Talking About God

1 C. S. LEWIS ONCE WROTE: • THE SAFEST ROAD TO HELL IS THE GRADUAL ONE--THE GENTLE SLOPE, • SOFT UNDERFOOT, WITHOUT SUDDEN TURNINGS, • WITHOUT MILESTONES, WITHOUT SIGNPOSTS….. • A FELLA WAS GONNA GIVE AN LECTURE ON HELL • HE DECLARED HE WOULD PROVE CONCLUSIVELY • THAT HELL WAS A WILD DREAM • OF SOME SCHEMING THEOLOGIANS WHO INVENTED IT • TO TERRIFY THE MASSES. • AS HE WAS LAUNCHING INTO HIS SUBJECT, • A HALF-DRUNKEN MAN AROSE IN THE AUDIENCE AND EXCLAIMED, • "MAKE IT STRONG. • THERE'S A LOT OF US POOR FELLOWS DEPENDING ON YOU. • IF YOU ARE WRONG, WE ARE ALL LOST…. • WHEN WE UNDERSTAND HELL IS REAL • IT SHOULD CHANGE WHAT WE TELL PEOPLE ABOUT GOD… • IN THIS LIFE WE ARE GOING TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT GOD • SOME OF US ARE UNCOMFORTABLE AT THIS IDEA • WE WOULD RATHER JUST NOT TALK ABOUT GOD • WE KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE AND WE THINK IT IS • NONE OF OUR BUSINESS WHAT OTHER PEOPLE BELIEVE • BUT THE TRUTH IS AT SOME POINT IN TIME, AT SOME MOMENT • WE WILL END UP IN A CONVERSATION ABOUT GOD • WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT TO SAY IN THESE CONVERSATIONS • I NEED TO BE READY TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT WHO GOD IS • WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE GOD PROMISED A SAVIOR • MAYBE YOU WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO TELL SOMEONE THE GOSPEL • TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT PAUL • TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT GOD • TURN TO ACTS 13:13 • THIS IS THE FIRST SERMON BY PAUL RECORDED IN THE BIBLE • HE AND BARNABAS HAD BEEN SENT OUT BY THE HOLY SPIRIT • THEY WENT TO CYPRUS WHERE THEY PRESENTED THE GOSPEL • IN THE LOCAL SYNAGOGUES • THE LOCAL RULER ASKED THEM TO PREACH TO HIM • AND A JEWISH FALSE PROPHET OPPOSED THEM, • THE LORD STRUCK THIS MAN BLIND • AND THE LOCAL RULER HAD TRUSTED IN CHRIST • AFTER THIS WE READ…. ACTS 13:13–15 NOW PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS PUT OUT TO SEA FROM PAPHOS AND CAME TO PERGA IN PAMPHYLIA; BUT JOHN LEFT THEM AND RETURNED TO JERUSALEM. BUT GOING ON FROM PERGA, THEY ARRIVED AT PISIDIAN ANTIOCH, AND ON THE SABBATH DAY THEY WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE AND SAT DOWN. AFTER THE READING OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIALS SENT TO THEM, SAYING, “BRETHREN, IF YOU HAVE ANY WORD OF EXHORTATION FOR THE PEOPLE, SAY IT.” • THESE FELLAS LED BY PAUL LEAVE CYPRUS AND • GO TO PAMPHYLIA WHERE JOHN WHO IS CALLED MARK • LEAVES THE GROUP AND HEADS BACK TO JERUSALEM… • A LOTTA PEOPLE HAVE A LOTTA THEORIES • ABOUT WHY MARK LEFT… LUKE DOES NOT TELL US WHY • HE JUST COMMENTS ON MARK LEAVING AND KEEPS GOING • AND SO DO PAUL AND BARNABAS • THEY KEEP ON GOING AND END UP IN PISIDIAN ANTIOCH • THIS ANTIOCH WAS A ROMAN COLONY IN THE REGION OF PHRYGIA • IT WAS PART OF AN IMPORTANT TRADE ROUTE • AND HAPPENED TO HAVE A LARGE JEWISH POPULATION • SO JUST LIKE THEY HAD DONE BEFORE • ON THE SABBATH DAY THEY WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE AND SAT DOWN • IT WAS COMMON FOR VISITORS TO SPEAK IN A SYNAGOGUE • AFTER THE