Turning The World Upside Down
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[SLIDE 1] Introduction
If you have your Bible, then please turn to Acts 17:1-15. (READ)
Illustration
Let me begin by stating a proposition: the world that we are living in is not what it is supposed to be. (REPEAT)
Certainly, the world that we are living isn’t how God originally intended it.
Biblical Theology
We recall in the beginning of Genesis that God created the world and it was good. When He created Adam and Eve, it was very good.
However, they both sinned and rebelled against God’s commandment. Hence, there was the Fall…sin entered into the world and turned God’s good world upside down - so to speak.
Ever since then, that upside down world is eventually perceived by our society as rightside up.
That’s why when we read Acts 17:6, the Jews shouted that Paul and Silas have turned the world upside down.
There is a story told of an eccentric English evangelist who took that text for one of his open-air sermons in a new place. He began by saying,
"First, the world is wrong side up.
Second, the world must be turned upside down.
Third, we are the men to set it right."
In the man's quaint phrases, this is really the purpose of the gospel. It is God's way of making things or setting it right.
That’s precisely what Paul and Silas did in Thessalonica and Berea after they were driven out from the city of Philippi. In fact, that’s what they do in all the cities that they have visited.
Context
Before we unfold this passage, I want to give you an overview of this text. Paul and Silas travelled to Thessalonica and Berea.
There are similarities in both cities.
On both occasions...
They went to the Jewish synagogue and proclaimed the word of God.
There was a positive response to Paul’s proclamation of God’s word. Many people came to faith.
There was a negative/hostile response to Paul’s proclamation of God’s word. The Jews - in reference to the Jewish leaders - from Thessalonica were stirring up trouble in both cities, prompting the crowd to take action against Paul.
The believers in both cities sent the missionaries away immediately from persecution in order to calm the people down and restore peace and order.
But there is one difference that I have observed (besides the name of the cities):
The Jews in Berea responded well to Paul’s ministry of the word. Not so with the Jews in Thessalonica.
How should Christians turn the world upside down?
Christians are to turn the world upside down with the word of God.
But, when we do so, know that we’ll invite two different responses.
Ultimately, the power to turn the world upside does not come from us. We’ll learn near the end of the message where that power comes from.
Exposition
[SLIDE 2] 1. The Proclaimers (vv.1-3, v.10)
After leaving the city of Philippi, Paul and his team passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia and eventually arrived at Thessalonica.
The entire travel would have been about 100 miles in this single sentence. If Paul and Silas travelled by horse, it would have been a 3-day journey; stopping by each city.
[SLIDE 3] And Paul was likely travelling on the path called the Egnatian Way, which is one of the ancient Roman Roads.
For those of you who have taken classes in social studies and remember the history of the Roman Empire, you may recall that the Roman Roads was highly successful in Rome’s economy.
These roads were used for military, government, and commercial reasons and can still be seen in Greece. They connected local areas to highways, similar to the #1 or #99 Highway, allowing for quick transportation from place to place.
So, Paul travelled on this path to Thessalonica, which is a major port and commercial center in Macedonia. It is still in existence today in Greece.
[SLIDE 4] And there was a Jewish synagogue in Thessalonica. As it was his custom, Paul went in to the synagogue.
For three Sabbath days, Paul reasoned with the people in the synagogue by explaining and proving the good news of Jesus Christ from the Scriptures.
We learn from here that Paul and Silas were the proclaimers of God’s word.
As Christians, in a similar way, we are to declare, share, speak and live out the truth of God’s word if we are turn the world upside down.
I want to show you the four actions that Paul did to convey God’s Word:
First, he reasoned from the Scriptures.
The Greek word for “reason” is the source of the English word, “dialogue.” This means exchanging speeches and opinions.
How did Paul reason with them from the Scripture?
Most likely, Paul also did some form of Bible study with them and went through all the Messianic passages in the OT pertaining to Jesus’ death and resurrection and demonstrate that He is indeed the Christ, the Messiah. The Anointed King whom Israel longed for.
Second, he was explaining the Scripture
This word, “explaining,” means to open. He opened the Scripture and explained it.
Truly, the kind of preaching that churches need is expositional preaching whereby the word of God is opened by the preacher, showing you what God says and explaining what God means.
