MPC, 4th November 2001.Acts 17:1-15 - "Reason to Believe"
Phil Campbell MPC, 4th November 2001.
The most recent National Church Life survey showed up some pretty disturbing statistics. It’s a survey they do every three or four years, where they ask church attenders all around Australia about their attitudes. And work out the trends in church attendance.
The survey says that in Sydney the ANGLICAN CHURCH has actually grown over the last 10 years or so; by about 7 percent. The PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH grew by 3.9. Which might sound okay, except they’re both far less than the rate of population growth.
In other words, when you do all the maths, we’re shrinking. As a proportion of the population, we're going backwards fast.
But there was another statistic that was even more of a worry. And it probably accounts for the first one. And that is, among Anglicans, only ONE IN TEN who filled out the survey said that they EVER tried to SPEAK ABOUT THEIR FAITH to unbelievers. 90 percent of anglicans, even when they get the opportunity to speak about their faith; just CLAM UP. And say nothing.
And my guess is, with Presbyterians its even worse. You don’t get a growing church without people talking about their faith. So if we’ve had HALF THE GROWTH, you can probably HALVE IT. And say only ONE IN TWENTY Presbyterians are prepared to come out and talk to their friends about the fact they TRUST IN JESUS.
Now I reckon we're doing better than the average. But think about it. That means in most churches in our denomination, in a church with 60 people coming on a Sunday morning, there’ll be THREE… three people. Who are prepared to go out of there on Monday and speak about their faith. No wonder churches don’t grow.
It seems to me there are a couple of key things we really need if we’re going to change that. First of all, we need to be MORE DARING. And second, we need to be MORE CLEAR. And you see both of those things in the Apostle Paul as he comes to the city of Thessalonica. In the province of Macedonia. The north of Greece.
We’re going to be looking at Paul’s visit to Thessalonica in Acts chapter 17. A short passage; only nine verses. And we’re going to touch very quickly on the letter he writes back to them later on as well. In Acts 17, we, the story of what happened. And when he writes to them later on, when he looks back on his time there – we can actually see what was on his mind. And then next week, we'll come back to 1 Thessalonians in a bit more detail.
First, will you notice if we’re going to be more effective talking about our faith, we need to be more DARING. We need to be COURAGEOUS.
Now I don’t know as you read this stuff, as you hear it in the book of Acts, I don’t know if it ever occurs to you that these guys who go around preaching about Jesus, are half the time SCARED STIFF.
I you and I are like that. But you don't expect it of Paul, do you. But he WAS. We saw last week and the week before that Paul and Silas and Timothy, they’ve already got the scars to prove that preaching about Jesus isn’t popular. They reckon that if you’re a movie stunt man or a Formula 1 racing car driver it’s hard to get a life insurance policy. Well, it’s the same if you’re a first century missionary and you want to tell people about Jesus as well. AMP Life Insurance just don't want to know you.
Philippi. As soon as they start preaching, as soon as some people start believing what they’re saying, as soon as they start making progress – there’s opposition. And they’re whipped and thrown into jail.
If that’s what just happened to you in Philippi, you'd be thinking maybe you could modify your strategy in the next town, wouldn't you? Thessalonica is a city of 200,000 people; capital of Macedonia. And they're going there with the prospect of facing EXACTLY THE SAME RESPONSE as they had before.
I mean, you’d have to be DARING TO DO THAT, wouldn’t you? You’d have to have GUTS. And I want you to notice, as he looks back, that’s exactly how Paul says that it was. Turn over quickly to 1 Thessalonians; Paul’s letter that he writes back to them later on the same year, two or three months after he’s left. And you'll get just a little bit of honest insight about how he's feeling.
Have a look in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 1 and 2; and you’ll see what it was like. The first two verses in chapter 2. Paul says, “You know, brothers, that our visit to you was NOT A FAILURE.” He says “We had PREVIOUSLY SUFFERED and BEEN INSULTED in Philippi as you know – like we saw last time – but with the HELP OF OUR GOD… we DARED TO TELL YOU HIS GOSPEL, in spite of strong opposition.”
This is DARING STUFF. And so he says, we'd suffered and been insulted. We were thrown in jail. BUT WE DARED. Dared to tell you his gospel. In spite of everything they threw at us.
Now what do you do when you’ve been insulted for your faith? You want to say, NEVER AGAIN, don’t you. Pull back into your shell. Forget about it. “I tried telling my friends I’m a Christian and they laughed at me. NEVER AGAIN.” Once bitten twice shy. Paul says, with the help of God, we dared to do it all over again. With the help of God we dared to tell you HIS GOSPEL.
