Conviction, Compassion, and Calling

October 4, 2026 Rarely does a single sermon unpack the Great Commission with this much practical depth. This sermon digs into Acts 15-16 to reveal what faithful missionary work actually looks like when lived out day by day. What does it really mean to become "all things to all people" without compromising your convictions? Carefully examining Paul's journeys, Larry identifies principles that still apply to ministry today. Discipleship, he argues, is just as essential as evangelism - nurturing new believers matters as much as reaching them in the first place. The message explores Paul and Barnabas's painful split over John Mark (a moment that shows even godly people disagree) and how God used both separate paths fruitfully, with Mark eventually writing a Gospel. Personally, Larry connects these ancient principles to modern pastoral life, sharing how he navigated his wife's Presbyterian baptism and his own social media choices to guard his witness without surrendering his integrity. The tension between personal freedom and effective ministry is something every believer faces. Drawing from First Corinthians, Timothy's circumcision, and Spirit-led evangelism, this message offers a refreshingly honest and grounded look at what it costs to follow God's call faithfully.