Sermon Tone Analysis

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

HOw can we witness, three more sermons on Acts about our life on mission, but now last model - important 3x tell of Paul’s conversion, and again a precious jewel rdcorded of how the early church proclaimed Christ - what was the gospel?

In fact, many esitmte this to be the most powerful succinct explanation and invitation to saving faith that exists in our world.

Key Truth: Witness to Christ must aim not ulitmately at the intellect or the emotions, but with God’s Word presenting Christ in Person and work, our wintess must aim at the person’s will!

TURNING from darkness to light, power S to GOd!

We see this in the text of

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

He stirred the hope of the resurrection, rising up in New Age, he presented facts of the prophet, but the aim is key word in BIBLE = TURN , and in TURNING TO RECEIVE both forgivenss of sin and a place in God’s family , his kingdom!

Don’t misunderstand e, that we can make a person make that choice, nor even that they themselves can see Christ and Turn - must come with prayer and powerful working of the HOly Spirit, that combines that word - with an inward and myserious awkening, that enlivenes their minds, and warms their heart so they desir3e these promises presented and love this Jesus.

ABut the awakiening that happens with i - issues oin a will that now TURNS to Jesus.

And we must give people that warm invitation, with our personal endorsement our testimony that Jesus is so good and yought to turn to Him! Gentleness & Respect in Witness means

A. Enter on their Turf with Sensitivity

Our theme verse says, we will have opprontuiy to give an explanation and witness for Christ, but must do so with gentleness and respect.

And we see this modeled inthis ; though very helpful to have an outline, a bse line presentation of Christ memorized, and though God could use that.

Authentic witness means not treating peope like cookie cutter objects, but real people that you know and love.

Just like in his exchange with Felix.

where he says,

Madness - mania in Greek both in v.11 raging fury against X followers.

But also Festus’ - follwoing - same as weak point pound pulpit… interupted - slammed your crazymad…

Paul replied: “Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense.

THough it can be nerve wracking talking of your faith.

Though for Paul so much lay in the balance for him with each trial, still you get the sense that though may be nervous, I am so cheerful to share the best news of my life of the world.

Here Paul’ says - basically thank you - to the one he gets to share with .

Thaks for the opporutnity , it’s the luckiest thing of my day, my wekk, my ,m month.

But it not just a cheerful tone, but look at the end of his introduction in v.3b

If you pray about witnessing, and about welfare of those neighbours friends - there will be an eagerness - begging listen patiently -

You know what Paul is basically saying, Listen this may not make to much sense to you righ tnow.

But try try to see this from my point of view, my experience all right, Suspend all your questions for a moment.

But at the same time, you can tell this no canned presentation.

He asks them to try on his belief in Christ, but He has also taken on their point of view and he shows it.

If you want your unbelieving friend or family member to try on Christain ponit of view, should they know theat you take their life and believfs and doubts seriously.

Not like coellge student, statered witness saying, Do you know if you have epistol oologica … No, Paul starts with Agrippas life, his point of view.

Makes common ground as we’ve seen before.

We share some things in comon here, holy writings, hope of eternal life of resurrection,.

LIsten I once thought Christian fanatics.

He speaks of a brnakch of Judaism that Agrippa constantly dealing with in the temple and potlicis.

From that basis and common ground he can launch into the heart of wtiness which is about hte person and work of Jesus applied to the need of the poerson who is right before you.

By way of application.

Think of an unbeliver in your family or on your block, - Do you know them- have you taken their point of view seriously enoguh that could say - here is wheere we have common ground, I understand what’s really ioprtant to you, and also what are real doubts or bostacles to faith that you have.

Taking them seriously and really caring, if with earnestness you said lsten you know me, my manner of life and my care, but I want to tell you about what makes me tick and who Jesus is to me.

Would you listen for bit about that?

Agrippa is certianly listen and even non-reiglis Festus is intrigued.

But then Paul switches gears.

Our Witness Must

B) Move to Sharing About Jesus and His Purpose

B) Move to Sharing About Jesus and His Purpose

Paul’s goal is not just to talk about reilgios experience or to speak of his life.

And we can’t be content just to have a religious conversation.

In v. 9 Paul in describing his former life says he was opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

Now everyone knows this is no casual meandering conversation.

This is about he name that has shaken the world, The name that’s gone to Jews and Gentiles Slaves and free.

