How many of you remember the sermon from last weekend? Me either. Howard Hendricks used to say we have the potential of remembering 10% of what we hear, and that’s just the potential. Another pastor believes we forget 95% of a sermon after 72 hours.
For us to remember, we need to hear things repeatedly, so they get reinforced in our minds. I appreciated the reminder Luke from the Go Fund gave us last weekend about the three billion people in the world who have no gospel access. During the luncheon on Sunday, he reminded us of more truth, which we can’t forget.
• 97% of the unreached live in the 10/40 window, a rectangular area between 10- and 40-degrees north latitude. It encompasses 68 countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
• 60% of the unreached live in countries closed to missionaries.
• There are 400,000 missionaries in the world today.
• Of that total number, only 13,315 (or 3%) are ministering to the unreached.
• We have three options – Go, Send, or Disobey.
This past year, by God’s grace and through your generosity, we gave 14% of our budget to missions. Over the last several years, under the leadership of Pastor Dan and our missions committee, we’ve been prioritizing partnerships with those going to the least reached parts of the world. Right now, one of our own members is trusting God to provide prayer and financial partners as she prepares to serve in Asia.
We’ve been learning in the Book of Acts how we’re called to be witnesses to the whole world. That’s why we’ve been giving regular updates and praying for a family from Ukraine by name. Sasha and Sophia, along with their children, Lucas (4) and Emma (1), are scheduled to arrive in the QCA in about a week! They are really struggling emotionally and are tired. Let’s also pray all their documents come in.
Please turn to Acts 26 where we’ll learn how Paul witnessed to King Agrippa. Here’s our main idea: The Savior saved us so we will speak about Him to those He sends us to.
I see ten transferrable principles from this passage.
1. Get someone’s attention. It’s important to find a way to get someone to listen to you. We see this in verse 1: “So Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense.” Agrippa took charge and allowed Paul to testify. Amid all the pomp, Paul did not enter with the sound of a trumpet, but with the sound of rattling chains. He was not impressive in appearance. According to tradition, Paul was small and balding with a crooked nose and bowed legs (kind of sounds like me).
Paul wanted to make sure he had Agrippa’s total attention, so he “stretched out his hand.” This was a dramatic oratorical gesture indicating Paul lifted his whole arm from his shoulder to the end of his fingers. He would have closed his two smallest fingers while extending the other three. This was a customary way to show the earnestness of the speaker. This would have been striking because his arm was chained to a soldier.
My family often teases me for using my arms, hands, and multiple facial expressions when I’m preaching. Actually, I talk this way at home as well. When I had shoulder surgery, they all wondered how I was going to preach with my arm immobilized.
When you’re talking to someone who doesn’t know Christ, try to get their attention in some way, even if you don’t wave your arms around.
2. Make a connection by paying a compliment. One of the best ways to make a bridge to someone is by being complimentary. Let’s learn from Paul in verses 2-3: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”
The word “fortunate” indicates Paul was happy about the privilege of talking with him. Incidentally, Paul calls him “King” or “O King” five different times, which was a way to show respect. The word Greek word translated “defense” is where we get the word “apologetics.” Paul affirmed as a Jew himself, King Agrippa was an expert in the customs and controversies of the Jews and beseeched him to listen patiently.
We’ve seen this principle throughout the Book of Acts. One of my favorites is from Acts 17:22, when Paul referred to the Athenian idolaters as “very religious.” He could have clobbered them for their paganism but instead, he looked for a way to build a bridge to them. When you talk to someone, look for a way to compliment instead of criticizing them.
Incidentally, this encounter is a fulfillment of the words of Jesus in Luke 21:12-13: “But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness.”
The Savior saved us so we will speak about Him to those He sends us to.
3. Explain what your life was like before you met Christ. In verses 4-11, Paul made sure King Agrippa knew how he lived his life before being converted. Paul grew up with these religious leaders and everyone knew about his life. He reviewed some highlights, even though they were his classmates and colleagues. Listen to verse 5: “They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee.” The word “strictest” can refer to the “straightest.” As a Pharisee, he believed the Bible and he “lived” at the highest level of religiosity.
