Feb 15, 2015
Acts 17:1-9


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Outline:


A few weeks ago Jessica and I had one of our young couples over for dinner. I must say not only was the food excellent (I made home made clam-chowder with bread bowls), but the conversation that occurred after supper was incredibly blessed. As we sat around the dinner table discussing life, what Christ was doing in each of our lives, and the health of Calvary316 an interesting topic emerged when I was asked what I thought about one of the larger “seeker-friendly” churches moving into our area.


For starters, when it comes to churches in the greater Winder / Bethlehem / Auburn area I say more the merrier… The harvest is great enough for all of us! And yet… When pressed about the potential impact this particular church might have on our community, my answer surprised even myself. “Honestly,” I said, “I don’t see there being any impact on what we’re trying to accomplish here at Calvary316, mainly because the people who find that type of church appealing aren’t going to attend our church anyway.”


Over the last 3 years of pastoring Calvary316 I’ve come to the all important realization that our brand of Christianity and particular ministry philosophy simply doesn’t appeal to everyone. And you know as we look at a month long season of ministry Paul has in the town of Thessalonica I think the case can be made this reality isn’t aways a bad thing.




Acts 17:1, “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.” 




Motion of the Text: These three men (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) leave Philippi with their destination being the city of Thessalonica which was about 100 miles away (Luke who’d joined the crew in Troas had been left behind to pastor this young Philippian church)According to the text there was three stages to this trip: 32 miles - Philippi to Amphipolis, 32 to miles - Amphipolis to Apollonia, 36 miles from Apollonia to Thessalonica.




It would seem that upon entering Thessalonica Paul gets back to his typical pattern of outreach by first visiting the “synagogue of the Jews…” where we’re told that Acts 17:2-4, “Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.”




These three verses summarize Paul’s activities covering a period of three weeks or “three Sabbaths” (basically a month). It’s important to point out from the text that Paul’s audience included both religious Jews as well as “devout Greeks” (Gentile proselytes).


This detail is significant for Paul’s audience may have very well come straight out of the Bible-belt. This group he’s seeking to win over to Christ was Biblically knowledgable and spiritually inclined, but tragically their entire religious structure was based an a faulty understanding as to the nature of salvation itself. 


They believed a person could be saved through intellectual belief… Because of family heritage… Or by their good deeds. Belief (I believe in God) - Heritage (I was born into a religious faith) - and Works (I’m a good person)… Sounds like a typical Southerner to me!


Also notice Paul’s specific goal… The text tells us his desire was to convince this group of religiously minded Thessalonians that (1) “The Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead,” and (2) “This Jesus who he preached (literally heralded) was the Christ.” 


Once again this detail is also important for while every legitimate church shares this fundamental objective (seeing people come into a saving faith in Jesus), not every church agrees on the most effective way to accomplish this particular goal.


For example… Most of the largest churches in the greater Atlanta area employ what’s known as a “seeker-friendly” model when it comes to winning the lost for Christ. You might have also heard these ministries tout themselves as being “Church for the Unchurched” which historically is a rather new development within Christianity. 


In his book “The Priority of Biblical Preaching” Steven Lawson summed up this ministry approach by commenting that, “A new way of "doing" church is emerging. In this radical paradigm shift, exposition is being replaced with entertainment, preaching with performances, doctrine with drama, and theology with theatrics. The pulpit, once the focal point of the church, is now being overshadowed by a variety of church-growth techniques, everything from trendy worship styles to glitzy presentations to vaudeville-like pageantries. In seeking to capture the upper-hand in church growth, a new wave of pastors is reinventing church and repackaging the gospel into a product to be sold to "consumers." Whatever reportedly works in one church is now being franchised out to various "markets" abroad.”


