Shifts, Big Faith – What Comes Next?

Good News Statement: Jesus encourages his church to be alive

Summary: The church isn’t perfect but yet is willing to grow in faith, practice love, and be alive today and tomorrow.

Preached: Sunday, September 27^th, 2026 at Dogwood Prairie UMC & Seed Chapel UMC

Pastor Daniel G. Skelton, M.Div.

 

Scripture (NRSV): Acts 28:14-16 Today’s scripture ends our study of the Book of Acts. We find ourselves being reminded that the church is welcoming, present for travelers, gives thanks, and seeks to be alive in the present as well as in the future. Let’s read Acts Chapter Twenty-eight, Verses Fourteen thru Sixteen. May the hearing and reading of this scripture add understanding and meaning to your life.

 

Paul Arrives at Rome

¹¹ Three months later we set sail on a ship that had wintered at the island, an Alexandrian ship with the Twin Brothers as its figurehead. ¹² We put in at Syracuse and stayed there for three days; ¹³ then we weighed anchor and came to Rhegium. After one day there a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. ¹⁵ The brothers and sisters from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶ When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.

The Word of God, for the People of God; And all God’s People said, “Thanks Be To God.”

 

 

Introduction:

The ministry of Jesus Christ has been shared. Healings have been performed. The blind were able to see and the lame able to walk. Those demon possessed were set free. The chains of the oppressed were broken. People began to believe and prayed to have their “unbelief turn into belief” (Mark 9:24). Some were even raised from the dead to breathe again. And some were welcomed home after being outcast to the dark, damp, tombs outside of the city walls.

Then, after riding into Jerusalem on a never before ridden donkey and being praised as the people laid their cloaks on the ground as shouts of “Hosannas” filled the air, Jesus is turned over to the religious leaders of the day. Jesus is questioned and tortured by the Roman soldiers—beaten nearly to death—prior to receiving a crown of thorns and a purple robe as a sign of earthly mockery. He was presented to the people in the presence of Pontius Pilate, who said, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free” (Luke 23:22, GNT). To which the people responded, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” (Luke 23:20, GNT). Luke 23:24 states, “So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for.”

Jesus is marched from the palace to Calvary, bearing the weight of the cross—most likely the horizontal beam—as excruciating pain shot through his body with every step, as blood dripped from his head to the ground, soaking the dirty road beneath his feet, and as both cries and shouts surrounded him. On Calvary, he hung on the cross for six hours before taking his last breath and proclaiming “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then he was taken down from the cross and laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. Three days later he rose from the dead to prove that death does not have the last word, that a tomb sealed by a large stone could not withhold him, and that an instrument of death—the cross—is a promise of hope and salvation. And now, after 40 days of walking this earth in his resurrected form, he has ascended to heaven; but before leaving this earth, he gave his apostles and disciples a challenge: to keep the church alive.

This is where the Book of Acts comes into play. For those that are unaware, the Book of Acts (or sometimes called the Acts of the Apostles), written during the time of 33AD to 62AD, is a sequel to the Gospel of Luke. Luke was a physician back in the day and has been credited to write the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. The theme of Luke’s writing after the ascension of Jesus Christ is focused on how the Holy Spirit empowers believers to declare the gospel among both Jews and Gentiles. In doing so they establish the church, which is the fulfillment of God’s promises from the beginning of time. Jesus states in Matthew 16:18, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

Luke’s purpose for writing the Book of Acts—the journey and testimony of Paul and the rise and growth of the early church—was to give an orderly account of the early church after Christ’s resurrection; and to highlight the notion that keeping the church alive was not, is not, and will not be easy. But keeping the church alive is necessary. So, for the next several weeks, we are going to explore certain themes sprinkled throughout the Book of Acts which I believe remind us of how important it is to keep the church alive today for tomorrow. And the question I propose to you is this: “What are we doing and could be doing to keep our church and the whole Church—the body of Christ—alive?”

 

Body:

From July 29^th – August 3^rd of 2024, Emily and I spent time with my family in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. It was the first family vacation since before my nephews were born, who are now both 13 years old. It was a great time! We went zip-lining, spent a day going shopping, spent time at the pool, drove go-karts, explored the Titanic Museum, went white-water-rafting, went to a theme park, enjoyed late nights and early mornings, and took in the views of the Great Smoky Mountains as we gathered on the deck of our air-bnb each day. I think I have shared this experience with you before, but that trip will always stick with me: not just because of the sites and experiences, not just because of how quickly I realized that my siblinings’s families operate on opposite schedules, not just because of the photo my mom took of everyone’s shoes piled up by the front door, and not just because of family suppers every night. That trip will stick with me because outside of Christmas or other family gatherings that was the first time all of us were together under the same roof for more than just the span of a few hours. We were together!

