Pastor Kevin B. Taylor | Trust and Go

Summary

Pastor Kevin B. Taylor’s sermon, “Trust and Go,” is based on Acts 13:4–12 and introduces a series on Paul’s first missionary journey. Its central message is: When you trust the God who sends you, go where He leads—proclaim the Gospel, face opposition with faith, and help make disciples.

Main Ideas

• Trust the Sender. Paul and Barnabas did not choose their mission independently; the Holy Spirit set them apart and sent them. The church in Antioch worshipped, fasted, prayed, and followed the Spirit’s direction, even though it meant sending away two of its leading ministers. Taylor emphasizes that mission is God’s work, not merely a human plan, and that those who go do so with God’s authority and anointing.

• The whole church has a role. Not everyone is called to travel or preach, but everyone can support the mission. Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the Word, while John Mark served as their assistant. The church’s prayer, worship, practical help, and willingness to release its leaders all contributed to the work.

• Stay committed to the Gospel. The missionaries’ purpose was not simply to travel; it was to announce the good news and make disciples. Taylor applies this to Christians generally: believers should share what they have received rather than keep their faith to themselves.

• Expect opposition and persevere. In Paphos, Elymas—also called Bar-Jesus, a magician and false prophet—tried to turn the proconsul Sergius Paulus away from the faith. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, confronted him, and Elymas was temporarily blinded. Sergius Paulus then believed after seeing what happened and hearing the Lord’s teaching.

• Opposition does not necessarily mean the mission is failing. Taylor argues that resistance should not automatically be taken as a sign that God is absent. The missionaries kept going through conflict, and the result was conversion. His recurring encouragement is not to stop at confrontation, but to trust God and continue the work.

• Jesus is the model of perseverance. Taylor recalls Jesus continuing through betrayal, rejection, and crucifixion, and connects his death and resurrection to the Christian hope of victory over sin and death. He closes by urging believers to remain steadfast and active in the Lord’s work.

Practical Lessons

• Trust the Holy Spirit’s direction rather than relying only on personal plans.
• Prepare for spiritual work through worship, prayer, and fasting.
• Recognize that mission belongs to the whole church: some go, while others support and serve.
• Share the Gospel wherever you are, with the purpose of helping others become disciples.
• Expect resistance without allowing fear or conflict to stop you.
• Keep serving faithfully, trusting that God can use perseverance to bring people to faith.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Pastor Kevin B. Taylor — sermon speaker and Scripture reader.
• The Bible — primarily Acts 13:4–12, with references to Acts 13–14. The sermon also alludes to Isaiah’s “Here I am; send me” and to 1 Corinthians 15:55–58.
• Dr. Cleophus Root — cited by Taylor in connection with a book; the title is unclear in the subtitles.
• Congregation — addressed through call-and-response prompts, but no individual congregational speaker is identified.