Invading the Darkness: How the Gospel Transforms a City

When Jesus promised Peter, “I will build my church,” He wasn’t talking about buildings or programs. He was promising to build a people—a family of disciples, learners who live and proclaim the gospel together. The blueprint for how that happens? The Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The story of Corinth in Acts 18 shows us what this looks like in real life. Corinth was a city drowning in immorality, a hub for trade, lust, and vice. Known for its temple to Aphrodite with a thousand prostitutes, Corinth made Las Vegas look tame. If ever a city needed the gospel, it was Corinth.

Enter Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla. God sovereignly placed them in this sin-soaked city to proclaim His message. While Paul intentionally traveled to Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla were expelled from Rome by a government decree. What seemed like political upheaval was God’s strategy to position His people for mission.

And what did they do? They worked as tentmakers by day and evangelized by night. Paul didn’t see his job as separate from his calling—it was part of it. He shared the gospel in synagogues and homes, building relationships and pointing people to Jesus. Opposition came quickly, but it couldn’t stop the gospel’s advance. When the Jewish community rejected Paul’s message, he turned to the Gentiles, and lives were transformed. Entire households believed, were baptized, and joined the family of God.

This is how the gospel invades a community: God places His people strategically, empowers them with His presence, and uses their bold proclamation to bear fruit.
Here’s the challenge: Are you living as a strategically placed gospel witness? God has placed you—yes, you—where you are for a reason. Whether in your workplace, school, or neighborhood, your relationships and circumstances are not accidents. They are opportunities.

So, will you boldly proclaim the gospel, even when faced with opposition? Will you invest in your local church, the instrument God uses to advance His mission? And will you trust His promise: “I am with you always, to the end of the age”?

The gospel transformed Corinth. It can transform your community too—but only if you step into the mission with faith, boldness, and reliance on God’s presence.