What I haven’t shared with you about that trip is what was asked every evening before we went to bed. You see, my mom and dad told us before we left on the trip that we could do whatever we wanted and go wherever we wanted to go, but we all had to gather together to have supper. Supper, some nights, was at a local restaurant or fast food before driving go-karts and other nights supper was had at the air-bnb around a table not big enough for 14 people but perfect for our time together. No matter where we went or what we did, we ended each day together. (And let me tell you, some of those meals go pretty interesting!!)

Before departing, my mom and dad would ask this question: “What’s next?”—as in “What is the plan for tomorrow?” My nieces and nephews would start shouting with excitement in their voices; my eldest brother and brother-in-law would pull out a pre-made list of activities, events, and places; my sister and sister-in-law would share their thoughts as well as what time everyone needed to get up in the morning; my other brother and his girlfriend would tell us what they already had planned; Emily and I shared our thoughts; and my mom and dad would sit and remain quiet with smiles on their faces. All of that chatter, contemplation, deliberation, and sometimes debating came from a simple question: “What’s next?”

From two words, my family showed so much life, so much interest, so much eagerness to experience tomorrow. The experiences of the day were becoming memories and there were more to be made in the future. Two words reminded us that there is more to come! Today, I invite you to think about those two words: What’s next? What’s next for you? What do you want to do? Where do you want to go? But more importantly, as a church I want us to think about those two words as we strive to continue to be the church God’s needs us to be, that you want us to be. Church, what’s next? What’s next for us as the Body of Christ?

As we conclude our brief study of the Book of Acts, I want to remind you where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are going by looking at a moment in the last chapter of the Book of Acts when people are traveling from everywhere to witness Paul, to hear the message of Jesus, and to be a part of a church that is alive and moving forward. What’s next?

 

Movement One: Where We Have Been…

This…Is…It!  We have finally made it to the last Chapter of the Book of Acts: Chapter 28. This specific chapter begins by telling us that the shipwrecked crew survived the storm and landed on the shores of Malta where Paul was bitten by a snake that should have killed him but didn’t. Then it talks about Paul’s arrival in Rome where he was greeted by people from all over. Next while under guard, Paul preached as he tried to persuade people of Jesus deeply knowing that some would not believe and some would retaliate and continue to threaten his life. At the end of Chapter 28 we read these words, “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” (Acts 28:30-31). Just like Paul, we have made it to our destination.

We began this journey on the first Sunday of June of this year. At the beginning, we found ourselves in the upper room—possibly the same upper room where Jesus shared his last meal with his disciples. In that room 120 were given the power of the Holy Spirit to go forth sharing a message that would change the world. Then, we travelled with Peter who performed healings and raised Tabitha from the dead, and who sat with an Ethiopian Eunuch and taught him about Jesus. Then we read about the story of Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity, who died for his faith and was willing to do whatever Jesus needed him to do to keep the church alive. Then, we read about the arrests of the apostles which by divine intervention were set free. While the apostles and disciples were traveling by foot, either being welcomed, ridiculed, or shaking the dust off of their feet, praying they wouldn’t get arrested again, God was calling Saul, a persecutor of Christians, to follow him. Along the road to Damascus, Saul’s eyes were kept from seeing the Lord, but his heart was opened. He became a follower of Christ and was named Paul.

We learned that Paul was a Jew, a Pharisee, a son, a brother, an uncle, and Roman citizen. He preached and taught about Jesus, he nurtured disciples, he risked his life, he was placed on trial, he was thrown in prison, and his life was threatened daily. He got angry and upset at Mark without giving him a chance to explain. He raised Eutychus back to life and reminded all of us that “there’s life in us yet” (Acts 20:9-10). Along his journey, he told of a hope that grounds all believers together: a hope that is rooted in the promises of God and is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. He taught those listening that hope is needed to keep moving forward. Then before leaving Ephesus, Paul shared his testimony (Acts 20) which encouraged all of us to think about our testimony and the story and legacy of our church.

