Sermon Tone Analysis

*Acts 14:1-28*

*Quality Products *

Secular:

*  When you are baking bread…

* You need good yeast

* You need good flour

* Good ingredients make a good product!

* Okay fellas… translation

* It takes a reliable engine

* It takes a reliable transmission

* Good parts make a good vehicle

* When we look at the ministry of Paul and Barnabas… we see that they had some wonderful characteristics…

* Other than Spirit-Giftedness… most of the character traits are ones that we can all employ…

Biblical: NAU Acts 14:1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.

3 Therefore they spent a long time /there /speaking boldly /with reliance /upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.

4 But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10 said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet."

And he leaped up and /began /to walk.

11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us." 12 And they /began /calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

13 The priest of Zeus, whose /temple /was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things?

We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you 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.

16 "In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."

18 /Even /saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.

20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city.

The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.

21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and /saying/, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." 23 When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

24 They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia.

25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.

26 From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished.

27 When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they /began /to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

28 And they spent a long time with the disciples.

Personal:

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Bridge:

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Body:

Spirit-*Giftedness* /(for ministry)/

* Teaching - strengthening the souls of the disciples v. 22

*  Exhortation - encouraging them to continue in the faith v.22

* Leadership - When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

V.23

* Romans 12:7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

*  NAU 1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a /special /gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 

* Paul and Barnabas set apart for Ministry…

*  Spiritual – Giftedness….

*Boldness*

* Acts 14:1 In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2 But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.

3 Therefore they spent a long time /there /speaking boldly /with reliance /upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.

4 But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

5 And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them, 6 they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region; 7 and there they continued to preach the gospel.

*  Met opposition…

* Synagogue first (Jewish Protocol)

*  Jews and Greeks responded…

* OT Promise to NT Fulfillment

*  …response to opposition

* v. 3Therefore they spent a long time /there /speaking boldly /with reliance /upon the Lord

* Stay (acts of boldness)

* Speak (acts of boldness)

* God confirms the message

* NAU Acts 4:19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; 20 for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."

* See the Word of God divides…

*  As success continues… opposition smoulders… leaps into flame!!

*  *BOLDNESS*

 

*Humility*

8 At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

9 This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well, 10 said with a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet."

And he leaped up and /began /to walk.

11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have become like men and have come down to us." 12 And they /began /calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

13 The priest of Zeus, whose /temple /was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out 15 and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things?

We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you 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.

16 "In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways; 17 and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."

18 /Even /saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

* Wonderful things happen (when the Gospel msg is boldy declared!!)…

*  Ministry Success

* Demonstrations of God’s Power

* */Warning… SPIRITUAL PRIDE!!/*

*  We have been warned!!

* NAU 1 Peter 5:5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to /your /elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

* NAU James 4:6 But He gives a greater grace.

Therefore /it /says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

* NAU James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

* Paul demonstrates the reality of humility…

* NAU 2 Corinthians 12:9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

*   Roman Poet Ovid – tells of the story of Zeus and Hermes coming to the people incognito

* A Priest of Zeus… responds… wants to praise and honour them…

* Their Reaction… Tore robes… (Jewish sign of Horror and blasephemy!!)

*  PAUL and BARNABAS know Religion apart from GOD is Vain!!

* PEOPLE

* IDOLS

* Anything ~/ anyone apart from God… /and God has made it clear to all!!/

* NAU Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

* The High Honour Sought and Bestowed by society is revolting to a servant of God!!

We are not people worshippers… WE ARE GOD WORSHIPPERS!!

 

* *HUMILITY*