Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XXVIX
Dr. Timothy Keller
23 June 2013
Acts 27:13-34
13When a gentle sound wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure, 17so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrthis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.
27On the fourtheenth night we were still being driven acorss the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. 29Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31Then Paul said to the centurion and soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
33Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he asid, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food--you haven't eaten anything. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head."
PARADOX OF THE STORMS
--God is 100% in charge yet we are still 100% responsbible for what we do.
--God orders what comes to pass through our free choices.
--What I do matters and has consequences.
--Paul isn't passive--He's calm, not panicked.
PURPOSE OF THE STORMS
--Better off surviving the storms.
--Good news of suffering; Bad things that happened to Joseph laed to great things.
--Genesis 50:20 - Evil that God allows was meant for good.
--Horrible things that was done to Jesus accomplished salvation for the world.
--Romans 8:28
--Unless you suffer, you really don't posses your soul.
PRESENCE OF THE STORMS
--Same experience that makes someone can break others.
--Presence of God allows us to survive
--Because we walk with God
--The God to whom I belong.
--Jesus was consumed by the ultimate storm so that we can be saved.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Persuading the King
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XXVIII
Rev. Leo Schuster
16 June 2013
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you Lord?'
"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may recieve forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentence by their deeds. 21That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But God as helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen--23that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.
24At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
25"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
29Paul replied, "Short time or long--I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31After they left the room, they began saying to one another, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.
HISTORICAL EVIDENCE (v.25-26)
--Miracles authenticate Jesus's teachings
--Happened in plain sight--"not done in a corner"
--Jesus's claims were over the top by claiming to be the way to God.
BIBLICAL EVIDENCE (v.27)
--Paul didn't invent anything new; he was unpacking the Old Testament.
--Understanding the Bible is understanding yourself.
--v.29 Belief can be a short or long process.
EXPERIENTIAL AND EMOTIONAL SENSE (v.29)
--New Person - truth of Jesus reinvents us.
--New Perspective - to live as Christ did.
--Freedom to fearless and courageous.
--When living through Jesus, life doesn't control us because of our position in Christ.
--New Power - through the sacrifice on the cross.
Rev. Leo Schuster
16 June 2013
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you Lord?'
"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may recieve forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentence by their deeds. 21That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But God as helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen--23that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.
24At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
25"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
29Paul replied, "Short time or long--I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31After they left the room, they began saying to one another, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
32Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.
HISTORICAL EVIDENCE (v.25-26)
--Miracles authenticate Jesus's teachings
--Happened in plain sight--"not done in a corner"
--Jesus's claims were over the top by claiming to be the way to God.
BIBLICAL EVIDENCE (v.27)
--Paul didn't invent anything new; he was unpacking the Old Testament.
--Understanding the Bible is understanding yourself.
--v.29 Belief can be a short or long process.
EXPERIENTIAL AND EMOTIONAL SENSE (v.29)
--New Person - truth of Jesus reinvents us.
--New Perspective - to live as Christ did.
--Freedom to fearless and courageous.
--When living through Jesus, life doesn't control us because of our position in Christ.
--New Power - through the sacrifice on the cross.
The Conversion of Paul
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XXVII
Rev. Leo Schuster
09 June 2013
Acts 26: 2-23
2"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4"The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord's people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you Lord?'
"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may recieve forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentence by their deeds. 21That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But God as helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen--23that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.
PAUL WAS LOST IN LIFE
--Good credentials and a strict Pharisee (Jew).
--Convinced that he was right and obsessed with making others see it (v.9 and v.11)
--Sincere, but sincerely lost.
--Thought being saved came from actions in life.
--2Corintians 5:17 - Being a Christian is not being a better person, but a new one.
--Comes from the outside and moves in.
MET THE LORD OF LIGHT
--Sudden force eruption of light when Jesus met him.
--Jesus found Paul - not vice versa.
--Change is on God's terms not our own.
--v.14 Kicking against God's direction and plans for us.
--How are we resisting Jesus's reign.
LIGHT OF LIFE
--Appeared in the midst of Paul's darkness.
--Jesus identifies with us individually.
--Gave Paul a new purpose in life to lead others to him.
--2Corinthians 4:6
--Light of the knowledge of the glory of Christ.
Rev. Leo Schuster
09 June 2013
Acts 26: 2-23
2"King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, 3especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.
4"The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. 5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. 6And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
9"I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord's people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. 11Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.
