Paul travels to Iconium. Some embrace Paul while others do not. Acts teaches us to avoid Polarized thinking "Us" and "Them" because followers of Jesus are not always outsiders. Acts teaches us to be selective who we engage and look for opportunities for the gospel.
3. Book of Acts
Acts 1 - 12 Mission to the Jewish People
Acts 12 - 28 Mission to the Nations
4. Paul’s Procedure
1. Paul goes to a town
2. Paul speaks in the synagogue
3. Paul is expelled from the synagogue
4. Some Jews & Gentiles accept the gospel
5. Some Jews & Gentiles reject the gospel
5. In Iconium they entered…the synagogue and
spoke …[and] a great number of Jews and
Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews
stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their
minds against the brothers. So they
remained for a long time…But the people of
[Iconium] were divided; some sided with the
Jews and some with the apostles.
(Acts 14:1–4 ESV)
6. When an attempt was made…to
stone them, they learned of it and fled
to Lystra and Derbe, cities of
Lycaonia, and to the surrounding
country, and there they continued to
preach the gospel.
(Acts 14:5–7 ESV)
7.
8. Part 1 (Acts 14:1-7)
1. Resist “Us” & “Them” mentality
2. Be strategic not steam roller
3. Be selective not scatterbrain
10. In Lystra there was a man [who]…was
crippled from birth…He listened to Paul
speaking. Paul…seeing that he had
faith to be made well, said in a loud
voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And
he sprang up and began walking.
(Acts 14:8–10 ESV)
11. And when the crowds saw what Paul had
done, they lifted up their voices, saying in
Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to
us in the likeness of men!” Barnabas they
called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because
he was the chief speaker.
(Acts 14:11–12 ESV)
12. And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at
the entrance to the city, brought oxen and
garlands to the gates and wanted to offer
sacrifice with the crowds. But when the apostles
Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their
garments and rushed out into the crowd.
(Acts 14:13–14 ESV)
13. [They cried out] “Men, why are you doing
these things? We also are men, of like
nature with you, and we bring you good
news, that you should turn from these vain
things to a living God, who made the
heaven and the earth and the sea and all
that is in them.
(Acts 14:14–15 ESV)
14. In past generations he allowed all the nations to
walk in their own ways. Yet he did not leave
himself without witness, for he did good by
giving you rains from heaven and fruitful
seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and
gladness.” Even with these words they scarcely
restrained the people from offering sacrifice to
them.
(Acts 14:16–18 ESV)
38. On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes,
took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an
oration to them. And the people were shouting,
“The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down,
because he did not give God the glory,
(Acts 12:21–23 ESV)
Herod Antipas
39. There is arguing among you, my brothers. What I
mean is that each one of you are saying, “I follow
Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I
follow the Messiah.” Is the Messiah divided? Was
Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the
name of Paul?
(1 Cor 1:11–13 ESV)
Paul the Apostle
40. Godly leaders point to the Lord,
not to themselves
They do not allow themselves to be elevated
41. Personality Centered Ministries
• Collapse when leader leaves
• Elevate the leader instead of the Lord
• End in disillusionment of God’s people
43. Personality Centered Ministry
a. Collapses when leader leaves
b. Elevates the leader instead of the Lord
c. Ends in disillusionment of God’s people
44. Lessons
1. Sometimes gospel is misunderstood
2. Resist elevating Christian leaders
3. Resist elevating yourself
46. I will send [The Holly Spirit] to you. And when
He comes, He will convict the world
concerning sin and righteousness and
judgment:
(John 16:7–8 ESV)
47. One of the hardest lessons to learn comes from our stubborn
refusal to refrain from interfering in other people’s lives. It
takes a long time to realize the danger of being an amateur
Holy Spirit to someone, that is, interfering with God’s plan for
other people. [When you do that] you put your hand right in
front of God’s will for their life…You are interfering in the life of
another— proposing things you have no right to propose.
(Chambers, Oswald. 2010, My Utmost for His Highest)
49. Lessons
1. Sometimes gospel is misunderstood
• Let’s not help it be misunderstood
• Let’s clarify the difference
2. Resist elevating Christian leaders
3. Resist elevating yourself
Editor's Notes
Resist “Us” & “Them”: Throughout Acts some cities and even magistrates allowed Paul freedom to preach the gospel and even embraced it. Our world is not black and white. We are not always our outsiders. But the polarized thinking limits our ability to share the gospel.
Be strategic: When Paul and Barnabas were threatened with being killed, they left. Iconium was not the hill they planned to die on. They chose another city.
Be Selective: When Paul met the cripple, and recognized he had faith, he went to HIM to heal. There probably many cripples and needy people in lystra. Paul went to those who were open.
DESCRIBE the SCENE WITH PAUL
DESCRIBE the city
Roman colony in 6 BCE, Romans built a road connecting Lystra to Iconium to the north.
Roman troops heading east
Ovid wrote a history consisting of 15 books
From CREATION to JULIUS CAESAR
hundreds of Greek myths
There is a story titled Philemon & Baucus inbook 8
Inscription near Lystra dedicated to worship of Zeus & Hermes
Indicated that the city actually did worship Zeus & Hermes
And were familiar with this story
Found by This dude
Sir William Calder (an Indiana Jones kinda guy)
We think we communicated the gospel
But we speak Christianese
And people don’t understand it.
We think we communicated the gospel
But we speak Christianese
And people don’t understand it.
We think we communicated the gospel
But we speak Christianese
And people don’t understand it.
We think we communicated the gospel
But we speak Christianese
And people don’t understand it.
Paul easily could have accepted the offer to be considered god
Multiple stories of this including Heart of Darkness, The Man Who Would be King, and even Star Trek (1968)
From the 1970s there were many transformational leaders of churches and movements.
But when they left, the churches collapsed.
Luke is drawing a contrast between Paul & Herod
They do not allow themself to be elevated.
Paul easily could have accepted the offer to be considered god
Multiple stories of this including Heart of Darkness, The Man Who Would be King, and even Star Trek (1968)
We interfere in people’s lives a bit too much
Paul easily could have accepted the offer to be considered god
Multiple stories of this including Heart of Darkness, The Man Who Would be King, and even Star Trek (1968)