READINGS WERE GIVEN… SO • AFTER THE READING OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS THE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIALS SENT TO THEM, SAYING, “BRETHREN, IF YOU HAVE ANY WORD OF EXHORTATION FOR THE PEOPLE, SAY IT.” • NOW, PAUL COULD HAVE SAID ANYTHING HE WANTED • THESE SYNAGOGUE OFFICIALS ALLOWED VISITORS • TO TALK ABOUT WHATEVER THEY WANTED • AND PAUL IS GONNA TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY • TO TELL THESE PEOPLE ABOUT GOD, GRACE, AND THE GOSPEL ACTS 13:16–18 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 AN UPLIFTED ARM HE LED THEM OUT FROM IT. “FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT FORTY YEARS HE PUT UP WITH THEM IN THE WILDERNESS. • PAUL ADDRESSES HIS AUDIENCE SAYING; • “MEN OF ISRAEL, AND YOU WHO FEAR GOD, LISTEN: • MEN OF ISRAEL ARE THE HEBREWS IN HIS AUDIENCE • AND WHEN HE SAYS YOU WHO FEAR GOD HE IS TALKING ABOUT • GENTILES WHO WERE NOT FULL CONVERTS TO JUDAISM • THEY BELIEVED IN THE GOD OF ISRAEL, THEY FEARED OR RESPECTED HIM • BUT THEY WERE NOT FULLY JEWISH… • PAUL STARTS HIS SERMON WITH THE HISTORY OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE • STEPHEN DID SOMETHING SIMILAR WHEN HE WAS ON TRIAL • STEPHEN’S FOCUSED ON SIN OF THE NATION OF ISRAEL • BUT PAUL’S SERMON IS FOCUSED ON THE GRACE OF GOD • GOD CHOSE THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL • GOD MADE THEM GREAT IN EGYPT • GOD FREED THEM FROM EGYPT • PAUL IS TELLING THE PEOPLE ABOUT GOD… • WHO GOD IS.. HOW HE ACTS, WHAT HE DOES • PAUL IS TELLING THEM THAT THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES THEM • EVERY TIME WE TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT GOD • WE NEED TO START WITH THIS • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE TELL THEM ABOUT • THE GOD WHO LOVES THEM • YES, IT IS TRUE THAT THERE IS MORE TO GOD THAN JUST LOVE • BUT WE SHOULD ALWAYS START WITH THE FACT GOD LOVES US • PAUL DOES THIS BY REMINDING THEM • OF ALL THE GRACE GOD SHOWED THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. • BUT PAUL IS NOT DONE WITH GRACE YET ACTS 13:19 “WHEN HE HAD DESTROYED SEVEN NATIONS IN THE LAND OF CANAAN, HE DISTRIBUTED THEIR LAND AS AN INHERITANCE—ALL OF WHICH TOOK ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS. • THIS GOD WHO LOVES THEM • DID NOT LEAVE THEM WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS • GOD PROVIDED A LAND FOR THEM THE LAND OF CANAAN • THIS WAS A MAJOR PART OF THE COVENANT • GOD HAD MADE WITH ABRAHAM • WHEN PAUL SAYS IT TOOK ABOUT 450 YEARS • HE SEEMS TO BE INCLUDING THE TIME THEY SPENT • IN EGYPT, THE WANDERING IN THE WILDERNESS • AND THE CONQUERING OF THE PROMISED LAND • PAUL CONCLUDES HIS HISTORY LESSON ON GOD’S LOVE • BY DESCRIBING THE PERIOD OF THE JUDGES AND KINGS ACTS 13:20–22 “AFTER THESE THINGS 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. “AFTER HE HAD REMOVED HIM, HE RAISED UP DAVID TO BE THEIR KING, CONCERNING WHOM HE ALSO TESTIFIED AND SAID, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID THE SON OF JESSE, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, WHO WILL DO ALL MY WILL.’ • NOW IT IS AMAZING THAT PAUL DOES NOT MENTION • HOW THE PEOPLE “DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THEIR OWN EYES” • DURING THIS TIME OF THE JUDGES • OR HOW SAUL SINNED, HE JUST SAYS HE WAS REMOVED • HE DOES COMMENT ON HOW DAVID • WAS A MAN AFTER GOD’S HEART, ONE WHO WOULD DO GOD’S WILL • AGAIN HE LEFT OUT THE PART ABOUT DAVID’S SINS • I THINK THAT HE LEAVES THESE THINGS OUT • BECAUSE THE POINT OF THIS HISTORY LESSON • IS THE CHARACTER OF GOD • PAUL IS GONNA TALK ABOUT SIN IN A MINUTE HERE • BUT FIRST HE IS MAKING SURE THESE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND • THAT THERE IS A GOD WHO LOVES THEM • A GOD WHO SHOWS AMAZING GRACE • A GOD WHO CARES FOR THEM…. • WHEN WE FIND OUR SELVES WITH AN OPPORTUNITY • TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT GOD • WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW • WHO GOD IS…. AND ONE WAY TO DO THAT • IS A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON… • A TEACHER ASKED HER BEST STUDENT ONE DAY • "WHY HAVEN'T YOU STUDIED YOUR HISTORY LESSON?" • THE STUDENT REPLIED • "WELL, I WAS GONNA, BUT THEN YOU SAID • THE WORLD KEEPS CHANGING • I THOUGHT I'D WAIT UNTIL IT SETTLED DOWN • NOW, DOES THIS MEAN WE NEED TO TELL PEOPLE • THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL.. MAYBE… • BUT MORE LIKELY WE NEED TO TELL THEM • ABOUT OUR OWN HISTORY, • HOW GOD HAS WORKED IN OUR LIVES • OR IN THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AROUND US • OR MAYBE EVEN IN THE LIVES OF THE • PEOPLE AROUND THE PERSON WE ARE TALKING TO • TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE GOD WHO LOVES THEM • BY TELLING THEM THE HISTORY OF GOD’S LOVE • IS A VITAL PART OF IN DISCUSSION ABOUT GOD • BUT WE CAN’T STOP THERE • WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM TO GOD’S GRACE ACTS 13:23–26 “FROM THE DESCENDANTS OF THIS MAN, ACCORDING TO PROMISE, GOD HAS BROUGHT TO ISRAEL A SAVIOR, JESUS, AFTER JOHN HAD PROCLAIMED… BEFORE HIS COMING, A BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL. “AND WHILE JOHN WAS COMPLETING HIS COURSE, HE KEPT SAYING, ‘WHAT DO YOU SUPPOSE THAT I AM? I AM NOT HE. BUT BEHOLD, ONE IS COMING AFTER ME THE SANDALS OF WHOSE FEET I AM NOT WORTHY TO UNTIE.’ “BRETHREN, SONS OF ABRAHAM’S FAMILY, AND THOSE AMONG YOU WHO FEAR GOD, TO US THE MESSAGE OF THIS SALVATION HAS BEEN SENT. • PAUL TALKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL • NOW, PAUL REMINDS THEM • THAT GOD HAD PROMISED A SAVIOR • THAT THIS SAVIOR HAD COME FROM THE LINE OF DAVID • THAT JESUS WAS THIS PROMISED SAVIOR • IT IS GOD WHO PROMISED AND IT IS GOD WHO • BROUGHT TO ISRAEL A SAVIOR, JESUS, • JOHN THE BAPTIST HAD PREPARED ISRAEL • FOR THE COMING OF THE SAVIOR • BY CALLING FOR REPENTANCE • JOHN HAD DECLARED THE GREATNESS OF CHRIST • BY SAYING THAT HE, JOHN WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH • TAKE OFF JESUS’ SANDALS • AND THEN PAUL SAYS THAT THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION • AS BEEN GIVEN TO US, BOTH THE HEBREWS IN HIS AUDIENCE • AND THE GENTILES WHO REVERENCED GOD • PAUL HAS TOLD THEM ABOUT GOD • HE HAS FOCUSED ON GOD’S GRACE TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL • HE HAS TOLD THEM THAT IN THIS GRACE • GOD HAS PROVIDED THE SAVIOR THAT HE PROMISED • NOW PAUL IS GOING TO TELL THEM WHY WE NEED A SAVIOR ACTS 13:27–29 “FOR THOSE WHO LIVE IN JERUSALEM, AND THEIR RULERS, RECOGNIZING NEITHER HIM NOR THE UTTERANCES OF THE PROPHETS WHICH ARE READ EVERY SABBATH, FULFILLED THESE BY CONDEMNING HIM. “AND THOUGH THEY FOUND NO GROUND FOR PUTTING HIM TO DEATH, THEY ASKED PILATE THAT HE BE EXECUTED. “WHEN THEY HAD CARRIED OUT ALL THAT WAS WRITTEN CONCERNING HIM, THEY TOOK HIM DOWN FROM THE CROSS AND LAID HIM IN A TOMB. • ANYTIME WE TALK ABOUT GOD AND HIS OFFER OF SALVATION • WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SIN • PAUL BRINGS OUT THE GREATEST EXAMPLE • OF SIN TO EVER OCCUR IN THIS WORLD • CHRIST WHO LIVED A SINLESS LIFE • WAS CRUCIFIED AS A RESULT OF HIS OWN PEOPLE • REJECTING HIM AND CALLING FOR HIS EXECUTION…. • WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT GOD • WE NEED TO MAKE IT CLEAR WHAT SIN IS • WE NEED TO KNOW THIS CAN BE DONE • WITHOUT PULLING OUT A BULL HORN • AND BLASTING THEM IN THE FACE WITH THEIR PERSONAL SINS • SOMETIMES, LIKE PAUL DOES HERE • WE CAN MAKE OUR POINT ABOUT SIN • WITHOUT A PERSONAL ATTACK • BUT PAUL IS DOING MORE THAN JUST TALKING • ABOUT SIN HERE, HE IS ALSO MAKING SURE • THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHO JESUS CHRIST IS ACTS 13:30–37 “BUT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD; AND FOR MANY DAYS HE APPEARED TO THOSE WHO CAME UP WITH HIM FROM GALILEE TO JERUSALEM, THE VERY ONES WHO ARE NOW HIS WITNESSES TO THE PEOPLE. “AND WE PREACH TO YOU THE GOOD NEWS OF THE PROMISE MADE TO THE FATHERS, THAT GOD HAS FULFILLED THIS PROMISE TO OUR CHILDREN IN THAT HE RAISED UP JESUS, AS IT IS ALSO WRITTEN IN THE SECOND PSALM, ‘YOU ARE MY SON; TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU.’ “AS FOR THE FACT THAT HE RAISED HIM UP FROM THE DEAD, NO LONGER TO RETURN TO DECAY, HE HAS SPOKEN IN THIS WAY: ‘I WILL GIVE YOU THE HOLY AND SURE BLESSINGS OF DAVID.’ “THEREFORE HE ALSO SAYS IN ANOTHER PSALM, ‘YOU WILL NOT ALLOW YOUR HOLY ONE TO UNDERGO DECAY.’ “FOR DAVID, AFTER HE HAD SERVED THE PURPOSE OF GOD IN HIS OWN GENERATION, FELL ASLEEP, AND WAS LAID AMONG HIS FATHERS AND UNDERWENT DECAY; BUT HE WHOM GOD RAISED DID NOT UNDERGO DECAY. • A VITAL PART OF TELLING PEOPLE WHO JESUS CHRIST IS • IS TELLING THEM ABOUT THE RESURRECTION • PAUL TELLS THEM THAT GOD RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD • AND THAT THERE WERE WITNESSES TO THE RISEN CHRIST… • THEN PAUL TURNS TO THE RESULT OF THE RESURRECTION… THE GOSPEL • AND WE PREACH TO YOU THE GOOD NEWS OF THE PROMISE MADE TO THE FATHERS • GOD HAD MADE A PROMISE… • AND HE HAD FULFILLED IT WHEN HE RAISED JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD…. • THEN PAUL PROVIDES A SET OF QUOTES FROM • THE BOOK OF PSALMS AND THE PROPHET ISAIAH • THE POINT OF THESE QUOTES IS TO ESTABLISH • THAT THE RESURRECTION WAS A FULFILLMENT • OF PROPHECY, THAT THE VERY SCRIPTURES • THESE PEOPLE STUDIED IN THE SYNAGOGUE HAD FORETOLD • THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST • LINKING THESE PROPHECIES TO THE RESURRECTION • WOULD ESTABLISH