No Gimmicks, just Gospel-- Acts 25 & 26

Introduction

Why Acts?

On August 7th, 2022, Launch Sunday, for CBC Richmond Hill, we opened our Bible’s for the first time as a congregation to the Book of Acts.

We chose the Book of Acts after much prayer, and with a burden to rediscover, from the Word of God, what the church is and what are role in it should be.

From my perspective, there seems to be a lot of confusion about church, largely because church has become cloaked in the fog of Christian Pragmatism.

Meaning, whatever works in getting people through the door has become synonymous with God’s method.

So churches have become center’s of entertainment productions in an attempt to be “seeker-friendly”.

It’s pragmatism, because we assume that people in seats is THE measure of success, so why shouldn’t we do anything and everything to attract more and more people to church?

Let me give you an example.

A few years ago, the fastest growing church in America, led by a gifted orator and charismatic personality communicated over 3,300 baptisms over the course of 2 weekends at their “Spontanous Baptism Service.”

A perceived and believed genuine move of God, rivaled only by the Book of Acts.

Only to later learn, that it wasn’t spontanous at all.

Many of the participants had been planted throughout the crowds to be the early adopters once the invitation was given.

A manual communicated that these early planted adopters need to come foward with energy and enthusiasm, down the rows of the most visible areas to get the party started.

Wild success, orchestated by the wisdom, might, and deception of man.

But we so quickly come to learn that you have to keep them by how you attract them.

So if people come because of a particular personality that makes them feel good, what happens when he leaves?

If people come because the Worship is top-notch, then we better hire top notch musicians without a care in the world if they are actually BELIEVERS WHO WORSHIP GOD.

And yes that happens...

If people come because of our dynamic series, and graphics, and promotions and marketing, and brand then we better hire the latest consultant to inform us as to what our next series should be.

Totally ignoring the Truth of Scripture that Jesus Chris is the Head of the Church. Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd, and we are just undershepherds!

Ya’ll I can’t even begin to tell you the level of pressure I received from others who pushed these methodologies to me as a new church planter.

Promotions, and Marketing, and you better create an environment, and have the best music, and on and on and on.

It’s a game of gimmicks.

And I wholeheartedly believe that these gimmicks have left the world outside the church, and even more sad the people inside the church disillusioned and in disarray.

Questioning deep down… Is this it? Is there not more to this God thing than coming every Sunday, consuming, and doing it all again next week?

I believe we have left people asking, “Is God actually real!? Like, does he change people, save people, transform people? Can he actually redeem my marriage, or save my child, or break that addiction, or repair relationships, or provide for my needs, or provide true peace, hope, and love?

Our Gimmicks have minimized our God. Our gimmicks have communicated that the simple preaching and believing and living of the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST is not enough!

So We have created church in a way that appeals to the natural corruptions of unredeemed people.

We have used the tactics of the world, to attract worldly people, and yet we’re surprised that we have worldly churches.

The church is not to be built by the gimmicks of the world.

This is why we chose the Book of Acts

To rediscover from the Word of God, what the church is and what our role in it should be.

And from the very beginning of Acts we have seen, the church of Jesus Christ explode into existence… without gimmicks.

Just men and women empowered by the supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit, who witnessed to the Gospel.

The message that Jesus of Nazareth had been crucified and buried, and raised from the dead for the forgiveness of sins and the salvation of souls!

And that message, the Gospel message, moved like a wildfire from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth.

No Gimmicks, just the Gospel.

No peddling of religious products, just the Power of the Gospel.

No bright lights for entertainment purposes, just the Light of the World.

And as we approach the end of Acts over the next 2 weeks, I see no reason to deviate now… Acts actually concludes as it began.

We don’t need Gimmicks, just the Gospel, and in our text today Paul stands before Kings and Governors and gives us a MasterClass in this lesson.

No Gimmicks, just Gospel.

So turn with me to Acts 25 & 26.

Context

Paul has been in Caesarea for 2 years (Acts 24:27), held the custody of Governor Felis.

But Felix was eventually replaced by Festus, and seeking to earn some early political points went to Jerusalem to meet with the majority of his jurisdiction, the Jews, and these guys immediately bring up Paul, and beg Festus to send Paul back to Jerusalem to stand trial, but in actuality they were just trying to ambush him and kill him (25:3).

Festus compromised and said, Acts 25:5 ““So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.””

And this is what happened. Festus organized a trial in Caeserea, but all the charges lobbed against Paul couldn’t stick Acts 25:7 “bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove.”

So Paul simply says Acts 25:8 “Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.””

But Festus, the politician seeking to do the Jews a favor sought to send Paul to Jerusalem to stand trial, but before he ordered it he was going to give Paul the choice.

And Paul once again reiterates his innocence. In effect Paul said, for 2 years I’ve been on trial and nothing has been proved. So if he can’t get justice in Jerusalem, or Ceaserea, “I appeal to Ceasar!” (Acts 25:11).