12On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. 13About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. 14We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
15"Then I asked, 'Who are you Lord?'
"'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.' the Lord replied. 16'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may recieve forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
19"So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentence by their deeds. 21That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me. 22But God as helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen--23that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.
PAUL WAS LOST IN LIFE
--Good credentials and a strict Pharisee (Jew).
--Convinced that he was right and obsessed with making others see it (v.9 and v.11)
--Sincere, but sincerely lost.
--Thought being saved came from actions in life.
--2Corintians 5:17 - Being a Christian is not being a better person, but a new one.
--Comes from the outside and moves in.
MET THE LORD OF LIGHT
--Sudden force eruption of light when Jesus met him.
--Jesus found Paul - not vice versa.
--Change is on God's terms not our own.
--v.14 Kicking against God's direction and plans for us.
--How are we resisting Jesus's reign.
LIGHT OF LIFE
--Appeared in the midst of Paul's darkness.
--Jesus identifies with us individually.
--Gave Paul a new purpose in life to lead others to him.
--2Corinthians 4:6
--Light of the knowledge of the glory of Christ.
Monday, June 10, 2013
The Trials of Paul
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XXVI
Rev. Leo Schuster
02 June 2013
Acts 23:11
11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
Acts 24:10-26
10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up the crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything in accordance with the Law that is written in the Prophets, 15and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin--21unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concering the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"
22Then Felix who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
How Paul dealt with his trials and how we can as well.
HAND OF GOD
--Always at work.
--Paul is told by God that he has to go to Rome.
--Paul escapes death often.
--Trials weren't abandonment by God, but Him at work.
--God's plan unfolds.
--Ephesisans 1:11 (written by Paul)
--God is at work in the details of our lives.
--Romans 8 - Working for those who love him; Fix our eyes on the unseen.
HELP OF GOSPEL
--"I am the Way".
--All prophets spoke about the Way being an embodiment of Jesus.
--Paul interprets his trials through the lens of Jesus.
--Gospel encourages us to be humble servants of society.
--Jesus so loved the world that he gave himself to the world.
--Personal trials--Life isn't always about finding comfort--its often about enduring.
--Jesus is the way to endure--not other distractions.
--Believing in Jesus means having nothing yet possessing everything.
HOPE OF GLORY
--Suffering
--Perserverance
--Character
--Hope
Rev. Leo Schuster
02 June 2013
Acts 23:11
11The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."
Acts 24:10-26
10When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: "I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up the crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything in accordance with the Law that is written in the Prophets, 15and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17"After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin--21unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: 'It is concering the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"
22Then Felix who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. "When Lysias the commander comes," he said, "I will decide your case." 23He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgement to come, Felix was afraid and said, "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you." 26At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
How Paul dealt with his trials and how we can as well.
HAND OF GOD
--Always at work.
--Paul is told by God that he has to go to Rome.
--Paul escapes death often.
--Trials weren't abandonment by God, but Him at work.
--God's plan unfolds.
--Ephesisans 1:11 (written by Paul)
--God is at work in the details of our lives.
--Romans 8 - Working for those who love him; Fix our eyes on the unseen.
HELP OF GOSPEL
--"I am the Way".
--All prophets spoke about the Way being an embodiment of Jesus.
--Paul interprets his trials through the lens of Jesus.
--Gospel encourages us to be humble servants of society.
--Jesus so loved the world that he gave himself to the world.
--Personal trials--Life isn't always about finding comfort--its often about enduring.
--Jesus is the way to endure--not other distractions.
--Believing in Jesus means having nothing yet possessing everything.
HOPE OF GLORY
--Suffering
--Perserverance
--Character
--Hope
The Gospel and Courage
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XXV
Dr. Timothy Keller
26 May 2013
Acts 22:1-22
1"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
Then Paul said: 3"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6"About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?'
8"'Who are you, Lord?' I asked.
"'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10"'What shall I do, Lord? I asked.
"'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' 11My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, becuase the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
12"A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14"Then he said: 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
17When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18and saw the Lord speaking to me. 'Quick!' he said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.'
19"'Lord, I replied, 'these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'
21"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
22The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised ther voices and shouted, "Rid the Earth! He's not fit to live!"
SET-UP
--Paul speaks to the Roman commander in formal Greek which shows his status.
--Speaking in Aramaic means he's a Jew and it was the language most people would understand.
