Ideal Evangelist

Sermon - Acts 17: 1-15 - Ideal Evangelism - Our Part Personally and as a Church

Call to Worship – Matthew 28:16-20

Introduction

How should we build our church? In today’s verses we see the method that Paul used and how he was committed to God to reach the people, not in his own power of speech but by the power of the Word of God.

Do you think much about witnessing to people you meet? Have you ever been part of a church that had or has a goal to go out into the world and reach the lost for Christ. Not a church that expects the Pastor or an evangelist to witness to the people but expects you to witness.

That is our calling and purpose as believers even though we each have different giftedness that works towards that purpose. Some are gifted specifically to be evangelists, but each one of us is called to witness, share the gospel, as a part of our daily lives as well.

An evangelist is someone who knows that God has gifted them with a special ability to reach the lost, but it is still not their personal abilities but the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit working through them. Today I want us to see and understand that we have that same power available to us, because it is the Holy Spirit who saves as He opens our eyes to what God has done for us.

In Ephesians 1:17-18 we read - that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you,

It is the Spirit of God that encourages us to tell others about the Good News. (SLIDE)

MESSAGE

Today’s Scripture verses are Acts 17:1-15 and rather than reading the whole story, which is important, I am going to try and break the verses up into four parts and then close. These four parts will be the main points that we need to understand so that we can go out into the world as Paul did and spread the message of the Gospel.

In our Call to Worship this morning we read Matthew 28:16-20 - And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (SLIDE)

This command from Jesus to His disciples was a command for us as well until the end of the age. We are all called to build Christ’s church by going out and witnessing to those who God puts in our path so that they become His disciples. When they have come to Christ, it is also our work as a church to get them to choose to be baptized, making a public statement of their faith, and also discipling them so that they can teach others about Christ and all that He had commanded them.

I would like us to look at FOUR main points

1. The importance of following the leading of the Holy Spiritin your life. His Plan!

2. Witnessing to others through the power of the word. We do not save, God saves.

3. Opposition from the Jews – Witnessing and Christianity will always face persecution.

4. Many were saved – some Jews, great many devout Greeks, and a few leading women. The power of the non-Jew and women to salvation. (SLIDE)

Let’s try to understand the first point in these verses. It is important to following the leading of the Holy Spirit in your life. This is not just for witnessing but for daily survival in the world.

We are told many times to “Walk in the Spirit” and not in the flesh. We need to set our minds upon the things of God and to let the Spirit lead us. This is the first and most important decision that you must make every day and throughout the day.

As you sense the Spirit’s leading, if you are willing, He will show you opportunities to introduce the Gospel into the lives of others or minister to other believers about what God’s word says to them. Paul was prepared and had a plan to reach people and we should also.

In Acts 17:1 we read this - Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. (SLIDE)

You might be tempted to just pass by this statement and not see something important here. If Paul is out to just witness to everyone, then why didn’t he stop to witness to these two churches he just passed through? He just passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia to get to Thessalonica, and I believe this was because Paul was being led by the Holy Spirit to go directly to Thessalonica. It was quite a long journey, probably around 100 miles, like walking to the New Hampshire border. It was 30 miles to Amphipolis, 30 miles to Apollonia and 40 miles to Thessalonica. Long walk, but Paul knew the destination.

Paul wasn’t distracted by what could have been opportunities but instead followed the leading of the Spirit. There are many good things we can do in this world, but the important things are the ones that the Spirit leads you to do. Are you distracted by the world, stuff, and busyness? That can be a real problem today with all there is to do.

Paul knew that he could not witness to everyone, and that God would provide others to witness to them. Paul would build up the church in Thessalonica and they could go out and witness to the surrounding churches. Paul told us this in 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thess. 1:6-8 - And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 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. (SLIDE)

This should be a part of every church; FCC should have a plan that allows the Holy Spirit to lead us to those He wants us to witness and minister to?That only happens when we ALL choose to minister togetheras the body of Christ, to reach a lost and hurting world that the Spirit leads us to. This should be a part of our plan!

Point Two is about using God’s Word to witness as the Holy Spirit leads us to reach the people, remembering that it is God who saves, and not relying on our presentation or ability to change people’s hearts.

We read is Acts 17:2-4 - 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.” (SLIDE)

Even when Paul had to leave Thessalonica and went to Berea, Paul and Silas followed this plan and went to the Berean Synagogue. Acts 17:10 - The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. (SLIDE)

The Jews knew the Scriptures about Messiah and by reading them to them, he was allowing the Holy Spirit to open their eyes and soften their hearts to see how Jesus was really the Christ. Notice that Paul’s method wasn’t to wow them with miracles and stories about what happened in other churches but to reason with them from the Scriptures.

Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 - And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. 2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, 4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (SLIDE)

In Pastor Larry’s Sunday school class, which I encourage you to attend, we were discussing this and why it is important to know and memorize the word of God so that the Holy Spirit can use that in you to let the Word of God move the people to salvation and not emotional stories.

Paul made the best out of every situation to share the Gospel. Why do many of us struggle to do this. Are we worried about what people might think or about being rejected? Paul knew that God was in control, and it was up to God to open their hearts. Paul shares how he felt in Romans.

