Faith Presbyterian Church - Birmingham
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Faith Presbyterian Church - Birmingham
Acts 16:1-10; The Bold Mission of a Reluctant Apostle
Giotis Kantartzis February 23, 2025 Faith Presbyterian Church Birmingham, AL Bulletin
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I'm going to introduce Yotis now, and then I'm going to read the scriptures from which he will preach. Yotis Kantatsis was born into a Christian family and felt God's call to pastoral ministry as a teenager, and so he went to Bible school in Greece and then came over to the United States, to Boston, to further his theological education and served as the pastor of a Greek church there. When he returned to Athens, he's become the pastor of the first Greek evangelical church, and he's been the pastor there for almost 30 years now. He started a church planting network called Polis, which has planted many churches around the city of Athens and is a wonderful expression of God's love and work there. Would you please give attention now to Acts, chapter 16, beginning at verse 1, and we're going to read this is God's Word.
Speaker 1:Paul came also to Derbe and to 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 as they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them the observance, the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and they increased in numbers daily, and they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
Speaker 1:And when they came 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 he sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Yotis, will you please come and speak God's word to us now?
Speaker 2:It's a great joy and privilege to be with you and with the church. As Johnny said, I come from Athens, greece. I'm pastoring what is called the First Greek Evangelical Church, which is perhaps when you hear the first we are Presbyterians, the first Presbyterian you can understand that we're talking about something which is quite old. So our church is the first Protestant church in the country, going back to the 1850s. And another important fact about our church is that your pastor he's a priest about our church is that your pastor has preached in our church, jason, when he was a RUF minister, and that was a blessing. What I love from you know I visited your church last year for the first time and I was really impressed. It was a great joy to participate also for the communion service. The way you do it is really amazing and actually last year when I saw it, I stole the idea and we do something similar in our church back in Athens. Now, talking about Athens, I know that the natural choice of a text to preach from coming from Athens would be Acts 17. When is Paul visiting Athens and preaching at Mars Hill of a text to preach from coming from Athens would be Acts 17,. When is Paul visiting Athens and preaching at Mars Hill. Actually, our church is very close to the Acropolis. From my office I can see the Parthenon and it's kind of walking distance five minutes to go to the Europagus, to the Mars Hill. And as much as I love that passage and sometimes I think that we need to have the copyright of that passage, so whenever you preach from Acts 17, you need to give us some money Well, as much as I love Acts 17, and I spend a lot of time studying again and again that passage I need to tell you that my favorite story from the Book of Acts is what we just heard from Acts 16.
Speaker 2:Now I know that that may sound strange, because there is not something really impressive in that passage. I don't know if, as we read it, you found yourself. I mean, I was moved that Johnny cried, but typically when the first time I read it it was not something that I felt. Perhaps it was because we have heard the sermon earlier and you knew where we're going to take it. But if we read this passage, there's something. There's nothing really impressive. You know no massive or dramatic conversions. You know no planting of churches, not even a sermon which is significant, not even a riot or a persecution that makes Paul flee.
Speaker 2:You know it's totally unimpressive, but I want you to keep in mind that many times in these unimpressive times that we don't pay attention, god is really moving in ways that we cannot really think or even predict, because actually, in reality, what happens in ways that we cannot really think or even predict, because actually, in reality, what happens in this incident we just read from Acts 16, is the very reason why I'm here before you this morning. It is the very reason why you are here in the church this morning, it's the very reason why our church in Athens exists and actually it's the very reason why your church exists. Why? Because what we have here is the gospel moving outside the Jewish context in Asia, moving into the West, moving to Europe, moving to our world, so to say. So I would like us to examine how God does that, how God pushes Paul to be faithful on his mission. So this will be our topic how we can become missional, and we will see three main things that God is doing here in the life of Paul, and I do hope and pray that God will do the same things for us, to do the same things for us in Athens, for you here in Birmingham, alabama, in order to become missional, the three things are that, first of all, he pulls us out of our comfort zone, he draws us into his plans, and then he sends us out into the unknown, into new territories. He pulls us out of our comfort zone, he draws us into his plans and he sends us out into new and unknown territories. Let's start with the first To be on a mission, we need to let God pull us out of our comfort zone.
Speaker 2:Now, one of the most interesting things that we find in these verses is that Paul twice tries to do something and he's prevented. He cannot do it. So, for example, in verse 6, we read and they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia, having been forbidden. Now this is the time for some Greek lesson. There is a word here in the Greek text that is very important, because it is important that it's a word that we also find at the very end of the book of Acts. Actually, the book of Acts ends with this very word, which there is an adverb and is the word forbidden, hindered.
