Mail Delivery (Evangelism)Acts 15:30 – 16:5

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Mail Delivery

I. Letter Delivered to Antioch - 15:30-35

II. Letter Delivered to Syria and Cilicia 15:36-41

III. Letter Delivered to Galatia - 16:1-5

Mail Delivery

I. Letter Delivered to Antioch - 15:30-35

II. Letter Delivered to Syria and Cilicia 15:36-41

As if Paul is saying…We founded quite a few churches on our first journey. Let’s go back now and see how the brothers are doing. Our task isn’t finished just because we have visited an area once. --Boice

Two Ironies:

Irony #1 – Unity to Disunity

Irony #2 – Non-circumcision to

circumcision

Two Ironies:

Irony #1 – Unity to Disunity

Acts 13:13

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem

Colossians 4:10

Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you have received instructions— if he comes to you, welcome him)

2 Timothy 4:11

Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.

Allowance might have been made for John Mark’s youth and inexperience, giving in at first onset of trouble. That did not mean that he would be a cowardly soldier all his life. Surely Paul ought to have borne with such a high and good-hearted woman, and not alienated her by being so harsh. She wanted her son to be devoted to the preaching of the gospel. It might have been a great sadness to have her son’s help spurned for one small fault. --Calvin

Romans 8:28

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Mail Delivery

I. Letter Delivered to Antioch - 15:30-35

II. Letter Delivered to Syria and Cilicia 15:36-41

III. Letter Delivered to Galatia - 16:1-5

1 Corinthians 4:17

That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Two Ironies:

Irony #1 – Unity to Disunity

Irony #2 – Non-circumcision to

circumcision

Galatians 1:6-9I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9

As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

Galatians 3:1-5

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? 5 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith

Galatians 5:2-6

Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

2 Timothy 1:5

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

2 Timothy 3:15

…and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

As Paul saw it, being a good Christian did not mean being a bad Jew. Rather, it meant being a fulfilled Jew. --Longenecker

Paul ‘a reed in non-essentials, an iron pillar in essentials’ --Newton

1 Timothy 4:14

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

2 Timothy 1:6

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands

In a world in which nine out of every ten people are lost, three out of four have never heard the way out, and one of every two cannot hear, the church sleeps on. Could it be we think there must be some other way? Or perhaps we don’t really care that much. --McQuilken