To the Ends of the Earth, Part 27
Paul’s Ministry in Corinth
Acts 18:1-17
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”
-- Last week we explored and unpacked the have work to do:
• 1st: We must be sure that we have chosen Christ
• 2nd: Then, we must be sure that we go and tell about Him
-- APP: This is where we should see God’s calling on our life - daily
-- He has called us to be His messengers, be willing to truthfully share the Gospel
- Today, I’d like us to see an example of this in action – but not just what was done
-- I want us to see our place in this now – to understand God’s calling to us all
-- APP: If He is in charge, and we are His servants, obedience is not optional!
-- Said another way: What should we take away from Paul’s trip to Corinth?
- Read Acts 18:1-17 / Pray
Point 1 – To hear the Gospel, the people must listen!
- Paul departs from Athens for Corinth; where he spends 18 months as a tentmaker
-- RE: He told the people of Athens what they needed to know and moved on
-- He was not compelled to stay, or invited, or truthfully, not well received!
- Might ask: Why so many challenges to accepting the Gospel? Understand:
• Intellectual pride closes off the mind to the truth of God (you are in control)
• Often we are not where we can be used by God (must go where He leads)
• Change is hard b/c society likes its “things” (makes new things hard to hear)
- Yet … Wherever Paul went, he sought out people who, first, needed Jesus
-- And he was always aware of going where the message would be receptive
-- APP: Great lesson for us today: Go where people will LISTEN
-- BIG: There actually is a difference between hearing & listening! (2 diff words)
• Hearing is the process or function of perceiving sound
• Listening is paying attention to a message in order to understand or respond
- Paul reasoned (GR: dielegeto) with people using sound logic (v4)
-- Consider: He taught what he knew, using the evidence and truth of Scripture
- While teaching, he persuaded them (GR: epeithen) to listen
-- But it is more than that – he begged them to hear and to change their heart
-- His teaching was driven so that they would know what he knew (Wednesday)
-- Romans 9:2-3, “My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed - cut off from Christ! - if that would save them.”
- However, don’t miss the result: REJECTION (not an uncommon response)
- Why does this example hold up for us today?
• Paul was compelled to witness without giving up
• How? He was moved by the Spirit to continue – to be faithful
• Even when he was rejected; he looked for a new audience (Gentiles)
- For us: Sometimes … you have to turn from those who won’t listen
• Caution: This is not about following your preferences or your opinions
• Our calling is to obey God, to preach without fear, to share willingly!
- Lesson: when the people won’t listen – dust yourself off & move on (v6)
-- Paul did exactly what Jesus told the Disciples to do: Matthew 10:14, “If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.”
- TR: Note, this cannot be prideful, it actually requires the complete opposite
Point 2 – Delivering the Gospel message requires humility
- Know this: preaching the Gospel requires humility or humbleness
-- Rejection is often a very quick path to rebellion, anger, and our own bitterness
-- But, when you get out of the way and allow God – the results are His
- Paul’s exemplifies this by moving to where the message will be received
-- FACT: It is not always easy, but when God is in it you have to follow!
-- The impact of this cannot be overstated: Jewish leader accepted Jesus! (v8)
- Know this: People of all walks must be reached for Christ!
-- This is the one thing we learn from Paul – our silence is not an option now
-- However, there are things we must do in order to be faithful:
1. Requires getting out of our own way
2. We must let God be God, let Jesus be Jesus, let the HS be the HS
3. We need to leave the results up to their work; they are the focus
-- Never miss the simplicity of the mission: Mark 16:15, “… Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” Paul demonstrated – now it’s our turn!
- TR: If we are faithful to do this, we will probably face this question …
Point 3 – Challenge: How do we persevere when giving up is easier?
- FACT: Paul dealt with fear; he dealt with the challenges of “people”
-- Any ministry is never going to be easy because it is for and to … US!
-- Yet, (BIG) because of Paul’s willingness people STILL came to know Jesus!
- Check out the reasons for discouragement that Paul dealt with (back of handout)
-- We can refer to this as: Paul’s reasons for quitting the ministry so far …
• His life was threatened in Damascus – Acts 9:23
• His life was threatened in Jerusalem – Acts 9:29
• He was persecuted and run out of Antioch – Acts 13:50
• He faced possible stoning in Iconium – Acts 14:5
• He was stoned and left for dead in Lystra – Acts 14:19
• He was made the center of controversy by the church – Acts 15:1
• He lost his closest friend and ministry partner, Barabbas – Acts 15:39
• He was beaten, imprisoned and thrown out of Philippi – Acts 16:23; 39
• His life was threatened in Thessalonica – Acts 17:5-7
• He was forcefully tossed out of Berea – Acts 17:13
• He was mocked and run out of Athens – Acts 17:18
- Tough truth: Facing challenges for Jesus is going to be common for us also!
-- CHALLENGE: Be honest, have any of us faced this much opposition?
- Bonus: Jesus meets the needs of Paul by speaking to him directly (vv9-10)
-- Be not afraid; continue to speak the truth; don’t shy away from speaking
-- Even as the case is dismissed, Paul was still protected from harm
-- Don’t miss this … the crowd did not attack Paul – but their Jewish leader! (v17)
- Why? Because Jesus just told Paul, “I am with you!” … remember this!
-- Jesus: Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” CONTEXT!
- TR: What do can we see from this today? How can we apply this now?
BIG IDEA
- Paul was faithful to God’s calling – because He knew what Jesus did for him!
-- He also knew what Jesus could do for these people who also needed Him!
-- Spending 18 months in Corinth as a tentmaker is a long time in one place
-- Yet, look at what happens – people RECEIVED Jesus Christ!
- How? Because even when he was persecuted - God provided a way to escape
-- Even when the governor of the region paid no attention – God was faithful
-- Even when the message was not listened too, the messenger continued on
-- Even when the Jews turned on their own leader; God was still faithful
- Consider: if God would protect Paul … what could He do for you?
- Maybe we just need to get out of our own way and let God be God?
- Pray