Third, he was proving from Scripture
This means setting the evidence before the people.
He undoubtedly showed the Jews Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 53, Psalm 16, Psalm 22, Psalm 40, Psalm 110, Zechariah 11
and how Jesus ultimately is the fulfillment of those Scriptures.
Fourth, he was proclaiming the Scripture
This verb is used twice in verses 3 and 13.
To proclaim means to announce or to make something known in public.
You cannot make Christ known if you do not proclaim it. This implies communicating with words that come out of your mouth and what is written.
So, Paul was reasoning, explaining, proving, and proclaiming the Scriptures to the people in the Jewish synagogue. For what purpose?
In verse 3, “That it was necessary (or essential or indispensable) for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.’”
The Apostle Paul was most likely doing the same thing and proclaiming the gospel in Berea.
Paul’s proclamation of the gospel and the word of God would invite two completely different responses.
Some people have their hearts softened, which means being receptive. Others, however, have hardened their hearts, which is an expression of being stubborn and unwilling to believe.
So, let’s consider those whose hearts were opened:
[SLIDE 5] 2. The Partners
In verses 4 and 11-12, we see the positive responses to Paul’s ministry.
In verse 4, it says “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.”
During that time, the Jewish synagogue wasn’t just comprised of Jews exclusively. There were these God-fearing Gentiles who became converts to Judaism.
And we see here that they were persuaded or convinced by Paul’s reasoning.
Now, “persuaded” is an important word from Acts 17 and onwards. Here are some samplings:
[SLIDE 6]
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.
23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
Paul did not force people to believe; he’s not there to manipulate them into believing.
Paul aimed to persuade people to believe in Jesus by reasoning with them from the Scriptures.
Certainly, he did so with gentleness and patience because not everyone will understand immediately, and we should take on those fruits.
[SLIDE 7] Moving to verses 11-12, in keeping the idea of persuasion and reasoning in mind, we come to a famous text. (READ?)
Luke notes a contrast between the Jews in Berea and in Thessalonica. These Jews were more noble. The Jews in Thessalonica were not.
Hence, the Jews in Berea gained the famous title of being the “Noble Bereans.”
What exactly does the word, “noble,” mean?
It describes someone who is open-minded, fair, and thoughtful.
The Jews in Berea were more receptive to the Christian message. They showed that they were noble in two ways.
First, unlike the Jews in Thessalonica, they received the word with all eagerness or readiness, which entails enthusiasm. They were ready to learn from the Apostle Paul.
Second, unlike the Jews in Thessalonica, they did not just listen to Paul’s teaching without discernment, but they examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things (that Paul taught) were so (or true).
Like, I’m sure the Apostle Paul was a solid Bible preacher and teacher of God’s word, but that did not mean he shouldn’t be checked to see if he’s right.
So, you can imagine that these Bereans went back and studied the OT passages that Paul provided and to see if those passages did point to Christ’s suffering, resurrection, and kingship.
Subsequently, they were convinced and believed.
And this is a good practice and application for our lives.
We should be like these Jews who were noble. Perhaps you may often apply the first part of being noble: Ready to receive the teaching of God’s word whether with eagerness or not.
But what about examining the Scriptures daily to grow and increase in the knowledge of God?
During my week, I do my very best to study and prepare for the sermon while doing other pastoral work on top of that. I try my best to prepare the greatest spiritual feast for your soul on a particular Sunday.
But, I may miss the mark, and I need you to hold me accountable and make sure if what I’m saying is the truth.
If I do say something that seems off, or if you need clarity on some of things that I said, then I don’t mind you checking in on me.
After the Jews examined the Scriptures, many of them believed (assuming that some were not persuaded yet), and also both the Greek women and men came to faith.
Given how Paul turned the world upside down, there is another broad application for us to consider.
We should engage in the art of reasoning and persuasion.
This chapter challenges Christians to participate in intellectual engagement. The other half of chapter 17, we will learn that Paul debated with Greek philosophers of his day.
[SLIDE 8] This application highlights what Peter taught in 1 Peter 3:15
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
Peter encouraged Christians to make a defense of their faith.
However, don’t misunderstand that verse to imply that you need to know all the philosophical arguments to convince people. I look at them as assets when we’re trying to share the gospel.
