Scripture/Text: Acts 14:1-7; In a culture that prizes limitless openness and reacts suspiciously to anyone with bold convictions or clear truth claims, Acts 14:1-7 reminds us that the Christian gospel has always drawn lines and always divided cities. When Paul and Barnabas preached Christ crucified and risen in Iconium, God's “word of grace” produced radically different responses: some hearts were melted in faith, others hardened in resistance. Like the rising sun, the gospel shines without asking permission; it does not change its light based on how people respond. As that light remains, division deepens and not because grace is harsh or coercive, but because love is real and truth is concrete. Yet, opposition never halts God's mission! When rejection turns violent, the light simply advances to the next place, continuing to spread God's love. Acts 14 shows us that the gospel is radically exclusive without being oppressive because faith is never forced, and radically inclusive without being vague because Jesus' saving grace is offered to all people. In Jesus Christ, God is gathering a new people not by erasing their differences, but by calling sinners of every kind into the shared light of a new day that has already dawned.

Sermon Outline:

1. The Sun Rises in Iconium (Acts 14:1-2)
2. The Sun Remains in Iconium (Acts 14:3-4)
3. The Sun Advances into Lystra (Acts 14:5-7)

Discussion Questions

• Acts 14 shows the same gospel producing belief in some and opposition in others. Why is it important to recognize that division is often a result of faithfulness, not failure?
• The metaphor of the sun melting ice and hardening clay emphasizes that the difference lies in the heart, not the message. How does this shape the way we think about evangelism and persuasion?
• Paul and Barnabas continue to speak boldly even after opposition arises. What fears or pressures tempt Christians today to soften, delay, or avoid clear gospel proclamation?
• How does Acts 14 challenge the idea that strong convictions or exclusive truth claims are inherently oppressive or dangerous?
• The apostles “remained for a long time” despite resistance. How can we discern when God is calling us to stay and endure opposition versus when it is wise to move on?
• The sermon argues that grace is not weak and love is not vague. What does that look like practically in our speech, relationships, and church life?
• In what ways does the gospel unite people across real differences without erasing those differences? How is this different from cultural ideas of unity?
• The apostles flee Iconium under threat of violence, yet continue preaching elsewhere. How does this passage help us think about staying or moving from a church or community?
• How does understanding the gospel as the “rising sun” encourage you to trust God with the results of your witness rather than carrying the burden of outcomes yourself?