In Philippians 3:5-6 Paul summarized his spiritual resume: “Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”
Paul was not some cult leader who had departed from Judaism but rather was a faithful Jew whose hope was in the promises of God, which included the resurrection. We see this in verses 6-8: “And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?” Paul used the plural “you” to show he was also speaking to others who were listening.
To establish his credibility with Agrippa, who came from a long-line of Christian-haters, Paul spelled out what he did to Christ followers in verses 9-11: “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.”
The Savior saved us so we will speak about Him to those He sends us to.
4. Specify how you came to Christ. After he established his hatred of Christians, in verses 12-13, Paul clearly stated how he came to Christ: “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me.” Paul was an authorized assassination agent, empowered to kill Christians. In the middle of the day, when the sun was its brightest, a light with more lumens than the sun exploded around them. This was nothing less than the shekinah glory of God and was a fulfillment of Isaiah 9:2: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”
After the light appeared, the Lord Himself showed up according to verse 14: “And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’” This Greek and Latin proverb referred to how a young ox, when it was first yoked, would resent pulling a plow and would kick back. The farmer would be forced to hold a long staff with a sharpened end close to the heels of the ox. Every time the ox kicked; its lower leg was pierced. The point is the ox had to learn submission the hard way. I wonder if any of us are kicking back against the Lord today?
Like a stubborn animal, Paul realized it was fruitless to resist the sovereign will of God Almighty. Listen to what Paul asked in verse 15: “And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’” Jesus reiterated this truth in Matthew 25:40: “As you did it to one of the least of my brothers, you did it to me.”
After realizing Jesus was alive and that his persecution of Christians was actually an attack against Him, Paul was commissioned to live on mission in verses 16-17: “But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you.” In a similar way, God saved us to serve Him and to witness about Him to those He sends us to. When Paul told his story, he emphasized how Jesus said, “I am sending you.”
Verse 18 contains such deep truth I want us to pause and percolate on it: “To open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” Paul referenced six powerful ways the gospel changes us.
• Illumination. Because people are spiritually blind, they need to have their eyes opened: “to open their eyes.”
• Transformation. Salvation involves a turning which leads to being transferred “from darkness to light.”
• Conversion. When we’re saved, we’re taken “from the power of Satan to God.”
• Remission. Saving faith enables us to “receive forgiveness of sins.”
• Participation. Believers are also assured of “a place” where we will receive our inheritance.
• Sanctification. Once we’re saved, we begin the process of being “sanctified,” or set apart from sin so we can grow in Christlikeness.
Jesus made it clear that all of this only comes, “by faith in me.” Literally, this is translated, “Faith, even that which is in me.” As Romans 5:1 says, we are “justified by faith.” The Scriptures alone teach us we are saved by faith alone, through grace alone, in Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.
The Savior saved us so we will speak about Him to those He sends us to.
5. Declare what your life is like now. By using the word “therefore” in verse 19, Paul transitioned from how he was saved to what had changed in his life. He got the king’s attention again by saying, “O King Agrippa.”
Here’s a summary of what had changed.
• He determined to be obedient: “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (19).
• He called everyone to repent: “but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God” (20).
• He challenged people to live out their faith because grace produces good works: “performing deeds in keeping with their repentance” (20).
• He gave credit to God for helping him: “To this day I have had the help that comes from God…” (22). The word “help” means, “assistance.”
• He linked the message of Christ to the Old Testament: “And so I stand here testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass” (22).
• He communicated the message of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection: “that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles” (23).
After Martin Luther was converted, he held to his convictions when he was summoned before the religious and government authorities. When he was accused of heresy and told to recant, he refused by declaring: “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.” It was obvious he had changed from a meek monk to a bold proclaimer of truth.
The Savior saved us so we will speak about Him to those He sends us to.
6. Respond courteously to interruptions. As Paul zeroed in on King Agrippa, Festus the Governor couldn’t take it anymore. Verse 24 tells us he was fired up and fried up: “And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, ‘Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.’” The word “loud” means, “elevated and booming like an explosion.” Because he was convicted, he attacked Paul, accusing him of being insane. We get the word “maniac” from the Greek word he used.
Let me just say if you proclaim the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, some will think you’ve lost it. When Christ saved me in college, my family thought I had joined a cult or gone crazy. 1 Corinthians 1:18: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing…” 1 Corinthians 1:23 says, “But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles.” In John 10:20, the enemies called Jesus “insane; why listen to him?”
