There are a lot of people who want to do great things for Christ, but the way they are taught, they “wait” for the leading of the Spirit. However, if you search the Scriptures you will see that in the majority of cases, the disciples and early church didn’t move on the basis of “leading”. In the case of Paul, his first missionary journey was definitely led by the Holy Spirit when in Acts 13:2, the Spirit of the Lord said to set apart Paul and Barnabas for the work of the Lord. But if you notice the second missionary journey, it started with Paul saying in Acts 15:36 to visit every city to see how their brothers were doing. It started with concern for the brethren, and not the typical “leading”. In fact, it even started with a fight between Paul and Barnabas and a split. So, if you are sitting there in your city, hoping for the Holy Spirit to come and revive you, know this that rather, the Holy Spirit is waiting on you.
Paul had a template. Perhaps not planned to be so, but he did way in an organized and systematic way. A lot of people, especially in the charismatic setting feel uncomfortable when they hear “organized” and “systematic”. It’s as if it is akin to the devil. They think these are management tricks. Well no. Spontaneity is good, but sometimes we take spontaneity as an excuse for our lack of preparation and lethargy. Being rigid isn’t good either, so we need to hit a balance which we see in the life of Paul’s ministry. We need to have a template and plan, but always open for the Lord to correct it. Paul planned and initiated the second missionary journey, while the Lord intervened and asked them to not do where there was a need for course correction (Read Acts 16:6-10, when Paul and Silas are stopped from going to Asia).
Step 1: Starting with those who knew something.
Paul would first go to the local synagogue. This was a strategic choice because synagogues were places where Jews and God-fearing Gentiles gathered to worship and study the Scriptures. Paul, being a Pharisee and well-versed in Jewish law and Scriptures, could engage with the audience effectively. He would often begin his preaching by relating to the Jewish Scriptures, interpreting them to show that Jesus was the Messiah. This approach allowed him to connect with those who were already familiar with the concept of a coming Messiah. For example, In Thessalonica, as recorded in Acts 17:2-3, Paul went to the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead.
Takeaway: If you want to win a city, start sharing the gospel with people who already know some of it, and are the fringes of it.
Step 2: Reaching out those who didn’t know anything at all
When Paul faced rejection or opposition from the Jewish community, he would then turn to the Gentiles in the city. This pattern often arose due to the mixed responses he received; while some Jews accepted his message, others rejected it vehemently. The turning point usually came when the synagogue audience became hostile or when Paul perceived a lack of openness among the Jews. In Acts 13:46, in Antioch of Pisidia, after being opposed by the Jews, Paul and Barnabas declared that they would turn to the Gentiles.
Takeaway: In your city, don’t just focus on church, but focus on the people who are downtrodden, poor, and common people.
Step 3: Establish a Base of Operations:
Paul often established a base in a believer’s home or a sympathetic person’s house. This base served as a center for teaching, fellowship, and organizing the new church. He would stay in a city for an extended period, teaching and strengthening the new converts. In Corinth, Paul stayed with Aquila and Priscilla and used their home as a base for his ministry (Acts 18:2-3).
Takeaway: Be associated with the local church there, or with the local people in the community.
Step 4: Teach, disciple and repeat.
Paul didn’t just preach; he also taught and discipled the new believers, grounding them in the faith. He worked to establish a church structure, appointing leaders and ensuring the congregation was well instructed. In Ephesus, Paul taught daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus for two years, ensuring the believers were well taught (Acts 19:9-10).
Takeaway: When you start a new ministry at a place, it cannot be based on hype or emotion. We need to teach them the Word of God, and disciple people, who can in turn do the same.
Step 5: Use any media to communicate and reach out.
In cases where he could not remain or return, Paul wrote letters to the congregations he established, offering instruction, encouragement, correction, and theological teachings. These letters became part of the New Testament.
Takeaway: Use any media, be it social media, blogging, vlogging, public preaching. or any means to reach out. Don’t shun social media saying it is evil. Use it for the right purposes.
Do not wait for the church to get big to expect something powerful to happen. Start with the template of a core of committed believers. Many pastors are searching for an approach, a template on which to model their church. The best advice is to use Paul’s timeless example.
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