The Great Adventure
Acts 13:4-52
Sometimes people are of the impression that the Christian life is really a life
• Of peace and simplicity.
• A life of rest and tranquility.
And truthfully, that is what some people are looking for.
Peter Beck story from Baptist Press News. He told of an old country boy in his church who told him one day “Preacher my faith is simple and that’s the way that I want it.”
You know, people who feel that way are really missing out on a great adventure.
• They are missing out on the excitement that God has in store for his children.
As we continue to examine the N.T. Church and the expansion of the gospel message.
• We encounter a story line that is full of excitement.
• It is a real spellbinder that we can’t seem to put down.
We are mesmerized by the miracles, the lives changed and the movement of God among not only his people
• But also the different people groups.
• And we wonder why God does not seem to moving that way today.
However, the truth of the matter is that God is moving that way.
• It may not be evident among believers in North America
• But He is certainly moving among people in the world who are not afraid of being stretched.
• Who are not afraid of being considered odd.
• Who are not afraid of change.
• Who are not afraid of A Great Adventure.
The truth is we should not be afraid of the Adventure that God has for us.
• He desires to move among us and use us to transform a culture.
• Nor through political means, but rather by lives that are challenged by His Word, and Conformed to His Image
• and who are not afraid model His image to the world around them.
In this Chapter we discover three reasons why we should not be afraid of the Adventure.
• Three reasons why we should actively embrace the Adventure that God has laid out before
• We Will be more adventurous whenever we stayed Focused
I. We must Stay Focused on our Guide (4)
Focus is everything.
• I certainly understand the difficulties of staying focused.
• And sometimes because I am not focused I don’t follow directions very well.
Just this week as Bethany and I went to Liberty University I ran into some difficulties. I am one of these guys who likes to know where I am going, but I am also one guy that will take time to ask for directions. On Monday morning Bethany and I decided to head over to Campus and go to Chapel. So at the front desk of the hotel I stopped and asked for directions and they assured me that it was easy to find. So we pull out and start heading over to the campus. On our way, my cell phone rang and it was a friend of mine from seminary. I was so distracted that I made a couple of wrong turns and got so frustrated that I said…Man I am turned around and I need to get off here so I can find my way to the campus.
You know, one of the reason’s I believe we often get so frustrated in our walk
• Is because we allow distractions to take our focus off our guide.
• And when our focus is not on God we end up not following His directions.
Isn’t it fascinating that throughout this great and accurate record of the early church.
• How many times we read how the Holy Spirit provided direction.
• We certainly see it here in verse 4,
• The ancient account say’s that they “were sent their way by the Holy Spirit.”
You know, you can certainly approach your adventure with comfort.
• Whenever you have a guide.
Bill Risher and I in Los Angeles. We were on I-10 because we wanted to attend a service at Saddleback. Let me ask you a question. How many of you get frustrated in traffic. I can’t stand to sit in traffic. Well if you are like me then let me tell you that LA is no place for you to live. Well, when I get in traffic that way I want to blaze a new trail. I would rather burn through 3 tanks of gas then sit there in traffic. Our rental car had one of these guidance systems. So we decided that we would try to find another way to go about 20 miles so that we could get to the church. But because we had confidence in that system…we weren’t afraid to try a new adventure through Los Angeles. And finally after 10 hours of driving and additional 300 miles we made it.
The truth is that we have a guide who is much more faithful and trustworthy.
• We have the Holy Spirit who resides in us and who provides direction and guidance.
• The Bible refers to Him as “A friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
So if we will stay focused on Christ, the Holy Spirit will provide us with His Presence and His Direction.
II. We Must Stay Focused on Our Mission. (5-12)
Sometimes it is so difficult to stay focused on the mission. And truthfully, this is a challenge for any church or organization.
• As a church or organization grows in age and diversifies, it is imperative that we take time to intentionally remind ourselves of our mission.
We have all seen the pancake houses that later specialize in Chicken Sandwiches.
Well the mission of the church is to be witnesses of the Lord.
• To tell others how Jesus has changed our lives to the best of our ability.
• And as we do that we see others come to Christ and we assist them in becoming disciples.
