Aftermath after the Application

Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or 100 duck-sized horses?

How would you summarize the whole Bible?

Introduction

Is it just me or is Spark Notes like a secret society for slow readers? I mean, I'm not saying I was part of it, but I'm also not saying that I wasn't. Reading has always been a struggle for me, so Spark Notes was my knight in shining armor. But let's be real, if the quizzes were any more specific, Spark Notes would be as useful as a screen door on a submarine. And even with Spark Notes, my memory is so bad that I'd probably forget what I read anyway. So, thank you Spark Notes for helping me get through high school, one book summary at a time.

The Old Testament

Acts 13:15–25 ESV

After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: “Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’

This was the tradition for the synagogue, for the reciting of the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4–9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Then they would read a section from the Law and the prophets and then there would be the word of encouragement, which is pretty much the exposition of the text. Jesus does this in Luke 4.

Then we see a summary of the Old Testament and the beginning of the gospels. We see some of the major themes, the exodus, the wandering in the wilderness, the conquering of the promised land, the judges, then Samuel, then kings, with Saul and David. Then why David is such a big deal, God made a promise that a descendant of David would sit on His throne for all eternity. That’s Jesus. Let’s hear more about Jesus.

The Gospels

Acts 13:26–35 ESV

“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ Therefore he says also in another psalm, “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’

This section focuses on what Jesus fulfills, these scriptures that Paul gives a bit of a sly at them. You didn’t recognize or understand the scriptures, although you read them every Sabbath. We see there was no guilt in Him. All these things written on how the Son of Man would suffer are fulfilled, and then they take Him down from that tree and lay Him in a tomb. Then God raised Him from the dead, then they list some of the Psalms that were fulfilled. That Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, that He will receive the blessing of David, and that He will not see corruption, but will be raised from the dead. Now what does Paul want them to do about it?

The Application

Acts 13:36–41 ESV

For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: “ ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ ”

What does Paul say? To believe that in Jesus there is forgiveness of sins. He can free form from what you can’t be freed from by the Law of Moses. He tells them to not let them be the people who fulfill this prophecy. Don’t be one who despises and scoffs at the perfect work of Jesus. Don’t be the people who will be astounded at Jesus' return and be crushed under His judgment because you don’t believe now. That’s the Application that Paul gives. What I want to focus on is what happens afterward. What happens because of this sermon and because of this application?

The Aftermath

Acts 13:42–44 ESV

As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath. And after the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who, as they spoke with them, urged them to continue in the grace of God. The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.

There are many things that we need to take from this section.

Begging for the Bible

When is the last time that you have been so hungry for the Gospel you beg for it? When was the last time you longed to have a conversation focused on the Word of God? This is what characterized the early church and it is what characterizes many churches in 3rd world countries where Christianity is illegal. Let’s be people so hungry for the Word of God, So hungry for the truth, and so Hungry for the Gospel that you come to church panting and begging for it. You wake up in the morning and that's all your brain is thinking about.

Following the Faithful

Look at these people who were saved by the preaching of Paul and Barnabas, what did they do? They followed them. How much do you want to have a spiritual mentor in the faith? Do you text your small group leader, me, or your parent, or maybe an upperclassman who is a leader in the youth group like a Carter, or a Josh and ask, How can I live my life for Jesus? This situation came up, how can I honor God in this situation?

Encouraging the Eager

If God is so willing that someone comes to you and asks you these questions, what do you say? If your friend comes up to you that you just shared the Gospel with and now they are believing, what do you do? Paul and Barnabas would encourage them to continue in the grace of God.

Gather the Group

Lastly, gather the group. How does God save people? Through the gospel. Do you trust in the promises of God? Do you trust that Jesus says that He will be with us always to the end of the age, as we live out the great commission? Do you trust that the gospel is the power of God to save people? The early church didn’t start with 12 people and spread to billions of people over the past 2000 years because people came and sat in church and did absolutely nothing. They did something. They put their faith in action. They boldly proclaim the Gospel. We have 11 students in here right now, what can we do in our community by trusting in the power of God?