Sermon Tone Analysis

Prolegomenon

Paul has been tried three times and not found guilty.

Before the Council in Jerusalem.

(23:1-9)

Resurrection was on trial.

(vs 9)

Found innocent

Then a great clamor arose, and some of lthe scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, m“We find nothing wrong in this man.

Felix (Drusila)

Festus

Why is it important?

We want to know what is expected of us so that we don’t feel blind-sided or caught off guard.

A Circular Family Tree

Herod, Agrippa the First had

One Son

Agrippa the 2nd

Two Daughters

Drusilla, who divorced her husband to marry Felix

Berenice, who was involved in a myriad of relationships, including an incestuous relationship.

Why is this important to us?

The self-centered, pleasure and comfort seeking environment that Paul dealt with is the same culture that we deal with.

The gospel message is antithetical to a hedonistic, self-serving, pleasure and comfort seeking culture.

Introduction

Apologetics ἀπολογέομαι

Apologetics is a required class in seminary.

When I took it, the first week we had a debate on whether or not the practice of apologetics is evangelistic or not.

Most agreed that it wasn’t necessarily an evangelistic endeavor.

(Idea of an apologist: William Layne Craig, JP Moreland, Josh and Sean McDowell debating well know atheists.

christopher hitchens, sam harris.

Kalam Cosmological argument, fine tuning of the universe, Divine Hiddenness, easy to see why it is academic

I’m here to tell you tonight, that, while apologetics can indeed be just an academic affair, it is, nonetheless evangelistic, and, I might add that just as we are all theologians, we are all apologists.

Acts

They were planning an ambush.

When I took it, the first week we had a debate on whether or not the practice of apologetics is evangelistic or not.

Most agreed that it wasn’t necessarily an evangelistic endeavor.

(Idea of an apologist: William Layne Craig, JP Moreland, Josh and Sean McDowell debating well know atheists.

christopher hitchens, sam harris.

I’m here to tell you tonight, that, while apologetics can indeed be just an academic affair, it is, nonetheless evangelistic, and, I might add that just as we are all theologians, we are all apologists.

What is an apologist?

Simply put, apologetics, and more precisely, Christian apologetics, is a defense of the faith.

Defense, however, implies a reactive measure, contrasted with evangelism which is a proactive endeavor.

Evangelism: proclaim

Apologetics: defense

We have seen three times, paul engaged in defending (not just himself, but the faith)

Before the Council in Jerusalem.

(23:1-9)

Resurrection was on trial.

(vs 9)

Found innocent

Then a great clamor arose, and some of lthe scribes of the Pharisees’ party stood up and contended sharply, m“We find nothing wrong in this man.

Felix (Drusila) (Chapter 24)

Festus (Chapter 25)

Paul has been on the defensive.

So we have seen Paul engaging in defense—of his innocence against false claims.

Always done in reaction, or in response, to some external force or objection.

If apologetics is a defense, how can it be evangelistic?

How is apologetics evangelistic?

Lets look at the objective of evangelism.

Acts 26:14-

Receiving of forgiveness is preceded by turning from darkness to light (repentance) which occurs after their eyes have been opened (figuratively, blind, now see)

So the objective of evangelism is: (Transforming Mission, David Bosch)

to proclaim salvation in Christ to the lost, calling them to repentance and conversion, announcing forgiveness of sin and inviting them to become living members of Christ’s earthly community and to begin a life of service with others in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Who are apologists?

Why are we apologists?

To put this another way:

How do we do apologetics?

How is

Expect to give a defense.

Expect to give a defense

apologia

Evangelism is proclaiming, or preaching the gospel, with the end goal that people will receive faith through the hearing of the word.

Why should we expect this?

Expect to alienated a large segment of the population.

Living as a Christian may alienate our friends and acquaintances.Paul, on mission for the chief priests (vs 12) is converted.

Living as a Christian may alienate our friends and acquaintances.

Paul, on mission for the chief priests (vs 12) is converted.

So again the question, how is apologetics evangelistic?

Evangelism is an implied offensive strategy where Apologetics is defensive.

Here is the answer: Look at Agrippa’s objection and Paul’s response.

Actually start with Festus in

Acts 26:24-29

2 peter

Acts

Paul’s defense, his apologetic, was aimed at conversions, not only of his primary audience, Agrippa, but everyone else who witnessed it.

Apologetics is evangelistic in that it should have, as the primary goal, to communicate the gospel.

Implications:

know the gospel.

communicate the gospel

- Francis of Assisi: Always be ready to share the gospel and when necessary, use words.

Knowing this now, how do we engage in apologetics?

How should we practice apologetics?

We have seen how Paul has been thoughtful and respectful, to Felix, Festus and now Agrippa.

We too should be respectful.

With gentleness and respect.

Closing

Even our gentleness is an apologetic.

short or long, I’m trying to convert you and everybody within earshot should be like me (except for these chains)

The quickest way to lose credibility and undermine our testimony is to get defensive in our defense.