Paul & Barnabas at Lystra

Intro

Open with the story of finding a knock-off Jets jersey at Super Thrift for $39.99

We are going to have Adult & Teen Challenge join us on Oct. 22 (maybe I will let them know about the jersey)

Obviously, there is no point in settling for something fake or counterfeit

A counterfeit will never deliver on the promise it appears to make

i.e., you can’t spend counterfeit money (at least not for long)

What is truly real and what is counterfeit is at the heart of Paul and Barnabas’ experience in Lystra

Wait! How did we get from Saul’s conversion to guy named Paul hanging out with Barnabas in a town called Lystra?

Let’s pray and then catch up in our story *pray*

Paul’s First Missionary Journey

After Saul was converted, it took a number of years for him to be fully accepted by the other apostles and the early church

Remember, he was a staunch adversary of the Way! You can’t blame them for being cautious

Show map of Paul’s early journeys

Jerusalem to Damascus (conversion); time in Arabia (Gal. 1:17); back to Damascus, down to Jerusalem (Barnabas helps convince church); flees to Tarsus (back home); Barnabas brings Saul to help the church in Antioch (Jews and Gentiles); Paul and Barnabas sent to bring aid to Jerusalem (prophesied famine); returned to Antioch with John Mark (who wrote the Gospel of Mark)

Quite the travels in his first few years as a Christian… only just begun

Paul and Barnabas are quite inseperable, and go on a missionary journey together (John Mark tags along for a bit)

Read Acts 13:2-3.

Where did they all go before they got to Lystra (and our story)?

Show map of Paul’s first missionary journey

From Antioch to island of Cyprus (Salamis and then Paphos)

At Paphos Saul’s name changes to Paul after leading a Roman proconsul to faith

From Cyprus to Perga

Here John Mark leaves and returns to Jerusalem

From Perga to Antioch in Pisidia (NOT the same as Antioch in Syria)

Many Gentiles came to faith; Jews drove the missionaries out

From Antioch in Pisidia to Iconium

Both Jews and Gentiles believed; but plans were made to stone Paul and Barnabas

From Iconium to Lystra

Where we pick up the story!

Paul and Barnabas at Lystra

Things get weird when Paul sees a crippled man while he is preaching

He discerns that the man has faith to be healed, and tells him, “Stand upright on your feet!”

The lame man springs up and walks

Very similar story to Jesus (John 5); Peter and John (Acts 3)

Luke is taking pains to show us that God is working through Paul in the same way

As always, a miracle is met by a response… this one quite different

Read Acts 14:11-13.

They are mistaken for Greek gods!

I get it; happens to me from time to time, too

There was an unmistakeable show of power, and the pagans attributed it to the only source they knew; they saw what they expected to see, and it became a barrier to the good news message of Jesus Christ

There are plenty of examples of this for us today; We are blind to the truth when we see what we expect to see

Miracles = explain away by science

Truth claims = truth is subjective and personal

Life change = make up our minds about other people

Paul and Barnabas are taken aback; try everything to set the record straight

Read Acts 14:14-18.

Their main argument? Don’t settle for a counterfeit

Don’t trust us! We are just men like you (with all limitations)

Lots of examples of why not to trust human beings instead of Christ

Don’t trust the Greek gods! Turn from these “vain things” (v. 15)

Vain = worthless; lifeless

Just like idolatry was described in the OT (i.e., Elijah on Mt. Carmel)

What do we tend to trust in today? Money, power, recognition, winning...

Instead, trust the LIVING God (v. 15)

He alone is the Creator

An example of “natural grace” (God revealing His existence through Creation

Gets twisted when the beauty of Creation is appreciated, but created things are worshipped instead of the Creator they are designed to point to

Cf. Romans 1:19-23.

Share Mark’s story about fishing this summer; not just random process (example of today’s misunderstanding

He alone is the Sustainer (causing rain to fall on Jew and Gentile alike)

God is the provider and sustainer of all people; this is another part of his witness

This baaaarely placates the people, for a while at least

Everything seems to be settling down… until Jews from Antioch in Pisidia and Iconium come and stir up the crowd

Paul and Barnabas go from hero-to-zero

Perhaps the people believed THEY were fakes (so ironic)

They stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city and thought he was dead

Remember the call of God in Paul’s life? That he would reach Jews, Gentiles, kings… and suffer (all too true)

But Paul is not dead; he gets up and CONTINUES TO PREACH

Make a joke about preaching with a sore throat

The Last Leg of the Journey

Paul and Barnabas head down to Derbe, then retrace their steps all the way back home (Antioch in Syria), strengthening the believers and churches they just planted

Read Acts 14:21-23.

Suffering requires strengthening

If it wasn’t apparent to you yet; the Christian life is a guarantee of suffering, not a guarantee of smooth sailing

Jesus said it; Peter said it; Paul states it here

Don’t be surprised by the storms

Caught by the storm during canoe trip in the Whiteshell

With inevitable suffering, we need to be strengthed to endure

Strengthened by the Holy Spirit

Cf. Isaiah 41:10.

Remember, God is not just your Creator, but your Sustainer

Bring back original argument; tie-in main theme

Strengthened by your brothers and sisters in Christ

Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Fellowship Groups and Discipleship Groups are designed for this

Conclusion

Are your eyes open to the truth?

Or do you only see what you expect to see, like those in Lystra?

Are you settling for a counterfeit?

God alone is your Creator; He is the living God

Are you being strengthened in your suffering?

God is your Sustainer, and will provide for you

Your brothers and sisters in Christ are His hands and feet to lift you up

Pray