The Birth of Christ in America Part I
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor John’s sermon from December 7, 2025
Let’s Break it Down
God may not be calling us to cross seas, but perhaps to cross our driveway to reach a neighbor, speak to a coworker, or invite someone to church. The hardest barrier to cross isn't distance—it's our own hearts and fears.
Key Takeaways
God's 'no' often leads to His greater 'yes' - we must remain open to His redirection in our lives
Early Christians accomplished more with less - we have every advantage yet often lack their courage and commitment
Evangelism starts with having a burden for souls and being willing to step out of our comfort zones
We don't need perfect knowledge to share Christ - we just need to share the Jesus who changed our lives
Time is short and opportunities are precious - we must act with urgency in sharing the Gospel
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5 Day Devotional
Day 1:When God Says No to Say Yes
Devotional: Have you ever felt like God was closing doors you desperately wanted to walk through? Paul experienced this firsthand when the Holy Spirit prevented him from preaching in Asia and Bithynia. His original plans seemed good—after all, sharing the Gospel is always a worthy cause. Yet God had something different in mind. Sometimes we become so focused on our own vision that we miss God's greater purpose. Paul could have been frustrated or confused by these divine roadblocks, but instead he remained open to God's leading. That openness led to the Macedonian vision—a call that would change the course of Christianity forever. God's 'no' to Paul's Asian ministry was actually a 'yes' to reaching Europe, which eventually brought the Gospel to America. What seemed like a setback was actually a setup for something far greater than Paul could have imagined. When we face closed doors, it's natural to feel disappointed or question God's plan. But these moments often reveal that God sees a bigger picture than we do. His timing and direction are perfect, even when they don't align with our expectations. The key is staying in prayer and remaining sensitive to His voice, trusting that His plans are always better than our own. Today, if you're facing a divine 'no,' don't lose heart. God may be preparing you for a 'yes' that's beyond your wildest dreams.
Bible Verse
'During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."' - Acts 16:9
Reflection Question
What doors has God closed in your life that you're still struggling to accept, and how might you begin to see these as potential redirections rather than rejections?
Quote I found that many times we misinterpret God's no so much so we fail to hear God's yes.
Prayer
Lord, help me trust Your timing and direction, even when it doesn't match my plans. Give me the wisdom to recognize when You're saying no to lead me to something better. Keep my heart open to Your voice and willing to follow wherever You lead. Amen.
Day 2:God's Voice Challenges Our Comfort
Devotional: There's something uncomfortable about truly following God's voice. It rarely caters to what feels easy or natural to us. When Paul received the Macedonian vision, it meant leaving familiar territory and venturing into the unknown. It meant facing new challenges, different cultures, and uncertain outcomes. God's leading often pushes us beyond our comfort zones because that's where growth happens. If His voice only confirmed what we already wanted to do, we'd never need faith. We'd never experience the joy of seeing Him work through our weaknesses or witness miracles that only He could perform. Think about the areas where you feel God stirring your heart. Are they comfortable? Do they align perfectly with your natural preferences? If so, you might want to listen more carefully. God's authentic voice typically calls us to something that requires dependence on Him rather than confidence in ourselves. This doesn't mean God's will is always difficult or unpleasant, but it does mean it will stretch us. It will require us to trust Him more than we trust our own understanding. Paul's willingness to be challenged by God's voice led to churches being planted across Europe and countless lives being transformed. When we allow God's voice to challenge our flesh rather than cater to it, we position ourselves to be part of His greater story. We become vessels He can use to accomplish things we never thought possible.
Bible Verse
'It is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment' - Hebrews 9:27
Reflection Question
In what areas of your life are you seeking God's voice to confirm your comfort rather than challenge your faith?
Quote I have found this. I found that God's voice, that God's leading never caters to my flesh. It challenges it.
Prayer
Father, I don't want to follow a voice that only tells me what I want to hear. Help me recognize and respond to Your authentic voice, even when it challenges me. Give me courage to step out of my comfort zone and trust You completely. Amen.
