Acts 17

Summary

basic story in every city

go to local synagogue - place of worship for Jews, since temple is in Jerusalem

use scriptures (Old Testament) to prove that Jesus was the Messiah

some Jews would be persuaded, a lot of God -fearing Gentiles would be convinced

somebody would get mad, and drive them out

Jews get jealous

businessmen get mad at losing money

in chapter 17, they continue Missionary Journey

some people get saved but they get run out of Thessalonica, city even arrested a man named Jason who sheltered them

had better success at Berea (noted how they searched the scriptures), but then evil doers from Thessalonica came and drove them out

Athens - preached at synagogue, but also goes to the market place to preach (that was common in Athens). He impressed local citizens enough that he was invited to main place to argue

things went along well until he got to rising from the dead, but some believed

did not have to flee for their lives thist time

so tonight

Two lessons

Lesson 1 is pretty quick and straightforward

Lesson 2 is more involved and has 4 parts

Lesson 1 - Spiritual success often brings physical trouble

souls being saved in every city, they are starting churches in those cities

but also they have been beat, put in jail, faced mobs, dealt with jealousy, been lied on, and made fun of

spiritual success often brings physical trouble

I believe this is the reason we are in a war right now - members were spiritually tuned in to what was being taught . . . enemy does not want that

How did Paul and Silas deal with it?

kept doing what they were called to do

praying and singing in the midnight hour

3P’s - so keep pressing, keep praying, Keep praising

Spiritual success often brings physical trouble, but keep pressing, praying, and praising!

Lesson 2 - Witnessing Strategy

area that we need to step up in as a church

great comission - go ye therefore

Acts is all about being witnesses for Christ

What is witnessing?

witnessing by definition - telling or sharing the gospel of Christ: Jesus came, lived, died, and rose again for us, that we might be saved

I want to differentiate from other good things - being a positive influence, helping the needy, letting your light shine, encouraging somebody, inviting someone to church . . . all good things but not witnessing

So as we talk about witnessing strategy, this is a strategy to get someone’s attention, so that they will listen to the gospel

Step 1 - Understand what you have.

There is such a thing as THE TRUTH.

there is right and wrong

there are things that are correct, things that are incorrect

You can have your own truth, and even live by it, but if your truth doesn’t match THE TRUTH . . .

you will eventually fail

it’s not sustainable

you will run into consequences of not living by the truth

Example

THE TRUTH - if you walk in the middle of streets, you will end up in a bad way

Your truth - it is perfectly fine to walk in the middle of streets

if you live by your truth, you might make it for a while

no cars come

cars that do come, miss you

you might make videos of it and become a social media star

but eventually you will end up in a bad way

get injured or killed

get cussed out by drivers

people on social media turn on you because you are endangering others

police arrest you for jaywalking

end up in mental hospital

your truth failed, was not sustainable, rain into serious consequences of not living by the truth

As Christians, we have the truth of truths

we have the foundational truth that covers life and eternity

We know who God is, what he has done for us, the gospel message

Jesus said I am the way, the truth, and the life

understand that you have this precious knowledge, eternity changing knowledge

everyone needs the truth, and you have it!

many (not all) are seeking for the truth, and you have it!

don’t be ashamed, be excited!

Paul and Silas (Luke) are on this missionary journey, because they have a burden to share this truth. (back to chapter 16)

Acts 16:9 NASB95

9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

when you share the gospel, you are trying to help people

what YOU know, will help people!

it’s important!

understand what you have!

remember what you have!

YOU HAVE THE TRUTH!!!

Step 2: Find that open door.

Start with the part of the Truth they already possess.

Acts 17:10–11 NASB95

10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

at the synagogue where you would find Jews and Gentiles who believed in God of the Old Testament, Paul would start with the Scriptures

the Scriptures were true, they believed the scriptures . . . so that was where to start

they knew the God of the Old Testament was real, they knew He had promised a Savior, so Paul started at showing them that Jesus fulfilled the scriptures they believed.

and those people responded, got into it, they really searched

in Athens, went to the synagogue (Jews and Gentiles who already believed in the God of the Old Testament)

but he also tried to reach the people who did not believe in the God of the Old Testament, so he did some witnessing in the market place

So where did he start?

Acts 17:23 NASB95

23 “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

The Truth they already possessed - there was a God that was unknown to them

that was the only connection, but it was a connection

all real truth, flow back to THE TRUTH

it’s like following a path or a thread . . . so find that open door, that thread to the truth that the person you are witnessing to already has

in his speech, Paul uses another truth they already posses

Acts 17:28 NASB95

28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’

These two quotations Paul used from Greek poets are attributed respectively to Epimenides the Cretan.

that guy wasn’t a prophet, but he hit on a truth

“we can’t live apart from God”

“we all come from God”

then he uses that truth that they already acknolwedge to get to more Truth, and correct a major falsehood they have . . . “it makes no sense to worship idols.”

Acts 17:29 NASB95

29 “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.

we come from God . . . .God does not come from us (our thoughts)

makes no sense to make a statue of gold, silver, or stone

That would be like me quoting the Declaration of Independence, “all men are created equal”

truths in there - creation, equality (God loves everyone, all are important to God)

connect with a hip hop enthusiast, and quote Jay-Z, “I got 99 problems . . . .

that’s a biblical truth, life is full of troubles

Jay Z is not a prophet, but he hit on that truth

so I can say, I got 99 problems and getting to heaven ain’t one of them”

so find that open door, truth connection

Step 3 - Share the resurrection.

you find common truth, but you have to take them to ultimate truth, the resurrection of Christ

this is how Paul concluded his speech

Acts 17:31 NASB95

31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

judgment is coming, resurrection of Christ is proof that Christ will be that judge

you have to get to the heart of the gospel - you need saving!

we know that it comes by grace through faith

faith in what? Jesus and what he did. Die and Rise!!!!

Resurrection is that proof that Jesus is all that . . . otherwise he is just another religious guy

Step 4 - Leave the results to God.

Acts 17:32–34 NASB95

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, “We shall hear you again concerning this.” 33 So Paul went out of their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.

some sneered and did not believe

others got to thinking

some believed

not your job to worry about all of that, just present the gospel message, just witness!

Work time - Finding that open door

People believe in a lot of crazy things, but what simple truths do a lot of people still have?

Ex. There is a higher power

life matters

there is purpose

there is a heaven

life is hard

death is coming

There is one God

some parts of the Bible are real

Jesus was a real person

Atheist - i can make my own choices, death is coming, Jesus was a real person (for some)

Muslim - one god, Abraham, Jesus was a real person (but they say he is just a prophet)

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