Finally, we took time to battle a storm with Paul. In Acts 26, Paul along with 275 others found themselves caught in a storm that battered their ship, tore their sails, began dismantling the vessel, cargo was thrown overboard, and lives were threatened. Prior to the storm, Paul warned the captain and owner not to set sail; but they didn’t listen. However, God promised Paul that all would be saved, that “everyone [would] reach land safely” (Acts 26:44). And that’s exactly what happened. When storms assail, we must remember that God will get us safely to shore. At times we will have to wait out the storm so that God can make a way where there seems to be no way. The same goes for the church: the church faces storms every day, but it must not give up on knowing that God is present, walking on the water, sleeping in the boat, and saying, “Be still; and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Paul became a pioneer of the early church because he didn’t give-up on what the church could be for so many people, for you and for me.

Paul’s journey wasn’t easy, and neither is ours. Following Jesus isn’t supposed to be easy and perfect: it’s meant to be challenging and faith-testing but also hopeful and rewarding, and not to mention filled with blessings. The same can be said about the church. The church wasn’t formed by perfect people, with perfect people, or even for perfect people. The church was formed because people needed Jesus. The church took leaps of faith, underwent risks, faced challenges, was battered by storms, entertained arguments and disagreements, dealt with differences and opinions, and welcomed all to experience Jesus. Over the past several weeks, we witnessed the rise of the early church and were reminded that the church is still alive today. There is life in the church yet. And now, it’s our job to take the lessons from the past and help us live in the present while preparing for the future. That’s where we were, where are we now? What’s next?

 

Movement Two: Where We Are…

So where are we now?[1] This is leads us to our scripture passage for today: Acts 28:14-16. Keep in mind, Paul is in Rome and so are some other disciples. Luke recalls, “There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. The brothers and sisters from there, when they heard of us, came as far as the Forum of Appius [about 40 miles from Rome] and Three Taverns [about 30 miles from Rome] to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage. When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.”

A few things to note about Luke’s words. First, although strangers from a foreign land, those traveling with Paul were welcomed and invited into homes of believers. Even though they had differences, even though they lived in different regions, and even though they didn’t know each other, they welcomed each other in the name of Jesus Christ. Matthew 25:35 records Jesus saying, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Romans 15:7 commands believers to “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” And Hebrews 13:2 encourages believers not to forget to show hospitality to strangers as some of those strangers might be angels. These individuals, these strangers, focused on their belief in Christ much like Paul focused on the hope of God’s promises while on trial in Jerusalem. Towards the end of Acts, we get a glimpse of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Paul wrote, “…until all of us come to the unity of the faith…[which] promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love” (Ephesians 4:13 and 16). Paul is promoting how differences shouldn’t get in the way of worshipping and being amongst fellow believers.

Luke is telling us that what comes next for the church is the quality of being welcoming, of creating a place and space where people can be themselves, where differences exist, where opinions live, where people of differing backgrounds, ages, and demographics can come together for the same reason: to worship the One who never leaves us. The church of today shouldn’t require a checklist for those walking through its doors. Rather, it should be glad that God is leading people through their doors. The early church didn’t build fences, it built larger tables and more chairs.

Second, notice how people travelled great distances to meet Paul and Paul’s companions.[2] Now, I’m sure not all of those who traveled were believers. I’m sure there were some disbelievers who traveled great distances to witness the hopeful punishment of Paul while he was arrested and repeatedly put on trial. However, I also believe that some of those who did travel were authentic believers. We see this happening in our present time: people traveling great distances to hear a specific preacher, listen to a motivational speaker, be near someone famous, to see a band play, to go out to eat, and at times to get a photo taken with a role model. People will travel to witness that which has peaked their interest and caught their attention. For example, Travel Index has estimated that 76% of travelers this fall are planning trips around the fall foliage—the changing of the leaves. People travel to what catches their interest.

People wanted to see Paul: not the person but Paul the believer, not Paul the silent but Paul the outspoken, and not Paul the fearful but Paul the fearless. People traveled to see Paul because they needed to see proof of how life-changing it can be to trust in God, to following in the footsteps of Jesus, and to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Church, people travel. What Luke wants us to keep in mind as a church is that if we believe in what we do, if we believe in ourselves, if we are committed to living like Jesus, if we show our interest in those who are here, if we seek to reach the needs outside our walls, if you are willing to make an investment in this church, and if we are willing to show that there is life in us yet, people will travel to see us.

