Learning from Paul’s City Strategy

Anchor verses: Acts 17:16-23; Acts 19:8-10; Romans 15:18-21; Acts 28:30-13

Thanksgiving: What shall we render to God for what He does to us? For He has indeed done unto us so very much. Let us thank GOD for the uplifting message on missions He gave us on Sunday. Let us thank Him because He does not want us to be ignorant about the importance of evangelizing cities.

Prayer Points

1. Cities gather the Nations. Acts 17:17-18 (ESV). So, he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. 18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him.

• Pray that ICA members will take advantage of being in the city to evangelize Lilongwe city, reaching all people groups and nations.

• DECLARATION: “When we evangelize Lilongwe, we evangelize the nations gathered within it”

2. Cities influence Nations. Acts 19:10 (ESV). This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

• What happens in the city eventually shapes the countryside. Pray for Christ followers in the cities of Malawi to have a zeal for missions to evangelize the cities where they live.

• Pray that Christ followers will not give up easily preaching Christ in the cities, taking example from Paul, who evangelized one city for two years, with the gospel spreading far.

• DECLARATION: “When Lilongwe is reached, Malawi is influenced, and the nations are transformed”.

3. Cities shape culture and thought. Acts 17:22-23 (ESV). 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.

• Pray that ICA members will intentionally share the gospel in Lilongwe city because cities are incubators of ideas.

• Pray that the gospel of Jesus will have a big impact on Lilongwe city dwellers to reshape their way of doing things.

• DECLARATION: “When the gospel shapes Lilongwe’s culture, Malawi’s destiny is redeemed”.

4. City Strategy reflects God’s global vision. Romans 15:20 (ESV). and thus, I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation.

• God has always had a global mission vision. Pray that as Christ followers, we will use the cities as entry points for sharing the Good News with the lost.

• DECLARATION: “From Lilongwe to every city, from every city, to every nation – until the task is finished”.

5. City Churches are mission bases. Acts 13:2-3 (ESV). While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then, after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

• Pray that ICA will be a modern Antioch church, a spirit-filled sending base church.

• DECLARATION: “Strong city churches like ICA are God’s launching pads for global missions – from Lilongwe to the nations”.