Preaching in the Capital Acts 17:1-9 (pew Bible p852)

Preaching in the CapitalActs 17:1-9 (pew Bible p852)

Preaching in the Capital

2nd JourneyFor Discipleship and EvangelismTravelled to Macedonia by God’s leadingThessalonica—the capitalSalonika in today’s world


Paul’s styleGo first to those who believed in God—Jews

Explain his visionGain support/prayer

Then to the GentilesEvangelism—making disciples

Four words we will look at todayReasonedExplainedProvedProclaimed


Acts 17:2-3 As was Paul’s custom, he went to the synagogue service, and for three Sabbaths in a row

he used the Scriptures to reason with the people. He explained the prophecies and proved that the

Messiah must suffer and rise from the dead. He said, “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah.”

We will use this as a model of evangelism


A model of evangelismReasoned

Paul took time to dialogueQuestions and answersIcebreakers to build respect, trustNo doubt he shared God’s visionHe didn’t come in as a “know-it-all”

We do well to take time to build relationships before we “preach”


A model of evangelismExplained—The Prophecies

Paul was well versed in ScripturePaul opened these Scriptures to them

Many of the prevalent cults are well versed in Scripture

Satan is well versed in ScriptureThe Word of God is our only armour of offenceWe struggle to be as well versed as our competition

How will we ever effectively witness if we cannot explain the Biblical reason for our faith?


A model of evangelismProved—alleged

It means: “to lay down alongside or to prove by presenting evidence”

Paul used the OT to “prove” that Jesus is the Messiah. Could we?

He used the Bible to “prove” that the Messiah they were looking for had to suffer and die

Could we use the NT to “prove” Jesus is the Messiah?


A model of evangelism Paul reasoned—proved his credentialsExplained—laid out his thesisProved—supported his thesisThen he Proclaimed—his conclusion

Based on the evidence presented, I proclaim to you that “This Jesus I’m telling you about is the Messiah” that you have been looking for.


After 3 weeks in the synagogue they moved to the street…


After 3 weeks in the synagogue they moved to the street…Why?

Romans 11:13-14 “I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this, for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.”

To provoke them to search the scriptures and find Jesus

The result was that the Jews rose up against them—just as they did Jesus and the prophets


The Street Ministry—What did Paul teach?1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 “…how you turned away from

idols to serve the living and true God. And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming

of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us

from the terrors of the coming judgment.” Turn from idols to God—repentance Look forward to Christ’s return Resurrection Salvation through the work of Jesus Coming judgement


What did Paul teach?1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 “And may the Lord make your

love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord

Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.”

Love for each other and all people Love that proves a strong, blameless, holy heart

How’s our love—How’s our heart?


What did Paul teach?1 Thessalonians 4:1“…we urge you in the name of the Lord

Jesus to live in a way that pleases God…”

1 Thessalonians 4:3-12 “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you

will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned

you before.


God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is

not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. But we don’t need to write to you

about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another. Indeed,

you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you

to love them even more. Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own

business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not Christians

will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.”


1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11Jesus will returnHis return will come unexpectedlyThose ready will go to live with Him foreverThere will be no escapeBe on guard—alert—clear-headed


“let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet

the confidence of our salvation”—5:8

“For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.”—9

“Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.”—10

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”—10


This teaching turned the world upside down!

The Gentiles believed it!

The Religious rejected it!

What will you do?


Living Jesus, Living Hope

In our homes, church and community

Reasoning, explaining, proving and proclaiming that Jesus is the risen Messiah

the Bible teaches about.

Living like we believe it!

Preaching in the Capital Acts 17:1-9 (pew Bible p852)

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