How do we go about reaching new people for Jesus Christ?

how do we help people that we know-and-love get to a point where they experience / taste the life of Christ?

These questions are answered for us in the book of Acts because that’s what the early church did

The book of Acts

is not an academic treatise on the subject of evangelism
nor is it a how-to book with methods to implement strategy
It’s a story book – it tells us what actually happened when Jesus Christ departed from this earth and left the growth of the kingdom of God (humanly speaking) in our hands!

By the time we get to this part of the story the movement is already growing

Paul and others have planted churches in many of the strategic centres of first century culture.

Now in every movement there are moments of strategic change

moments when decisions are taken that change the course of their history

E.g.

there was once a paper milling company founded by Fredrik Idestam at the Tammerkoski Rapids in south-western Finland. They made a strategic change when they decided to try their hand at electronics. – NOKIA <ppt Nokia logo>
around the turn of the last century it was well known in scientific circles that you could break down brewer’s yeast to release soluble amino acids and proteins. (This soluble material is then concentrated and filtered a few times)
the strategic decision that changed the course of history was made in 1902 when someone decided to bottle it! <ppt marmite jar>
etc – loads of stories

This passage Acts 18 describes a moment like that – a strategic choice that changed the course of the church’s history.

6 Paul said “I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles”

had he not taken that decision, it’s likely that we wouldn’t be sitting here today.

So how did he come to make it?

Paul was in Athens where he had proclaimed the message of Jesus to the philosophical pundits and seen some of them follow Jesus.

Now he moves on to Corinth

If we analyse his pattern we can see he is preaching the gospel in carefully chosen strategic centres of population – Thessaloncia, Athens now Corinth – and next time Ephesus.

Principle: go to places of influence and influence the influential <ppt>

touch the lives of people who already touch the lives of others.

Winning people’s hearts for Christ

requires commitment and hard work (vv1-4) <ppt>

Acts 18:2-4 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.

Emperor Claudius had recently launched a wave of persecution against Jews in Rome and Priscilla and Aquila had escaped.

There had been riots in Rome over someone called “Chrestus” – likely a mis-spelling of Christus

So it’s likely these two were already Christians

Paul went to see them,

3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.

Here we discover what Paul’s trade was.

Rabbis were required to learn a trade and although Paul willingly received money to support his ministry he didn’t consider it beneath him to return to his roots as a tentmaker.

4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

It looks as if Paul was not being supported in the ministry here because previously in Athens (17:17) Paul was debating with the people every day – but here it was only every sabbath.

So even without external support Paul was determinedly talking about Jesus

He spent the other six days working as a tentmaker.

Principle: Paul will do whatever it takes to win people’s hearts and minds for Jesus Christ.

involves being clear about who you are reaching (v5) <ppt>

Acts 18:5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

He’s proclaiming and teaching along with testifying – telling his own story.

Powerful combination!

Reaching people for JC also ….

means bearing the pain of personal rejection (v6) <ppt>

Acts 18:6-7 But when these Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshipper of God.

Here is a classic case of bullying!

The Jews were abusive
They could not counter the force of Paul’s argument or anointing on his preaching so they behaved like bullys

This must have hurt Paul personally – after all he was a well-respected, highly educated Jew himself

He love Judaism and the Jews!

To be sure, God had called him be a fulfilled Jew by leading him to Christ

This opposition came from people he dearly loved and cared for.

As it did with Jesus “Father forgive them for tey do not know what they are doing”

The results <ppt>

there were some

significant conversions (v8) <ppt>

Acts 18:8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptised.

Who would have expected that!

Evidence that God’s hand is on Paul and his ministry

significant guidance (v9-10)<ppt>

9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.

10 For I am with you, and no-one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

How did Paul know that this dream was of God?

We dream all sorts of things
some of it understandable
some gibberish

psychologists tell us that dreaming is one way the mind shuffles through through the information its’ received and the feelings it’s felt during the day and re-orders it – putting it in the right compartments

Sometimes however, God speaks to us in dreams

So how did Paul know it was of God?

It was in line with God’s purpose in the world

… that all should come to Repentance and a knowledge of the truth

Indeed, it tended to define God’s purpose in more precise terms than Paul had known up to this point.

… more people in the city.

‘there are people out there who are going to come to faith in Christ – and you’re going to be the one I’ll use for this

If it has been general encouragement it would not have conveyed any meaning to Paul that he didn’t already know

but encouragement turns to guidance when God’s will is clarified by what we hear or experience.

It was in line with God’s will for his life

Paul commissioned by the church in Antioch

Acts 13:2 While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

It was in line with God’s gifting on him

Church in Antioch had ‘prophets and teachers’

Paul was one
these two gifts are crucial to evangelism
knowing what God is saying (teacher) and presenting it with HS power to transform people (prophet)

In this light of these three criteria, Paul was confident that this was the Lord speaking to him >>>

The message

4-fold message from the Lord

highly significant for Victoria – I think it’s no accident that it’s come up at this point in time.

do not be afraid

‘Do not be afraid’ / ‘Do not fear’ – I found (to my surprise) 103 references to this in the Bible!

I think the Lord’s hinting at something!

Why did God say that to Paul?

Wasn’t Paul the fearless evangelist? –

No! he was an ordinary man who could get scared like any of us.

God said this to Paul because he knew he’d be taking risks

going out on a limb

A survey of elderly people in Britain recently asked ‘is there anything you would like to have done more of in life?’

top (or at least very high) of the list of options was ‘I wish I had taken more risks’

John Wimber – Faith is spelled R – I – S – K

There will be times when the enormity of the project and the implications of failure will daunt you

There will be times when the consequences of defeat will appear so terrifying that the only recourse will be to throw yourself utterly on God.

the do it – because that’s exactly what He wants

Keep on speaking – do not be silent

God said the same thing twice – both +ve & -ve

… must be important

Communication is the key

nothing has been communicated until something has been received

and the received message is not always the one you thought you transmitted!

So What was Paul communicating?

the basics of the Christian life (using his teaching gift)

Jesus, the Son of God, the Jewish Messiah – the One who has come to sort out the spiritual mess that man is in.

He was also modelling what he said

if what I hear and what I see conflict – I tend to believe what I see – and disregard the words.

An astounding verse: ‘follow me as I follow Christ!’

I’m communicating Jesus in the way I do it

receiver focused >>>

I am with you

Sometimes you’ll feel you’re ploughing a lonely furrow.

‘why don’t these people believe me?!’

here I am – found the answer to life and these people don’t want to know!

Listen! … neither did you when you were like them!

Isaiah 43:1-5

So long as I’m doing God’s will

seeking as best I can to live a holy life

taking all reasonable steps to keep in close, daily touch with the Lord

doing all I can to build the church and extend God’s kingdom

i.e. help my friends, family etc. to put the Lord first in their lifestyle and thinking

being an incentive for holiness

If you’ll do that, I AM WITH YOU!

not I will be next year, or I might be if you’re ‘spiritual’ enough – I AM …

YOU’LL NEVER BE ABANDONED.

my protection will include you in

When your faith seems to be taking you right out on a limb

That’s where you’ll find Me

no-one will attack you

In the past you’ve go to this point and you’ve been attacked

that fact has made you hesitant – reticent to proceed

The Lord is assuring Paul ‘this time it’s going to be different.’

E.g. Daniel – lion’s den!

I have many people in this city

>>>

it will take time

11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them [gentiles, un-churched] the word of God.

Heading in a new direction