In discussing how he seeks to move a diverse group of people in a common direction, Andy Stanley (pastor of Northpoint Community Church) recently explained why his ministry doesn’t emphasis the teaching of the Bible during their Sunday services. “It is often effective to leverage common experiences and emotions without assuming a common belief system… We don't begin with theology and beliefs… We begin with what we have in common - fears, joys, challenges, and a need for love - and that draws people in… We want to move people physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We want to take them from where they are to the place where we think God wants them to be.”


Don’t get me wrong I don’t question the desire of men like Stanley to reach the lost for Jesus (I think they’re sincere in this pursuit); and yet, the fundamental problem with this approach is that not only will you be hard pressed to find an example where the church existed for such a purpose, but as a method of evangelism this model is completely unBiblical.


Look again at our text… Paul is seeking to reach a group of religious people… His purpose is that they might recognize Jesus as being the basis of their salvation and not religious beliefs, heritage, or works… But notice how Paul seeks to accomplish this… He uses Scripture! As with Jesus and the precedent established in the book of Acts, the Bible was Paul’s fundamental basis for evangelism!


According to our text there were 3 ways Paul used Scripture in his evangelistic approach:


1. Paul used Scripture to “reason with them!” In the Greek this word “reasoned” is “dialegomai” meaning to “mingle thought with thought.” It is from this word we get our English word “dialogue.” Paul is not preaching at these Thessalonians, rather he’s engaging them in a conversation concerning Scripture… Conversational Evangelism.


It should also be pointed out that Paul is not arguing or debating them either. Instead, the passage tells us he’s having a sharp but cordial dialogue seeking to demonstrate Christ in both the points that he makes as well as the way in which he makes those points. 


Tragically, as soon as we allow a conversation concerning God to devolve into a contentious argument any potential hope of winning someone to Christ is quickly dwarfed by intellectual pride and stubbornness. It’s been said of those who abuse apologetics, “They may successfully win the argument, but they loose the soul in the process.”


2. Paul used Scripture to “explain” to them! In the Greek this word “explaining” is “dianoigô” which would be better translated as “opening” or “enlightening.” This is an interesting word because we find it often associated with Jesus’ ministry.


In recounting their experiences with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus these disciples said, (Luke 24:32) “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” A few verses later Jesus appears to the 11 apostles for the purposes of (Luke 24:45) opening their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.”


What this tells us is that Paul did not base his arguments on personal opinions. He instead pointed to a much larger authority than himself… God’s Word. Paul’s evangelistic ministry emphasized the teaching or “opening” of God’s Word because he saw Scripture as being the most effective way to reveal Jesus. John 1, “In the beginning was the Word… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!”


3. Paul used Scripture to “demonstrate” for them! In the Greek this word “demonstrating” is “paratithêmi” meaning “to place beside.” This indicates Paul’s Scriptural arguments presented persuasive evidence to substantiate his position concerning Jesus. 


I hope you understand the Christian faith is a reasonable faith! As a Christians we don’t believe in the absence of evidence, we believe because there is enough evidence to make our beliefs reasonable. Hebrews 11:1 even goes so far as to define our faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”


For three weeks Paul gathers with these Thessalonians where he uses Scripture to “reason, explain, and demonstrate” that Jesus was actually the long awaited Savior of the world. Which is interesting because Paul’s methodology for reaching this lost but religious culture ran counterintuitive to the modern, seeker-friendly approach. 


Instead of “leveraging common experiences and emotions without assuming a common belief system” or seeking to “draw in” his audience by appealing to “common - fears, joys, challenges, and a need for love” Paul specifically focuses on Christian theology and Biblical doctrine believing that by first correcting their misguided belief systems the framework would be established by which they would reject the religious basis for salvation and accept Jesus! It’s been said, “The best way to confront a lie is to provide the truth!”


While the text is clear Paul’s arguments were hard to discredit, we do see a mix reaction… Though only “some of the Jews were persuaded… A great multitude of Greeks joined Paul and Silas.” Which leads to another important point we can’t overlook… Teaching the Bible in a religious culture polarized Paul’s audience. While a “great multitude of the Greeks joined” them the way the verse is structured presents the inescapable reality that a great multitude of the Jews chose not to join them.