Speaker 2:Now, here is the interesting thing. When we go to the last chapter of the book of Acts, we read about Paul being in jail, in the Roman jail, guarded by a Roman soldier, 24-7. But he says Luke makes the comment, the author of the Book of Acts makes the comment that, regardless of that, paul was able to preach the mysteries of the kingdom without a hindrance, without an obstacle. And it's this exact same word Without a hindrance, without an obstacle. And it's this exact same word, which is very interesting because in a way, it summarizes the book of Acts Nothing can hinder Paul. That can be a way to summarize the book of Acts Like a Roman jail cannot hinder Paul, a Roman guard cannot hinder Paul, and we have so many stories Mobs were upset and angry and they ran after him Cannot hinder Paul. Shipwreck cannot hinder Paul. Nothing can hinder Paul.
Speaker 2:There is only one case that Paul wants to do something and he cannot because he has been forbidden. And the interesting question is who has done that? It's not the Romans, it's not the Jewish authorities Interestingly enough, it's the Holy Spirit, it's God himself. So we wonder what is it that Paul wanted to do? And God said no. Keep in mind, you know, paul never stopped, you know, never hindered. It's the only time and God hinders him. What is it that he wanted to do and God said no? The answer is he wanted to do more of this Churchy things. You know, if we read the first four verses, we read that Paul goes from church to church and he preaches the gospel and there is fruit, there is growth, people accept him and perhaps for the first time he's really respected and he's popular and it's obvious that he wants to do more of that. You know who wouldn't? But God says no. Why? Because there is a mission for him to accomplish and the greatest temptation in life is to settle in what is comfortable and what is familiar and what is manageable and what is popular, to settle in that. So God is really pulling and pushing Paul out of his comfort zone and moves him into his mission and missional calling.
Speaker 2:Now, second point God draws him into his plans. Paul has a plan. That is what we read in the first four verses. He wants to stay in that area, in that region. That is his plan. He actually, in order to accomplish this plan, he circumcises him, not himself, he has somebody circumcise, timothy, so that he can be accepted by the Jews, because that is the context, that he intends to stay. That is his plan, but God changes the plan.
Speaker 2:Now, as we read this passage, we wonder wouldn't it have been easier for Paul to have the vision you remember that he sees, the vision of these men from Macedonia? Wouldn't it be better to have that vision at the very beginning of this enterprise, for God to show up and say listen, paul, here is the plan. That's what I want you to do. Instead of doing that, we read again and again that Paul is trying to do something and God hinders him. He tries to do something else. He plans, he tries, he fails, he tries, he fails. And there is this whole process that you would say why? Why? Paul needs to go through all this ordeal before he actually finds out what God wants him to do. Where is God, and does God have a plan for him? And does God have a plan for him? The answer is many times. God lets us go through this situation because many times we think that we have the solution, we have the recipe, and God wants to take us to what you call to the end of our rope, right, to come to that point that we are totally clueless and you say you know what? I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, because that is the context where God can really then draw us into his own plans. So that is exactly what is going on, and it's interesting to note that, even though Paul is going through all this trial and fail, failure, god is really present there.
Speaker 2:It's interesting to note the presence of God as it is illustrated in these verses. In verse 6, we read about the Holy Spirit. He had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit. Then in verse 7, we read about the Spirit of Jesus and then in verse 10, we read about concluding that God, namely God the Father I don't know if you see the whole Trinity, the Trinitarian presentation of God. God, the Holy Trinity, is present there, is involved there, and God is really helping Paul to figure out what he wants him to do. So God is pulling us out of our comfort zone In his way, he draws us into his plans and, finally, he is calling us to step out of our comfort zone and step into new territories. He's sending us into the unknown. So we come to the vision that Paul had. So what was God's plan?
Speaker 2:Paul, through this trial and failure, he ends up in Troas. Now what is Troas and why is that important? Troas is a port, a famous port in Asia Minor, and this is the place, the connecting point to go to the West. So, in order to get the significance of Troas, let me give you an analogy. Imagine that you are seeking after God's heart and will for your life. You want to be a missionary and you pray and pray. You say God, show me where you want me to go. All right, and after you open up your eyes, after the prayer, you find yourself in the airport. You search your pockets and you find an envelope. You open the envelope and there is a ticket to Athens. I mean, it doesn't take much science, right, in order to figure out what God wants you to do. So this is what Troas is. It's the port to go to Greece. This is it.
