Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro: We’re back in our outlining of the book of Acts which is all about the holy spirit powered church fulfilling God’s great commission..

Matt 28:29

We’ve seen the Gospel spreading in Jerusalem

We’ve spoken about the Gospel spreading in Jerusalem

We’ve seen the gospel go out to Judea and Samaria which is essentally the outer areas of Jerusalem

It was by way of persecution that the church scattered and begin to preach to the outer areas by the hands of Phillip

And then week we were introduced to God’s chosen Vessel for the gospel getting to the “Ends of the earth”

tells us about the conversion of a man named Saul of Tarsus…who at that time was a fierce enemy of the christian faith yet on the road to Damascus, Jesus revealed himself, Saul responded…and the Lord just reconstructed him from the ground up

Saul’s beginning...

This was his resume...

tells us about the conversion of a man named Saul of Tarsus…who at that time was a fierce enemy of the christian faith yet on the road to Damascus, Jesus revealed himself, Saul responded…and the Lord just reconstructed him from the ground up

ACTS 9:

phil 3:5

And this once powerful man, was brought to nothing and actually had to be led into the city blinded…and that would be the beginning Of Saul’s transformation into the man we know as Paul the Apostle

While that was happening we read this...God

ACTS 9:17

God

The beginning of this man, was his end...

Now after this takes place the Lord speaks to a disciple from Damascus by the name of Ananias who had essentally been the target of Saul’s before his conversion, no doubt he heard about what was happening in Jerusalem…Yet Ananias does what the Lord tells him to...Paul is laid up in a house in Damascus…and we read this

Paul is laid up in a house in Damascus…and we read this

acts 9:1

Ananias was willing to extend the hand of friendship towards a once enemy and see him as a friend which was exactly what Saul needed at the time…

We see that God gives Paul back his sight - Almost as if the Lord take Paul out of commission so he could prepare him the great commission

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes - such an odd occurrence…what did this represent?

I like what spurgeon says...

In different men, sin manifests its chief power in different parts of their nature.

In the case of many, sin is most apparent in their eyes.

in other words, ignorance, error and prejudice have injured their mental sight.

In different men, sin manifests its chief power in different parts of their nature.

In the case of many, sin is most apparent in their eyes.

in other words, ignorance, error and prejudice have injured their mental sight.

Some have the withered hand of conscious inability, others have the deaf ear of mental dullness, but there are far more who hear the joyful sound and display much energy, but they hear without under- standing and are zealous without knowledge, for they are blind.

This was Saul’s condition.

He was thoroughly honest—we might say of his heart, that it was always true to its convictions.

He was no deceiver and no timeserver.

He went in for what he believed to be right with all his might...lukewarmness and selfish policy were alien to his nature.

He dashed with all his might against the doctrine of the cross because he thought it to be an imposition.

His fault lay in his eyes and so, when the eyes were set right, Saul was right.

When he perceived that Jesus was, after all, the Messiah, the man became just as earnest a follower of Christ as before he had been a persecutor!

Some have the withered hand of conscious inability, others have the deaf ear of mental dullness, but there are far more who hear the joyful sound and display much energy, but they hear without understanding and are zealous without knowledge, for they are blind.

This was Saul’s condition.

He was thoroughly honest—we might say of his heart, that it was always true to its convictions.

He was no deceiver and no timeserver.

He went in for what he believed to be right with all his might...lukewarmness and selfish policy were alien to his nature.

He dashed with all his might against the doctrine of the cross because he thought it to be an imposition.

His fault lay in his eyes and so, when the eyes were set right, Saul was right.

When he perceived that Jesus was, after all, the Messiah, the man became just as earnest a follower of Christ as before he had been a persecutor.

App: Though Saul had become aquatinted with God and his Law, many years ago, he was blinded because he had not seen the that Jesus was the one he was waiting for all along…don’t you miss that ether

So Now that he’s a believer, everything is gonna be great right?

Acts 9:26-

Have you ever played “Hot potato”?

