The Prominence of the Church

Introduction

The missionary journeys of Paul were not just trips to exotic places for a week or two. Rather, they were journeys that lasted for months and sometimes even years where Paul and his companions shared the Gospel of Christ to those who needed to hear. Acts 17 shows us this in multiple ways. Again, their example helps us BE THE CHURCH!

Acts 17:1–10 NIV84

1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. 5 But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. 10 As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.

The Via Egnatia was the great Roman highway that connected all of these cities. It began Neapolis and ran through Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessalonica, across Macedonia to the coast of the Adriatic Sea and Dyrrachium from where the travelers to could see the coast of Italy. It was a road that was 696 miles with a width of 19 and a half feet, paved with large polygonal stone slabs or covered with a hard layer of sand. The author of Acts, Luke, does not tell us how these missionaries travelled, but most scholars think it was by horseback. Luke does not see it being important as how they travelled but gives us great detail in what they did. From what they did, the church and the cause of Christ remains to this day to be prominent, seen easily and particularly noticeable. So what can we learn from this?

Systematically Serving

First, we see in Acts 17 the missionaries were systematically serving. They had a similar routine in what they did. When they entered the town or village, they went to the place of prayer which was usually the synagogue. They were engaged in preaching and teaching of scripture. Jesus did that if you remember.

Luke 4:15–16 (NIV84)

15 He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

Ministering Where They Were

Wherever they were, they ministered. Paul went to the synagogue to reason, explain, prove and proclaim the scriptures. That makes sense! Paul was a former rabbi and the synagogue concept was one very familiar to him. Acts 17:3

Acts 17:3 NIV84

3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said.

When he did that, it caused many Jews and Gentiles to come to faith in Christ. It also offended the jealous Jews and they rounded up bad characters to start riots. That doesn’t happen anymore does it? Naysayers keep on “naying”, right?

Moving When They Needed

This caused the missionaries to move when they needed to for their safety. We see in this passage that the Christians would provide safe passage of escape. But they would not stop! Though persecution and turmoil took place, they could not be silent! When we understand what Jesus has done for us in His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, we will not be silent either! Hebrews 10:12-14

Hebrews 10:12–14 NIV84

12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

We have gotten a bit excited on Wednesday nights as we have studied this!

Maintaining Whose They Are

When you realize what Jesus has done and that you are bought with a price, nothing will slow you down to do His will. You will be like these missionaries, maintaining Whose they are!

1 Corinthians 6:20 NIV84

20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Even though they had to leave this area, they went to to Berea. I read that Cicero wrote that Roman authorities were so unpopular in Thessalonica that when he had to visit that city on government business he sometimes found it necessary to go to Berea to get out of the heated unrest! Notice what happens to Paul and his companions when they go to Berea.

Acts 17:11–15 NIV84

11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. 13 When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14 The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15 The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

The Bereans were like Paul and the missionaries, they were students of scripture.

Students of Scripture

Did you see what the Bible says they did?

Examining the Word

They examined the Word. They were more noble and open-minded. They were zealous to hear the word of God and they met with Paul everyday. The did not accept what Paul said thoughtlessly, but they studied and examined the scripture themselves. This tells me their conversion was an intellectual decision and not an emotional one! The result was a number of prominent Greek women and Greek men coming to faith in the Lord!

Equipping the Workers

This helped equip the workers. I wonder if this helped Paul write to young Timothy.

1 Timothy 4:7–10 NIV84

7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10 (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

I was asked this week how does one become Godly. I smarted off, “by stop being ungodly!” Luckily, I was not in smacking distance! I added to this response, “You model the things of the most Godly person ever— Jesus! He spent time in scripture, He prayed and used scripture to face and defeat temptation. He withdrew to refuel mentally, spiritually and physically. He constantly sought His Father’s will. If we are true followers of Christ, we will equip the workers to do the same!

Encouraging the Warriors

We will encourage the warriors! We are in a battle! Ephesians 6:12

Ephesians 6:12 NIV84

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We must encourage the warriors! The next verse after Ephesians 6:12 says, Ephesians 6:13

Ephesians 6:13 NIV84

13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Are you armored up?

These students of scripture revealed their prominence by surveying the situation.

Survey the Situation

Acts 17:16–23 NIV84

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.

I see three lessons for us!

Becoming Aware

Become aware of what is going on around you! The more you study scripture in your approach to godliness, the more you will be able recognize the ungodly!

Boldly Ascertaining

Then you just don’t become aware, but you boldly ascertain what it means! It is time for us to call out what is wrong and promote what is right. It is time for us to declare the truth of God’s Word and ways! We live is such a time where we are scared we are going to hurt someone’s feelings. Whoa Whoa Whoa feelings. Get over it. It is time be like Joshua 1:9

Joshua 1:9 NIV84

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

The example of Paul is worthy of our consideration.

Building Association

He surveyed the situation, became aware and boldly ascertained right from wrong. Then he did something grand. He used to build association. God will always provide a launching pad for the gospel to be presented! It you are ready, there will be an inquiry, an incident or an idol that will blast off that good old gospel ship! He uses the object that has the inscription TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. He not only builds an association, he uses it as a platform from some statements of sovereignty.

Statements of Sovereignty

Acts 17:24–31 NIV84

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Four statements:

God is Lord of Heaven and Earth

Acts 17:24 NIV84

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.

He does not need a temple or a human cultic ritual.

God Creator of Mankind

Acts 17:26 NIV84

26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.

God created man and man needs God.

God and Man are Related

Man is the offspring of God.

Acts 17:28 NIV84

28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’

God Calls Man to Abandon His Ignorant Ways

Acts 17:30 NIV84

30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.

I have said before that if ignorance was bliss we would all be blisters.

We know better. Therefore we must do better. It is time for us as men and women and boys and girls to be prominent in our application of God’s Word. It is time for us as a church to be prominent in living out God’s Word. It is time for us to BE THE CHURCH that God has called us to be!