Please understand… A Bible-centric ministry model will not appeal to everyone! As a matter of fact in this instance the Word of God only served to parse the crowd revealing each groups inner intentions. Based upon their reaction to God’s Word the Greeks were seen to be “Genuine Seekers” with the Jews being nothing more than “Religious Pretenders.”


You see this reality is one of the main reasons “seeker-friendly” churches avoid teaching the Bible. As we see illustrated in this passage teaching the Bible yields one of two reactions. It either forces a person out of their religious comfort or it forces that person out of your church! Hebrews 4:12 describes “the word of God as living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”


The reason this is the case is that the Bible’s message for the “seeker” or the “unchurched” is brutally honest… Apart from a saving relationship with Jesus you’re lost in your sins, alienated from God, and condemned to hell as a consequence. 


The Bible doesn’t ease people in - It calls people out. The Bible doesn’t placate to your situation - It calls you to account. The Bible condemns both religious moralism and worldly relativism alike! Sure the Bible tells the seeker “God loves you just the way you are,” but the Bible is also radically honest that “His plan is not to leave you that way!” 


God’s desire is that you repent of your rebellious lifestyle, die to whatever you presently are, and allow Him to transform you more into the image and likeness of His Son Jesus!


The reality is that the Bible does not present a populist message. It can’t be packaged for the masses because the truth really is offensive and divisive. A seeker either responds and accepts Jesus or they get upset, call you names, and leave which is why the “seeker-friendly” model avoids the truth in order to successfully appeal to a larger audience.


This is written under the “What To Expect” section of the church in questions website… “We believe God calls us to pursue him just as we are, inside and out, so we nurture a casual, fun and inviting atmosphere. As our guest, you can check out our services without intrusion and begin your spiritual journey at your own pace - no pressure - just encouragement.”


And yet, while these churches find themselves overflowing on Sunday morning I’m convinced there is an unintended consequence to this particular model of ministry.


In the South there is a huge segment of the population who want church to satisfy a compulsion to feel spiritual without the actual challenge to be spiritual. Because most Southerners are religiously-inclined like these Thessalonians but pagans in practice (Sunday Christians), attending a church that targets the “unbeliever” has the perfect appeal. 


You see “church designed for the unchurched” fosters the perfect environment for the lukewarm Christian (Christian in name only) to thrive. This type of church allows a person to satisfy this cultural compulsion to feel like a good Christian (stimulating worship, entertaining programming, helpful antidotes, service opportunities, etc.) while never forcing that person to face the weightier matters of what it really means to be a Christian (Biblical sermons that tackle topics like sin, repentance, judgment, what it means to be holy, etc.).


Which leads me back to my opening… Because the primary focus of our Sunday service is not on creating a comfortable environment for the unchurched, but is instead focused on the development of healthy Christians living genuine lives transformed by Jesus through the faithful teaching of God’s Word, the person who gravitates to the seeker church experience is simply not going to find Calvary316 very appealing! 


Here’s the reality… I’m not fearful of the seeker church moving in next door for one basic reason… We’re not going to appeal to the same crowd! While the people who gravitate their direction wouldn’t find our pews very comfortable for long, it’s also a reality the people our church appeals to see right through this particular charade. 


Which is ok because it’s exactly what teaching the Bible is supposed to do… Divide a religious culture into those who are genuine Christ-followers and those who are simply playing Christian! Honestly, I’m ok with the fact that our philosophy of Biblical teaching yields such a result because it means Calvary316 is filled every Sunday with 3 groups of people:




  1. The Christian serious about their faith! This person is looking for a church that will faithfully teach God’s Word knowing this is the only way to grow in Godliness.



  2. The Christian who’s all but given up on church! This person is looking for a church that models a genuine, real brand of Christianity. This person craves authenticity.