--Aramaic was also not their native language, so it required some attention.
SOURCES OF COURAGE--HUMILITY
--Look away from yourself is a form of humility.
--V.3 shows his Jewish background
--V.16 shows how all, even the most devout Jews, are lost.
--A joyful humility.
--Real courage is doing the right thing even when you are afraid.
SOURCES OF COURAGE--HOPE
--Courage is looking to hope in Jesus Christ.
--Real courage isn't the absence of fear, but the presence of hope.
--Be careful not to deaden your heart to love--lowering expectations.
--Should be a feeling that nothing can hurt me because of infallible hope.
--Death is just the gardener that will lead to a better end.
Hebrews 12:1-3
Dr. Timothy Keller
26 May 2013
Acts 22:1-22
1"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.
Then Paul said: 3"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. 4I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
6"About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?'
8"'Who are you, Lord?' I asked.
"'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
10"'What shall I do, Lord? I asked.
"'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.' 11My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, becuase the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
12"A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. 13He stood beside me and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight!' And at that very moment I was able to see him.
14"Then he said: 'The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will and see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth. 15You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard. 16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
17When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance 18and saw the Lord speaking to me. 'Quick!' he said. 'Leave Jerusalem immediately, because the people here will not accept your testimony about me.'
19"'Lord, I replied, 'these people know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you. 20And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.'
21"Then the Lord said to me, 'Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"
22The crowd listened to Paul until he said this. Then they raised ther voices and shouted, "Rid the Earth! He's not fit to live!"
SET-UP
--Paul speaks to the Roman commander in formal Greek which shows his status.
--Speaking in Aramaic means he's a Jew and it was the language most people would understand.
--Aramaic was also not their native language, so it required some attention.
SOURCES OF COURAGE--HUMILITY
--Look away from yourself is a form of humility.
--V.3 shows his Jewish background
--V.16 shows how all, even the most devout Jews, are lost.
--A joyful humility.
--Real courage is doing the right thing even when you are afraid.
SOURCES OF COURAGE--HOPE
--Courage is looking to hope in Jesus Christ.
--Real courage isn't the absence of fear, but the presence of hope.
--Be careful not to deaden your heart to love--lowering expectations.
--Should be a feeling that nothing can hurt me because of infallible hope.
--Death is just the gardener that will lead to a better end.
Hebrews 12:1-3
The Gospel Ministry
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XXIV
Dr. Timothy Keller
19 May 2013
Acts 20:17-37
17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18When the arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greek that they must turn to God in repentence and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.
25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with how own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
36When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.
What should a Gospel Church look like?
TRUTH (v.20-21)
--To know God, you can't just believe what you want to.
--Bible's account of God is true.
--If the Word comes from God, it makes sense that parts of it would offend some cultures; otherwise, it would have been designed to make everyone happy.
--Helpful truth (v.32--which can build you up)
--Disease of the soul means the Word isn't dwelling richly in you.
--Worrying is a sign that we think we are smarter than God.
--Deuteronomy 29:29
--Truth is preached publicly (sermons) and house to house (small groups).
--Recognize authority of leaders but they are tender and joy can be shared.
--Hebrews 13:17
TEARS
--To be "with" people means to be exposed.
--We often seek to achieve salvation by our actions.
--In doing so, we can never be honest with others and self as we are always saving face.
--Either be stuck on ego inflation or self loathing.
--Having God in our lives removes the need for performance based approval.
--Allows you to be weak and honest as we rememberd Jesus humbled on the cross.
--Tears allow humility in our Truth so as not to become oppressive and judgemental.
TIES
--Friendships aren't as self absorbed as romantic love.
--Same things amaze, motivates, and awes them.
--Possibility of being friends with someone where all you have in common is Christ.
BIG PICTURE
--Paul is walking in the footsteps of Jesus.
--Christ faced horrible suffering at the end of life.
--In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus, as weak human, asked his friends to pray with him.
--Jeusus experienced ultimate loneliness so that we could be together.
Dr. Timothy Keller
19 May 2013
Acts 20:17-37
17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18When the arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greek that they must turn to God in repentence and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
22And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.
25"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you. 27For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. 28Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with how own blood. 29I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
32"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
36When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.
What should a Gospel Church look like?
TRUTH (v.20-21)
--To know God, you can't just believe what you want to.
--Bible's account of God is true.
