September 22, 2026 | The Movement - A Study in Acts by Byron McWilliams
Day 1: The Power of a Saving Gospel
Reading: Acts 11:20-21; Romans 1:16
Devotional: The early believers in Antioch went to unfamiliar places and proclaimed Jesus Christ to people who had never heard His name. The result was staggering — a great number believed and turned to the Lord. The gospel is not a quiet suggestion. It is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. Consider the people in your daily life who have not yet heard or responded to that message. You carry something of eternal weight. The question is not whether the gospel is powerful enough. The question is whether you are willing to open your mouth and share it.
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel this week, and what is one practical step you can take to share it with them?
Day 2: Growing Deep So You Can Reach Far
Reading: Acts 11:26; 2 Timothy 2:15; Colossians 1:9-10
Devotional: Barnabas and Saul spent an entire year in Antioch teaching a great many people. The church did not rush past spiritual formation to get to mission work. They understood that a believer who is not growing in their knowledge of Christ is a believer who will not last long in kingdom work. Spiritual depth and missionary reach are not opposites — they are partners. The more firmly you are rooted in the truth of Scripture, the more boldly and accurately you will represent Christ to a watching world. Growth is not optional. It is preparation for everything God intends to do through you.
Reflection: Are you currently engaged in consistent Bible study and Christian community? What step can you take to go deeper in your faith this week?
Day 3: Standing Firm When the World Pushes Back
Reading: Acts 11:26; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 6:13-14
Devotional: The disciples in Antioch were called Christians — little Christs — because they so visibly and consistently reflected the character and conviction of Jesus that the name stuck. They did not blend in. They did not soften their message to avoid conflict. They stood firm. The world has always pushed back against the gospel, and it still does today. Cultural pressure, social ridicule, and political opposition are not new threats to the church. They are ancient tools of an enemy who knows the gospel changes everything. When you stand firm on the truth of Christ, you are not being stubborn. You are being faithful.
Reflection: In what area of your life is the culture pressuring you to compromise your convictions? How can you stand firm in that area this week?
Day 4: The Holy Spirit Leads, We Follow
Reading: Acts 13:2-4; John 16:13; Proverbs 3:5-6
Devotional: The first missionary journey did not begin with a committee vote or a strategic planning session. It began with the Holy Spirit speaking clearly to a group of people who were worshiping and fasting. The church in Antioch did not send Barnabas and Saul on their own authority. The Bible says they were sent out by the Holy Spirit. This is the proper order of kingdom work. God leads. We follow. When we reverse that order and ask God to bless plans we have already made without consulting Him, we trade the supernatural for the manageable. Slow down. Worship. Fast. Listen. The Spirit still speaks.
Reflection: Is there a decision or calling in your life right now where you need to stop and listen for the Holy Spirit's direction before moving forward?
Day 5: Here Am I — Send Me
Reading: Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 9:37-38; Acts 13:3
Devotional: When Isaiah saw the Lord high and exalted on His throne, his immediate response was not to calculate the cost. It was surrender. Here am I. Send me. The harvest Jesus described in Matthew 9 is still plentiful, and the workers are still few. The call of God does not always mean packing your bags for a foreign country. Sometimes it means crossing the street, walking into a coworker's office, or picking up the phone. But it always requires availability. God is not looking for the most qualified. He is looking for the most willing. The question He is asking has not changed. Who will go?
Reflection: What is God calling you to do in His harvest field — locally, nationally, or globally — and what is one commitment you can make today to answer that call?