  3. The seeker looking for truth! This person is repelled by a church playing games, using slick marketing techniques, or using candy to earn their confidence. This person doesn’t want a church experience that immolates and replicates the world (they’re already sick of what it has to offer), this person craves a place bold enough to speak the truth in love.


Ironically, the seeker church I was being asked about hails from what’s known as the “Willow Creek” style of ministry. What makes this ironic is that a few years ago “Willow Creek Community Church” conducted a three-year study to “find a way to measure spiritual growth. And to see whether the church was accomplishing its mission of facilitating that growth.” 


What’s interesting is that the report they published (titled, “REVEAL”) challenged their entire “seeker-friendly” model of ministry. The report states, “We learned that the most effective strategy for moving people forward in their journey of faith is Biblical engagement… Our study revealed that churches that are successful in producing genuine spiritual growth in the lives of their people… Embed the Bible in everything. These churches breathe Scripture. Hands down. No contest. When it comes to spiritual growth, nothing beats the Bible.”




Acts 17:5-9, “But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.” And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.”




I am afraid one of the reasons todays American church is failing to influence our society is that in our attempts to “appeal to culture” we’ve forgotten that Jesus instituted the church to be “set apart from culture.” Now don’t get me wrong… There is a huge difference between a church seeking to “appeal” to culture as opposed to a church wanting to remain “relevant.”


Modernizing facilities, creating a contemporary esthetic, employing creative graphics and multi-media, or even incorporating new styles of worship music to remain relevant with culture is not a bad thing. The church should never seem antiquated.


However, the problem is that all to often in order to “appeal to culture” the “seeker-church” ends up “appeasing culture!” “Appeasement” is defined as the “diplomatic policy of making concessions to an enemy power in order to avoid conflict.” 


Instead of letting truth speak for itself by faithfully teaching the Bible, in the pursuit of being “friendly” with the lost world around them many pastors neuter the message itself hoping to make the Gospel more “attractive, pleasing, interesting, and enjoyable” in the process. 


Here the problem… Not only does appeasement by definition fail to enact any type of lasting change, but history has little respect for appeasers! It’s true that there are few apologists for the way Neville Chamberlain approached the threat of Nazism. 


The church would be wise to remember that rebellion not appeasement is the only way to change culture. It’s interesting but whether or not you agree with their impact you can’t escape the reality that revolutionaries are remembered specifically because their actions against the status quo were paramount in changing the status quo.


Paul had no interest in appeal and was far from an appeaser. Paul was a revolutionary publicly known to be single-handedly “turning the world upside down.” Paul contrasted the lie with the truth. He shinned the light into the eye of darkness. He was bold, brazen, unafraid, tenacious. Paul spoke the Word of God with conviction and was polarizing as a result! 


Paul’s actions were directly responsible for dividing communities. He “raged against the machine,” created enemies everywhere he went, ticked off the religious establishment, was on a first name basis with the local authorities, even spent nights in jail. Paul came, spoke truth, and so impacted society that a church was birthed and a violent mob was spawned. 


In conclusion… Life is about submission and rebellion. Because the two are central to the human spirit, what you rebel against determines what you’ll live in submission to! If you rebel against God, you’ll live as a servant to this world; but if you submit to God, rebelling against this world is simply the natural and unavoidable outcome! Shock-rocker Alice Cooper observed, “Drinking beer is easy. Trashing your hotel room is easy. But being a Christian, that's a tough call. That's real rebellion.” 


There are two things I want you to consider as you head home this morning: (1) Figure out who you want to serve then rebel against the other, and (2) Once you’ve figured that out pick your church accordingly. 


Do you want to be part of a church of rebels who unashamedly proclaim the truth of God’s Word without fear of reprisal or would you rather support appeasement because it allows you to feel good without the challenge to be holy? I don’t know about you but may the accusation be made of Calvary316 that we are a church of rebels filled with men and women “who are turning the world upside down!” 

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