Day 3:They Had Nothing, Yet Reached Everything
Devotional: The early Christians accomplished something remarkable with almost nothing. Paul and his companions walked on rough stone roads, faced hostile crowds, and risked their lives regularly. They had no cars, planes, or modern conveniences, yet they reached the known world with the Gospel. Contrast that with today. We have every advantage they lacked—instant communication, comfortable transportation, and relative safety. We can share the Gospel through social media, text messages, and video calls. We can travel across the world in hours rather than months. Yet somehow, we often struggle to reach the person sitting next to us. What made the difference? It wasn't their resources—it was their resolve. They understood the urgency of their mission and the power of their message. They didn't wait for perfect conditions or better circumstances. They worked with what they had and trusted God to multiply their efforts. Perhaps we've become too dependent on having everything perfect before we act. We wait for the right training, the perfect opportunity, or ideal circumstances. Meanwhile, people around us are living without hope, unaware of the love that could transform their lives. The early believers prove that God doesn't need our advantages to accomplish His purposes. He needs our availability. He needs hearts that are willing to share His love regardless of the obstacles or inconveniences we might face.
Bible Verse
'For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.' - Romans 1:16
Reflection Question
What advantages do you have that you're not using for God's kingdom, and what excuses are you making that the early Christians never had the luxury of using?
Quote They had next to nothing. We have everything and yet they have done more than we have.
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for making excuses when I have so many advantages. Help me see the opportunities around me and give me the courage to act on them. Use my resources, relationships, and circumstances for Your glory. Amen.
Day 4:Cross the Driveway, Not the Sea
Devotional: Paul crossed seas and continents to share the Gospel, but God isn't asking most of us to do the same. Sometimes the greatest mission field is right next door. The neighbor who's struggling with their marriage. The coworker dealing with anxiety. The classmate searching for purpose. They're all within reach, yet we often find them harder to approach than if they lived on another continent. There's something about proximity that makes evangelism more challenging. When someone lives far away, we can romanticize the idea of reaching them. But when they're close, we have to deal with the reality of ongoing relationship, potential awkwardness, and the fear of rejection from someone we see regularly. Yet these nearby relationships offer something distant missions can't—the opportunity for sustained influence. Your neighbor can watch your life over time. Your coworker can see how you handle stress and conflict. Your classmate can observe how your faith affects your daily decisions. God has strategically placed people in your immediate circle. He's given you natural opportunities to build relationships and share His love. You don't need special training to ask someone if you can pray for them. You don't need a theology degree to invite someone to church or share how God has worked in your life. The hardest distance to cross isn't geographical—it's the space between our fears and our faith. But when we take that step, we often discover that people are more open than we expected.
Bible Verse
'To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.' - 1 Corinthians 9:22
Reflection Question
Who in your immediate circle—neighbors, coworkers, classmates—has God placed there for you to reach, and what's really holding you back from taking that first step?
Quote Maybe God's not asking you to cross the sea. Maybe he's just asking you to cross the driveway. Maybe he's asking you to cross over to the next cubicle.
Prayer
God, open my eyes to see the mission field in my everyday life. Give me courage to reach across the driveway, the cubicle wall, or the dinner table. Help me overcome my fears and trust that You've prepared hearts around me. Amen.
Day 5:Give Them the Jesus You Know
Devotional: One of the biggest lies we believe about evangelism is that we need to have all the answers before we can share our faith. We think we need to master theology, memorize apologetics, or become biblical scholars. But the truth is much simpler—we just need to share the Jesus we know. You don't need to explain the Trinity to tell someone how God gave you peace during a difficult time. You don't need to defend the historicity of Scripture to share how reading the Bible has changed your perspective. You don't need to solve the problem of evil to tell someone that Jesus loves them and died for their sins. The most powerful evangelism often comes from the simplest testimonies. When you share how Jesus has personally impacted your life, you're offering something no one can argue with—your own experience. They might question doctrine, but they can't question what God has done in your heart. Remember, people are dying without hope. Teachers in their thirties, healthy individuals in their prime—we never know when someone's time will come. Every day we wait for perfect knowledge or ideal circumstances is another day someone might miss their opportunity to hear about Jesus. The Jesus who saved you is the same Jesus who can save them. The Jesus who forgave your sins can forgive theirs. The Jesus who gave you hope can give them hope too. That's all you need to share—the Jesus you know personally and intimately.
Bible Verse
'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.' - Acts 1:8
Reflection Question
What specific ways has Jesus changed your life that you could share with someone this week, and who in your life needs to hear about the Jesus you know?
Quote You don't need to know the Bible. Just give him the one that changed your life. Jesus Christ. How hard is it?
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for what You've done in my life. Help me see that my personal testimony is enough to make a difference in someone else's life. Give me opportunities this week to share the Jesus I know with someone who needs to meet Him. Amen.