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As we examine Paul's ministry in Athens we soon realise that it's not very different to ministering the Gospel in Perth. So, by watching Paul in Athens, we learn how we can communicate the Gospel to people with little understanding of who God is or what the Gospel is.

The greatest changes in the world aren't made by mighty leaders but by faithful ministers. You can turn the world upside down one life at a time. Yes, we need people of renown like Paul, Luther, Tyndale, Graham and all but what the world really needs more of is ordinary, faithful ministers.

The Gospel has the power to break every barrier. Where God leads us He is already at work.

After the tragic break up of Paul and Barnabas, Paul sets off with Silas on another journey. Nothing in this passage seems to go to plan and that is how we learn a great lesson. When things don’t go as we planned we can be certain they will achieve God’s plan.

This is perhaps the most important message any of us will need to hear. It is at the centre of Christian belief. Jesus alone can save! There is no possible way that you can achieve or attain salvation on your own. You need Christ and only Christ.

In this final summary of the first missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, Luke repeats an important concept of being committed or entrusted to the Lord. This has to do with our life and work as believers, as a church. Passing the Gospel along to others and to the next generation. So here are some, I hope encouraging, thoughts on our role of passing the torch of the Gospel along.

Living for Christ and serving Him is a life that is both agony and ecstasy. Along this first missionary journey we’ve been reminded that we need to declare the Good News because we are Ambassadors for Christ. How do we do that? How can we each live as ambassadors, missionaries as we’ve been called to? We go in the power of the Lord, we go for the glory of the Lord, we go in the strength of the Lord.

In the Gospel, God reveals His goodness to us. In declaring the Gospel we are declaring the longsuffering goodness of God that saves from sin. See God's goodness and declare it. The goodness of God prepared, provided and produces salvation.

Paul reminds us that we are to be lights in the world, ambassadors of Christ. As ambassadors we represent our King and His Kingdom in this world. We are also called to encourage the citizens of the Kingdom. So, how can we be good ambassadors of the King? Encourage the people of the King, reach the people of the King and experience the power of the Kingdom.