Sermon Notes for 11/24/2013
Jesus: A Different King (Acts 17:1-9)
A. The church of Thessalonica is born
1) Paul's message in the Jewish synagogue (1-3)
When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, ’” he said.
2) Both Greeks and Jews accepted his message (4)
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
B. Followers of Jesus face opposition (5-9)
But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
1) Jesus faced opposition
2) The opposition we face today
Summary
As followers of Jesus increase in number, some people feel threatened, leading them to respond with persecution and opposition. This is something that both Jesus and Paul faced, and it's also something that all followers of Jesus face at some point in their lives. Making Jesus king of our lives does not mean that we recklessly oppose earthly authority. It does mean, however, that we choose God's justice over earthly injustice and stand firm with God.
For Discussion
1) Why did Paul's opponents start a riot?
2) What sorts of opposition have Japanese Christians faced?
Jesus: A Different King (Acts 17:1-9)
A. The church of Thessalonica is born
1) Paul's message in the Jewish synagogue (1-3)
When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, ’” he said.
2) Both Greeks and Jews accepted his message (4)
Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
B. Followers of Jesus face opposition (5-9)
But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
1) Jesus faced opposition
2) The opposition we face today
Summary
As followers of Jesus increase in number, some people feel threatened, leading them to respond with persecution and opposition. This is something that both Jesus and Paul faced, and it's also something that all followers of Jesus face at some point in their lives. Making Jesus king of our lives does not mean that we recklessly oppose earthly authority. It does mean, however, that we choose God's justice over earthly injustice and stand firm with God.
For Discussion
1) Why did Paul's opponents start a riot?
2) What sorts of opposition have Japanese Christians faced?