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Acts 15:37 – 17:34 Introduction A

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Acts 15:37 – 17:34 Introduction A Paul’s Second Mission Journey (Part 1) Division and Multiplication: Acts 15:37 – 17:34 Introduction A. How do you cope with outrageous events and strange behavior? Acts 15:37-39a NIV 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. B. “Parted Company” – “Sharp Disagreement” C. Raw truth: David was an adulterer; Jonah was a bigot; Jacob was deceitful D. NT: Paul and Barnabas had conflict; good men, godly men, but not perfect men I. DIVISION: When Times of Strong Disagreements Come A. In every disagreement, there is one issue but many viewpoints B. Each side has validity (strengths and weaknesses) C. Heated disagreements, someone usually gets hurt (sharp words painful) D. Issue: “Barnabas was desired to taking John-Mark) along …” E. Solution: BOTH are right (Paul didn’t take John Mark; Barnabas did!) F. Lingering lesson from Disagreements hard to see the other POV Philippians 2:4 NIV Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. G. Seek a wise compromise 1. “True grit” (backbone) is a good trait; “never bending on any issue” is not 2. There is NO hard-and-fast doctrinal issue at stake in this passage No stomping out; bolting from a marriage; quitting a job H. Get over it! Melanthon to Luther: “In essentials unity. In non-essentials liberty. In all things charity. I. Jesus’ solution: Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they’re doing. II. MULTIPLICATION: Following Paul on the 2nd Missionary Journey A. Fresh Vision and a New Mission Team 1. Silas meets Paul at Tarsus; Barnabas and John Mark go to Cyprus Acts 15:39b-41 NIV 39b Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. (disciples’ numbers increased) 2. Timothy (a zealous disciple) joins up at Derbe Acts 16:1-5 NIV 1 He came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was a Jewess and a believer, but whose father was a Greek. 2 The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. B. Sometimes, God Says “No!” Acts 16:6-10 NIV 6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. The “imaginary line” between east and west (The Aegean Sea) … Philippi! C. Closed Doors and Opened Hears 1. Lydia: Down by the Riverside (Acts 16:13-15) 2. Deamon possessed Girl and and riotous healing (Acts 16:16-18) 3. A Philippian Jailer’s Earth-shaking Conversion (Acts 16:25-34) Psalms 40:1-3 NIV I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. III. The Church Grows Geometrically with Remarkable Success in the West! A. Teaching in Thessalonica (17:1-9) B. Beaten in Thessalonica so Paul goes to Berea (17:10-13) C. Paul went alone in Athens (17) D. Challenged in Corinth (18:8,11) E. Encouraged in Ephesus (19:1-5) F. Paul: Beware of “spiritual junk food” (Nine Virtues of Preaching:) 1. Teach systematically (Bible is written narrative form, a story) 2. Have a ready wit about your message 3. Be eloquent (forceful, clear, expressive) 4. Use a good voice 5. He should have a good memory 6. The message should have a beginning and an end 7. The doctrine taught must be certified truth 8. He must engage his body, his wealth and honor (i.e. He must have PASSION) 9. Be ready to suffer beings mocked and jeered IV. Paul’s Sermon to the Athenians Acts 17:16 NIV While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. A. Athens was a “junk yard of idolatry” (Pliny: “In the time of Nero, Athens had over 25,000 public statues and 30,000 more in the Parthenon B. Education available in Athens (ear-tickling myths) C. Had been the home of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and Epicurus V. The People Who Heard Paul’s Message Acts 17:17 NIV So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A. First, Saul-Paul went to the Jews (synagogue) Acts 17:18 NIV A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. B. Second, he interacted with the “Gentiles” (everyone NOT a Jew) 1. Stoicism: strive to fearlessly and proudly accept laws of universe 2. Epicureans: embrace happiness and pleasure as the highest good C. Same polar opposites today: “book-play” or “play-boy” VI. The Platform Acts 17:19-21 NIV 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." 21(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) A. The prominent Aeropagus (like our Congress or Supreme Court) B. He MOUNTED the hill (Mar’s Hill) with trust and courageous determination! VII. The Proclamation Acts 17:22,23 NIV 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. A. No insults, no doubled-up fists, no frowning put-downs; he just OBSERVED! B. “You wouldn’t think of overlooking one god, would you?” Acts 17:24-28 NIV 24 "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring. C. He borrowed last line from Aratus of Loli (3rd B.C.) VIII. The Proposition Acts 17:29-31 NIV 29 "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone — an image made by man's design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." A. “R” Word … “Repent” B. Another “R” Word … “Raised from the dead” Acts 17:32-34 NIV 32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33 At that, Paul left the Council.
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