Combing the Community

Combing the Community

Acts 17:1-9

Theme: God gives us three ingredients to turn the community upside down for Jesus Christ.

Welcome once again to Mountain View Baptist Church! We are thrilled to have you attending. Please be sure to stop by our welcome center to drop off your connection card and get your gift bag before you leave today.

Have you ever wondered what can we do to make our community a better place? Some think elect different leaders. Or put in more social programs or children activities. Some think if they move somewhere else, life will be so much better and there will be less crime. Believe me crime is everywhere.

Janet is from the country and if you know anything about Alex Murdaugh, you know he lived out in the country. It happened two miles from where Janet grew up and her parents live. He cheated and stole from people and killed his wife and son.

You can’t run away from the problem our communities have. It is a sin problem. You cannot vote to put enough people into office or even arrest enough people to bring the community to a safer or better community. I am not saying we shouldn’t do either, but the gospel changes everything. The gospel is the answer to the sin problem.

Here in this passage is a “religious” community, a community with a great location, and great popularity. This city was very important to the Egnatian Way, a first century kind of interstate for travel. As a chief city Paul and Silas stopped here during their missionary travels where they continued with their missionary work. Based on I Thessalonians, some from here put their faith in Christ and started living for Christ.

“For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” (1 Thessalonians 1:9–10)

From this passage, we learn what it means to comb the community. In verse 6, these have turned the world upside down. One man said, “these did not turn the world upside down, they turned it right side up. The world was upside down for so long, they did not know which side should have been up.” (Unknown)

The world we live in today is certainly upside down and if only a few missionaries serving the Lord in the first century could turn the world upside right, I believe we can turn this community “right side up for Jesus Christ.”

There are three ingredients that are necessary.

Ingredient 1. . .

The message of the Scriptures vv. 2-3

Notice the opening of the Scriptures. He did not use psychology or philosophy or therapy or morality, he used God’s Word.

“For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27)

God’s Word has a powerful impact on someone’s life. You may argue with politics or philosophical or societal issues, but you cannot argue with God’s Word. It stands as rock undaunted. Jesus opened the Scriptures to the two men on the Road to Emmaus.

“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)

We need to get God’s Word to the community: living out God’s Word, handing out tracts, and talking about God’s Word. Here the passage says alleged the truth means we give the truth with proof from the Bible. This is why being in Connection Groups, asking questions, being engaged in the discussion, and learning how to defend our faith.

Yesterday I was so proud of how you folks pulled together at Karen George’s service by providing food and so welcoming to everyone. Thank you.

Please notice in verse 4-“some of them believed.” Not everyone will believe, not everyone will come to faith in Christ. Satan has expertly blinded some to the truth. There are many who reject or turn away from the truth. Yet, we are called to tell people the truth of God’s Word.

“In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

There are some who just won’t believe and their minds have been blinded. There are some who believe and ask legitimate questions to learn. Then there are others who ask only to trip you up. When someone challenges your faith, don’t be upset, simply give them the gospel. It all begins when you meet Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. The gospel changes lives. He lives in my heart.

I serve a risen Saviour,

He's in the world today;

I know that He is living,

Whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy,

I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him

He's always near.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives

today!

He walks with me and He talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives, He live, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives:

He lives within my heart.

We need to get the message in every doctor’s office, classroom, court room, and jail house. Every home in the high desert needs to get the message. Combing the community means there is no place we have not sought to get God’s Word into the hands of people.

This message is life giving and life changing. When I heard God’s Word preached as 14-year-old, it penetrated my cold, stony heart. Its message reverberated in my soul and I could not shake it. The truth and the message urged me to know more. To want to meet the God of the Bible.

Notice here the word “preach” means to declare, to make known its proclamation, and persuade towards a decision. It is not enough to know the gospel, but we must we receive the gospel. It is not enough to hear the gospel preached, but we must receive Jesus as our personal Savior. If you are here today and have never accepted Christ, please receive Him today.

The Word of God is not to be hidden under a bushel but proclaimed to the housetops and everywhere-this is the idea of the king who proclaims or gives out a message. It is intended for a man to make a decision as to respond to a command.

One key ingredient is the message we preach. What message are we giving out? There are to many “how to” and “feel good” messages, when we need to give out the truth of God’s Word with our mouth. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). We must give out the gospel. The gospel challenges a society who has turned their back on God. The gospel is the beginning, the starting place.

Ingredient 2. . .

Manner of the servants I Thess. 2:2-6

The servants did not live like some human manmade servant but like someone who has been with Christ. Their lives will reflect a difference. Your life and mine is to be reflective of Jesus Christ. When Moses spent time at Mt. Sinai with God, he has such a powerful mark and reflection of God on him that he had to cover his face with a veil. Believers should be so Christlike that they reflect Him in everything.

Four qualities seen in the servants

In verse 2, they were steadfast. Paul mentioned how terribly he was treated in Philippi and that he and Silas spoke in Thessalonica in spite of the contention they faced. They would not quit or change their message.

“The door of opportunity swings on the hinges of opposition.” Dr. Bob Jones Sr.

It is unfortunate that so many have dipped their sails or lowered their convictions on the Word of God. They have allowed the world to tell them what to believe and how to live. We ought to let the Word of God tell us what to believe and how to live. We must remain steadfast on His Word.

In verse 3, 5 they were honest. He says their message was not of deceit means it was honest and forthright. His motivation was one of complete integrity. He did not have a hidden agenda, a personal motive, or vendetta. He simply wanted them to know Christ.

The third quality is they were God-pleasing v.4. When you stop trying to please men and starting pleasing God, what a dramatic difference your witness will be in this community. The ministry is not to be catered to man, to please man, but rather it is to please God.

The last quality is humility v. 6. “Not of men sought we glory”-they were not about gaining glory for themselves. Their glory was for Him-this is what our ministry pathway focuses on-giving glory to God-honoring God. Our lives, our ministry, our life should be on the Savior.

Ingredient 3. . .

Magnification of the Savior v.3

Life is not about this world and how to improve our life here but it is about Him and how make Christ known.

“The “good news” of Christianity begins by describing the way things are. There is much beauty and joy in our lives, but there is also pain, loss, dissatisfaction, and trauma. We wish we didn’t war with each other, but we do. No one wants to become an addict, but we do. No one wants their marriage to end in divorce, but it happens. We are not as free as we think. We are unable to fix ourselves, our family, or our world. Are we left alone?

The Gospel—literally the “good news”—is that God has descended into the depths of our failure, even into hell itself to rescue us.” (Sean Norris)

A Christ who suffered is hard for a person to accept. The reason is because the focus is on this world to the neglect of the next world. Christ died and rose is the promise of God.

If we are to turn this community right side up, it will take these three ingredients to make a difference. It is the message of the Bible, the manner of the servants, and the magnification of the Savior.

Today, if you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, this will be a perfect time. It all begins with God. Please turn to Him today.

Next week, we will honor our police and fire. May God help us to comb our community in bringing people here to show our gratitude.