Sandusky Life Church
Sunday, July 19

      • Psalm 150ESV

  • Roca Eterna
  • Living Hope
  • Alpha And Omega
  • Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery

  • Light toward the Religious

    Bible Passage: Acts 13:14-43

    Introduction:

    For the past six months, the LORD has given me even more of a sense of urgency than before about our city. Not just our city, but darkness in general. I hate sin, and I’m genuinely upset seeing its impact on the lives of people I care about.
    I’ve been overwhelmed in my soul to not only possess the light, but to take the light to others.
    Luke 8:16 NRSV
    16 “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.
    Jesus uses this parable to give further understanding to the parable of the sower. His point is that Kingdom advancement is found in sharing the light of the Gospel. We who receive the light should not hide it in a jar and snuff out its flame, or place it under our bed where it becomes hazardous. We place it high and visible so the world may see, and others can find the way.
    For the next couple of weeks, we will be walking through what it means to be light in our current world. In our homes, families, neighborhoods, workplaces, and friendships, there are people struggling with the realities of the Gospel. We’ll look at four different accounts in Acts that give us key clues on how to be light to those around us.
    1 Peter 3:15 NRSV
    15 but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you;
    “Defense” is where we get the word apologetics from. If your not familiar,
    Apologetics is the practice of offering an appeal and a defense for the Christian faith.
    However, apologetics can never be divorced from evangelism. It is a tool in the belt of the person who seeks to be light among the world. Our lives are an apologetic to the lost. In speech and conduct we are light to the lost.
    1 Peter 3:16 NRSV
    16 yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
    Notice gentleness and reverence. Gentleness means humility. Reverence means the fear of God.
    A lamp is no good if it is hidden and snuffed out. But it is also no good if it is used in the wrong manner and catches the whole house on fire. The same is true with how we share the Gospel. If we are dim and quiet, no one can see. If we are irresponsible, we can burn down a relationship.
    We respond to the culture with an answer for why we have hope in Christ. That answer is the truth of God’s Word, spoken through our mouths and lived out in our deeds.
    In the next set of verses we will see Paul and Barnabas minister or reason with a particular group. Well label this group the religious.
    Acts 13:14–16 NRSV
    14 but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it.” 16 So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak: “You Israelites, and others who fear God, listen.
    If you remember from our series in Acts, Acts is the account of the Apostles and disciples of the early church continuing in the ministry of Jesus Christ after His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. If we want a how-to on evangelism and reasoning, Acts is the book.
    By Acts 13, almost 14 years have passed since Jesus’ resurrection, and the church is in full swing. Barnabas and Paul have just been sent out. After their first encounter in Cyprus with a sorcerer who opposes the Gospel, they head to Antioch in Pisidia. There they encounter, as verse 16 puts it, “Men of Israel, and ye that fear God,” in the synagogue.
    This brings us to our first point.

    Know Your Audience

    Paul calls them “Men of Israel” and “God-Fearers.” God-Fearers was a common phrase for Gentile converts to Judaism. Paul understood that his audience was
    devoutly religious
    familiar with the Word of God, and yet (Rom 3:2)
    rejected that Jesus was the Messiah, Lord, and Savior.
    Their lives were hypocritical to the faith they proclaimed.
    Barnabas and Paul tailored their message to the audience in front of them, and we’ll see this pattern emerge again throughout the series.
    2. APPLICATION
    a. We ought to consider who we are speaking with. A few weeks ago, I reasoned with a New Age mystic who was offended when I associated him with atheism. We don’t study all people, but should intentionally consider how we engage with the Gospel. Today’s religious people may be like those Paul encountered in Antioch.
    TODAY’S RELIGIOUS
    • Pious - deeply religious, regularly reading the Word, praying, talking about God, or attending services. They see their religious acts as a means for salvation.
    • Lack genuine understanding - They may accept Jesus as Savior, but not as Messiah, Lord, and God of heaven and earth.
    • Their hearts reflect someone who is mastered by sin - We can’t be hypercritical about whether people are saved. But when they misunderstand sin, Jesus, and point to their deeds for “salvation,” red flags should emerge. 2 Timothy 3:5 calls this “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” They may look the part, but inside are unchanged by the Gospel.
    b. How do we reach this type of person? Get to know them. See people as loved, not boxes to be checked. At 16, a deacon labeled me a thug, gangbanger, and drug user, and it sent me running away toward atheism.
    This applies to close family too; my cousins and siblings are adults, not just the kids we grew up with.
    (Possibly 1 Thess 2:8 reference)
    The next point is