Saul has…only he was the potato, he goes and preaches to his own people in the synagogue, and their like “nah we’ll just kill you” He was speaking to the Hellenists and their like “Nah we’ll just kill you” and then he goes to the disciples in Jerusalem and their like “Nah you’ll just kill us”

Have you ever played “Hot potato”?

Saul has…only he was the potato, he goes and preaches to his own people in the synagogue, and their like “nah we’ll just kill you” He was speaking to the Hellenists and their like “Nah we’ll just kill you” and then he goes to the disciples in Jerusalem and their like “Nah you’ll just kill us”

But then you have Barnabas the encourager coming up and vouching for Saul…talking about all that the Lord has done through him...

And here was the church’s response to him...

ACTS 9:

The church didn’t always get it right…and Saul had a reputation that he had made for himself.

Insight: Thats the thing about hurting people, it lingers…

Paul would go home to Tarsus for Many many years and lived in relative obscurity…but once he Got rolling, there was no stopping him

Paul would go home to Tarsus for many many years and lived in relative obscurity…but once he Got rolling, there was no stopping him

As the gospel began to spread beyond Judea and Samaria, the rest of the book covers…so we will look at those

Paul’s First missionary Journey 13:1-14:36 (A Focus On faith in Christ alone)

As the gospel begin to spread beyond Judea and Samaria, the bulk of Luke’s account covers Paul’s missionary journeys.

Barnabas went to Tarsus to find Paul, while persecution increased in Jerusalem.

King Herod beheaded James, John’s brother,

and arrested Peter, who was promptly broken out of prison by an angel ().

In the meantime, Paul and Barnabas headed to Antioch on their first missionary journey - Antioch was the third largest city in the Roman Empire at that time, an urbanized, multicultural, multiethnic hub of politics, travel, and trade.

Paul joined the staff of the church at Antioch, and it became home base for their three journeys

Then we read this...

Acts 13:1-

So you have really diverse group of people here, Niger which means black was presumed to be African, and Manaen was a life long friend of Harod…you have Saul reformed murderer…and in the middle of them all you have happy go luck Barnabas...and all of them have been brought together as one…how?

because had a desire to “Worship” or “Minister” to the Lord…in other words the wanted to do whats pleasing to the Lord

This is one of the ways a diverse church experiences unity…through having a common desire to please God

They wait upon the Lord, and then the Holy Spirit speaks “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” - Notice he says “separate unto me” It’s important to understand that before Paul could be separated unto the work…he had to be separated unto the Lord

App: If you will separate to God, it means you must separate from some other things.

You can’t really say “yes” to God’s call on your life until you can say “no” to things that will keep you from that call.

i.

You can’t really say “yes” to God’s call on your life until you can say “no” to things that will keep you from that call.

Now on this trip Saul and Barnabas traveled from Antioch down to Seleucia (still in Syria), then sailed south to Salamis on the island of Cyprus and northeast to Galatia (modern-day Turkey).

From there, they preached the gospel across the eastern part of Asia Minor, going to Lystra, Derbe, Iconium, Perga, and Attalia.

Interesting note: If you were read about this trip closely you’ll notice that it seems like Barnabas begins this trip as the leader…But as the trip progresses Saul looks like he begins to take over

And this passage seems like the turning point...

acts 13:15-

And then Paul goes on to do what Steven did to him, which was give his people a Messianic history lesson…he spoke about Egypt, The promise land, The judges, The Kingdom of David....

And then he says this

Acts 13:23-

Paul gift was in Full effect...

We see Luke’s focus change to over Saul…and this is where Luke starts referring to him as Paul, and it’s interesting that we never hear of Barnabas complaining

App: Thats important for us to remember, in the kingdom of God, there’s a time to lead…but theres a time to come along side and support the leader…both are important

Finally, they sailed to Antioch and we read this...

Finally, they “sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed” ()”

Acts 15:24-

“The church gathered for a report on their travels, the first missionary conference (v.

27).

It was a good report of God’s work, even though Paul remained a real live wire.

He was a big mouth for Jesus.

He didn’t care what people thought of him, didn’t care if ”

By the power of the Spirit...Paul was unstoppable.

After preaching the gospel in Lystra, they stoned him.

They dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead and planning to bury him.