--If the Word comes from God, it makes sense that parts of it would offend some cultures; otherwise, it would have been designed to make everyone happy.
--Helpful truth (v.32--which can build you up)
--Disease of the soul means the Word isn't dwelling richly in you.
--Worrying is a sign that we think we are smarter than God.
--Deuteronomy 29:29
--Truth is preached publicly (sermons) and house to house (small groups).
--Recognize authority of leaders but they are tender and joy can be shared.
--Hebrews 13:17
TEARS
--To be "with" people means to be exposed.
--We often seek to achieve salvation by our actions.
--In doing so, we can never be honest with others and self as we are always saving face.
--Either be stuck on ego inflation or self loathing.
--Having God in our lives removes the need for performance based approval.
--Allows you to be weak and honest as we rememberd Jesus humbled on the cross.
--Tears allow humility in our Truth so as not to become oppressive and judgemental.
TIES
--Friendships aren't as self absorbed as romantic love.
--Same things amaze, motivates, and awes them.
--Possibility of being friends with someone where all you have in common is Christ.
BIG PICTURE
--Paul is walking in the footsteps of Jesus.
--Christ faced horrible suffering at the end of life.
--In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus, as weak human, asked his friends to pray with him.
--Jeusus experienced ultimate loneliness so that we could be together.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
The Gospel and Idols
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XXIII
Dr. Timothy Keller
12 May 2013
Acts 19:23-41
23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: "You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."
28When they heard this, they wer furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's travelling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34But when they realized he was a Jew, the all shouted in unison for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
35The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Fellow Ephesians, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
PERVASIVENESS OF IDOLS
--Gospels are opposed to idolatry.
--Demetrius' summary if idolatry - gods made by human hands.
--Acts 17:29
--Expressive Individualism - American attitude of defining God as we want to.
--Idolatry-What makes me happy--What are we looking at instead of God to face life.
--Idolatry is the good things we turn into ultimate things--family, carreer, and looks.
--Something we make as our hope and meaning.
WEAKNESS AND POWER
--Idols control people
--City clerk speech--people, not God, are disrupting the social order because of the violence surrounding the idolatry.
--Can you value what you do without your work?
--We're all trying to be justified be something we're doing.
--When we depend on others, we'll kill them with our expectations and be disappointed by their imperfections.
--Idols are like gods that make convenants with you--if you fail it, it will punish you.
COST OF SMASHING IDOLS
--Jesus paid the cost for our adultery.
--Idolatry is spiritual adultery.
--Don't need to love things less, but need to love God more.
Dr. Timothy Keller
12 May 2013
Acts 19:23-41
23About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: "You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business. 26And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all. 27There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshipped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty."
28When they heard this, they wer furious and began shouting: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!" 29Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul's travelling companions from Macedonia, and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.
32The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34But when they realized he was a Jew, the all shouted in unison for about two hours: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!"
35The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: "Fellow Ephesians, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it." 41After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.
PERVASIVENESS OF IDOLS
--Gospels are opposed to idolatry.
--Demetrius' summary if idolatry - gods made by human hands.
--Acts 17:29
--Expressive Individualism - American attitude of defining God as we want to.
--Idolatry-What makes me happy--What are we looking at instead of God to face life.
--Idolatry is the good things we turn into ultimate things--family, carreer, and looks.
--Something we make as our hope and meaning.
WEAKNESS AND POWER
--Idols control people
--City clerk speech--people, not God, are disrupting the social order because of the violence surrounding the idolatry.
--Can you value what you do without your work?
--We're all trying to be justified be something we're doing.
--When we depend on others, we'll kill them with our expectations and be disappointed by their imperfections.
--Idols are like gods that make convenants with you--if you fail it, it will punish you.
COST OF SMASHING IDOLS
--Jesus paid the cost for our adultery.
--Idolatry is spiritual adultery.
--Don't need to love things less, but need to love God more.
Monday, June 3, 2013
The Gospel to the Philosophers
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XXII
Rev. Leo Schuster
5 May 2013
Acts 17:16-34
16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see the city that was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God--fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate 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 good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19Then 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? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like 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.)
22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to and unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship--and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
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 human hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any 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.'
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 human design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For 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 everyone by raising him from the dead."
32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33At that, Paul left the Council. 34Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areaopagus, also a woman namaded Damaris, and a number of others.
WHAT PAUL SAW
--A city full of idols.