    2. Meet on Common Ground

    Explanation:
    In verses 14 and 15, it says, “They sat in the Synagogue” and opened up the “Law and Prophets.” We’ll see in a few moments that through the majority of his sermon, Paul walks them through biblical history.
    This is consistent in ALL efforts to reach the world. This is missionary and evangelism 101.
    In 1 Corinthians 9:22b:
    1 Corinthians 9:22 NRSV
    22b I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some.
    In the context of this passage, Paul is stating that he has become a slave, or servant, to all in order that he might win some. In the verses right before, he says he became:
    Like a Jew
    Like one under the law
    Like one outside of the law
    Weak
    Application: In my younger years of faith, I used to struggle and ask, “Is Paul being fake?” Like a Dave Chappelle skit, “I want to keep it real.” I don’t like anybody playing on my phone. But Paul is not being disingenuous. He is the one who wrote in Romans 12:9, “let our love be authentic.”
    To meet people where they are, we pull from the well of our own experiences without compromising our walk with Jesus.
    When my friend Baptist B and I used to share the Gospel in more affluent areas, I would wear my lacrosse polos instead of a hoodie and size 56 pants. It was already in my closet. I didn’t have to be something I wasn’t.
    We are complex people, and especially in a post-internet world, we have lines of common interest that intersect with any person.
    Acts 13:17–22 NRSV
    17 The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. 18 For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. 19 After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance 20 for about four hundred fifty years. After that he gave them judges until the time of the prophet Samuel. 21 Then they asked for a king; and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. 22 When he had removed him, he made David their king. In his testimony about him he said, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, to be a man after my heart, who will carry out all my wishes.’
    Explanation:
    Paul knows his audience is familiar with the Word of God and believes God moves sovereignly through history for their good. Paul gives them a history lesson focused on seven events:
    1. God chose the patriarchs,
    2. made them great in Egypt and delivered them,
    3. showed patience in the wilderness,
    4. overpowered nations in Canaan,
    5. gave them judges,
    6. gave them a king,
    7. and after Saul fell, fashioned a king after God’s heart.
    Paul reveals the meaning of these events; the totality of biblical history is a story of: grace, redemption, God’s promises, and His faithfulness. God is mentioned 16 times here. God choosing them, their deliverance, and victories are all God, not man.
    Application:

    3. Stay Grounded in Scripture

    Early in the chapter, the men ask Paul for an “exhortation” on that day’s reading. This is expository preaching: revealing a passage’s meaning and showing us how to live in light of it.
    The Word of God should be our center. Even when speaking to unbelievers, our reasoning should reflect and reveal God’s truth. But MORE SO, when encountering someone with a Jewish/Christian Religious background. Here, it revealed His grace, promises, and deliverance. When we testify of God’s grace and power from the scriptures, it points back to God.
    When sharing the Gospel, truth from the Word of God is paramount.
    Hebrews 4:12 NRSV
    12 Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
    There is a supernatural component to God’s Word. Our arguments may be good, but God’s Word will not return empty. It always testifies of His faithfulness in the midst of our unfaithfulness.
    This next point shows that if we are exposing the Scriptures correctly, they always lead to one Direction . Jesus

