Sermon Tone Analysis
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Fear
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Introduction
Fear can make us do foolish things.
The other day I went to the grocery store to return a bottle of ranch.
I’m standing in line for several minutes and finally get up to where I am next in line.
I get out the receipt so I will be ready only to discover to my horror that I have grabbed the wrong receipt!
I panic.
I get out of line and walk back into the store only to think, “oh no!
If I try to walk out now they will think I’m stealing it, if I try to explain they will just assume I’m lying.
It will be awkward and uncomfortable and a huge hassle.”
So, in this moment, I’ve let fear take over right?
Rather than just give it a try and see what happens.
I walk over to where the bottles of ranch are kept, and put it on the shelf.
So now, when someone does inventory at the grocery store there will be an unexplained extra bottle of ranch dressing courtesy of a panicked and fearful Jon Winkelman.
Here’s the point of the story.
When we allow fear to take over we become paralyzed and unable to think or act rationally.
Fear is a weapon used by our enemy to keep us silent about Christ.
We fear what people will think, we fear what they will say, we fear what they might do.
And so we are silent.
And in our silence, another soul walks silently into hell.
There are two questions we will work to answer this morning.
How do we defeat fear?
What actions can be taken to inspire boldness?
That’s what we want to talk about this morning.
We come to a new chapter where Paul’s second missionary journey is drawing to a close.
In chapter 18 we deal with
1.
The protestation against preaching in Achaia 18:1-22
There are two ways fear is defeated in the life of the believer.
When fear is defeated, we are free to boldly proclaim Christ.
When Christ is proclaimed the church gains purpose, growth, and strength.
Paul meets Aquila and Priscilla in this chapter.
Two ways fear is defeated, #1…
1. Fear Is Defeated By Fellowship vv.
1-8
Books, movies, and television shows have all used a situation so often it has become common.
Some bully is surrounded by his friends and mouthing off.
Then he goes to far and his friends back off.
Suddenly the bully is all alone and his courage turns to fear.
As believers in Jesus Christ we must recognize that there is fear in isolation.
Courage and boldness grow when we realize that there are godly men and women fighting by our side!
The church desperately needs fellowship.
There are two kinds of fellowship in these verses.
The first kind of fellowship is a little surprising.
a. Christians should have secular fellowship vv.
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READ v. 1
After leading some of the philosophical elites to Christ, Paul moves on to Corinth (S).
Corinth was geographically situated to where it was a major crossroads for trade.
This made it a strategic city to have a church in.
However, Corinth was a dark place.
One commentator described it this way.
First-century Corinth was a city rich in both history and wealth due to its geographic advantages.
It was a city of cultural diversity, a hub of Roman paganism, and a hotbed for immorality.
It also hosted the biannual Isthmian games, which drew throngs from across Greece.
While Corinth was an ideal city to reach from a strategic standpoint, it was also a difficult city to reach.
Nevertheless, that is where Paul goes.
He comes into the city and gets a pleasant surprise.
READ v. 2
Paul meets a Jewish couple who had left Rome.
It is unclear whether they were already believers or if they came to Christ through Paul’s ministry.
Either way, they meet and fellowship.
Their fellowship is centered around two unique things.
The first we have already seen.
They are Jewish.
There is a national loyalty and fellowship which they enjoy.
The second thing we find in verse three.
READ v. 3
This Jewish couple that just happened to leave Rome and just happened to end up in Corinth, and just happen to meet Paul; just also happen to be of the same trade.
This is a divine appointment!
But notice with me that the two things their fellowship initially centers around are not spiritual things!
Their fellowship is based on nationality and occupation.
As believers we need this kind of fellowship.
We need to spend time together outside of church.
I have a friend from Bible school who is fond of saying that Christians need to play together.
This is how fear is defeated.
Fear is defeated in community.
Community is not built by simply gathering once per week for a few hours.
Community is built when we let one another into our lives and do life together!
With this support system in place, Paul is able to minister more effectively.
READ v. 4
It is probably around this time, while fellowshipping with Priscilla and Aquila and reasoning in the synagogue, that Paul writes 1-2 Thess.
We saw this word “reasoned” back in ch. 17.
But it is worth repeating.
Reasoned – διαλέγομαι (dialegomai) converse; discuss; argue.
To discourse.
To consider or examine a topic in speech with others.
Reasoned – διαλέγομαι (dialegomai)
Paul dialogues with people every Sabbath.
Through these conversations, he persuades them.
Persuaded – πείθω (peithō) persuade; convince.
To cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action.
Persuaded – πείθω (peithō)
Both Jews and Greeks are reasoned with and persuaded.
This reasoning and persuading is the process of conviction whereby men’s minds are changed about who Christ is, about their sin, and about the need of a Savior.
This is what we call repentance.
That moment when they believe, when their mind is finally changed, is the moment of salvation.
Belief and salvation occur simultaneously and are a result of the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Every Sabbath Paul would reason in the synagogue and every day he would work with Priscilla and Aquila.
The fellowship they provided gave Paul the ability to work without fear.
If we want to be free from fear, we must have a community of believers who have our back.
Believers we can call or text or snap at a moments notice.
Believers who pray for us, who challenge us, and who bear our burdens.
This community of believers cannot be built on Sunday alone.
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