Speaker 2:So, if you know history, alexander the Great, when he wanted to go from Greece to Asia, he went through Troas. When Xerxes, the Persian king, he wanted to campaign in Greece, he went to Greece through Troas. So it's pretty obvious what God wants him to do. God wants him to go on the other side. God wants him to go to the west, to go to Greece. And then God sends a vision and many people make the mistake to think that the vision is to clarify what exactly was the plan, to inform Paul what he's supposed to do. Paul knows quite well Troas is enough. The Holy Spirit brought him there. He knows what he's supposed to do, but he is afraid and God needs to send him a vision of a man from Macedonia to say what are you doing, paul, why are you waiting? Come over, come over and help us. And why he's scared Because on the other side is the unknown.
Speaker 2:Paul had a classical education and all of that. He spoke Greek, perhaps with an accent, like I speak English, and all of that. He spoke Greek, perhaps with an accent, like I speak English. But he was really scared because so far he has been in an environment that he could manage. He knew his way around, he was under his control, and now he needs to step into a territory that he's scared to go because he doesn't really know what to expect there. But you see, in order to fulfill God's mission in our life, we need to be ready to move into new territories, in those areas that we lose control, in those areas that it may be risky. We have heard about the drug addiction. We have heard about the ministry to the poor. We have heard so many ministries and I know that many of us up in the mountains, I have found out that the mountains are the city. You know, it may be scary to be there, it may be scary to be involved in those kinds of situations because they're so far away from who we are and what we know. But perhaps, perhaps that is what it means for you to be missional is to enter into this new territory and you don't have to expect a vision from God. But this is the Word of God that is really challenging us to do that, to pull us out of our comfort zone, to draw us into His plans and to send us into new territories, into the unknown.
Speaker 2:Why do I love this story? Because in many ways this story is our story, the story of our church. Our church has been established in the 1850s. It is a very solid Presbyterian church. It's a better Presbyterian church than yours because we also have a pipe organ, so very conservative Presbyterian church. You know, like I always make the joke that everything in future tense, it would make the people panic If you say you know we will. When I first went to that church. Jason, I was the youngest in the board of the elders. It was like average age 70. So a very solid Presbyterian church.
Speaker 2:And keep in mind that we are a minority church. I mean, greece is a Christian country. The South is a Christian territory culturally, so it's Greek Orthodox. Most people would identify culturally that we're Greek Orthodox but they're not really practicing. So evangelical believers in Greece are 0.2%. It's about 20,000 believers in a country of about 10 million. So if you are a minority, you develop what is called the fortress mentality. You are afraid of the others and, of course, because the others don't understand you, they consider you as imported cult, something that doesn't make sense. So you know the world is a hostile place. So what do we do? We build this fortress and you know we are safe within the church. So the church becomes a hideaway. The church becomes your fortress, your comfort, and so that was always the situation in our context. It was us staying within the four walls of the church.
Speaker 2:Now, 2004, we had the Olympics in Athens and I'm a new pastor in our church. I was in Boston for six years and then we returned back to Athens and frankly, I was not quite sure if we made the right decision to return back to Athens. But then the Olympics come and I say this is it, that is what God wanted me to be there. And if you come to Athens it's impossible to bypass our church. It's really the heart of the city, it's in a very visible position. And so we said, okay, why don't we turn the church into a welcome center and do activities?
Speaker 2:And we did tremendous things. I was sharing with the side of school class many things, I mean. Perhaps one of the highlights was that BBC Radio 4 broadcasted live our worship service and they brought a whole orchestra from London, from All Souls Church, and you know, like a gold medalist gave his testimony. I got to preach seven minutes and the queen listened to my sermon. That's what you know. I don't know if you've noticed that after a time she started giving more spiritual talks during the Christmas speeches that she does. Some people you know say that perhaps it is because she heard my sermon, but that is debated. Well, so we have done all these things and we're really excited about all these projects, but at the end of that story I felt really confused because I have done everything and everything was successful, but at the end when I was asking what is the gospel impacting the city? Not much Good stories, like the one I told you, but how that has a lasting impact in the city, not much. So anyway, I was really frustrated.
Speaker 2:That was a year of prayer and frustration. I mean it's interesting, when I was telling the church and the board of the elders that the Olympics are coming, we need to be active, they said, you know, they were really you know kind of what is this? We don't care about that. Then it was the other way around. They were excited about the Olympics and I was really frustrated. So we go, they give us an extra month of vacation. They were so happy. So next summer they say you know, you just take one extra month.
