Series: Action [#28]
THE POINT OF IT ALL
Acts 13:13-41
Introduction:
I come here this morning asking you a question- “What’s the point”? It seems like our Nation is going down the tubes and we can’t do anything about it. Hollywood can have shows with live audiences; but California Churches cannot have Worship Services. Our Governor is going after Counties like ours. She is keeping Schools closed down in our County. I hear that she is working on shutting our County Churches back down. We go to all of this work to keep our Churches going and it seems most people don’t even care. It’s not like any of our County Churches are breaking attendance records. In fact, it is the opposite. So, what is the point of our Church continuing on? Our text today gives us the point.
Acts 13:13-16
Paul’s trip was not going as planned. They sailed to Perga and John Mark left them. We don’t know what happened to cause Mark to leave them and go back to Jerusalem; but this became a serious problem for Paul and Barnabas. They traveled from Perga to Pisidian Antioch which was a very dangerous trip. That road was known for many robberies and violence; and they had to travel across the Taurus Mountain Range. Many scholars also believe that Paul got sick during this trip, (which would have made it even harder). Once they arrived at Pisidian Antioch, Paul did what he always did when he arrived at a new place- He went to the local Synagogue. Paul was invited to speak, and he accepted. Let’s look at his sermon, point by point. It still applies to us today.
Acts 13:17-22
1. Israel’s history with God.
Paul gives them a quick summary of God’s dealings with the Nation of Israel. He started with the exodus from Egypt and then continued with the times of the Judges; and then finished with the 1st 2 Kings of Israel. He shared with them that David was a man after God’s own heart.
Acts 13:23-26
2. Jesus is the promised Savior.
Paul tells them about John the Baptist leading the way for Jesus. Jesus is the Messiah that the Jews had been waiting for. Jesus had been sent to the Earth to offer us salvation.
Acts 13:27-37
3. Jesus’ death and proof of His resurrection.
Jesus’ death and resurrection was prophesied. This was God’s plan from the beginning. God knew that man would sin and that Jesus would be the only way to salvation for mankind. Jesus was crucified, raised from the dead, and was seen by many people before He ascended into Heaven.
Acts 13:38-39
4. Jesus offers forgiveness of sins.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one can go to the Father, except through Jesus. There is no other way to salvation except through Jesus; and that can only happen because He has paid the price of sin.
Acts 13:40-41
5. A warning to not fulfill this prophesy.
Paul warns them to not fulfill the prophecy of those who would reject Jesus. There are still many today who are fulfilling this prophecy of rejecting Jesus; and if they die without Him as Savior they will perish.
Conclusion:
You may be thinking, “This is one of the most basic sermons that I have ever heard”. My comment is, “This sermon is the point of it all”. Without Jesus as your Savior, you have no hope. Without Jesus as your Savior, you will spend eternity in Hell.
With Jesus as your Savior, you can have peace, joy, and hope; regardless of what is going on around us. Right now, the solution is Jesus. Nothing has changed since Paul preached this sermon. People still need a Savior, and His name is Jesus.
