GOD’S GOSPEL STIRS TO ACTION (Outline)
May 2, 2010 -
Easter 5 -
ACTS 17:1-12
INTRO: God’s word always has a very specific purpose to accomplish. We may not always know or completely understand the final purpose of God’s divine plan. God’s ultimate intent in his word is that all men would be saved by coming to a knowledge of the truth. No matter any earthly outcome God’s word does what God wants. "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" (ISA. 55:11).
GOD’S GOSPEL STIRS TO ACTION.
I. Sadly, some will reject God’s truth.
II. Gladly, some receive and believe.
I. SADLY, SOME REJECT GOD’S TRUTH
A. Verse 1. Paul came to Thessalonica during his second missionary. He comes to the synagogue.
1. God’s people are at the synagogue. Just as important God’s word is also kept there.
2. Verse 2b. Paul does not speak of his experiences. Nor does Paul use human wisdom.
3. Verse 3. Paul opens up God’s word and places it before them. Christ lived, died, rose again.
B. God’s gospel message does not change. This Jesus is the Christ, Messiah, God’s anointed One.
1. Verse 5. They were jealous of the gospel!? One wonders why any would reject forgiveness.
2. The Jews gather false witnesses and incite the crowd. This also happened to Jesus.
C. Verses 6, 7a. Jason and his friends suffer because of Paul’s preaching of the gospel.
1. Verses 7b, 8. They charge Jesus as King. This would be treason and sedition against Rome.
2. Verse 9. The officials take the easy way out. These jealous Jews reject God’s simple truth.
D. It does seem strange that people would reject God’s gospel. Humanly speaking, this does not seem to make sense concerning God’s divine purpose for salvation. But last week was the same. Stephen saw Jesus enjoying the glory of heaven. With violent jealousy the crowd seized Stephen and stoned him to death. This is the devil at work. Blinded by jealousy or other emotions mankind turns against God. "But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away" (2 CORINTHIANS 3:14). In Christ is the veil of the old covenant removed. Only in Christ can any believer come to believe the way, the truth, and life.
E. We live in a time, a day, and an age of independent, self-reliance. Anyone willing to work hard can make something of himself and his life. This is our land of liberty and freedom that the rest of the world still flocks to. It is a good thing to enjoy such freedom. But there is also a downside. Mankind begins to think he is in charge. He thinks that he is the master of his own destiny. Global warming becomes a con-cern for mankind. In an instant volcanic ash spews forth to cool down Europe. An oil spill becomes a major disaster that man makes but cannot control. God will use nature, the wind and waves, to help clean up the mess man makes. "This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD’" (JEREMIAH 17:5). All of us guilty of trusting in someone or something else so much that our hearts briefly wander from the Lord.
F. Still we wonder why some do not want to hear about God’s forgiveness – the gospel? God’s gospel shows us that the Savior Jesus Christ has removed our sins and the sins of the world once and for all. By nature we are evil. From day one we have been conceived in sin. At birth we are born as enemies of God. On this side of heaven that sinfulness clings to everyone. "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (JOHN 3:19,20). By nature man loves darkness, evil. Some reject God’s gospel because they do not want to come into that Light which exposes sins. To believe in forgiveness one also has to believe in having done something wrong. None like to recognize sin much less admit it. There is no forgiveness by rejecting God’s gospel.
GOD’S GOSPEL STIRS TO ACTION.
Sadly, so sadly, some will reject God’s truth.
II. GLADLY, SOME RECEIVE AND BELIEVE
A. Paul opens up the word of God to explain God’s truth. This is now his custom, habit, verse 2.
1. Before Paul came to shame the name of Christ. Now Paul comes to proclaim Jesus’ name.
2. Verse 4. Jews believe. Greeks believe. Many prominent women believe.
a. Women are included in God’s salvation plan. b. Women are important in God’s eyes.
B. Verse 10. Thankfully Paul’s friends encouraged him to leave for his safety. They go to a synagogue.
C. Verse 11a. The Bereans learned the importance of God’s word. Their very character changed.
1. Verse 11b. Each day they checked out what Paul was preaching and teaching (still our task).
2. Verse 12. God’s church was changed: Jews, women, and Greeks were worshipping together.
D. Faith comes by hearing the message. The message is heard through the word of God. At times we tend to neglect the importance of hearing the word of God that gives life to our faith. Polls today show that more and more in America fill their Sundays with many other activity options. Satan would have us think that we do not have enough time to sit down and read God’s word on a daily basis. Our society has more free time than any other generation. We have at our disposal hundreds of different translations that bring God’s to us in a very simple, understandable language. "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong" (ECCLESIASTES 5:1). Gather around God’s word to listen. Gather in God’s house to hear God’s truth.
E. It is the gospel of God that saves us. God’s gospel saves from eternal destruction by freely forgiving our sins and freely giving us eternal life. Generation after generation after generation God’s message always remains the same. Some try to dress it up, add to it, or even subtract from God’s simple saving message. In and of itself God’s word is the only thing every believer truly, really, ever needs. "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (ROM. 1:16). God’s word brings salvation to and for all people. We are blessed to be able to study God’s word at our leisure in the comfort or our own homes. Early believers had to go to the synagogue where God’s word was safely stored. We easily study God’s word for truth.
F. Our world is dark and evil. Sinfulness and wickedness abounds almost beyond our human comprehension. Thankfully, our Lord God Almighty does not leave us on our own. God is always with us to help defeat every enemy that opposes his church and us. Thankfully, God gives us his word to remind each one of us the divine power that our faith possesses. "In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (EPHESIANS 6:16,17). Satan shoots evil arrows at us. Our shield of faith renders Satan’s efforts powerless. God’s word protects our eternity.
CONC: God’s word truly does stir to action. In the hearts of some they find the gospel of Jesus Christ offensive. Rather than believe, some sadly reject God’s truth. Miraculously God’s word does take root in the hearts of others who have ears to hear and hearts to believe. Gladly some hear, receive, and believe. This is God’s grace. "And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 PETER 1:19). May it be that God’s word has been made more certain among us today. Pray that each of us pay more attention to the truth of God’s word as it chases out the darkness of sin from our hearts. GOD’S GOSPEL STIRS TO ACTION. How sad that some reject God’s truth. How glad we are that others do hear, receive, and believe (all by God’s grace!). Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EASTER 5 rdgs:
ACTS 13:44-52, 26-33;
REVELATION 21:1-6;
JOHN 13:31-35;
(PSALM 145)
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