Broken the categories , and has become a name spoekn against that Nazarene.

And Paul has drawn the line in the sand.

Some are against him like he used to be.

How could he defend this Jesus?

It is amazing that all defneding of himself of charges of the Jews become a nonissue and the only thing that matters is defeding who Jesus is.

What is about Jesus that Paul and you and I ought to be sold out in telling others.

Its’ actually two things that I think every single human being has a deep interest in.

Neighbours on either side conversations - gripping attention - last weekend forgiveness - story of a Christian who forgave and spoke Corrie Ten Boom rivetted.

And the other issue two weeks ago about Death and what comes after and how Christian look at burial .

Resurrection!

And Paul says got to get to thse two great actions of Jesus in our witness:

… that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

Acts 26:18

Interesting that seams of this conversation, puncutated by when He calls Agrippa King Agrippa - makes contact.

And

But then he drives towards his point.

LIsten Agrippa you know this about Jesus now and about what He accopmlsihed dying forgiveness, and rising New life, eternal life, a new kingdom.

So look at what he hints at in v. 19, the last O King Agrippa:

After driving to the powerson and work of Jesus, and saying in my experience this is how Jesus is before me, try it on for size in your life - this heavenly message, this Word of God Jesus to you today, how would you respond to this Jesus, Agrippa!

That’s the third, step, after respectfully ang gentley connecting and driving to Jesus person and work.

C. Ask for a Response of Repenting and Turning to God in Jesus

Paul recounts how whole world responding by repenting and turning, where ever this messages is oging and saysy why don’tyou?

He recounts God’s protection as he goes from place to place.

And look at how astounding hemakes the claimin .

It is not even just I Paul, or you JOe, presenting this good news to you, it is Jesus through you and me and Paul, all the way from heaven exteding the gopsel offer!

… that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Well they feell the light undertqand his strong argument logically.

But what is the response?

Festus, non reilgiuos all business is the first to reply: Your nuts!

The first Madness - mania in Greek both in v.11 raging fury against X followers.

But also Festus’ - follwoing - same as weak point pound pulpit… interupted - slammed your crazymad…

Ie.

On construction site - coffee break Danny Abricombi, JW, Paul - mildly United Church, boss Rick - agnostic, atheist, grew up refrmoed - talk of relgion , join this o that all polite and accepted, but in the middleo f that to say I follow Christ - big deal is follower of Jesus - Christian isn’t go to this church or that church isn’t do these practices, Jesus didn’t come and die to make nice people nicer, nor - some cool ideas.

Jesus came to give life, new life in HIm - Yet logic is there, inncoent, witness is there - So - stop it - You are mad.

Paul had just said I like you right now - oppsoing the most important fact of human history the resurreciton, I opposed what the whole OT said was comng that we all have to attain to -0 I was maiac raging in fury - But that resurrectio in the person of Jesus , taht Jews thaought only end times event, that cma enow in the middle of life -

And Jesus interpurted my life, like his your s right now and he said.

- why added info:

… It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

Oh people do you know what it iis to be working in feet and inches, impoeral measurements, in a world that’s transfered all to meteric?

DO you knwo what it is like to be an windows user, in a world that everyone just uses Mac.

Do you know what it is to be living just for this earthly life, to be ok in spiritual darkness, and sin, just keepi living.

Imagine if you today in 2019, believe id in flat earth, refused to step into car because don’t believ in internal comusbtion engine, or LIved in this world with just candles at night, don’t have incadenscvent or flueorecent even LED lights.

Jesus the Resurrected Messiah appeared from heaven, in fact even stood beside me in Jerusealem - and you know what he said to me when he interpurpteed my life for the first time: Maddnes, futilit - get with the program of God in thei sworld - Get with the resurrection program - with new life forgivenwss accepted, equipped and enabled with the Holy Spirit

In the late 1800s a clergyman by the name of Bishop Wright thought it was impossible for man to fly.

"Flight," he said, "is reserved for the angels."

On December 17, 1903 his oldest son, Wilbur, took his seat in the first power-driven plane ever built and was airborne at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, for twelve seconds and 120 feet.

There were some who thought the Wright brothers were a little touched before that fateful day, but today they are everyone's heroes.

It was the same for Christopher Columbus.

People were so sure this crazy explorer would sail off the end of the earth that many of their coins carried the Latin inscription, "Ne Plus Ultra" - "no more beyond."