Get Up and Go Back

In 1988, an injured Kirk Gibson limped off the bench to hit a walk-off World Series home run — but the A's weren't trying to kill him. In Acts 14, Paul gets up from actual stones and, instead of going home, walks back into the cities that left him for dead. Opposition isn't proof God is absent; it's evidence the work matters. Four moves in the text: 1. With the support of your friends (v19–20) — stoned and left for dead, Paul rises only when the disciples gather around him. He gets up because he is not alone. 2. Through extreme opposition (v21) — he doesn't take the easy road home; he retraces the very cities that tried to destroy him, strengthening new believers along the way. 3. To strengthen and encourage the church (v22–23) — he returns to tell them the truth: "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." Tribulation isn't a detour; it's the road. 4. Declaring what God has done (v24–28) — back in Antioch, they report all God did with them, not just for them, and how he opened a door of faith. The report itself is worship. You get up. You go back. And you do it together. Chapters: 0:00 Kirk Gibson got up — but Paul got up from stones 2:02 From worshiped to stoned in Lystra (Acts 14:19) 3:52 With the support of your friends (v19-20) 16:24 Through extreme opposition (v21) 21:54 To strengthen and encourage the church (v22-23) 29:54 Declaring what God has done (v24-28)