Now there is one thing that we know for sure that this text will reveal to us.
• As we pursue our mission, Satan will certainly send distractions our way.
• To either try to intimidate us or to discourage us.
• And even to try to knock us off message.
Notice verse 5-12, (Read) Paul and Barnabas are sharing the message…they are being witnesses.
• And there attempts to witness to this man did not go unopposed.
There was a certain person in the group that was a false prophet named “Bar-Jesus.”
• Luke describes him as a “magos” which is often used for a Charlatan or Trickster.
• And it is in this derogatory sense that Luke used the word.
This man’s presence and this man’s efforts were certainly intended to thwart the mission of Paul and Barnabas.
• And all to often, these distractions are successful in thwarting our mission.
• All to often any sign of resistance or even antagonism stops us in our tracks.
Visiting with Bro. Jack in Cleves. To this day when I go to a door I still think about that event.
We must not allow distractions to discourage.
• We must not allow obstacles to overcome.
But we must stay focused as Paul and Barnabas.
• Confront the distractions with the knowledge that we have received our directions from God.
• Confront the distractions with the truth of God.
• And trust God to get us through the distractions.
And God is Faithful to Deliver.
II. We Must Stay Focused on the Message 15-29
This sermon is the first message that we see Paul delivering in the Book of Acts.
• Really the message has one main point.
That everything in Israel’s history led up to the coming of Jesus.
• Paul drives it home that Jesus is the focal point of History. 26-33
• Paul clearly recognizes that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus were the fulfillment of the promise that God had made to the Jewish people.
• Jesus was clearly the means that God would use to redeem His people from their sins and bring them into proper relationship with Him.
And God’s plan has still not changed. Jesus is still the plan for redeeming mankind from their sins.
• Jesus is still the fulfillment of God’s plan for redemption.
And we have the challenge of staying focused on that message.
• And that is not always easy. Especially when you consider that we live in a day and time when we are expected to augment our message in order to be viewed as inclusive.
• We live in a day of Religious Pluralism, when so many expect us to bend our convictions and proclaim that there is more than one way to Jesus.
Well they can expect it all they want but the only thing you will ever hear out of this pulpit is that “it is only thru a personal relationship with Jesus that we can go to heaven.”
Now some of you might be thinking well Will…you are preaching to the choir today. Am I.
George Barna recent survey polled people who said they were Born Again Believers. Listen to the response to three questions. First, 33% surveyed said they think good works will get you to heaven. Second, 26% said that it doesn’t matter what faith system you hold, just so long as you believe in something. Worse yet, 28% of those surveyed responded that they believe that Jesus committed sins just like the rest of us when he was here on earth.
If this is the response that Barna receives from those who claim to be Born Again, then it is clear indicator that we need to do a better job at staying focused on the message!
IV. We Need to Stay Focused on their Mandate 47-52
Paul and Barnabas have followed God’s directions
• They have overcome demonic distractions, designed to thwart their actions.
• They have proclaimed the God’s message of salvation.
• And now, those listening are inviting them to stay and share more.
What an adventure!
Now even though they had been received by many they still had those who were out to undermine their efforts.
• 44-45 “On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying.”
• You know, Criticism is not respecter of Person’s
• Both Paul and Barabas were very different personalities (Paul in your face and Barnabas was an encourager) and yet both of them received the criticism.
But what is so awesome here is how they responded to the abuse.
• They didn’t sulk and pout.
• They didn’t turn back and they didn’t fight back with criticism.
Notice what they did “They remembered their Mandate.”
• 47 “I have made you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
To me in the face of all that is going on around them…this is a very tender moment.
• Paul and Barnabas in the face of Criticism and Abusive language.
• Find peace and strength in remember the Call that God placed on their life.
• And they weren’t about to turn back.
But you know what else is so cool.
• Not only were they blessed because of God’s Call on them.
• But notice the response of the Gentiles.
“They were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.” Verse 48
This morning we too must remember our Mandate.
• We have a mandate to be witnesses for Christ.
And as we remember our Mandate.
• We will be reminded that our mission is from God.
• And we will have courage to go on the great adventure that He has planned for us.
