Gathering to Be Scattered

This powerful message challenges us to examine whether we're truly participating in God's work or inadvertently hindering it. Drawing from Acts 11-13, we encounter a pivotal question Peter poses: 'How could I hinder God?' This question becomes the lens through which we view our role in the church. The sermon explores the beautiful rhythm of gathering and scattering—how the early church came together for worship and encouragement, then dispersed into the world as gatherers of souls. We see examples of those who embraced God's surprising work among the Gentiles, celebrating when the Holy Spirit moved in unexpected ways. Conversely, we witness King Herod and the sorcerer Elymas actively opposing God's plan, ultimately facing divine judgment. The core challenge is sobering: Jesus declares that if we're not gathering with Him, we're scattering. There's no neutral ground. We can't simply sit in the silo during harvest time—we must return to the fields. The message calls us to be like those unnamed believers from Cyprus and Cyrene who didn't get the memo that they couldn't share the gospel with Greeks, and in their beautiful ignorance of limitations, they sparked a revival in Antioch. Are we workers in God's harvest, or are we content to gather without being sent? The question demands an honest answer from each of us.