Luke was hinting at what we call today The Field of Dreams Effect: “If you build it, they will come.” Church, if we believe in what we do, if we show that we are still alive, people will come. I know this, because you, every Sunday, arrive here at this church. You believe that there is something here. You believe this church has a future. You believe that this church is still in the business of changing and saving lives. You believe that there is more to our story.[3]

Third, after everything that Paul had been through—the trials, the imprisonments, the torture, the constant uncertainty of what comes next, the inevitable ridicule, and the threats to end his life—he gave thanks to God.[4] Paul’s attitude reflects what he tells the people of Thessalonica, “…give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Give thanks because God kept his promise: Paul made it to Rome. No matter how hard life was for Paul, he never gave up on God which is why Luke tells us that Paul “took courage.” Paul gave thanks to God, in all of his trials and circumstances because he realized the courage that was within himself.

[5]What can we give thanks to God for in our life? I think a better way to look at this moment is to see how the early church—yes, thought about its failures, mistakes, and storms—gathered and gave thanks all while life wasn’t perfect. Which again suggests that the church wasn’t established by perfect people who had everything put together. It was established by people who gave thanks because they found their car keys, because they found the missing sock, because they were able to put dinner on the table before 8:00pm, because they were able to enjoy five minutes of peace and quiet, because they received a hug from someone, because they woke up in the morning, because their kids got along for longer than a minute, because the person they work with didn’t get upset with them, and so forth. Paul wanted the church to give thanks and to be a place where people don’t dwell on the darkness of life but live into the light of Christ.[6] So Church what comes next? What do we need to do to not just be thankful but to be alive and shining with the light of Christ?

 

Movement Three: Where Are We Going…

We have examined where we were and where we are now, so the time has come to seek where we are going. What’s next? The last, and probably the most important message from Paul’s outgoing message is this: The Church is alive. Acts 28:16 says, “Paul was allowed to live…” Paul was allowed some freedom. Paul was allowed to breathe. Paul was allowed to preach. Paul was allowed to invest in ministries. Paul was allowed to visit with friends, neighbors, and strangers. Paul was allowed to find ways to keep the message of Jesus Christ alive. Paul was allowed to keep the church alive. Church, are we alive?

A church that is alive fails and mistakes, but it also succeeds. It seeks to turn messes into messages, trials into triumphs, and its failures into moments of growing faith. The church is alive today: it exists today. But it takes all of us to make that happen. It takes all of us to want to make that happen. It takes all of us to say “I need the church.” It takes all of us to have hope in the church. It takes all of us to be the church that God knows we can be. We are the church; and the church is us.[7]

And the life that we bring to our church is not just our individual stories: it’s our dreams, it’s our hopes, and it’s our longing to be who God needs us to be. Because of you our church is alive. And if you don’t believe me, then just think about the things our church has done, about what are church is currently doing, and about what our church wants to do in the future. Think about the projects we completed. Think about the projects that we want to complete. Think about the improvements we have made and the improvements we want to make. Think about the people that have made this church part of their life. Think about the kids that run around, that makes us laugh, and that give our church hope and a future. Think about the ways we lift each other up, pray for one another, the times we support one another, and the moments we come together and fellowship. Think about the ministries we have and the cards we send. We are alive!

If you still don’t believe me, then let me remind you of something.

Dogwood Prairie: History made available by church historians indicate that in 1857 or there about the first group of worshipers gathered in the Dogwood School building, which was a log building. This current building was completed in 1908 and since then has undergone improvements and much needed remodels. This year our church celebrates two achievements: 170 years ago, Dogwood became a part of the Robinson Charge; and 155 years ago, Dogwood became part of the Oblong Charge. Let that sink in for a moment: 170 years ago this church began blessing the community and today it still is because of its members, attendees, and visitors gave the church a life and that life is what helps us to be alive today. And I know you want to still be alive because of the things you shared regarding what you love about the church.

You mentioned the following: the care, love, and support we give the Pastor and his wife, our willingness to give to those in need, we are Christ-centered, we serve others, we share the Gospel, we love the food, gatherings, fellowship, and parties, we value each other’s talents and uniqueness, we share our love of Jesus with everyone, our care and ministries to the community, we pray for everyone, we love Sunday School, we are a God loving Church, we are a Family of God, we are a powerhouse, we love the friendships, we enjoy laughing, we are friendly, we love the children, and we are welcoming. And the one that appeared more than once was this: I love our church because we are a family. The things you love about our church are the very things that keep us alive as a church. We are a family; and I want to encourage you, as we move forward together to keep that in mind.

As we find ways to be alive for the next 170 years, let us make a promise today to not stop now, to keep moving forward, to keep dreaming, to keep improving, to keep our doors open, and to keep doing what God needs us to do. We are alive; and I am beyond blessed to be the pastor that gets to witness the life of this church come alive again! So what’s next for our church?

