Start Where People are At

Friday, September 4th, 2026

9:11 am

Good morning! Today I am in Acts 13:13-43. Saul, whom they are starting to call Paul here, and Barnabas leave Paphos by ship to go to Pamphylia. They land in the town of Perga, here John Mark leaves them and returns to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas travel inland to Antioch of Pisidia. While there they go to the synagogue on the Sabbath for the services. They listen to the usual readings from the Book of Moses and the prophets. And after these readings, the leaders of the service told Paul and Barnabas that if they had a word of encouragement for the people, they could come and give it. So Paul stood and lifted his hand to quiet the people and said to them, "Men of Israel and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me." Then Paul begins his message to them by starting with their ancestors in Egypt and how God grew their numbers there and strengthened them. And how God brought them out of Egypt, leading them out of their slavery. And how God put up with them for 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Then how God destroyed the 7 nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as their inheritance. All this taking about 450 years. Paul goes on reminding them of the judges God gave the people of Israel to rule over them, until Samuel the prophet came. And the people begged God for a king, and God gave them Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for 40 years. Then God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man who God said was a man after His own heart. One that would do everything God told him to do. Paul kept going, telling them that it was through King David's descendant that Jesus came, who is God's promised Savior of Israel. Telling them that before Jesus came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel need to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. He told of how John told the people that he was not the Messiah, and that he was not even worthy to be the Messiah's slave. Paul tells the people that this message of salvation had been sent to them. And that the people of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets spoke about. Instead they condemned Him, fulfilling the prophet's words that they read every Sabbath. These people did not find any legal reason to execute Jesus, but they asked Pilate to kill Him anyway. When they had done all the prophecies had said about Him, they took Him down from the cross and placed Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. Paul tells the people that over a period of time, Jesus appeared to His disciples, and they are now His witnesses to the people of Israel. And now they, him and Barnabas, were bringing this Good News to them. The promise that was made to their ancestors, and God had fulfilled it for them, their descendants, by raising Jesus! Paul quotes Psalm 2:7 to them, telling them that God has promised to raise Jesus from the grave, giving Him the sacred blessings He promised to David, also quoting Psalm 16:10. Telling them that this Psalm was not a reference to David, for David died and was buried, and his body decayed. But it was a reference to Jesus. He tells the people that they were there to proclaim that through Jesus there is forgiveness for their sins. And everyone who believes in Him is made right with God, something the law of Moses could never do. He tells them to be careful to not let the prophets word's apply to them which states, "Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone had told you about it. (Habakkuk 1:5)" Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue, and the people begged them to come back the next week to speak about these things again. Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed them, and they urged the men to continue to rely on the grace of God.

So Good! This is a beautiful example of how we should be when sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. I tried my best to narrow this section down, but it is a lot. But the point of the section is that Paul met the people where they were at in God's Word. Starting with what they knew. Starting with what they studied every day, and building from there. Because, like Paul told these men, all the old laws and prophets pointed to Jesus. By starting where these men were with their studies, Paul was able to show them how all the Scriptures pointed to Jesus.

This is a good example for us to follow because every person is at a different level with God. Some people may not have a relationship at all with God, and may have not even heard about God or Jesus before. Some may have heard of Jesus, but may not know much about Him. Or there are some they may have had a relationship with God in the past, but fell away from Him. There are so many different scenarios that I would not be able to list them all, but you get the point. We must start were people are at. Learning more about the person we are talking to, and about what they personally think of God and Jesus, then go from there. Teaching them about God and Jesus the best we can. Sharing the love of God with them. That is the mission Jesus gives to every one of us.

Jesus met people exactly where they were, in their different situations, and He shared His love and message with them. We are to do the same today. That mission may look different for everyone of us, but it is the same mission. Go out into the world around you, meet people where they are at, and share the love of God with them, the Good News of Jesus Christ. God is calling you to go deeper with Him, and be on mission for Him. What has God put on your heart to do? Maybe its sharing God's love with friends, family, and coworkers. Maybe it's to find a good church somewhere. Maybe it is to start a small group. Whatever it is, God will give you exactly what you need to help you. Lean on Him, and allow Him to show you what He has for you. Because He has a perfect purpose for you, but you must seek Him for that. He will help you, He will answer you, if you seek Him. Then step out in obedience to whatever He is showing you, trusting He will be with you every step of the way.