This was a right of every roman citizen. If justice is denien in one province, a Roman Citizen has the option to appeal to Cesar and stand trial in Rome.

Acts 25:12 “Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.””

But there’s a big problem… Festus, being the new guy, is totally unfamiliar with the religion of the Jews and can’t get an accurate grasp on what the charges actually are.

And he can’t send a prisonar to Cesar, without some letter informing him of the details of the matter.

But in verse 13 a solution emerges!

Acts 25:13 “Now when some days had passed, Agrippa the king and Bernice arrived at Caesarea and greeted Festus.”

Agrippa is the latest King of the Herod Dynasty.

His great-grandfather was the King Herod who so feared the birth of Christ, he ordered the genocide of all male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem 2 years and younger.

His uncle was the Herod who murdered John the Baptist.

His father, Agrippa I, exected James and imprisoned Peter. He was the one in Acts 12 who set himself up as a God and was struck down by an angel of the Lord!

Quiet the lineage! So Agrippa II, is King of the Jews.

Rome considered him the authority on Jewih religion, and so appointed as curator of the temple and had the power to appoint the high priest and adminster the temple treasury.

A Roman at heart, but Jew by birth.

And as Festus wonders what to do with Paul, here comes an authority on these theological matters… Agrippa.

So he tells Agrippa about Paul and summarizes the issue Acts 25:19-20 “Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive. Being at a loss how to investigate these questions, I asked whether he wanted to go to Jerusalem and be tried there regarding them.”

So Agrippa says… I can’t help you Festus, Acts 25:22 “Then Agrippa said to Festus, “I would like to hear the man myself.” “Tomorrow,” said he, “you will hear him.””

Acts 25:23 “So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in.”

Oh man, picture the scene yall! With Great Pomp. All the who’s who have come out for this spectacle, probably dressed like they’re headed to the Kentucky Derby.

All to see a man in chains

At this point I actually want to read the remainder of our text. Join me

Acts 26:1–32 ESV

So Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently. “My manner of life from my youth, spent from the beginning among my own nation and in Jerusalem, is known by all the Jews. They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that according to the strictest party of our religion I have lived as a Pharisee. And now I stand here on trial because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers, to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship night and day. And for this hope I am accused by Jews, O king! Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities. “In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.” But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words. For the king knows about these things, and to him I speak boldly. For I am persuaded that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this has not been done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?” And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.” Then the king rose, and the governor and Bernice and those who were sitting with them. And when they had withdrawn, they said to one another, “This man is doing nothing to deserve death or imprisonment.” And Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

No Gimmicks, just Gospel

In his defense, what we see in Paul is a man who needed zero gimmicks… just a man who had full faith in the power of the Gospel!

No fog machines, or light shows was needed to attract a crowd.

No soft music, dimmed lights, or cool graphics.

John Wesley was once asked, ““What is your secret? Why do so many people come to hear you preach?” Wesley answered — “I get alone with God in prayer. He sets me on fire. The people come out to watch me burn.”

These pompous royals, came out in droves because what Paul carried was a genuine conviction in the power of the Gospel!

You see if we lack this genuine conviction in the Gospel, we will always adopt the gimmicks.

Oh but our world needs Genuine Gospel. They are begging to know… is this thing legit? Is He REAL?

People, maybe even you, are so desparate to cut through the pretension of playing church.

I love playing family with my favorite daughter Emmy. It’s a sweet time of relationship building, to enter into her imagination and play. But after 30 min or so she grows bored with it and it ends.

So many of us are tempted to treat God the same way. With pretention. Go to church on Sunday, enter into some imagination and play. But after 60 min or so we grow bored and go back to the “real world.”

Oh, how I long for you to know the Realness of the Reality of what Paul preached in our text today.

So let me in 10 min or so try and summarize it.

He was Ready

First, I want to point out that Paul was Ready.

The guy had been sitting in custody for 2 years (Acts 24:27). A prisoner treated as a political pawn.

This had to have been such a challenge for Paul, because Paul was a man of action!

Beginning in 47 A.D. in Acts 13 until he concludes his missionary journeys in 58 A.D. when he was arrested in Jerusalem Paul would have traveled approximately 10,000 MILES on FOOT in sharing the Gospel.

For perspective that’s the same distance of walking SAV-Los Angeles and BACK… TWICE!

He was a man of action… and now he’s sitting in custody. Forced to feel like he’s wasting away.

But as soon as he’s presented the opportunity to make his defense (26:1), he opens his mouth and preaches the Gospel.

Like Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:20 “we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

And Peter says, 1 Peter 3:15 “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you;”

Paul was ready, and we need to be as well.

He was Respectful

Yet, Paul was also respectful.

Your spouse ever told you, “It’s not what you said, but how you said it?” That’s rarely a good thing to hear right.

Similarly in sharing your faith.

Paul was set on fire with the Gospel, but in his readiness to preach he was still respectful.