Romans 1:16 - ForI am not ashamed of thegospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (SLIDE)

No matter what Paul was focused. Notice what happened when Paul went to Berea and how the people received Paul’s message. Berea was an important town, but it was not on a main route. God sent him there there and their response is s well known because unlike some others they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. It also said they were more noblewhich was usually about people who were more refined or of noble birth. Usually the educated and more noble are not the ones who are harder to witness to but this group understood it with eagerness.

Point Three tells us that when the world hears about Jesus that they are going to often times fight against it because it gets in the way of their selfishness and sinful lifestyle.

1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (SLIDE)

If you are not saved, then your eyes have not been enlightened and your heart is turned against God being in control. Who are you to tell me what to do? Many people in the world don’t want God in control so they fight against Christianity. It’s interesting that there are more verses about persecution than about the good. God never hides from us this part and we need to expect it and rely on Him to overcome this and protect us.

Acts 17:5-9 and 13 - 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. (SLIDE)

We also see the same thing in Berea because of them. Acts 17:13 - But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. (SLIDE)

Rather than spending time on all of these verses, I want you to imagine the viciousness of these persecutors and how scary it was for the believers that experienced them.

Picture this, It was the Jews who were doing this, probably thinking they were defending God, but it was actually because they were jealous. Instead of following Godly procedures, they found some wicked men of the rabble and formed a mob. Does that sound Godly to you?

They wanted to drag out Paul and Silas but couldn’t find them, so they attacked Jason and some brothers who had allowed them to stay at his house and dragged them before the authorities. They used a charge that though true wasn’t a real threat to Rome and that was that Jesus was another King. Jesus had told the Romans that this wasn’t His kingdom. But Jason was forced to pay bail to be let go.

Doesn’t this sound like what is happening in our country today with all of the false lawsuits that try to force Christians to back down and cause them much expense and tribulation. Remember what Jesus told us in John 16:33 - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (SLIDE)

Verse 13 told us how these same people followed Paul to Berea when they found out how he had gone there, and people were being saved. Don’t be surprised when people are offended or try to persecute you for the faith. Just be sure that they are against you for the work of the Spirit and not for something that was from your own doing.

Now let’s close with Point Four and see what God was doing at the same time.

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. (SLIDE)

And then again at Berea we see a similar story.

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. (SLIDE)

Having important people get saved if really true can be helpful for witnessing if they really believe because people often look up to them. But often in too many churches today they choose leaders based on education and position rather than on their proven spiritual maturity.

Education isn’t as important as a heart for the Lord and a desire to put to death self and serve the Lord. Don’t get me wrong, I am not knocking education, but education can puff up and get in the way of being a humble believer. We cannot discount the value of God’s calling first and then add on education. Having a doctorate in a non-biblical area or even from a seminary without the heart of calling can be useless to the Lord.

Paul was highly educated in the Jewish system, but his greatest education came from sitting at the foot of the Lord and learning to go through the hardships with God. These things taught him to be humble and trusting of the Lord and growing in his faith about what the Lord could do.

What I want us to see here though seems important to note. After doing the message on Lydia and how as a woman she probably had great influence on the spread of the gospel I want us to see these notes about women here. I am led to speak about the importance of Godly women on the growth of the church and their importance towards the building up of men as GODLY leaders.

Too often men left to themselves will be selfish and trapped into a relationship where they only think of themselves and their problems. Men can feel the pressure of the world from work and family and see it as overwhelming. One of the greatest needs of men is a strong Godly woman who stand alongside them and encourages them to walk in the Spirit and grow in the Lord.

Men need to see life from God’s perspective. By putting God first above all else allows them to see their problems as something that God is willing to help them with and not something they have to do alone. Men are fixers by nature and feel like they have to fix things on their own but that is not true.

Although women might not be the head of the household, their value and importance is immense in the family and for the husband. As I watch my own wife grow in the Lord and become excited about studying the word and growing closer to Him, I find myself being encouraged to grow even closer to the Lord. Ladies, never discount the value that the Lord has placed on your ministry.

Whether to husbands, children, hurting people or the church, we cannot accomplish God’s plan without your Godly involvement. You are so important and that is why I believe that Paul is encouraged by all of the leading women and women of high standing in the community that have been saved and are not serving God.

These women will have a much greater effect on the church than they can imagine. I’m reminded of this passage in 1 Peter 3:1-2 - Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. (SLIDE)

We all have a part to accomplish in this ministry and how great your part will be will depend on how you answer this question. Is God your life or just part of your life? God has purchased you and given you a spiritual gift for a purpose. Do you have a plan to use it or are you just stumbling through your Christian life? Paul had a plan and like Joshua said in the Old Testament - Joshua 24:15 - And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Closing Remarks

The next message that follows is introduced by this next verse as Paul heads off to Athens. A place where he will encounter many educated people who are not usually known for following God. Paul really shines as he witnesses to them in a unique way.

Acts 17:14-15 - Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

For Paul who was highly educated himself this must have been a tough crowd to face but Paul knew that it wasn’t him that had to convince them but the Holy Spirit. Remember that we are never to fear expressing God’s truth to others. Even if they seem educated and what we say is foolishness to them, their remarks are against the truth of God and not us personally.

As a church we just need to go forth with the Good News of the Gospel and let God decide who will receive it or not.

Let’s close in Prayer