Made For Engagement

[SLIDE 1, 2]Introduction

Engage...

[SLIDE 3-6]Religious Trial

Responsive Prayer

Acts 26:12–18 ESV

“In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ And I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you, delivering you from your people and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you 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.’

Acts

[SLIDE 6]

Paul on trial for violating Jewish Teaching.

Challenge to his ministry, message

Opportunity to fulfill his destiny (more later)

Not normal defense. Bearing witness.

One who tells what he has seen or personally experienced in a court of law.

Here’s why I’ve done what I’ve done

Paul had finished telling about his zeal for and unwavering commitment to the Jewish religion (Set of beliefs, practices).

(Set of beliefs, practices). Beliefs led to practice of persecuting (chasing, hunting) any possible rival to it.

Third time telling the story. Each time brings out a different aspect of its significance.

The story is shortened here compared to the others to focus attention on what Jesus is saying to Paul. Obedience to that command led to a way of life for which he is now on trial.

His defense: Changing sides (obedience to Jesus) is why he’s on trial.

Beliefs and Practices

Actions

Commitment to a religion is a commitment to a set of beliefs and practices.

Paul had finished telling about his zeal for and unwavering commitment to the Jewish religion

Actions

Practices

Beliefs led to practice of persecuting (chasing, hunting) any possible rival to it.

Clear set of beliefs

Practices that mean a whole lot

Ministry Practices

Worship Practices

Article on Hymnals

Favorite songs

Open floor Sunday worship

[SLIDE 7]Hearing God

Damascus - city in southern Syria, the capital of modern Syria. Saul met Jesus on the road to it. On a trade route.

Persecuting Christians

Persecution - to be singled out for harrassment. Chase, hunt. Infliction of suffering, injury, or death on another.

Cause to run, chase, hunt.

Infliction of suffering, injury, or death on another.

The practice of oppressing someone on account of their religion, faith, or nationality.

For Paul, persecuting Christians was a faithful and obedient practice of his faith.

[SLIDE 8]Paul’s Discontent and Kicking Goads

But it was formed out of discontent.

SLIDE 8.1] Experiencing Discontent

Shaping Experiences + Holding tightly (expectations) = Discontentment (appears through attitudes, personality and/or disturbing behavior

Paul’s shaping experiences: Rigid Religious upbringing

Holding Tightly: Letter of the law; defend to the end; his way or the highway; Christians are a threat to our way of life; let’s eliminate them.

Discontentment seen in: he breathed threats intense like fire; hunting Christians

[SLIDE 9] Kicking Goads

Kicking Goads: something that pierces; a pointed stick to prod animals to make them move;

The picture is of an ox or beast of burden moving against the sharp stick used to guide it, and this was a common proverbial phrase in secular and even Jewish writings. It is an accurate picture of Paul’s experience;

Jesus’ Irritates You

Jesus Irritates You

he had indeed always felt Jesus to be an irritant, and then God showed him just what kind of irritant.

Caused Paul discontentment by prodding him, irritating him...

[SLIDE 9.1] It Hurts to Struggle Against Your Destiny

Prod agai

Kicking against the goads describes a struggle inside of Paul as there was a growing realization he was fighting on the wrong side; battling against his destiny.

Jesus is Your Destiny

Kicking Our Goads

Star Wars: Darth Vadar and Kylo Ren

it hurts you to struggle against your destiny. Describes a struggle inside of Paul as there was a growing realization he was fighting on the wrong side.

The more difficult the growing struggle inside Paul between his religion and the irritating prodding of Jesus, The more effort it took to overcome and silence the voice of his destiny and the greater energy, focus and commitment IT took to put down the rebellion (Christians).

The more effort it took to overcome and silence the voice of his destiny and the greater energy, focus and commitment to put down the rebellion (Christians).

Paul: It was tearing me up.

Ramping up the Chasing, hunting Christians with a vengeance is coming from an internal struggle between his religion and the prodding of Jesus. It was tearing me up.

The more difficult the struggle, the more effort to overcome it through silencing the voice of his destiny and ramping up and committing more energy, focus, commitment to eliminate Christians.

This is a demonstration of the compassion of Christ

OT: always demonstrated by actions pointing to his covenant with Israel in spite of their rebellion.

NT: Jesus reflected the Father’s compassion in dealing with fallen humanity.

Healing, cast out demons, empowered others to do the same.

Fed the hungry

Raised a couple of people from the dead

Good Samaritan

To be a quality of the church community as God’s chosen ones

Kind and Gracious to someone as vile as Paul was

Concerned for Paul being very far from him

Offering to Paul the benefits of his sacrifice on the cross

Not striking him dead

Compassion is always an emotion with an appropriate action based on it.

[SLIDE 9] Paul’s Destiny

His defense: Changing sides (obedience to Jesus) is why he’s on trial.

Delivered From His People

Sometimes we need to be

Delivered from the negative impact and association with his life shaping experiences. Specifically, the practice of Religion that is in the realm of darkness; influenced by the power of the enemy of God.

Need to be delivered from that in order to reach them and others.

Chasing and hunting Christians might seem like a good idea...

Thought that’s what God wanted

Had to be delivered from his interpretation, traditions, holding tightly discontentment in order to

Become a Servant and Witness

Jesus appeared to him to appoint him as a servant and witness

Eyewitnesses/Apostles were a special group. Only people called that up to now where the original 11 disciples. Paul was now one of them (appointed) despite not having shared that experience with them; despite not having been discipled by Jesus.

Paul here is included into a group of people who were eyewitnesses of Jesus' life and ministry despite not being a companion during his time on earth.

Command to be servants and witnesses comes from Christ.

This is what we're empowered by the Spirit to do. First and foremost.

Paul’s Task: Engaging The Discontented

Sent to them to engage their discontentment. Couldn’t do that until Jesus engaged him in his.

How: Open The Eyes of His People and Gentiles

How: Bring People to the Place God Reigns

From the realm of darkness and into light

From power of the enemy of God into the place where God reigns.

Where they would be made whole and clean by trusting Jesus.

And take their place among us; those who are Christ’s.

Need to be delivered from our people (religious culture) in order to reach them.

[SLIDE 10] Our Destiny

Engage the discontent with compassion but first, allow Jesus to engage us in ours.

Jesus Wants to Deliver Us From Any Zealous Commitment to Religion

Not our Clear set of beliefs

But on practices that mean a whole lot: what we’ve talked about before

My

Ministry Practices: The biblical way of making disciples...

Worship Practices

My Favorites (First Church)

Hymnal Article on FB

Hymnal Article on FB

When

Questions to Help

What are your life shaping events?

What expectations, practices do we hold too tightly to that by holding to them keep us from taking hold of something even more meaningful?

Favorite songs

What attitudes or behaviors do we see in ourselves that shows our discontentment when we feel our religious way of life is being threatened?

How are we responding?

How is Jesus showing up with compassion - prodding, irritating?

Open floor Sunday worship

Where is He wanting to deal with our discontentment with compassion so we can fulfill our destiny and engage others in theirs?