A Tale Of Two Cities

SERMON OUTLINE:

(1). Thessalonica: Paul reasons from the Scriptures (vs 1-9).

• (A). Paul’s Method and Message:

• (a1). He ‘reasoned’ with them (vs 2a)

• (a2). He ‘explained’ or opened these passages (vs 2b)

• (a3). He gave evidence (vs 2c)

• (a4). He ‘announced’ or proclaimed. (vs 2d)

• (B). The People: Response (v 5-10):

• (b1). Some Believed (vs 4)

• (b2). Some Rejected (vs 5)

(2). Berea: the people examine the Scriptures (vs 10-15).

(2a). The Bereans Character (vs 11a)

(2b). The Bereans Enthusiasm (vs 11b)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• Who is it?

• 10 Surprising Facts About this man.

• He went to work in a factory aged 12.

• He dreamt of being an actor.

• He wrote his first novel when he was only 24.

• He didn't grow a beard until he was in his forties.

• A portrait of his wife was once mistaken for this man in drag!

• He founded his own charity.

• He encouraged other writers - even women!

• His pet made a surprise appearance in his novels.

• From 1837 to his death in 1870, he was one of the most famous people on the planet.

• He wrote A Christmas Carol in just 6 weeks!

• Source: 10 Surprising Facts About Charles Dickens

• https://dickensmuseum.com/blogs/charles-dickens-museum/10-surprising-facts-about-charles-dickens

Quote:

• Charles Dickens is one of my favorite authors.

• One of his great books (‘A Tale of Two Cities.’),

• Starts with this famous opening paragraph,

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”

• TRANSITION: For the apostle Paul and his companions,

• It was, “the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

• In the sixteenth chapter of Acts, Paul, Silas, Luke, and Timothy in the city of Philippi,

• They experienced Prison (the worst of times),

• But also a miracle escape and new life as people came to faith (the best of times).

• You may have noted last week that in chapter 16 verse 40b,

• The “we” suddenly becomes, “they.”

• For the time being, Luke and Timothy stay behind in Philippi.

• Paul and Silas (in Chapter 17), move west,

• They pass through two cities (vs 1) tells us, without preaching?

• And they ended their 100-mile journey in two other cities - Thessalonica and Berea.

• Hence my title, or reference to, ‘A Tale of Two Cities.’

• Now the big picture in these verses is:

• In Thessalonica Paul reasons from the Scriptures (vs 1-9).

• In Berea the people examine the Scriptures (vs 10-15).

(1). Thessalonica: Paul reasons from the Scriptures (vs 1-9).

Thessalonica a Key City:

• Today Thessalonica is called Salonika.

• It has become the second largest city in Greece.

• In Paul’s day it was the capital of Macedonia,

• And it was also a centre for business, rivalled only by Corinth.

• The main street of Thessalonica was part of the Ignatian Way.

• This road connected the eastern and western portions of the Roman Empire,

• So, living in Thessalonica was like living next to a motorway:

• It was also a busy seaport.

• Making it one of the major trade routes in the region,

• So, it was an ideal place for evangelism.

(a). The Apostle Paul: Method & Message (vs 2-3)

“As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.”

Quote: A couple of well-known sayings are,

“If you fail to plan, you plan to fail “.

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago”.

• TRANSITION:

• T

• The apostle Paul had a goal and a plan.

• He always went first to the synagogue (to the Jew).

• When they rejected him and his message, he went out into the marketplace (Gentiles).

• Notice verses 2-3.

• We can see the apostle Paul’s strategy for evangelism in four words found in verses 2-3.

(A1) HE ‘REASONED’ WITH THEM.

• “He reasoned with them from the Scriptures,”

• That means he dialogued with them through questions and answers.

• He opened up his Bible (Old Testament).