--Paul was distressed and overwhelmed just as the city was overwhelmed by idols.
--What do we see in our city? Money--a heart full of idolotry.
--We need to reorder our love and our priorities.
WHAT PAUL DID
--He engaged and reasoned with people--didn't declare--didn't proclaim.
--Looked for a bridge to overlap with people - v.23
--Unknown god from v.23 suggests something is missing.
--Speaking winsomely--cheerfully, light hearted charm.
WHAT DID PAUL SAY
--v24-28: God needs to be at the center of our hearts.
--God can't be contained by ideology or temples.
--We can't reenvision God for our own needs.
--We can't domesticate God.
--God us near and will judge.
--What makes us feel like a loser or what makes us happy--these are our idols.
--Repentence gives God access to us.
RESULTS
--some sneered, but some followed.
--Let's keep talking.
Rev. Leo Schuster
5 May 2013
Acts 17:16-34
16While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see the city that was full of idols. 17So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God--fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate 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 good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19Then 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? 20You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like 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.)
22Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to and unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship--and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
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 human hands. 25And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any 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.'
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 human design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31For 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 everyone by raising him from the dead."
32When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." 33At that, Paul left the Council. 34Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areaopagus, also a woman namaded Damaris, and a number of others.
WHAT PAUL SAW
--A city full of idols.
--Paul was distressed and overwhelmed just as the city was overwhelmed by idols.
--What do we see in our city? Money--a heart full of idolotry.
--We need to reorder our love and our priorities.
WHAT PAUL DID
--He engaged and reasoned with people--didn't declare--didn't proclaim.
--Looked for a bridge to overlap with people - v.23
--Unknown god from v.23 suggests something is missing.
--Speaking winsomely--cheerfully, light hearted charm.
WHAT DID PAUL SAY
--v24-28: God needs to be at the center of our hearts.
--God can't be contained by ideology or temples.
--We can't reenvision God for our own needs.
--We can't domesticate God.
--God us near and will judge.
--What makes us feel like a loser or what makes us happy--these are our idols.
--Repentence gives God access to us.
RESULTS
--some sneered, but some followed.
--Let's keep talking.
How the Gospel Changs Lives 2
Acts-The Gospel in the City: PART XXI
28 April 2013
Dr. Timothy Keller
Acts 16: 20-40
20They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."
22The crowd joined in the attactk against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24When he recieved these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisorners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole household.
35When it was daylight, the magisrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men." 36The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered taht you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace."
37But Paul said to the officers: "They beat us publicly without a trail, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themsleves and escort us out."
38The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39They came to appease tham and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and ecnouraged them. Then they left.
JAILER
--Tortured Paul and Silas by locking them in stocks.
--v.25 Saw Peace and Joy in the face of suffering (singing and praising)
--v.27 Saw Kindness and Forgiveness in the face of cruelty.
--Instead of fleeing when the prison broke open, Paul stayed in jail and made everyone else stay too
--Jailer was about to kill himself because he thought he had let them escape.
--By staying, they essentially forgave the jailer for his brutality.
FORGIVENESS
--Evil was repaid with good.
--Forgiveness is a self renunciation of your right to deserve pay back, revenge.
--Their ability to forgive showed the jailer that they had something he didn't.
--v.29; jailer's response, as a man of action, was what must I do?
--The answer isn't a list of things to do, but to believe in what Jesus has done for you.
--Just look to Jesus.
THREE MARKS OF GOSPEL FAITH
--Makes you compassionate
--Makes you committed to ministry and community--baptism is public acknowledgement.
--Joy
ACTS 16 IN SUMMATION
Lives changed by the gospels:
1)Lydia--Affluent, Asian, Upper Class, Spirtually open, Rational, Gentle.
2)Slave Girl--Deranged, Greek, Lower Class, Demonically hostile, Intuitive, Mental.
3)Jailer--Blue collar, Roman, Middle Class, Indifferent, Concrete Relational, Brutal
--Gospels are for everyone as illustrated by the differences between Lydia, slave girl, and jailer.
--There's not just the type of people that need Christianity.
--Unifying power on the face of the Earth.
--Church developed through women, slaves, and Gentiles as evidenced by Lydia, slave girl, and jailer.
--True Freedom--if your greatest hope in life is God's love, then no suffering can hurt you
--By being in chains, Paul showed what true freedom is.