Once a month I meet with a group of gospel-centered pastors. On Thursday, we encouraged each other to keep preaching the truth of the gospel, while proclaiming marriage as one man and one woman, the sanctity of life, and calling our people to purity. We ended by praying for our community and asking God to send revival. I left so encouraged by so many pastors in the QCA being committed to proclaiming the truth of God’s Word, no matter what others may think of us.
In verse 25, Paul defended himself: “I am not out of my mind most Excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.” When Paul was interrupted, he didn’t water down the message or blow up at Festus. Instead, he spoke clearly and with a level head. Paul practiced Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
He handled this interruption with wisdom because verse 26 shows how he took the focus back to Agrippa: “For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner.”
7. Utilize convicting questions. Paul asked a very pointed question in verse 27: “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets?” He didn’t give him much time to answer and immediately added, “I know that you believe.” Agrippa was Jewish so he had to answer yes, but if he did, he knew he would have to believe in Jesus because the prophets spoke about Christ. We see this in Luke 24:27 when Jesus helped two disciples see the link between the Old Testament Scriptures and Himself: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Here are some helpful questions to ask when witnessing:
• “Where would you say you are on your spiritual journey?”
• “If you were to die tonight, do you know for sure you’d go to Heaven?”
• “When you die and are standing before God and He asks, ‘Why should I let you into Heaven?,’ What would you say?”
• Here’s one more question which almost always gets a positive response: “Can I pray for you right now?”
Agrippa didn’t answer this pointed question but instead said in verse 28: “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” I like the KJV here: “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian?” He was close but he wasn’t quite a Christian. I’m reminded of what Jesus said to a scribe who was seeking spiritual truth in Mark 12:34: “You are not far from the kingdom.” It’s as if Agrippa came to grips with the gospel, but he never allowed the gospel to grip him.
Listen. You can do holy things and think you’re headed to Heaven but still end up in Hell. You can be close to receiving Christ and yet still be unrepentant. You can be almost persuaded and remain at an infinite distance from Christ. People were never passive about Jesus or bored with Him. There’s no way to just ignore Him. He either made people angry or astonished, amazed and in awe. People fought against Him, or put their faith in Him. The same is true today. You will reject Him, or you will receive Him. There’s no middle ground.
8. Persist with patience. I like Paul’s persistence, coupled with his patient understanding because it often takes people a long time before they are ready to submit to the Lord and be saved. We see this in verse 29: “And Paul said, ‘Whether short or long…’” Paul was thrilled whether someone was saved immediately or years later because he trusted God with their salvation. In verse 22, he said he testified to “small and great.” Every soul mattered to Paul, whatever the age, whether they were preborn or born, regardless of social status, race, ethnicity, gender, location, disability, situation, or place in life. No matter who it was, or how long it took, Paul was committed to share Christ with everyone.
I first met Bob at his dad’s funeral nearly 25 years ago. When he was a teenager, he dove into a swimming pool from a garage roof and broke his neck, leaving him paralyzed in a wheelchair and pummeled by bitterness.
He was polite to me, but I could tell he wasn’t interested in talking. Several months later, when Bob was in the hospital, I stopped by to see him. When he was discharged, I stopped by the house to see how he was doing. He was watching a Cubs game and the first thing he said to me was, “What do you want? What are you doing here?” When I sat down and started complaining about the Cubs as much as he did, he softened up a bit.
While our friendship got off to a slow start, over the next several years, Bob and I became good friends. I would talk to him about Christ, but he always pushed back. Until one day when he asked me to drive him to Chicago to see a movie about the Rapture. He wanted to go because he wanted to know if the movie lined up with the book of Revelation. On the way home, we talked about how the world will end. He was very interested in this topic, but he continued to kick against the goads.
For years, I stopped by to see Bob nearly every week, until we moved to Rockford. One day, his mom called to let me know Bob was in the hospital and not expected to live. I drove to the Chicago suburbs to see him, praying he would get saved that day. When I walked into the ICU, I could tell things were serious.
