Untitled Sermon (6)

TITLE: We Work to Proclaim a Biblical Gospel | Week 5

INTRODUCTION:

When the transcontinental railroad was being built in 1862, The Central pacific and Union pacific railroad began their tracks on opposite sides of the United States.

They had an understanding that the tracks would be connected somewhere in the middle.

However, the companies wouldn’t agree where to connect the two rails when they both arrived in Utah in 1869.

There was so much conflict among the 2 companies that the U.S. government had to step in and make them come to an agreement on where the tracks would meet.

The country was faced with the reality that until the tracks were connected there was no transcontinental railroad

There was only a track that didn’t lead you anywhere

in other words, that train wasn’t getting you where you thought you were going.

Can you imagine riding on that train and just stopping in the middle of nowhere, never getting where you wanted to go?

No matter how people packaged it, until that track is connected in the middle it is not a transcontinental railroad.

That train would only be as good as the track it was sitting on.

In a similar way, we live in a time where the gospel is often so misrepresented that so many people find themselves on a track that doesn't connect them where they think they are going.

No matter how someone packages their version of the gospel, if it is not an accurate complete representation of what Jesus said that train ain’t getting you where you think you’re going.

PREACHING POINT: The world needs Christians who proclaim the Biblical gospel accurately and boldly to our generation even though there will be people (As we will see in Acts 26) who do not respond positively to its message.

REASON TO LISTEN: Because The truth is no one can be saved without responding to an accurate Biblical gospel. It is also true that if you don’t know the biblical gospel and you don’t preach the biblical gospel you might find that you have never rightly responded to the biblical gospel yourself.

TRANSITION: As we will see, Jesus thought enough of an accurate gospel that he singled out a man and explained exactly how he wanted the gospel presented to the world...If you haven’t already turn with me to Acts 26.

BACKGROUND: Paul has been left in prison in Cesarea for two years for preaching the gospel. A new Roman Governor, Festus (Felix previous gov. a lil background on his dethroning) has taken an interest in Paul’s case and has Paul stand before him, a number of Jewish leaders and King Agrippa II to present his defense. We’ll pick the narrative up in verse 17.

MAIN TEXT: Acts 26:17–24 (Paul’s testimony) 17 …I am sending you 18 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.’ 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.(Acts 21:27) 22 To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass: 23 that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.” 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

TRANSITION: Three things you need to know today: 1. The Biblical Gospel 2. The two Responses to the Biblical Gospel 3. Your Obedience to the Gospel Mission. Look at WHAT:

MAIN TEXT: Acts 26:17–24 18 to (A)open their eyes, so that they may (B)turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they (C)may receive forgiveness of sins and (E)a place among those who are

(D)sanctified by faith in me.’ 23 that the (A)Christ must suffer and that, by being the (B)first to rise from the dead, he would (C)proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

TEXT: The Gospel: V18 &23 “Goal of the good news”

5 things the gospel does according to V18

V18a Convicts you of sin

V18b Turns you from Sin to God

V18c Extends the offer of forgiveness

V18d Conforms you to God (sanctifies)

V18e Gives you a place among the saints (here and now & then and there)

HOW: is this possible? V23

V23a Because Christ suffered (sinless God, perfect sacrifice, takes the penalty of your sin)

V23b Because Christ rose from the dead (proves he conquered death and the consequence of sin..., He’s now at the right hand of God the Father)

V23c So he can proclaim light, life to jews and gentiles (he has the good news)

POINT 1: Come to Grips with the Biblical gospel. VV18, 23

APPLY:

Know the unbiblical representations of the gospel (I’ll give you 9)

Social gospel

transforming societal constructs, that is the goal of the gospel

Impossible to a world who wants justice but no gospel.

prosperity gospel

health, wealth, prosperity

Gospel of good works

I am saved because I do more good than bad

Cosmic weight scale

69 on a test and bump up

Good People gospel

gospel is to make you a good moral person.

Let’s focus on the moral good and not the religion

Self Help Gospel (do these steps and you’ll be ____)

(I)’m worth saving gospel

You don’t see your problem

You’re not beautiful and priceless in and of yourself ect.

There is something intrinsically worthy about you and it is that you are made in the image of God

But its not you outside of him...

