Impacting Our Town For Christ! Series

Text: Acts 19:8-41 Cosperville Baptist Church

Series: Journey With The Early Church: Pastor Jim Barnes

Topic: Evangelism, Preaching, Discipleship February 23, 2014

“Impacting Our Town For Christ!”

Intro:

IF OUR CHURCH CLOSED ITS DOORS, WOULD WE BE MISSED?

WOULD THERE BE A HOLE / A VOID IN OUR COMMUNITY IF OUR LIGHT WENT OUT?

WOULD ANYONE NOTICE?

THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MINUTE. THAT IS A SOBERING THOUGHT.

THE TITLE FOR THIS SERMON IS:

“Impacting Our Town For Christ!”

If you have your Bible, please turn with me to Acts 19. This morning we want to look at a little larger section. In Verses 8-41 we will see the impact the Gospel has on the city of Ephesus.

I WANT YOU TO SEE:

4 Ways We Can Impact Our Town Through The Gospel.

HOW CAN WE IMPACT OUR TOWN THROUGH THE GOSPEL?

HOW CAN WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR CHRIST HERE IN NOBLE COUNTY, INDIANA?

THE FIRST WAY WE CAN IMPACT OUR TOWN IS TOO:

I. Proclaim Jesus To Our Town (Acts 19:8-10).

THIS IS SEEN IN ACTS 19:8-10.

Acts 19:8-10 says, “9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.”

I WANT YOU TO NOTICE 3 TRUTHS ABOUT PROCLAIMING JESUS TO OUR TOWN.

THE FIRST TRUTH IS SIMPLY TOO:

A. Tell People Who Jesus Is And What He Has Done.

Acts 19:8 says, “And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

Paul usually went first to the synagogue – the Jewish place of worship.

WHAT DID HE DO?

It says, “He spoke bodly.”

This means, “To speak openly about something and with complete confidence” (Loud and Nida).

In some languages it can mean, “To speak without fearing’ or ‘to speak without worrying” (Loud and Nida).

IF YOUR GREATEST REASON FOR NOT SPEAKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS IS YOUR FEAR – TAKE HEART – GOD CAN GIVE YOU THE COURAGE TO SPEAK “BOLDLY” FOR CHRIST.

WHAT IS HIS MESSAGE?

Verse 8 says it was, “The Kingdom of God.”

Paul spoke boldly about the kingdom of God.

“If you compare Acts 28:30 and 31, you'll see the things concerning the Kingdom of God are the things concerning Jesus Christ as well. So he spoke about God's rule and God's Kingdom and especially as it related to Jesus Christ” (MacArthur, Acts).

HOW DID HE SPEAK? WHAT WAS HIS METHOD?

Acts 19:8 says, “He was reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.”

HE REASONED WITH THEM - This comes from the word from which we get, “Dialogue.” It means, “To reason, argue or debate” (Loud and Nida).

“He preached argumentatively: he disputed; gave reasons, scripture-reasons, for what he preached, and answered objections, for the convincing of men’s judgments and consciences, that they might not only believe, but might see cause to believe” (Matthew Henry).

HE PURSUADED THEM – He was passionate about what he spoke. He believed the message about Jesus and it came across in his delivery.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:11, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others.”

WE CAN NEVER ARGUE SOMEONE INTO HEAVEN. GOD MUST OPEN THEIR EYES TO THE TRUTH – BUT HE USES US AS WE SHARE THE GOSPEL.

What this means is that Paul talked with them, took questions, and argued persuasively from the Bible.

Notice Paul did this for 3 months!

He was patient. He talked to them about the Bible – answered their questions.

As long as people are willing to listen – we should be speaking!

DON’T BE AFRAID TO BRING UP ETERNAL MATTERS, HEAVEN, SALVATION, OR JESUS.

“It has been estimated that probably 95% of all church members have never led anyone to Christ” (Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations).

WE MUST FIND WAYS TO BRING JESUS INTO OUR CONVERSATIONS.

“So whenever you get an opportunity to talk to someone about spiritual matters, seek to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. The sinner needs to know who Jesus is and what He did. Don’t hesitate, out of fear of giving offense, to confront the sinner and warn him of impending judgment. He needs to feel his guilt so that he realizes his need for a Savior. And, don’t fail to offer God’s grace and forgiveness to everyone who will repent” (https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-11-how-proclaim-gospel-acts-311-26).

Bring the gospel into the situation.

THE SECOND TRUTH IS TOO:

B. Realize People Reject God Not You.

Acts 19:9 says, “But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.”