I told Bob I wanted to make sure when he died, he would go to Heaven. I explained to him what Jesus did on the Cross and urged him to put his complete faith in Him for the forgiveness of his sins. Then, I said, “Bob, are you ready to trust Christ for salvation right now?” Because he was on a ventilator, he couldn’t answer me, so I asked him to blink his eyes if he believed and wanted to receive Christ. He blinked and I led him in a prayer of salvation! He died a day later.
Don’t give up on your friend or family member. Be persistent and patient.
The Savior saved us so we will speak about Him to those He sends us to.
9. Call for commitment. Notice Paul’s passion for people to come to Christ in the second half of verse 29: “…I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am – except for these chains.” Paul longed for Agrippa to accept Christ and he also wanted “all who hear” to be saved. One commentator referred to Paul as having a “holy ardor” to see people converted. My guess is Paul held up his arms again when he said, “except for these chains.”
Agrippa was dressed in royal robes while Paul was in a tattered robe. Paul was chained outwardly and yet was set free by Christ. Agrippa was free outwardly but was still chained to his sins. He was pulled by pleasure on the one hand and pulled by pride on the other.
10. Trust God with the results. When Agrippa heard enough, he abruptly shut down the conversation in verses 30-31: “Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. And when they had withdrawn…” Instead of getting saved, they blinked and walked out of the room. Instead of taking the final step of salvation, they walked away from the Savior.
Whenever we witness, we must trust God’s providence. Sometimes the conversation blows up before it gets going. Other times it goes off the rails. Sometimes it ends in conversion, and other times it just ends abruptly. That happened to Beth and me this week.
One Tuesday night, we went through a drive through. As the polite young man handed me my order, he said, “Be blessed.” When Beth’s order was ready, he pronounced another blessing on her. I smiled and asked, “Are you a Christ follower?” He bluntly replied, “No.” I regrouped and tried another question, “Do you believe in God?” He replied with a firm, “No.”
Seeing this as a gospel opportunity, we identified ourselves as Christians and asked how he would define a blessing. He said something like, “Oh, it just means I wish you well.”
I told him I found it interesting that he wished a blessing upon us, but he didn’t follow Christ or believe in God. When I attempted to get into the gospel, he pushed back and said, “This isn’t the best place or time to talk about it.” I said, “I understand.” When we started to pull away, I wondered if he was going to bless us again, but he simply said, “Have a good evening.” I guess we lost our blessing.
The Savior saved us so we will speak about Him to those He sends us to. We can do that by following Paul’s paradigm.
1. Get someone’s attention.
2. Make a connection by paying a compliment.
3. Explain what your life was like before you met Christ.
4. Specify how you came to Christ.
5. Declare what your life is like now.
6. Respond courteously to interruptions.
7. Utilize convicting questions.
8. Persist with patience.
9. Call for commitment.
10. Trust God with the results.
I want to circle back and ask you a few convicting questions. Are you not quite a Christian? Have you almost accepted Christ? Are you close to being converted but you haven’t yet repented and received Christ? Are you striving to be religious, but don’t have a saving relationship with Christ? Are you nearly persuaded but have been procrastinating?
It’s time to repent and receive Christ so instead of being almost saved, you can be altogether saved.
“Lord Jesus, I recognize I am a sinner. You are the Savior who died in my place and then rose again on the third day. I want to respond to You right now by repenting and surrendering my life to You. I ask You to come into my life, to forgive me for my sins, and to transfer me from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God. I confess You are the resurrected Christ and I believe You came to save me from my sins. Now, I receive You by faith alone. Make me into the person You want me to be by enabling me to lead a sanctified life. Help me to follow You faithfully and to help others to do the same. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.”
There’s always opposition when we seek to explain the gospel to someone. It’s time for us to take courage and speak about the Savior to those He sends us to.
Closing Video: Opposition
Let’s take courage, fellow Christians as we stand side by side for the faith of the gospel. I came across another study about how best to remember a sermon. People remember…
• 70% of what they see, hear, and write down (that’s why we provide sermon notes at the resource kiosk and on our mobile app).
• 90% of what they do.
As a way to put the preaching into practice, it’s our joy to send out a team of servants who will be doing some construction in Belize. They’ll be building a structure which will be used by a second team from Edgewood going down in July to hold a Vacation Bible School in this building! Here’s a list of those going.
