Christian Heritage ChurchChristian Heritage Church

Indeed my Heritage is Beautiful To MeIndeed my Heritage is Beautiful To Me(Psalm 16:6b)(Psalm 16:6b)

Acts 17:4-9Acts 17:4-9And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. But the Jews, and a number of the leading women. But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. When they did not find to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." They stirred up the saying that there is another king, Jesus." They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. And crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.they released them.

Responses to the TruthResponses to the Truth A Believing ResponseA Believing Response

1.1. PersuadedPersuaded2.2. Identified with ChristIdentified with Christ3.3. Identified with God’s PeopleIdentified with God’s People

An Unbelieving ResponseAn Unbelieving Response

1.1. Pride and JealousyPride and Jealousy2.2. Strange AlliancesStrange Alliances3.3. Rejecting the MessengerRejecting the Messenger4.4. Distorting the MessageDistorting the Message5.5. Going Out of Their Way to Going Out of Their Way to

Oppose the TruthOppose the Truth

A Believing ResponseA Believing Response

• We have seen many believing responses to the Gospel We have seen many believing responses to the Gospel

• In all these instances the people who believed showed In all these instances the people who believed showed evidence of conversionevidence of conversion

• Identification with ChristIdentification with Christ• Christ centered lifeChrist centered life• Devotion to prayer and the Apostle’s teachingDevotion to prayer and the Apostle’s teaching• Care and concern for one anotherCare and concern for one another• Boldness to proclaim the truth and support those who doBoldness to proclaim the truth and support those who do

PersuadedPersuaded

• Acts 17:4And some of them were persuadedAnd some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. Greeks and a number of the leading women.

• These were people who were persuaded and their lives These were people who were persuaded and their lives bore evidence of itbore evidence of it

• A few verses later they are accused of upsetting the A few verses later they are accused of upsetting the world or world or turning the world upside downturning the world upside down

A.B. SimpsonA.B. Simpson

The chief danger of the The chief danger of the Church today is that it Church today is that it is trying to get on the is trying to get on the same side as the same side as the world, instead of world, instead of turning the world turning the world upside down.upside down.

• Are we turning the world Are we turning the world upside down or are we upside down or are we conforming to it?conforming to it?

1844 - 19191844 - 1919

Identified with ChristIdentified with Christ

• Acts 17:4And some of them were persuaded And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and and joined Paul and SilasSilas, along with a large number of the God-fearing , along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. Greeks and a number of the leading women.

• What did it mean to join themselves to Paul and Silas?What did it mean to join themselves to Paul and Silas?

• They were now identified with Christ and ChristianityThey were now identified with Christ and Christianity

• Do we readily identify with Christ and His cause?Do we readily identify with Christ and His cause?

Identified with God’s PeopleIdentified with God’s People

• Acts 17:4And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading womenGreeks and a number of the leading women

• Jews had a problem associating with GreeksJews had a problem associating with Greeks

• Because we identify with Christ we also identify with His Because we identify with Christ we also identify with His people – all types of peoplepeople – all types of people

• Are we willing to identify with our brothers and sistersAre we willing to identify with our brothers and sisters

An Unbelieving ResponseAn Unbelieving Response

• We have also seen many unbelieving responses to the We have also seen many unbelieving responses to the Gospel Gospel

• For us - So that we know many more will reject the truth For us - So that we know many more will reject the truth than embrace itthan embrace it

• For unbelievers – So they don’t flatter themselvesFor unbelievers – So they don’t flatter themselves

• Romans 1:22Romans 1:22Professing to be wise, they became foolsProfessing to be wise, they became fools

Pride and JealousyPride and Jealousy

• Acts 17:5But the Jews, But the Jews, becoming jealousbecoming jealous and taking along some and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. people.

• Matthew 27:18Matthew 27:18At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that Christ?" For he knew that because of jealousy they had because of jealousy they had handed Him over.handed Him over.