And because HE DARED, people believed. We’re going to go back and see it all unfolding in the book of Acts in a moment. But before we do, can I just say again – have you tried being a DARING CHRISTIAN? Because that's when you'll know you've got GOD’S HELP. If you’ve had a hard time already, DO IT AGAIN. If you’ve never had the guts to say anything cause you’re afraid you WILL GET A HARD TIME, do it anyway.
We’re coming back to 1 Thessalonians next week. But for now, turn back and we’ll see what happens as Paul and Silas and Timothy hit town in Thessalonica. As they DARE AGAIN to speak about Jesus.
Acts 17. Philippi to Thessalonica is about a three or four day walk; 40 kilometers a day, along a big Roman road that was called the Egnatian Way. Through Amphipolis, it says in verse 1, then through Appollonia the next day; and then Thessalonica.
There’s a Jewish synagogue there; and when there’s a synagogue, that’s where Paul starts. That’s his strategy. Tell the Jews first. And then everyone else.
Now I said there are two things we need if we’re going to speak about our faith. The first one was COURAGE. We need to be daring. And the second one is CLARITY.
We need to be CLEAR WHAT WE’RE ON ABOUT. So we can share our faith in a way that makes SENSE.
Now it seems to me we live in an age where there’s a huge line been drawn between THINGS OF FAITH. And THINGS OF REASON. Where people want to say, well, you believe what you want to believe, and I’ll believe what I want to believe, and as long as we’re both SINCERE – we’re both right.
And as well as that, it seems to me that there are a lot of Christians who are sort of sitting on the fence. Who kind of think, we’ll I’m HALF CONVINCED. Convinced enough to come to church a bit; but NO WAY I’m going to say something to anyone else. Because I’m not even totally convinced myself.
Well listen, if you have a look at Paul in action here, you need to have a bit of a RE-THINK. Because when you look at the three words that tell you what Paul’s doing in the synagogue, maybe they’re a bit SURPRISING.
Because Paul’s not dealing with some sort of VAGUE RELIGIOUS FEELINGS. He’s dealing with HARD FACTS. Paul’s not dealing with HIS OWN HALF BAKED BELIEFS. He’s dealing with CERTAIN FACTS about Jesus Christ.
Have a look at verse 2 and 3. And just notice the sort of words that are used about what he’s doing. Paul goes into the synagogue on three sabbath days; three Saturdays in a row; and he REASONS with them from the scriptures. He tussles with the issues. Puts his case. Not with VAGUE FEELINGS. With CLEAR REASONS. It says “On three Sabbath days he REASONED with them from the scriptures – here are the next two key words that describe what he's doing – EXPLAINING. And PROVING. That the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.
Reasoning. Explaining. Proving. Now has it ever crossed your mind that it’s possible as a Christian to not just make VAGUE STATEMENTS about your faith, but to REASON with people. To EXPLAIN. To PROVE.
Trouble is, takes WORK, doesn’t it. To be CLEAR enough in your own mind to do that.
Paul takes them back to the scriptures. And he shows them a passage like Isaiah 53, that talks about the one who’ll be WOUNDED for OUR TRANSGRESSIONS. Who’ll be punished not for his own sins, but the sins of others. The suffering and dying messiah. And he says, THINK ABOUT THIS. Understand this. That for hundreds of years, the scriptures have said, “When the messiah comes, he’ll suffer. And die.
And then he shows them a passage like Psalm 16. A Psalm about the Messiah; that says, “You will not let your Holy One see decay. You won’t abandon me to the grave.” It’s all there in black and white. The Messiah when he comes will suffer. The Messiah when he comes – won’t be left by God abandoned in the grave. But will LIVE ON.
That’s the stuff Paul’s saying in the synagogue. And it’s a bit like an IDENTIKIT PICTURE. Okay, you’ve seen a robbery; what’s the guy look like? Brown hair, blue eyes. Driving a red car. Piece together the picture, put it on posters. And you look for someone who FITS THE DESCRIPTION.
Here’s Paul’s identikit. Here’s his LOGIC. When you’re looking for the Messiah, look for someone who SUFFERS like the scriptures say. And RISES FROM THE DEAD. Like the scriptures say.
Not exactly what they had in mind for their great king; but Paul proves it. From the scriptures. Look for someone who SUFFERS. And Rises from the DEAD.
You see the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader farewelling our troops as they head for the war. Maybe to DIE. The leaders stay here. The soldiers do the fighting. With the Messiah, Paul says it’s EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE. He says you mightn't have been expecting this. But the scriptures say to look for a leader who comes. And suffers and dies HIMSELF. To save his people.
And here’s the crunch. Paul says, you’ve got the parts of the picture. Hold it up against this guy I’m talking about. This JESUS. The end of verse 3. He says, “This Jesus I’m proclaiming to you; that’s what he’s done. Suffered. Died. And rose. THIS JESUS I AM PROCLAIMING TO YOU IS THE CHRIST.”
