Principles of Strategy and Methodology, Part 2

The point: Recognize that we have incurred a great gospel debt of gratitude and love to bring the gospel to those who are yet in their sins.

A brother's suggestion about the Antioch church's complexion and the presence of Cypriot men explains why Paul and Barnabas might have gone to Cyprus first, illustrating how natural contacts can influence missionary direction.

Okay, here we are. That from Antioch, we saw that in the first missionary journey, Paul and his companions went across to Salamis, preached the gospel across to Paphos, and then they sailed up to Seleucia, and then they preached the gospel in this area, and the principle that you articulated was this, that as to their methodology and strategy, they went from city to city in a distance-economizing way, preaching and planting churches as doors were opened before them. Now, after the class, one of my brethren came and suggested a connection between the original founding of the church here in Anti...

7:10 - 8:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explores the suggestion that Paul's first journey to Cyprus was influenced by natural contacts from Cypriot men in the Antioch church. He then illustrates how Trinity…

The planting of a church in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, is given as an example of Trinity Baptist Church's missions policy operating through natural contacts and a young man's burden.

Our first missionary endeavor in planting a church somewhere other than in our own immediate locality was the missionary endeavor of planting a church out in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. And as I trace back the history of that endeavor and we're thankful that that church exists today I preached at its 20th anniversary this past year and the work is being blessed of God it was as a result of certain natural contacts with people who settled in that area and who sent out a plea for help that when we had a young man who had a burden to preach and a burden for church leaders planting ministry whom God h...

11:18 - 12:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explores the suggestion that Paul's first journey to Cyprus was influenced by natural contacts from Cypriot men in the Antioch church. He then illustrates how Trinity…

The sending of Pastor Blaise to East London is used as an example of missionary direction stemming from his existing spiritual roots and pleas from sheep without a shepherd in that area.

Our first missionary endeavor in planting a church somewhere other than in our own immediate locality was the missionary endeavor of planting a church out in Hazelton, Pennsylvania. And as I trace back the history of that endeavor and we're thankful that that church exists today I preached at its 20th anniversary this past year and the work is being blessed of God it was as a result of certain natural contacts with people who settled in that area and who sent out a plea for help that when we had a young man who had a burden to preach and a burden for church leaders planting ministry whom God h...

11:18 - 12:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explores the suggestion that Paul's first journey to Cyprus was influenced by natural contacts from Cypriot men in the Antioch church. He then illustrates how Trinity…

The story of Arif Khan, a missionary from the Middle East who came to Trinity Baptist Church and later returned to his birth country, Pakistan, illustrates how God providentially opens doors through individuals' backgrounds and circumstances.

all of his spiritual roots were there in East London and after he had been with us a little more than a year the many letters that kept coming to him from sheep who were without a shepherd begging him prayerfully to consider whether or not the Lord would bring him back to establish a work and over a period of a year this was made a matter of prayer and investigation and consideration and then a three week visit of hands on contact and consideration of this matter and then we laid hands upon our brother and sent him and all of that grew out of this principle that in the establishment of our own...

12:47 - 14:15 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explores the suggestion that Paul's first journey to Cyprus was influenced by natural contacts from Cypriot men in the Antioch church. He then illustrates how Trinity…

The sending of Steve Hoffmeyer to the Philippines, after cross-cultural assessments in Africa, demonstrates how the church's awareness of needs and individuals' aptitudes can naturally unfold into missionary strategy.

and no door was opened back into the Middle East and God brought him amongst us he audited a number of the classes in the academy wove himself into the life of this church and then in the providence of God when the door opened to go back to the country of his birth it seemed quite natural that this should be a place where God was giving us another beach head for the gospel similarly with sending our brother Steve Hoffmeyer to the Philippines when Steve was studying in the academy it was evident that he had a special facility in languages he had a growing burden for missions and so one summer w...

14:15 - 15:43 Read in full sermon

The point: Continually be sensitive to what God has sovereignly done in depositing among us those who may have a peculiar aptitude or inclination for the work of missions in a given part of the world.

The use of 'Holy Spirit' and 'Spirit of Jesus' in Acts 16 is explained as showing the Holy Spirit as the 'great executor' of the missionary enterprise and the will of Christ, the head of the church.

as he attempted to go west and then we read and passing they assayed to Gwintipithinia and the spirit of Jesus suffered them not I'm sorry I skipped the verse let me back up and when they were come over again they assayed to Gwintipithinia that would be up north here is Gwintipithinia and we read the spirit of Jesus suffered them not so they made an attempt to go west probably with an eye on Ephesus and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit they said alright we'll go north up into this area but now the spirit of Jesus suffered them not somehow God made it plain how we simply do not know and it's n...

