Acts 17_1-15 Turning the World Upside Down

Turning the World Upside Down

Acts 17:1-15

Secular:

•  Darien Hatcher… Todd Bertuzzi… Keith Premeau
•  Gerald Schwartz CEO, Onex Corp.
•  Genghis Kahn…. Alexander the Great…
• These fellows make an impact…
• There is no mistaking their mission
• They have a large numbers that bought into their program…
• And they met with resistance… overcame it and continued… 

Biblical:

Acts 17:1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. 5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." 8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. 9 And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them. 10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Personal:

•  Personal trainer…
•  Wants us to achieve… the best for us physically
• build character
• build muscle… cardio… improve our substance…
• build esteem… gain
• build stamina… resist the temptation to quit!!
• Despite the challenges

Bridge:

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• Who are the people who turn the world upside down… Acts 17:1-15…
•  Thessalonica… Berea…
•   demonstrate 4 four key aspects… Courage, Content, Converts, Conflict…
• Do we want to be people who… turn the world upside down?

Body:

Courage

(1-2a, 10) NAU Acts 17:1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2a And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, 10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

• Remember… NAU Acts 16:22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely…
• Confrontation with Roman officials… magistrates
• … the response was that they moved into Thessalonica and Berea
• Paul… tough situations… explains to Timothy
• NAU 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline
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• NAU Acts 20:22 "And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. 24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
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Content

(2b-3, 11) 2b …and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

•  What was the mission?
• Turn the world upside down…
• Encouraging Materialism… creature comforts
• Encouraging Self-Esteem… personal ego
• Encouraging a good job…
• from the Scriptures  explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead
• …examining the Scriptures daily
• Be Berean!!
•  The content isn’t our own fabrications…

** Movie… guy charges into a situation to be the hero only to recognize he does not have the resources or the power to succeed…

• It takes more than courage to change the world… it takes the power of God…
• God gave us his Word…
• The Power of God in Creation
• The Redemptive nature of God
• The Love and Hope of Salvation
• NAU Acts 18:24 Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures.
• How do we become mighty in content… mighty in the Scripture….

1) Deal with the Sin in our lives…

·         NAU 1 Peter 2:1 Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

2) Diligence…

• Not lazy
• Not haphazard
• Not
• NAU 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

3) Be people of action… doers of the Word!

·         NAU James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

• God uses the weakness and foolishness of humankind… because He has supplied the Content through his power and especially through his Word… To turn this world upside down!!  

Coverts

(4, 12) 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.

• You know the old shampoo commercial…

(slide)

• NAU 2 Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

• Courage in Christ… anchored in his Word… His content… brings converts… who (if well trained) go forward in the Courage of Christ… anchored in His Word… and grows the Kingdom… and so on and so on…
•  A lack of boldness… or a lack of commitment to the Truth of Christ… and the process doesn’t carry on as Christ has commanded us… it is a failure to commit to the Mission!!
• NAU Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

• We are a fraction of the potential for Kingdom building in Squamish…

• Not about being perfect people who snub those who are submersed in the mire of this world… it is about people who have been rescued… redeemed… desiring that everyone with whom they can communicate would know the joy and the hope in Christ…
•  NAU 1 Timothy 1:15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.
• Courage… Content… Converts… oh… guess what comes next… bliss… peace (as Satan hands over his people…)… we now anticipate… the conflict!

Conflict

5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; 7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." 8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. 9 And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.

Conclusion:

Courage

Content

Coverts

Conflict