Speaker 2:And so we go to Boston where I studied, and at that time I was working on my PhD, on my dissertation, and so I said, ok, it's a good time to focus there. And my hope was to finish my dissertation, get my PhD and be more involved in academic world and academic work. And so we're visiting with a couple, with some friends, and they used to be the Greek church I was serving, but then they started going to an American church and they said would you like to meet our pastor? And I said why not? So I go to meet with him. And we started talking and I started expressing my frustration here I am a Presbyterian pastor in a big city, in the center of the city. I would like to have an impact in the city and I don't know how. And he said have you heard of Redeemer Presbyterian Church 2005, 20 years ago? I said no, who are they? Have you heard of Tim Keller? I said no, no, I have no idea.
Speaker 2:Anyhow, what I wanted to say is that I have different plans. I was not planning that, but that meeting there, providentially, was the beginning of a new vision being formulated. So, coming out of the comfort zone, a new vision, we need to plant churches, but it's one thing to say something and it's another thing to do it. And actually I was able to identify two or three locations in the city where we are supposed to plant. One of them it was what is called Exarchia, which is the anarchist area of Athens. I mean, there is an area that you know all the anarchists live in. It's one of the most unique places in the world, I would say, and all the riots they would start from there and there, you know, it was a very edgy, vibrant place and stuff. So I said this is where we need to plant. But, as I said, it's one thing to say, this is where we are supposed to go, but it's a scary thing to go there. I still remember there was a Greek Orthodox priest who is a friend of mine and I shared that with him. He says you know, we would like to go there and plant the chairs and he said are you crazy? They will burn you out. You crazy, they will burn you out. That is the situation. So you're going to get out of your comfort zone. God gives you the plan, but we wanted the vision, someone to kick us out of our comfort zone and push us into this new, unknown territory. God didn't give us a vision, but he did something else.
Speaker 2:So it was 2008, a year before the crisis started in Greece I don't know if you remember you know the older of you like 2009,. We almost got kicked out of Eurozone. The capital controls the banks. It was a terrible situation. So that was the year before. Young people have a premonition about these things. So the young people they were demonstrating a year before. Young people have a premonition about this thing. So the young people they were demonstrating a year before and a policeman suddenly killed a 15-year-old teenager in that very area where we wanted to go and plant in Exarchia.
Speaker 2:When the news got out, it was chaos in the city For two, three days. Young people they were out in the streets, burning, breaking, looting. It was a terrible situation. So somebody calls me. I was in my car and he says we are on the news. I said what do you mean? The church is on the news. I said what do you mean? They're fighting the anarchies with the police. They're right in front of our church and they're fighting, and you know. So I dropped my car. I was not very far away.
Speaker 2:I ran into the church, I entered the sanctuary and they just moved on by the time I arrived, and all the windows I mean imagine that this is the main street and this is the, you know, the church all the windows of the church were broken and as I entered the sanctuary it was full of pieces of glass, marble, tear gas, and for me that was the vision. That was the God moment, as I call it, because I realized that there is no security and as much as we try to build the walls to be safe and hide ourselves from the city, god comes and reminds us that our mission and our calling is out there and we are Presbyterians. We don't learn our lesson very fast. It takes time for us to move on. So that was not the only time. Then two more times in riots they broke all our windows. Then two more times in riots they broke all our windows. So third time I decided and I asked the board of the elders permission not to fix the window. So we did a worship service with all the windows broken and during the service I asked the congregation to turn and look at the windows and I said, listen, I have the hands that that will continue happening unless we get the message that we need to move out, that we need to have a heart for the city. And that has changed. That has changed our church, and God has pushed us out of our comfort zone, gave us his plan, not our plan, and then he also sent us out into this unknown territory.
Speaker 2:Now, what inspires me in this story is not so much that it reminds me of our own story. Most importantly, if you think, the story we just heard is pretty much the story of the gospel, isn't it? Because isn't that what God did for us, jesus Christ? He left the riches of heaven, the comfort zone, and not in Troas, but in Gethsemane, you remember. He said, not my will but yours. He willfully submitted to God's plan and he entered, he stepped into this unknown territory, the cross, death, hades, and he did all of that in order to fulfill God's mission for our salvation. So this is the gospel. And the gospel which is illustrated in this story, you realize, and this is the principle I would like to leave you, is not only the content of our ministry. The gospel is the shape of our ministry and, more importantly, it has to be the motivation for our ministry. Amen.