--He also walked in the footsteps of Jesus
28 April 2013
Dr. Timothy Keller
Acts 16: 20-40
20They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."
22The crowd joined in the attactk against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24When he recieved these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisorners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole household.
35When it was daylight, the magisrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men." 36The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered taht you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace."
37But Paul said to the officers: "They beat us publicly without a trail, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themsleves and escort us out."
38The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39They came to appease tham and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and ecnouraged them. Then they left.
JAILER
--Tortured Paul and Silas by locking them in stocks.
--v.25 Saw Peace and Joy in the face of suffering (singing and praising)
--v.27 Saw Kindness and Forgiveness in the face of cruelty.
--Instead of fleeing when the prison broke open, Paul stayed in jail and made everyone else stay too
--Jailer was about to kill himself because he thought he had let them escape.
--By staying, they essentially forgave the jailer for his brutality.
FORGIVENESS
--Evil was repaid with good.
--Forgiveness is a self renunciation of your right to deserve pay back, revenge.
--Their ability to forgive showed the jailer that they had something he didn't.
--v.29; jailer's response, as a man of action, was what must I do?
--The answer isn't a list of things to do, but to believe in what Jesus has done for you.
--Just look to Jesus.
THREE MARKS OF GOSPEL FAITH
--Makes you compassionate
--Makes you committed to ministry and community--baptism is public acknowledgement.
--Joy
ACTS 16 IN SUMMATION
Lives changed by the gospels:
1)Lydia--Affluent, Asian, Upper Class, Spirtually open, Rational, Gentle.
2)Slave Girl--Deranged, Greek, Lower Class, Demonically hostile, Intuitive, Mental.
3)Jailer--Blue collar, Roman, Middle Class, Indifferent, Concrete Relational, Brutal
--Gospels are for everyone as illustrated by the differences between Lydia, slave girl, and jailer.
--There's not just the type of people that need Christianity.
--Unifying power on the face of the Earth.
--Church developed through women, slaves, and Gentiles as evidenced by Lydia, slave girl, and jailer.
--True Freedom--if your greatest hope in life is God's love, then no suffering can hurt you
--By being in chains, Paul showed what true freedom is.
--He also walked in the footsteps of Jesus
How the Gospel Changes Lives: 1
Acts: The Gospel in the City PART XX
Dr. Timothy Keller
21 April 2013
Acts 16:1-19
1Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumsized him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5So the churches were strengthened in the faith and gerw daily in numbers.
6Paul 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. 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10After 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.
11From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the woman who had gathered there. 14One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her house. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
19When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
First verses talk about the Cultural Flexibility of the church and its urban qualities.
People changed by the gospel
LYDIA
--wealthy businsess owner; purple cloth
--Cosmopolitan
--worshipper of God
--v.14 Lord opened her heart to being attracted to God's message.
FEMALE SLAVE
--Both a longing and repulsion towards God.
--Anything that you love more than God controls you.
--Paul, out of annoyance, banished the demon.
IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN THE EARLY CHURCH
--Lydia was a pillar of the first church--met in her home.
--Willingness to open their homes for Christian meetings.
We are incapable of believing the gospel without God's help.
If I loved thee, thou must have loved me first
God found us, not the other way around.
Gospel is so true that it is infinitely flexible.
Jesus was infinitely beautiful and powerful, but gave that up.
Dr. Timothy Keller
21 April 2013
Acts 16:1-19
1Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumsized him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5So the churches were strengthened in the faith and gerw daily in numbers.
6Paul 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. 7When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10After 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.
11From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.
13On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the woman who had gathered there. 14One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshipper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her house. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.
16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
19When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
First verses talk about the Cultural Flexibility of the church and its urban qualities.
People changed by the gospel
LYDIA
--wealthy businsess owner; purple cloth
--Cosmopolitan
--worshipper of God
--v.14 Lord opened her heart to being attracted to God's message.
FEMALE SLAVE
--Both a longing and repulsion towards God.
--Anything that you love more than God controls you.
--Paul, out of annoyance, banished the demon.
IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN IN THE EARLY CHURCH
--Lydia was a pillar of the first church--met in her home.
--Willingness to open their homes for Christian meetings.
We are incapable of believing the gospel without God's help.
If I loved thee, thou must have loved me first
God found us, not the other way around.
Gospel is so true that it is infinitely flexible.
Jesus was infinitely beautiful and powerful, but gave that up.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)