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Introduction

How fortunate you are to be here today! You could be with someone like Paul, in chains, seeking to convince unbelievers with your life in the balance.

Sermon text: "Acts 25, 26" with italics and bold and John 3:16 and v. 20.

FCF: Life looks different when the lense of eternity is in focus!

• You have a shared foundation with unbelievers today. You know the audacity of real hope! Could hope be that common ground? It was for the Apostle Paul [Acts 26.4ff.]
• Paul identifies his accusers and his former connection
• Paul identifies the article of contention - the hope of Israel
• Paul presses that their hope is one and the same - the hope of the
• the hope of our fathers
• the hope of twelve tribes
• the hope of that God raises the dead
• You have a shared history with unbelievers Paul says that he tried to force (believers) to blaspheme.
• Have you ever blasphemed God?
• One of the most heineious of sins for a Jew
• Paul was a blasphemer [1 Timothy 1.12-16]
• You have truth and reason [Acts 26.25] on which to stand
• Truth and reason based upon prophetic writngs
• Truth and reason based upon the objective reality of sin and death
• Truth and reason in the openness of the truth.

Conclusion - here we come to the Lord's table - many suggest that Christians observe a canabalistic rite of eating flesh and drinking blood. Not always easy to stand fast in the face of what people can say. Yet Paul illustrates an offensive strategy as he identifies with all who hear him and directs his defence to their salvation. We do well to stand upon the premise that to believe in Christ Jesus is most reasonable and according to truth. We need to engage our culture on that truth by focusing upon the reality of the Christian Hope, a hope without basis to most, but upon a sure foundation to believers.