IN THIS MINDS OF THESE PEOPLE • THAT JESUS IS IN FACT THE MESSIAH GOD HAD PROMISED • THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD WHEN MICHAEL FARADAY • (THE GREAT SCIENTIST FROM THE 1800S), • WAS DYING, SOME JOURNALISTS QUESTIONED HIM • ABOUT HIS SPECULATIONS FOR A LIFE AFTER DEATH. • “SPECULATIONS!” HE SAID, • “I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT SPECULATIONS. • I’M RESTING ON CERTAINTIES. • I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVETH, • AND BECAUSE HE LIVES, I SHALL LIVE ALSO.” • WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE BECAUSE CHRIST IS OUR SAVIOR • HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS PAID FOR OUR SINS • THE RESURRECTION IS PROOF THAT CHRIST IS THE SAVIOR • THE RESURRECTION FULFILLS SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE MESSIAH • BUT THE RESURRECTION ALSO PROVES THAT GOD ACCEPTED • THE PAYMENT ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS • IF CHRIST WAS STILL IN THE TOMB • WE MIGHT NOT KNOW FOR SURE THAT • THE PAYMENT WAS ACCEPTED ACTS 13:38–41 “THEREFORE LET IT BE KNOWN TO YOU, BRETHREN, THAT THROUGH HIM FORGIVENESS OF SINS IS PROCLAIMED TO YOU, AND THROUGH HIM EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IS FREED FROM ALL THINGS, FROM WHICH YOU COULD NOT BE FREED THROUGH THE LAW OF MOSES. “THEREFORE TAKE HEED, SO THAT THE THING SPOKEN OF IN THE PROPHETS MAY NOT COME UPON YOU: ‘BEHOLD, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.’ ” • PAUL SAYS THE WORD THEREFORE… A POWERFUL WORD • AS A RESULT OF THE DEATH BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST • PAUL SAYS; “THAT THROUGH HIM FORGIVENESS OF SINS IS PROCLAIMED TO YOU” • THIS IS HUGE, THIS IS THE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL • THIS IS SOMETHING EACH AND EVERY PERSON ON EARTH NEEDS • AND THEY DON’T JUST NEED IT A LITTLE BIT, LIKE A NEW CELL PHONE • THEY NEED IT A LOT… LIKE THEY NEED OXYGEN • AND THEN PAUL TELLS THEM WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THIS FORGIVENESS • HE SAYS; “THROUGH HIM EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IS FREED FROM ALL THINGS,” • THAT IS ALL… NOTHING ELSE… WE DON’T GET TO ADD STUFF TO THIS • WE CAN’T ADD OBEDIENCE, OR WORKS, OR GOOD LOOKS • WE CAN’T ADD ANYTHING AT ALL TO THIS, • BECAUSE PAUL DOES NOT ADD ANYTHING • THE OBJECT OF THE BELIEF IS THE PRONOUN HIM • THAT “HIM” IS JESUS CHRIST • AND TO MAKE IT CLEAR JUST HOW POWERFUL • THIS FORGIVENESS IS PAUL GIVES THEM A WARNING • HE SAY… YOU NEED TO LISTEN TO THIS OFFER OF THE GOSPEL • OR THOSE WARNINGS THE PROPHETS TALKED ABOUT • ARE GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU • TAKE HEED, SO THAT THE THING SPOKEN OF IN THE PROPHETS MAY NOT COME UPON YOU: • THESE WORDS ARE A QUOTE FROM THE PROPHET HABAKKUK • HE WAS WARNING ISRAEL OF A COMING DESTRUCTION • PAUL IS WARNING THESE PEOPLE, TELLING THEM • WHAT THEY FACE IF THEY REJECT THE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL…. THE GOD THAT LOVES US • HAS MADE A WAY FOR US ENTER INTO AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM • HE PROVIDED… A SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST • WHOSE DEATH ON THE CROSS PAID FOR OUR SINS • WHEN SOMEONE REJECTS THAT OFFER • IT IS POSSIBLY THE MOST UNGRATEFUL THING • A HUMAN BEING CAN POSSIBLY DO • WHEN WE TRUST IN CHRIST, HIS WORK ON THE CROSS • WE ARE DISPLAYING GRATITUDE TO THE GOD WHO LOVES US… • OF COURSE, WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL TO GOD • AND ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO SHOW OUR GRATITUDE • IS TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT GOD, WHAT HE HAS DONE • THE SAVIOR HE HAS PROVIDED, THE OFFER OF THE GOSPEL ACTS 13:42–43 AS PAUL AND BARNABAS WERE GOING OUT, THE PEOPLE KEPT BEGGING THAT THESE THINGS MIGHT BE SPOKEN TO THEM THE NEXT SABBATH. NOW WHEN THE MEETING OF THE SYNAGOGUE HAD BROKEN UP, MANY OF THE JEWS AND OF THE GOD-FEARING PROSELYTES FOLLOWED PAUL AND BARNABAS, WHO, SPEAKING TO THEM, WERE URGING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD. • AFTER TELLING THESE PEOPLE ABOUT GOD’S GRACE • AND THE SAVIOR HE PROVIDED TO PAY FOR OUR SIN • PAUL AND BARNABAS START TO LEAVE THE SYNAGOGUE • BUT NOTICE HOW THE PEOPLE • KEPT BEGGING THAT THESE THINGS MIGHT BE SPOKEN TO THEM THE NEXT SABBATH. • THAT IS AN AWESOME RESPONSE TO A SERMON… • THE MEETING BROKE UP AND SOME OF THESE FOLKS FOLLOWED • PAUL AND BARNABAS • AND LUKE CONCLUDES THIS ACCOUNT BY SAYING • PAUL AND BARNABAS WERE; URGING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE GRACE OF GOD • MAYBE SOME OF THESE FOLKS • TRUSTED IN CHRIST FOR SALVATION • AND PAUL AND BARNABAS ARE ENCOURAGING GROW AND MATURE AS CHRISTIANS • OR IT COULD JUST MEAN THEY WERE ENCOURAGING • THEM TO COME BACK NEXT WEEK AND HEAR MORE • FOR SURE THESE PEOPLE HAD LISTENED TO PAUL PREACH • AND PAUL AND BARNABAS ENCOURAGED THEM… • IN THOSE TIMES WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT GOD • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE TO FINISH THE CONVERSATION THIS SAME WAY • NO MATTER THE OUTCOME OF THE CONVERSATION • IF THEY ACCEPTED CHRIST… IF THEY DID NOT • IF THEY AGREED WITH US… IF THEY ARGUED WITH US • WE NEED TO END THE CONVERSATION BY ENCOURAGING THEM • TO COME BACK AND HEAR MORE… TO GO READ THE BIBLE • TO TALK TO OTHER PEOPLE ABOUT GOD…. • TO COME BACK AND TALK WITH US AGAIN. THE SAFEST ROAD TO HELL IS THE GRADUAL ONE--THE GENTLE SLOPE, • SOFT UNDERFOOT, WITHOUT SUDDEN TURNINGS, • WITHOUT MILESTONES, WITHOUT SIGNPOSTS….. • THE TRUTH IS MANY PEOPLE ARE ON THIS ROAD • AND DO NOT KNOW IT.. THE SLOPE IS GENTLE BUT SLIPPERY • THE ROAD TO HELL IS SOFT UNDERFOOT BUT UNFORGIVING • IT HAS NO SHARP CORNERS… NO WARNING SIGNS.. BUT IT IS A DEAD END • WHEN WE UNDERSTAND THAT HELL IS REAL • IT SHOULD CHANGE WHAT WE SAY • WHEN WE TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT GOD • WE NEED BE SURE TO TELL PEOPLE • ABOUT THE GOD WHO LOVES THEM • AND WANTS AN ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM • WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE ARE CLEAR • THAT WE ALL SIN AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. • WE NEED TO TELL THEM THAT GOD PROMISED A SAVOIR • AND THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THAT SAVOIR • HE CAME IN THE FORM OF A MAN… 99