    4. Show where we differ

    Acts 13:23–37 NRSV
    23 Of this man’s posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised; 24 before his coming John had already proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John was finishing his work, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but one is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of the sandals on his feet.’ 26 “My brothers, you descendants of Abraham’s family, and others who fear God, to us the message of this salvation has been sent. 27 Because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize him or understand the words of the prophets that are read every sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning him. 28 Even though they found no cause for a sentence of death, they asked Pilate to have him killed. 29 When they had carried out everything that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead; 31 and for many days he appeared to those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, and they are now his witnesses to the people. 32 And we bring you the good news that what God promised to our ancestors 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’ 34 As to his raising him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, ‘I will give you the holy promises made to David.’ 35 Therefore he has also said in another psalm, ‘You will not let your Holy One experience corruption.’ 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, died, was laid beside his ancestors, and experienced corruption; 37 but he whom God raised up experienced no corruption.
    Explanation:
    After establishing common ground, Paul shows where they differ. He moves from God the Father > to Jesus, God the Son, using Old Testament Scripture to show that Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection fulfilled prophecy.
    Verses 27–28 show that Jesus’ rejection and condemnation fulfilled prophecy. Isa 53:3,8 Psalm 118:22
    Isaiah 53:3 NLT
    3 He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.
    Knowing their reverence for the prophet Isaiah, he shows that his words point to Jesus.
    Jesus was executed on a tree and buried the same day, fulfilling Deuteronomy 21:22, which says such a death is a curse. But God raised Him from the dead, proving He is the Messiah.
    Psalm 16:10 HCSB
    10 For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay.
    Knowing their reverence for David, with Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 55:3, Paul shows Jesus is the promised Messiah, greater than David. David died and saw corruption, but the Son of David was resurrected and saw no decay.
    Application:
    This shows us two things. To quote T. Merida
    “We must keep the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus—as recorded in the Scriptures—the main message of our ministries.”
    Whether we’re evangelizing among the religious or unbelievers, our efforts begin and end with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection on our lips.
    Secondly, Paul uses an apologetic tool: he begins with agreement, then shows where they diverge. With religious people, truths may intersect, but a lie is often mixed in. We cannot shy away from drawing the line, because the difference is found in the person and work of Christ.
    I’ve observed this among the religious, New Age mysticism, prosperity teaching, Mormons, Muslims, and Jehovah’s Witnesses: they all attempt to elevate man higher than he ought to be and demote Jesus to a status he shouldn’t be.

    5. An Offer of Repentance (Invitation into the Kingdom)

    Acts 13:38–43 NRSV
    38 Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; 39 by this Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. 40 Beware, therefore, that what the prophets said does not happen to you: 41 ‘Look, you scoffers! Be amazed and perish, for in your days I am doing a work, a work that you will never believe, even if someone tells you.’ ” 42 As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people urged them to speak about these things again the next sabbath. 43 When the meeting of the synagogue broke up, many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who spoke to them and urged them to continue in the grace of God.
    Explanation:
    Here Paul makes a stark contrast: life or death. Either you accept Jesus, receive forgiveness of sins, and are justified, or you discover there is no justification through keeping the law of Moses. There is no path of redemption found in your own deeds.
    Paul gives another hard-line contrast in Galatians:
    Galatians 1:8 NET
    8 But even if we (or an angel from heaven) should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be condemned to hell!
    Application:
    Here Paul strikes at the heart of the religious person. They may admit, “We all have sin, right?” but still put confidence in their actions,, (the flesh) instead of Christ.
    They practice self-harm, charitable works, observance to some laws, do more for loved ones, work harder, and provide more. Often comparing their good and righteousness with the worst of those around them. To quote Sho Baraka, “Life’s a slam dunk when you have low goals”. They rely anything and everything except wholly trusting in Christ alone.
    Paul writes in
    Galatians 3:10–14 NLT
    10 But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12 This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
    Paul does something that, admittedly and ashamedly, I do not always do. He draws the line in the sand and calls for repentance.
    When reasoning with anyone, especially a religious person receptive to truth, we must invite them out of false pretenses and into the truth of the Gospel. Evangelism requires an invitation to repentance.
    I remember a young lady I worked with. She had Scripture calendars and talked about Jesus, but it was a “God gives me what I want” Jesus. I witnessed daily, confronted her beliefs, and called her to repentance. She accepted and grew in genuine faith until I left that job.

    Closing

    We are all called to be light bearers, but how we shine that light varies depending on our audience. In today’s world, we’ll encounter religious people who are devoted to prayer, weekly service, or reading Scripture; familiar with God’s Word, yet faulty in their understanding of Jesus and His story; and living as though enslaved to sin and death. If you encounter them, remember:
    Know your audience.
    Meet them on common ground.
    Ground everything in Scripture.
    Show where their lives and beliefs differ from the truth.
    Call them to repentance.
    We pray until our knees hurt.
    Brooke.

      • Luke 8:16NBLH

      • 1 Peter 3:15NRSV

      • 1 Peter 3:16NBLH

      • Acts 13:14–16NRSV

      • 1 Corinthians 9:22NRSV

      • Acts 13:17–22NRSV

      • Hebrews 4:12NRSV

      • Acts 13:23–37NRSV

      • Isaiah 53:3NRSV

      • Psalm 16:10NRSV

      • Acts 13:38–43NRSV

      • Galatians 1:8NRSV

      • Galatians 3:10–14NRSV

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Sandusky Life Church
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