Series: We’re on a Mission from God
Message: This Side Up
Text: Acts 17:1-9
Date: Jan 24, 2020
Big Idea: After watching enough news and having personal encounters with haters, you'd be prone to think that no one could care less about Jesus, but you'd be wrong. Allowing this negative view to become a part of our mindset will end up hindering your adventures and obedience in personal evangelism. Truth is, there's always someone within your circles who truly wants to know more about Jesus.
SLIDE 1
Map of 2nd Missionary Journey
Acts 17:1-9
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they (paul, silas, and timothy-its believed that Luke, most likely a gentile stayed behind to pastor and lead the new found church. Paul and Silas however have been run out of town) came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. (Jews First) 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
INTRO:
-Thessalonica is about 100 miles from Philippi. It’s the old St. Louis of it’s day.
SLIDE Map of Greece
1-Some were persuaded
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women v.4
We’re so used to encountering skeptics and cynics that we forget that there are people out there who are genuinely interested in God.
Cornelius of Acts 10 and Lydia of Acts 16 are both examples of people who simply needed someone to guide them to. Jesus.
Seekers: There were some people in this synagogue who were persuaded. They were the ones waiting for the promised Messiah. They were the ones praying every day that God would send the Messiah. They were the ones who believed in bible prophecy.
ILLUS: Have you ever had a craving for a particular food item and you couldn't be satisfied until you had it i.e, as good and as healthy as they are a plant based hot dog just isnt the same thing.
Blaise Pascal introduced the concept of what’s been described as a “God shaped vacuum”. Most people know that something is missing in their lives and they try to fill this void through works, social justice, wealth, popularity, etc. but ultimately only Jesus can fill it.
ILLUS: Rodman 5x Champion, 7x Rebounds. Tom Landry (1960-88)
So, for some, all that Paul needed to do was to show them that Jesus was, in fact, the One God had promised to send. Like Cornelius and Lydia, there are people who are already spiritually curious but just need to have someone guide them to Christ.
We sometimes refer to them as “seekers” meaning that they already have a spiritual curiosity. All they need is for someone, someone like you, to help them along the way. Normal and objective.
Seekers are characterized by an openness. Let me encourage you to be on the look out for them and to engage them in conversation. Ask God to reveal them to you.
Include church in your conversations. Do you have any spiritual beliefs? Did you ever go to church or anything like that as a child? How can I pray for you?
2-Some People need Evidence.
“On three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” (17:2b-3)
“Reasoned” with them in: Thessalonica (17:2), Athens (17:17), Corinth (18:4), Ephesus (18:19; 19:8,9), Troas (20:7,9), and Caesarea Maritima (24:25)
Specifically, that “It was Necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead” v.3
-The fact that Jesus paid the price for our sins is something we regularly commemorate through Communion. WE have crosses on our buildings. Theologically it’s something that we somewhat take for granted. For most of us this is a given. Yet many Christians also have those passages they'd rather not talk about, e.g. God's plan for marriage, Sodom and Gomorrah, Hell, etc.
For the Hebrews, the idea that the Messiah could be beaten and killed was a hurdle. This was their primary hurdle to Jesus as the Messiah.
So, he reasoned with them from the Scriptures…”they” are Jews who believe the Bible.
We dont know what verses he used but perhaps:
I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. (Isa. 50:6)
As many were astonished at you—His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind. (Isa. 52:14)
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely, he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. | All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. (Isa. 53:3-7)
it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead (17:3)
The Messiah has to suffer (they focused only on the conquering king) His suffering would be for our sins.
We see this is also the case with the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24
Luke 24
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Lk. 24:26-27)
SIDE NOTES
They Believe in the Bible and so he uses the Bible
A-Religious Background i.e. in a synagogue.
ILLUS: Martin Luther was born again through reading the Bible.
Some people w/a spiritual background just need to be shown the biblical evidence.
B-Takes Time. Paul spends 3 Sabbaths explaining this to the Jews.