Acts 26:2-3 ““I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”

And when Festus says, “PAUL, you’re crazy! Youre out of your mind, Paul responds...

Acts 26:25 “But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.”

We must be Ready, but we also must be Respectful.

1 Peter 3:15 “ 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,”

So often people reject our testimonies or message because we deliver it without tact or love or graciousness.

We must Witness to the Power of Christ, in the Spirit of Christ.

It is Christ’s love that compels us.

So Paul was Ready, yet Respectful.

And when given the opportunity to preach he Shared his Testimony!

He Shared Testimony

He began to recount his life Before.

Acts 26:4-11.

I was a Pharisee. And believer in the Resurrection.

I was a Persecutor.

Acts 26:9 ““I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.”

He then recounted his encounter. 26:12-15.

He told how on the way to Damascus he say “a light from heaven, brighter than the sun.” And a voice said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard to kick against the goads.”

This saying was a common proverb.

In that day a beast of burden would refuse to go where his master wanted. So His master would goad him, by poking him with a pointed stick.

And the stubborn beast would kick against the goad instead of obeying his master.

So Jesus told Paul, “Why do you fight your conscience? Why supress the inner feelings of conviction?”

What Jesus is saying here is “IVE BEEN TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION!!!!”

All that study in the OT… that was about me!

All that zeal in the Law… fufilled in me!

Remember my sevant Stephen! When you watched him die Acts 7:60 “And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

When your heart was pricked Paul… that was me. I was goading you. But you kicked against it!

But that encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road changed everything!

He then recounted his After (Acts 26:16-23)

He said, Jesus called me to preach. And I have not been disobedient to the heavenly vision.

Although formerly a persecutor of Jesus… I am now a Preacher of this Jesus.

Church, I said it earlier, but the gimmicks have left people asking, “Is God actually real!? Like, does he change people, save people, transform people? Can he actually redeem my marriage, or save my child, or break that addiction, or repair relationships, or provide for my needs, or provide true peace, hope, and love?”

To that question, you should be respectful but ready to say YES!

He has taken my lust and made me pure.

He has taken my brokenness, and restored my worth.

He has taken my anger, and given me peace.

He has taken my shame, and set me free.

He is my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

He is the Author of Salvation, the Resurrection and the Life.

He is the Lion and the Lamb, and the Light of the World.

If you are a believer in Jesus, and been saved by his grace then you have a Testimony.

You have a before, an encounter, and an after.

And your readiness and willingness to share your Testimony is what your friends, family, co-workers, and acquaintences need to hear.

They need to hear the testimony of a changed life, by the power of the Gospel.

Paul, standing before Festus and Agrippa shared his testimony… and he shared the Truth.

He Shared Truth

The credibilty of Paul’s Testimony paved the way for his presentation of Truth.

The power of a changed life pauses people just long enough to wonder, “How… how could that be true?”

That pause is your invitation to present the Truth.

Paul does it twice.

Acts 26:17-18 “delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’”

Acts 26:22-23 “To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.””

In each of these gospel presentations he emphasizes a couple of Truths!

First, People live in darkness under the power of Satan.

The Scriptures are clear, all those who live apart from Christ live in darkness.

John 3:19-20 “ people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.”

Ephesians 4:18 “They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.”

Jude 13 “they are wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.”

And this darkness is controlled by the power of Satan

Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness,

In fact 2 Cor 4:4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Satan lives to keep people in darkness, and ultimately wants them there eternally.

But here comes the second truth… THE LIGHT HAS COME!

John 3:19 “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world!”

JOhn 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

1 John 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

You know what happens when you shine a light in the dark! The darkness flees.

Jesus Christ is the light of the world, and he came that those Isaiah 9:2 “ who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

Third, when you step into the Light you receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ.

1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

If you want to come out of the darkness, to break free from the power of Satan… all it requires is stepping into the light.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confession is our step of faith into light, and as you step into the light you receive forgivenss of sins!

Once you step into the light, and receive the forgiveness of sins freely offered… you are saved.

Ephesians 5:8 “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

And for that… we praise His glorious grace.

Colossians 1:12 “giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”

And we tell everyone that will listen, both small and great, about it.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Conclusion

The church of Jesus Christ was built by the power of the Gospel… No gimmicks, just gospel.

And Paul was ready and respectful as he shared his testimony and the truth.

But in Acts 26:24 “And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.””

To which Paul respectfully replied, “Acts 26:25 “But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.”

Agrippa then looks at him and says, Acts 26:28 “And Agrippa said to Paul, “In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?””

To which Paul respectfully replies Acts 26:29 “And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.””

Same church, same.

Not only you, but all who hear me this day.

These are true and rational words.

This is the power of the Gospel, it takes you from darkness to light from Satan to God… it changes you, it changes everything.

Are you ready to share it?

are you set on fire by the power of the gospel, because our world is ready to watch you burn.

No gimmicks, just the Gospel.