 

Conclusion:

As we conclude this message, I want to leave you with a few things to ponder. First, the Book of Acts is not just a testimony about a man whose life was changed and saved by God and who traveled from place to place—enduring suffering and trials—and it’s not just about people receiving the Holy Spirit and going forth and making disciples of Jesus Christ. The Book of Acts is a story of a church that persevered, that endured storms, that celebrated achievements, and that never gave up and never lost hope. It’s a story of a church—a group of imperfect people—that made mistakes, got things wrong, that fell but got back up, that learned, that grew, that moved on, that lived, that gave thanks, and that believed in a God of second chances.

Second, the Book of Acts invites us to be a church that is welcoming, that draws travelers (people) to Christ, and that give thanks for what God has done and is doing within and beyond our church. Ultimately, it encourages us to be a family: a family that supports one another, that grows together, that struggles together, and that celebrates together.

Third, and most importantly, the Book of Acts is about a church that wants to be alive! It’s about a church that wants to grow, that wants to improve, that wants to keep its doors open, and that realizes that there is life in it yet. It’s about a church that uses what it loves to be a place that has a big heart. It’s about a church that embraces the present but asks “What’s next?”

Church, as we close are time with Acts, I leave you with the question my parents asked while on vacation in Tennessee: “What’s next?” What’s next for our church? Whatever it is, let’s make sure it that keeps our church alive!

Let it be so…

 

Closing Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for your church! Thank you for this church! We ask that you help us to stay alive and to continue to live in the present but consider what else we can be doing for your kingdom here on earth. In your mighty name we pray, Amen.

 

Benediction:

Church, we are alive! There is life in us yet! So, what is God calling us to do next? May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; and May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26). In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, go forth being the church that is alive today and always. And all God’s people said, Amen. Amen. Amen.

 

 

 

[1] Before we get to our text for today, I want to offer you, again, some facts about the Book of Acts. The Book of Acts was supposedly written by the physician Luke, who also wrote the Gospel of Luke, the third book of the New Testament. Acts was written between 58AD and 62AD, comprising of events that took place in the past. Scholars suggest that the Book of Acts covers the first 30 years of church history. The Book of Acts is sometimes referred to as the “Fifth Gospel.” While Luke was writing the Book of Acts, Paul was writing letters to the churches and communities of differing towns both near and far (i.e. the letter of Galatians in 48AD, the letter to the Romans in 56AD, the letter to the Ephesians in 60AD, and 2 Timothy in 66AD). Lastly, the Book of Acts contains the first mention of Christians in the entire Bible in Acts 11:26: “And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” The Book of Acts begins in Jerusalem, where Jesus interacts with his disciples before his ascension, and ends with Paul under house arrest in Rome. While in Rome, Paul was allowed to live in his own rented quarters with a Roman guard standing by while he wrote—like it was going out of style—letters to places and people to help them live a better life in Christ. Those letters, now found in our New Testament, are known as the “Prison Epistles.”  According to Christian tradition and early Church historians, Paul was martyred by beheading outside the city walls on the Ostian Way.

[2] Psalm 121 is known as the traveler’s psalm as it reminds readers that God watches over their coming and going. And Joshua 1:9 offers comfort that God is with us wherever we go.

[3] Those back during the time of Paul traveled because they heard about something they wanted to be a part of. Do you want to be a part of this wonderful church family? What comes next? Making sure we are here for more travelers.

[4] What? Paul thanks to God. How? Why? Would you be able to thank God if you were in the same situation as Paul? Not too many of us would or could. But yet, Paul does.

[5] We are to give thanks through the courage that God has given us through Jesus Christ. We are just 60 days away from a holiday where many people will gather together and give thanks. But Paul reminds us that we shouldn’t wait for a certain holiday to give thanks or wait until everything goes right or is perfect. We should give thanks as often as we can. Therefore, church what are we thankful for?

[6] Are we a thankful church? Every Sunday, we make it a point to lift up praises as a reminder that there is goodness in our life. Those praises are moments of being thankful. What comes next? What comes next is finding ways to continue to be thankful for what we have, who we are, and what God is calling us to do. And what God is calling us to do, is find ways to be alive!

[7] There’s an old African proverb that goes, “I am because we are.”^[7] Collectively, we are the church together and together we bring life to the church today so that it can breathe tomorrow. You are the church because together we are the church.