Believism

I believe the whole Bible I am saved

Recommitting your life gospel

perpetual recommitment

Gospel without repentance

I believe but I wont change

PROVE: Acts 3:18–19, Luke 24:45–48

Reiterate Point #1 & exegetical points

TRANSITION: If knowing the gospel is step one, step two is responding to the gospel biblically. Look at WHAT:

MAIN TEXT: Acts 26:17–24 18 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.’ 20 ...that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 24 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind; your great learning is driving you out of your mind.”

TEXT: The Responses: repentance & faith V18b, 20b, Rejection 21, 24b

WHAT:

There are only two outcomes in response to the gospel

V18 & 20b Repent and believe = salvation + Good Works

V21, V24b. Reject and dismiss = unsaved. See also: Acts 26:28–29

There is only one way to enter into a relationship with Christ.

The way Jesus says: John 14:6

POINT 2: Rightly Respond to the Gospel. VV18b, 20b (Books: getting in right, Gospel according to Jesus, Conversion 9Marks)

ILLUSTRATION: Losing a trivia contest & a cruise in the Caribbean & still thinking you are going because you showed up to the contest.

Examples: 7 ways to wrongly respond to the gospel

I prayed a prayer and asked Jesus into my heart

I believing facts about the Bible

I’ve always been a Christian

My family is Christian so I am too

I was baptized as a baby so I am a Christians

I go to church so that makes me a Christian

God knows my heart...so i’m saved Jeremiah 17:9

PROVE: 1 Proper response to the Gospel: Mark 1:15, Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Acts 20:21, Luke 15:7

3 ways to help others respond to the Biblical gospel

Make sure you know you have responded biblically to the gospel

Call others to respond to the gospel (not just thank you and walk)

Help others determine if they have responded unbiblically to the gospel (with gentleness and respect)

TRANSITION: Rightly responding to the gospel enlists you into a much higher calling in life. Our final section is your new mission. Look at WHAT:

MAIN TEXT: Acts 26:17–24 17 (A)…I am sending you 19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, (B)I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared (C)first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, 22 To this day I have had the (D)help that comes from God, and so I stand here (E)testifying both to small and great, (F)saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

TEXT: Your Obedience: V17b, 19b-20a, 22

6 exegetical observations in Paul’s radical Obedience

V17b(a) I am sending you (not here on my account, but because Christ sent me)

V19(b) I was obedient to being sent

V20(c) I declared 1st in Damascus then everywhere else (missiological principal, start sharing the gospel where you are)

V22a(d) God has helped me in my obedience

V22b(e) I share the gospel with the small and the great (not showing favoritism in the gospel)

V22c(f) I am obedient by saying nothing but what the Bible teaches( I’m not just a recipient of the gospel I’m a student of the gospel)

POINT 3: Get Serious about the Gospel’s Mission. VV 17b, 19b-20a, 22

QUOTE: “When Christ saves you he sends you”

PROVE: 2 Corinthians 12:15, 1 Thessalonians 2:8

APPLY:

Ask yourself how can Christ’ church use me?

Give yourself abundantly to the work of ministry

Go with us to invite people to church and to share the gospel

Get motivated to see lives transformed by the gospel

ILLUSTRATION: Anything worth doing is worth doing ________. How much more important is getting the Biblical gospel right?

CONCLUSION:

POINT 1: Come to Grips with the Biblical gospel VV18, 23

POINT 2: Rightly Respond to the Gospel VV18b, 20b

POINT 3: Get Serious about the Gospel’s Mission VV 17b, 19b-20a, 22

Application Questions:

Read 2 Corinthians 5:20 and 2 Timothy 2:15. Take time now to write down the Biblical gospel and prepare to share the gospel to your LifeGroup. (pick 2-3 people to share.)

Read Romans 1:16 and 1 Corinthians 2:2. What are some of the temptations of adding something else appealing to the gospel? How have these same additions mislead so many away from a Biblical gospel?

Read Galatians 1:6–9. What are some of the prevalent false gospels in our culture and how can you better sniff out false gospels not only in our society, but the false gospel that can be evident in your own life?

Read Mark 16:15 and Acts 1:8. How will you get serious about the mission of the gospel this week? give examples.