Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Radical conversion of Kanye West - famous celebrity - Is he really a Christian?

https://www.wholesomewords.org/missions/biostudd5.html

In 1885 - most famous athlete in England - C.T. Studd (Great name for an athlete.)

Expert cricket player.

(When’s the last time you played cricket?)

Heard the great evangelist DL Moody and was saved - Gave up fame and went to China.

His father was wealthy - and died while he was in China - at 25 received inheritance (What would you do with an inheritance at 25?) - wrote checks before he new what he was receiving - gave most all of it away!

Famous quote: “Some wish to live within the sound of a church or chapel bell.

I want to run a Rescue Shop within a yard of hell.”

C.T. Studd

Some would consider Studd’s life a waste of talent, a waste of resources, etc.

Some would say he was insane.

Or was he sane?

In this morning’s passage, Paul accused of being insane.

When you follow Jesus faithfully, insane in the eyes of the world.

Who lives that way?

But, what’s insane in the eyes of the world is the most sane way you can live.

This story: a contrast of two lives: Paul and Agrippa.

Who is sane?

Who is insane?

The way you are living: are you living an insane life or a sane life?

Two simple truths from this passage.

1. Sanity is living for an eternal hope.

2. Insanity is living for a fleeting world.

Sanity is living for an eternal

Kingdom.

- Paul convinced the Spirit of God leading him to Jerusalem then Rome knowing that affliction and imprisonment await him.

Paul goes to the temple.

Doesn’t go well.

He’s seized, dragged out, and the Jews attempt to kill him.

Roman guards intervene and take him to their barracks.

Paul persuades the Romans to give him an opportunity to speak to his Jewish brothers and sisters.

It didn’t go well.

, “Wipe this man off the face of the earth!

He should not be allowed to live!”

Romans: “Let’s interrogate him by scourging him!”

Paul: “You can’t do that, I’m a Roman citizen!” ()

Next, before the Sanhedrin.

Paul caused a riot by bringing up the resurrection - Pharisees and Sadducees divided about resurrection.

Romans get Paul out before he was torn apart by the Sanhedrin.

Jews conspire to kill Paul.

Paul’s nephew hears about it, reports to Paul.

Paul reports to Romans.

Two hundred soldiers move Paul to Caesarea!

(Acts 22:22-29)

In Caesarea, he is put under the watch of Felix - governor of Palestine - he had an intimate knowledge of The Way. () Paul faces more accusations from the high priest who comes to Caesarea with a lawyer.

Paul testifies before Felix, but Felix didn’t know what to do with Paul.

Paul had done no wrong, but Felix wanted to do the Jews a favor, so he left Paul in prison for two years.

Eventually, a new governor, Festus.

He doesn’t know what to do with Paul either.

“Let’s take you to Jerusalem and let you stand trial there.”

Paul: “I appeal to Caesar.”

() He knew he wouldn’t get a fair trial in Jerusalem.

A better chance before the emperor, and that would get him to Rome!

King Agrippa - Grandson of Herod the Great.

Ruled over kingdoms outside of Israel but was given responsibility for the temple and appointing high priest.

Festus tells him about Paul - Agrippa very knowledgeable about Jewish affairs.

Maybe Agrippa can help Festus decide what to do with Paul.

He has to send him to Rome, but what will he say about Paul? ()

Paul before Agrippa - Paul’s longest defense of himself - two years of imprisonment - an opportunity to clear himself.

But, even greater than opportunity to clear himself, and opportunity to lead a prominent Roman king to faith in Jesus.

Paul gives his testimony and what God has done through Him.

Festus response: “You are out of your mind!

You’ve gone mad!” (Acts 26:24-25)

What if Paul would have listened to his friends in ?

He could have avoided all of this.

Maybe Paul had gone mad.

Or, maybe Paul wasn’t mad at all.

After all, while Festus and Agrippa were living for the powers and pleasures of this world, Paul was living for an eternal Kingdom.

What if Paul would have listened to his friends in ?

He could have avoided all of this.

Maybe Paul had gone mad.

Or, maybe Paul wasn’t mad at all.

After all, while Festus and Agrippa were living for the powers and pleasures of this world, Paul was living for an eternal Kingdom.

Imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote to Philippi:

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

()

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), .What if Paul would have listened to his friends in ?

He could have avoided all of this.

Maybe Paul had gone mad.

Or, maybe Paul wasn’t mad at all.

After all, while Festus and Agrippa were living for the powers and pleasures of this world, Paul was living for an eternal Kingdom.

That’s sanity!

Seeing life for what it really is and choosing to live for what is going to last forever instead of what’s not going to last.

When you choose to live for what will last forever:

Imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote to Philippi,

1.

You will embrace the worst.

When God calls us to obey, we assume the worst, and disobey, rather than embracing the worst.

Seems like Paul is living in the worst, but it’s actually going to get worse!

And, he’s going to keep living with an eternal perspective!

Embracing the worst by asking the question: “What’s the worst that can happen to me when I obey Jesus?

I get ridiculed?

My friends think I’m crazy?

I lose my job?

I have to suffer?

I die for my faith?

I have to make some sacrifices?”

For Paul: “The absolute worse that can happen to me is that I die, but then I will gain heaven.”

If you follow Jesus, the worst that can possibly happen is that you die and gain everything.

Sure, there may be some suffering along the way.