At the basic level, what’s very important is that you as believers must understand what you believe and why you are a Christian. And then you should be able to articulate your beliefs humbly, thoughtfully, reasonably, and biblically.
As Christians, we should be cautious, mindful, and sensible about telling people to believe in something just because the Bible says so. Let me explain what I mean.
The Bible is sufficient to adequately address everything necessary for salvation, spiritual growth, and guidance for all of life. Thus, we can say that we believe in this or that because the Bible says so.
Yet, we should be considerate that some people
approach the Bible with skepticism and questions. This could be your co-workers, friends, children, and perhaps some folks here.
To effectively communicate your Christian faith, you should be diligent in studying why the Bible teaches it says so that you would be able to reason and explain on why God has said what He has said in hopes of persuading people to believe.
The Apostle Paul didn’t just tell people that Jesus died and was raised just because the Bible says so and therefore they’re to believe that.
He explained and proved his point from Scripture because the Jews has a different understanding of the OT.
In doing so, a lot of people were then convinced, believed in the Lord Jesus, and joined Paul and Silas in coming partners in the gospel ministry.
However, just because Paul was able to reason, it didn’t mean that everyone was persuaded. Instead, there came the persecutors in verses 5-9 and 13-15.
[SLIDE 9] 3. The Persecutors
We see that the Jews in Thessalonica responded to Paul’s ministry with jealousy. Why is that?
It’s because they saw the converts joining Paul and Silas and being a part and partners of the Christian group. And they were afraid that they were losing control of the synagogue and their attractiveness to Gentile God-fearers.
In both cities, the Jews in Thessalonica were stirring up the city. When Paul and Silas were in Berea, they heard about their gospel ministry.
Because of their intense jealousy, they would travel all the way to Berea just to agitate and stir up the crowds and start a riot against Paul and Silas.
Given the time constraints, I would like to highlight something in verses 6-7.
When the Jews formed a mob and tried to cause chaos in the city and in the house of Jason, they accused Paul and Silas of two things: First, they were accused of turning the world upside down. Second, they were accused of acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.
First, they were accused of turning the world upside down. It can also be translated as these men who have UPSET the world.
I would submit to you that these Jews weren’t wrong. In fact, I would say that they’re giving the missioanries the biggest compliment ever.
What Paul and Silas were doing wasn’t a bad thing. In fact, it was a good thing.
This world has been turned upside by sin. But the gospel has the power to turn it back to the rightside.
They preached the gospel of Jesus Christ and calling sinners to turn to Jesus for salvation and to live for Him.
In the eyes of the world, they think their world is right-side up, and they see God’s kingdom as an upside down world.
But what Paul and Silas were doing is truly turning the world right-side up because the kingdom of God is the only true world.
Second, Paul and Silas were accused of acting against the decrees of Caesar (i.e. the Roman Emperor), saying that there is another king, Jesus.
Jesus is the indeed the King. He’s the King of Israel. He is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of glory. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and we are humbly bow down and submit to Him.
He came for His own, but His own did not receive Him. The Jews denied Jesus to be their king.
By bringing in a rather offensive message of the gospel, the Jews (rightly) assumed that they want people to worship Jesus as king, but teachings of Jesus don’t advocate all Christians to act against the decrees of their government unless the government tells Christians to sin.
Jesus taught us to render to Caesar what is Caesar’ and pay out taxes.
But the Jews accused the missionaries and tried to persecute them.
So, Paul constantly gets kicked out of the city. The Christians sent them off to another city: going from Thessalonica, and then to Berea, and then to Athens.
This would go well on a resume for pastors and missionaries. How many times have you been run out of the city (or even by the church)?
Brothers and sisters, do you want turn the world upside down? Or more accurately…to set the world back in its rightful position as God designed it?
If so, then you are to speak and live out the truth of God’s word.
Sometimes, the truth may consequently lead to offending and upsetting people of this world because the Bible is a countercultural book and it demands us to live a radically different lifestyle apart from the world.
The Bible calls Christians to a lifestyle of holiness that can challenge and offend the world's values and beliefs.
It is not meant to be done in an obnoxious way, but it can be necessary to make a difference as a Christian, even if that means upsetting some people along the way.
However, I wonder how many in this sanctuary don’t want to upset the world, but rather be liked by the world so that you could somehow reach them.
