The Lord of Heaven and Earth
Two Motivations for Missionaries
Aaron Lee | June 28, 2026 | FCBCW Children’s Worship | Acts 17:16-18:22
A shorter version of this message was delivered to our younger children.
Introduction
What motivates you to do the things you do? We all have motivations. Even I am motivated by money. But I am also motivated by love. As Christians, we have higher motivations. Jesus is a motivation for sure — we want the prize of Jesus. Today, I want to talk to us Christian’s specifically as missionaries. We are all missionaries in a sense, expected to share the gospel with others. And we have more motivation to share the good news.
Today, when I say motivations – I don’t mean rewards or incentives. I don’t mean what’s pulling us. I mean what’s pushing us. What propels us in ministry? What drives us forward in faith? What keeps us going towards God? As a runner, I’m not talking about the motivation of winning a medal. I’m talking about the motivation of what causes you to run in the first place?
In VBS, all the people who helped run the show were motivated by something. Do you think they were motivated because you are good kids? Do you think they were motivated because they would get money? Do you think they were motivated so people would praise them and say good job?
Context
Our key verse says that the apostles would receive power and witness – power to proclaim and witness Jesus. We’re going to see God’s power in such a way that shows, that witnesses, he is real.
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)
We’re going to follow Paul, and see his motivations as a missionary:
1. God is the King
Our text today begins with Paul in Athens. Athens is famous for its famous philosophers – Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Epicurus had all lived there. These people thought deeply and asked questions about life and what it means to live. And they also had a large presence of idols – Greek gods.
He is bothered that he sees so many idols. He goes to the synagogues and also to the marketplaces to speak with Jews and also to Gentiles. They are interested, so they bring him to the Areopagus – named after Ares, the greek god of war – and tell him to present.
16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols… 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man… (Acts 17:16-24)
Paul is bothered by so many idols being worshiped, and his response is to declare that God is the true Lord of heaven and earth – the king who deserves our worship. Paul’s sermon is actually a masterclass in preaching and evangelizing. Paul would go on to explain who God is, and preach repentance. Some mocked him, some said they wanted to hear more later, but some joined him and believed!
Application
So, will you live with God as your king? The most direct application is to see what Paul is saying and ask that of ourselves. I want to talk about how Paul observed they were religious. They were doing religious activities. But they did not know God. They had idols. That can happen here at church, too, where we do religious activities without knowing God — we must destroy our idols.
And, will you let this motivate you in missions? There are people today that still do not recognize that God is God. They say that there is no way we can know who God is. That is not true. God has revealed himself and when people say things like that, we can be bold and say what the Bible says.
2. God is in control
Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. When Paul went there, Christians were being persecuted. But there were many in the city that needed to be saved, especially as the city was known for its focus on money in trade commerce and sexual immorality.
He finds Jewish kinsmen, a couple Aquila and Priscilla. He stays with them and worked as they were all tentmakers. And Paul reasons at the synagogue every Sabbath to try to persuade Jews and Gentiles to believe in Jesus. Paul and Silas meet with Paul. The Jews oppose and revile him, and he decides to focus on the Gentiles. He stays at the house of Titius Justus who lived next door to the synagogue. A man named Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believes in the Lord and is saved along with many other Corinthians. God speaks to Paul in a vision:
9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” 11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. (Acts 18:9-11)
God shows his control by saying that no one will attack or harm Paul, so if Paul stays, he will be safe. God also shows his control by saying that he has many in this city who are my people, so if Paul stays, they will be saved. We see this come true as Paul is brought before the Roman tribunal. The Bible says that before Paul can even open his mouth, the judge dismisses it saying the Jews should take care of this issue themselves – it is an internal matter. Then, those angry with Paul end up beating Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him instead in front of the tribunal.
Application
So, will you live knowing that God is in control? The most direct application is to see that God is in control of everything. We sometimes think that we are lucky or that things are random – like you roll a dice and whatever happens just happens. The truth is that everything that happens to you, good or bad, is because God controls everything.
And, will you let this motivate you in missions? When people go out to evangelize, we trust that God is in control. He determines whether we will be safe and he also determines whether people will be saved. We are to trust him and go out in faith to share the good news to everyone.
The Gospel
The gospel is the good news of Jesus. This is the message that missionaries, from Paul to today, are motivated to share.
God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)
Big Idea
Christian are motivated to share the gospel because God is King and that God is in control.
Conclusion
Jesus is our motivation. To know Jesus and to be in Heaven with him is our ultimate motivation and joy:
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)
Notes
Adapted from More Than a Story by Sally Michael
Acts: A Commentary by Alan J. Thompson