Paul reasons from the scriptures. Paul explains. And he proves. That the man who walked and talked and died and rose in Palestine 18 years before; he’s the one.
At which we’re told some of the Jews were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas; and a large number of god fearing Greeks and prominent women did as well.
Folks, we can’t expect people to be PERSUADED TO FOLLOW JESUS; we can’t expect people to be JOINING THE CHURCH; if we can’t give a clear argument for why they should. Or if we don’t even dare to speak.
Now that doesn’t mean EVERYONE’S going to be persuaded. But if NEVER SPEAK, no one will be!
Keep reading, and you’ll see the usual thing happens. The other Jews are burning with jealousy; they stir up a riot. And they storm Jason’s house, where Paul and Silas are staying; and when they can’t find Paul and Silas, they take Jason instead. And some of the other brothers.
And verse 6, they drag them up before the city officials and they lay charges against them; they say “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They’re all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying there is ANOTHER KING… one called Jesus.”
As history unfolds, that's the charge that's going to send countless Christians to their deaths. The ultimate crime. Bowing to another authority. Higher than Caesar. That’s the accusation. And it’s true, isn’t it? That being Christian is about serving a higher king. And if you’re serious about bowing to King Jesus, you’re going to face opposition. Cause we’re going in a whole different direction to everyone else.
You’ll notice the city officials don’t quite know what to do about the charges being laid. The accusations of the Jews. So they put Jason and the others on a bond. Do it again, and they’re in prison. And they let them go. And verse 10, Paul and Silas are sent off to the town of Berea, a little bit further west. To lie low for a while.
Now you know, when you think about it, I reckon one reason only one in ten Christians are prepared to talk about their faith is that the other nine can't put up a CLEAR CASE FOR CHRIST. And one of the reasons for that is we DON'T WANT TO ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS.
Is that YOU? You kind of think, well, I don’t want to think TOO HARD about this stuff, cause then I might start to DOUBT. So the last thing I want to do is rock my own little boat of faith, cause if I rock the boat I might fall out. Maybe you think if you ask tough questions you’ll find out that the Christian faith isn’t tough enough to take it.
Have a look what happens in Berea. And what the Bible thinks of people who are prepared to ask GENUINE QUESTIONS. Because the fact is, a QUESTIONING MIND IS A FRIEND.
Which is one of the biggest differences between Genuine Christianity and a SECT. You might get Jehovah’s Witnesses coming to the door. Or maybe you know people caught up in some other kind of SECT. You'll pick the difference. Because THE REAL THING has got nothing to fear from QUESTIONS. Everything we say; everything we believe; as Christians, WE ARE OPEN FOR INSPECTION.
Look what happens in Berea; because it’s a high point. Luke, as he tells the story, he's saying, this bunch is terrific. They head off in the night; and as soon as they get to Berea, verse 10, they go to the synagogue. Usual thing.
And you’ll notice the Bereans are DIFFERENT. In fact, Luke says in verse 11, they’re of MORE NOBLE CHARACTER than the Thessalonians. Not because they just take everything on board and believe it. But why. Verse 11. “For they received the message with great eagerness – AND EXAMINED THE SCRIPTURES EVERY DAY TO SEE IF WHAT PAUL SAID WAS TRUE.”
Don’t just suck stuff up uncritically. LISTEN. And CHECK IT OUT. Examine the scriptures. And see if this stuff’s true. Instead of just HALF BELIEVING. And HALF DOUBTING. So you’re never quite sure whether you can say ANYTHING. To ANYONE.
Folks, this is a big issue. And I want to encourage you to BE LIKE THE BEREANS. And be prepared to give your faith a GOOD SHAKE. By going back to your bible and putting your TOUGH QUESTIONS. Do it to ME as well. Whatever you’re chewing over, chew it over with me. You are ALLOWED to ask questions. You’re allowed to DOUBT. You’re allowed to tussle with things; it makes sense, doesn’t it. Because it’s the only way you end up with answers you can share with anyone else. If you don’t exercise your faith, if you never stretch – you’ll never grow.
I was talking to a friend of mine over dinner on Friday night. Very educated.. But he said to me, when it comes to matters of faith, he's still working on his FOURTH CLASS belief system. Year 4 primary school is the last time he took stock of his thinking about God.
Maybe it was time his FAITH GREW UP A BIT. We've got a message worth EXAMINING. And a message worth EXPLAINING WELL. So TEST IT. And see for yourself if it’s true. At more than the 4th Class Level.
And we’re going to need a bit of DARING every time we open up our mouths. Because it’s only when you’ve done that that we can turn around the statistics. And start seeing churches that GROW. As people are challenged to get serious about looking at the scriptures. As we call them to follow Jesus.