-Luke writes that it was three Sabbaths (process) that Paul went to the synagogue in Thessalonica and spoke. He took the Scriptures and used them as the foundation for what he was to teach.
Some people just need a little more evidence and time to process
Spiritual Discussion
Q: What would you say is the main hurdle for you in becoming a C+n?
A: Typical objections and misunderstandings. Bible is full of mistakes? Evolution?
Seekers need Guidance. Skeptics Need Proof.
Some people just need to think it through. In Thessalonica some did.
And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeksand not a few of the leading women (17:4)
SLIDE 9
3. Some were jealous
“But the Jews were jealous” (v.5)
Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up (Mt. 27:18)
These particular Jews were envious of the attention Paul and Silas were getting. Paul’s teaching was effective; he was gaining many followers. He was becoming popular! It wounded the egos of the “other Jews” – meaning the other teachers at the synagogue. They were simply jealous of how people were responding to his teaching.
Jealousy is a negative response to someone (besides us) getting all the attention or being perceived as more valuable. It's the "original sin" of Lucifer.
These particular Jews were envious of the attention Paul and Silas were getting. Paul’s teaching was effective; he was gaining many followers. He was becoming popular! It wounded the egos of the “other Jews” – meaning the other teachers at the synagogue. They were simply jealous of how people were responding to his teaching.
Jealousy is a negative response to someone (besides us) getting all the attention or being perceived as more valuable.
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Prov. 14:30).
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice (James 3:16)
Jesus listed envy as one of the evil things that come from inside and defile the body (Mark 7:22). It ranks right up there with murder and adultery!
Why is it so evil? Because it tears down people, stifles spiritual growth, end up doing all kinds of weird things…career moves, relationship moves…
and in worst case scenarios can lead to murder.
-Thessalonica is an exhibit A of this.
They (jealous jews) rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city (Acts 17:5).
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. (Acts 17:5 KJV)
“Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus” (Mt 27:20)
Q: Who organized the mob?
A: The religious (Acts 17:5).
“Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus” (Mt 27:20)
Notice that the teachers found other people to do their dirty work.
-They (lewd fellows of the baser sort-kjv) barged into the house of a guy named Jason who they thought Paul and Silas were staying with. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king” (v.7-8).
-This is what jealousy can do. It destroys everything in its path. And while demolishing everyone and everything around them, the person who has caused all the trouble appears innocent! Religious were the catalysts for this.
Sometimes we too can be tempted to be envious of people who are getting all the attention – in our family structures, our social settings, our schools, workplaces, our society, and yes – even our churches.
We can be tempted to envy the attention, accolades, and honor that others get while we work as hard as they do but are pushed to the side unnoticed and unappreciated.
It’s easier said than done but the best thing I can tell you is that
3 Ways to Keep a Clean Battery (Don’t Stall Out)
1-Let them have their moment. (seasonal and so don’t be the one to rain on their parade).
2-Strive to see them as children of God. Look past their faults and failures Look beyond the temporal and try to see them through the eyes of our Savior who died for them.
3-Jesus sees you. He values you. He has rewards for you.
4-Fruit: Another church is planted
“Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.” (17:4)
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 1:1)
Thessalonica is somewhat of the 1800s St Louis of it's day.
For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. (1 Thess. 1:8)
Persevere. The word came to them, through them, and then went out from them.
There will be some fruit from your faithfulness. A church is planted. This church will be concerned that they missed Christ’s return and it will result in Paul writing not one but two letters to them- 1&2 Thess
Paul, Silas, and Timothy are accused of turning the world upside down which is actually a compliment.
“These men who have turned the world upside down” (17:6)
It’s not normal: kidnappings, riots, vandalism, pedophilia, drag queen story hours, evolution, cruelty to animals, corruption, paranormal, not normal.
Actually it’s right side up. We'll look more specifically as to how we can turn our worlds right side up next week. For now...
Action Item
-Begin to pray and look for the seekers and skeptics. Ask God to reveal to you those who are open to the gospel. It needs to be on your radar.
Prayer