But when did the Bible ever say that if you’re liked by the world, then you can change the world? I don’t think I see that in the New Testament.
Yes, we are to be loving, kind, gentle, and exemplify Christ-likedness before people, but that’s different from wanting to please the world and not offend them.
Once you are liked by the world, you might begin going down the slippery slope. You most likely don’t want to lose that status with the world and you may start to slowly compromise on your Christian duty (such as evangelism) and moral principles.
And furthermore, so often, I hear on the news that the world is upset with Christians not because they were walking in a manner worthy of the LORD, but because they were caught in a scandal and it made it onto the news.
Brothers and sisters, if the world is upset with us as Christians, then may it be because we are living out a godly life and trying to persuade sinners to turn away from their sins and believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
While Paul and Silas’ stay in Thessalonica was rather short, we do have two letters written to the Thessalonians. (For whatever reason, we don’t have a letter written to the Bereans)
1 Thessalonians 1-2 is where Paul meditates and reflects upon this situation in Acts, but also thankful to the LORD for this new church plant in Thessalonica.
In fact, this was a healthy church in a practical sense, but lacked a bit of doctrinal clarity in regards to the return of the Lord Jesus.
[SLIDE 10] Paul would have loved to remained with them, but unfortunately couldn’t.
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last! 17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.
As a result of Paul’s ministry of the word in reasoning, explaining, proving, and proclaiming, the Christians in Thesslonica were persuaded and joined them.
It was not due to Paul’s powerful intellect in persuading and convincting them. Paul probably did not have more than a month in Thessalonica, and yet somehow this church became healthy. What caused this?
Here’s the last point:
[SLIDE 11] 4. The Power
The power to turn the world upside down does not come from us. It comes by the power of God’s word through the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s ministry in that city was probably no more than a month, but he laboured hard for the gospel and the people saw his conduct (1 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
Paul gives all the glory to God because the gospel came to them with the power of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:5).
They received Paul’s teaching not because it was the words of men, but indeed the words of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
As a result of Paul’s ministry, the church in Thessalonica imitated Paul’s lives and suffered affliction for being Christians (1 Thessalonians 1:6) and became a good spiritual role model for others (1 Thessalonians 1:7).
[SLIDE 12] Paul said that the Thessalonians became a force for evangelism in 1 Thessalonians 1:8: “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...”
How so? Remember what I said about the Roman Roads at the beginning of my message and how they helped people in that day travelled faster and efficiently?
William Barcley offered an insightful comment on how Christians have leveraged the Roman Roads for the spread of the gospel:
“If Christianity was firmly founded in Thessalonica, it could spread both east and west along that road until the road become a very highway of the progress of the kingdom of God.”
So, if you think about it, in God’s providence, He used this aspect of Rome’s economy to spread the gospel more efficiently and effectively. I think that’s what happened with the new Christian church in Thessalonica.
Nowadays, with things like the internet, we have the “digital Roman Roads” to communicate the word of God and share the gospel to more people across the globe more quickly than ever before.
[SLIDE 13] Application
As Christians, we should adopt the missionary or evangelistic lifestyle and pray that our community and city would be transformed by the power of the gospel.
We are to continue in this endeavour until the day the LORD returns. And one day He will completely turn the world upside down and bring in the New Heaven and New Earth. And on that day, all the saints will gather in the New Jerusalem to worship and praise our Lord and King Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Prayer
The Lord’s Supper
Transition: We will now transition to a sacred time where we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Invitation: May I ask Garry and Brain as assist in prayer.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Comment: If you are follower of Jesus, then I invite you to partake of these elements. If you are not a follower of Jesus, then I would ask that you let the elements pass by you. Don’t worry about letting them pass by you because all of us have experienced a time where we allow the bread and the cup to pass by us. We are all in a spiritual journey of knowing Jesus more and more.
The Lord’s Supper is a sacred time where believers will be sharing in the reality of who and what Jesus Christ really means to us in all the fullness of His life and work on our behalf.
It is a time when we are, in a very special way, reflecting on His death on the cross, reflecting also on how this has and should affect us. The bread before us symbolizes the body of Jesus that was given for us. The cup before us symbolizes the blood of Jesus poured out for us.
When we partake in these elements, we are proclaiming the gospel and
Benediction