Pride and JealousyPride and Jealousy

• The people who were sitting under the Jewish leader’s The people who were sitting under the Jewish leader’s teaching were validating what they were sayingteaching were validating what they were saying

• By joining themselves to Paul and Silas – they are now By joining themselves to Paul and Silas – they are now invalidating their teachinginvalidating their teaching

• The unbelieving response does not consider the evidence, The unbelieving response does not consider the evidence, but proudly holds fast to its traditionsbut proudly holds fast to its traditions

• The Jews could have considered the evidence presented The Jews could have considered the evidence presented by Paul, repented and turned to Christby Paul, repented and turned to Christ

• Every step we take toward the truth is and admission that Every step we take toward the truth is and admission that where we were standing previously was errorwhere we were standing previously was error

• How do we respond to the truth when it conflicts with our How do we respond to the truth when it conflicts with our current beliefs?current beliefs?

Strange AlliancesStrange Alliances

• Acts 17:5But the Jews, becoming jealous and But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some taking along some wicked men from the market placewicked men from the market place, formed a mob and , formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. people.

• The Jews (who wouldn’t cross paths with a Gentile) are The Jews (who wouldn’t cross paths with a Gentile) are now joining forces with the rabble and low-lives from the now joining forces with the rabble and low-lives from the market placemarket place

• Don’t be surprised at the different types of people that Don’t be surprised at the different types of people that join forces to oppose you and the Gospeljoin forces to oppose you and the Gospel

Rejecting the MessengerRejecting the Messenger• Acts 17:5

But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jasonthe city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, , they were seeking to bring them out to the people. they were seeking to bring them out to the people.

• They are not rejecting the messenger they are just They are not rejecting the messenger they are just rejecting the messagerejecting the message

• If they reject or despise the message they hate the If they reject or despise the message they hate the messenger as well.messenger as well.

• It is hard to accept the notion that people could despise It is hard to accept the notion that people could despise Jesus and the Gospel yet like me.Jesus and the Gospel yet like me.

Rejecting the MessengerRejecting the Messenger• Luke 6:26

"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.used to treat the false prophets in the same way.

• Matthew 10:22Matthew 10:22" You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one " You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.who has endured to the end who will be saved.

• We need to encourage people in a Biblical wayWe need to encourage people in a Biblical way

• Acts 14:22Acts 14:22After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter tribulations we must enter [participate in] [participate in] the kingdom of God." the kingdom of God."

Distorting the MessageDistorting the Message

• Acts 17:6-7Acts 17:6-7When they did not find them, they began dragging When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."that there is another king, Jesus."

• Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but were they Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but were they instigating a rebellion to steal the throne from Caesar?instigating a rebellion to steal the throne from Caesar?

• There is great distortion of our message todayThere is great distortion of our message today

Going Out of Their Way Going Out of Their Way • Acts 17:8Acts 17:8

They stirred up the crowdThey stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who and the city authorities who heard these things. heard these things.

• It wasn’t enough for the Jews not to believe they had to It wasn’t enough for the Jews not to believe they had to stir up others against the truthstir up others against the truth

• Acts 17:13Acts 17:13But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they they came there as wellcame there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds, agitating and stirring up the crowds

• This is evidence that you are preaching the truthThis is evidence that you are preaching the truth

• Whenever a case goes before the Supreme court whose Whenever a case goes before the Supreme court whose God is on trial?God is on trial?

How Do We Respond to the Truth?How Do We Respond to the Truth?

A Believing ResponseA Believing Response

1.1. PersuadedPersuaded2.2. Identified with ChristIdentified with Christ3.3. Identified with God’s PeopleIdentified with God’s People

An Unbelieving ResponseAn Unbelieving Response

1.1. JealousyJealousy2.2. Strange AlliancesStrange Alliances3.3. Rejecting the MessengerRejecting the Messenger4.4. Distorting the MessageDistorting the Message5.5. Going Out of Their Way to Going Out of Their Way to

Oppose the TruthOppose the Truth