18:38 - 20:07 Read in full sermon

Driving home: So there was a sensitivity to the holy spirit and when the holy spirit made known his mind and will in forbidding them to speak the word in asia and in bithynia there is no indication that paul and his companions argued …

The hypothetical scenario of Paul using computers to override the Holy Spirit's guidance is used to highlight the danger of substituting human wisdom or data for divine superintendence.

our computers tell us we ought to go where the most people are and they are most responsive we must go sorry holy spirit and we must go where the most people are and they are most responsive we will be there a little bit later on but the computer and the reports of men must override your superintendents no indication now i know they didn't have computers no i realize that but the thing that would make computers in our age a substitute for the holy ghost is something embedded in the human heart and if it isn't computers it would be something else that would seek to replace the ultimate authorit...

27:19 - 28:48 Read in full sermon

Driving home: So there was a sensitivity to the holy spirit and when the holy spirit made known his mind and will in forbidding them to speak the word in asia and in bithynia there is no indication that paul and his companions argued …

Paul's vision of a 'man of Macedonia' versus finding only women at a prayer meeting by the riverside in Philippi illustrates that God's guidance may lead to unexpected, yet prepared, people.

there were not enough adult male proselytes or jews of the dispersion to have a proper synagogue at philippi so in place of that there was a prayer meeting on a sabbath day with some women and i've often reflected on this here in his vision he saw a man of macedonia saying come over and help us but when he gets there all he finds is a few women by riverside but he doesn't despise that because when he begins to speak what happens he finds here is a woman whose heart the lord has opened to give heed to the things that are spoken by paul so he is led he is led to give heed to the things that are ...

28:48 - 30:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Continually plead with God that He would give His Spirit to those who ask, and that the Holy Spirit would direct us in the application of biblical principles using our rational faculties subject to the principles of the …

The claims of modern Pentecostals and charismatics regarding frequent angelic visitations and visions are contrasted with the rarity of such events in apostolic missions, labeling them as fanaticism or satanic delusion.

But as the recipients of special revelation, we have this account of a vision coming. But to my knowledge, apart from another visitation of an angel of the Lord to encourage Paul to two such accounts, one in the ship that was apparently going to sink and another at Corinth in all of their mission. Very endeavor. We don't have accounts of visions and angels and all the rest.

31:47 - 32:11 Read in full sermon

The point: Continually plead with God that He would give His Spirit to those who ask, and that the Holy Spirit would direct us in the application of biblical principles using our rational faculties subject to the principles of the …

The delay in Paul's ministry to Ephesus, where he later spent three years, is used to illustrate God's sovereign preparation of hearts and the wisdom of His timing, which Paul would appreciate in heaven.

God was preparing hearts for the coming of his servant through whom his sheep would hear his voice and what a tale will be told when we get to heaven and the Lord unfolds all the things he did in that period of time and I'm sure. If it's anything that's disclosed in the intermediate state Paul's had more than one chuckle in the presence of the Lord as the Lord has shown him now my son and my servant had I sent you to Ephesus when you wanted to go the first time this is what would have happened but between the time you wanted to go and my spirit did not permit you and the time I sent you this i...

35:23 - 36:39 Read in full sermon

The point: Be active in using sanctified judgment and making plans for the spread of the gospel, while remaining open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not passively waiting.

A flu bug or a fender bender are given as examples of how God can use ordinary providential events to guide His servants who desire to do His will.

Yes. And God the Holy Spirit can do that in many ways and one of them is he can allow a certain flu bug or God can allow a fender bender. I mean God has control of everything to guide his servants who want to do his will so that they are indeed privileged to have the fulfillment of his promise if in all our ways we acknowledge him he will direct our paths. All right.

39:10 - 39:37 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The discussion expands on how the Holy Spirit guides today: through sanctified reasoning and active pursuit of duty, by allowing providential hindrances, and by placing specific…

The comparison of modern claims of visions to claims of performing miracles and selling 'prayer cloths' is used to expose false apostles who make merchandise of the word of God.

But these records of God guiding by vision are in the context of the apostolic missionary endeavor. And therefore, we better be very careful since there are no apostles now claiming that since they had visions to know where they ought to go, we can have the same. It gets into the whole category of, well, since they perform miracles and Paul formed special miracles at Ephesus, cloths were taken from him. And if they were laid upon people, they were healed.

40:52 - 41:19 Read in full sermon

The point: Cry to God that we will indeed be sensitive to the Spirit, recognizing that grieving the Spirit can hinder God's missionary purpose for the assembly.

The story of Achan bringing the whole nation of Israel to a halt in their conquest of Canaan is used to illustrate the serious corporate consequences of individual sin that grieves the Holy Spirit.

You and I can't afford the luxury of grieving the Holy Spirit. We can't afford it. It only took one Aiken to bring the whole nation to a grinding halt in its conquest of Canaan. That's all one Aiken, one Aiken.

46:59 - 47:17 Read in full sermon