“Boldly Going Out!” Acts 13 (13:1-13)

“I’ll tell you what. If you don’t like it, I’ll buy you a steak dinner next week.”…

Most of us need to be more forward in sharing our convictions Most of us need to be more forward in sharing our convictions. Not suggesting we bribe people or become overbearing…I am saying we need to be bolder in lifting Christ up to those around us…

We need a renewed concern or burden for the lost – a burden that contributes to a new boldness

to learn how to boldly go out for Him Purpose: to learn how to boldly go out for Him

I Expect Intense OPPOSITION (vv 1-11) 6

The reception and reactions Paul, Barnabas and John Mark received are some of the reactions we can anticipate…

I Expect Intense OPPOSITION (vv 1-11) A. Elymas Opposed Them B. Elymases Will Oppose Us 8

World is “comfortable” with those whose religion doesn’t threaten them… after all there must be separation of church and state.

Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” 10

I Expect Intense OPPOSITION (vv 1-11) A. Elymas Opposed Them B. Elymases Will Oppose Us C. Elymases Must be Confronted 11

Paul not only confronts his Elymas (v 9b), but he even blinds the guy…

The world is BOLD in its sin… Right now in the Lord’s Church this isn’t the time for wimps!

1 Corinthians 15:58 “…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 14

II Expect Encouraging RE- SPONSES (v 12) A. God Promises Results 15

Psalm 126:6 “He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” 16

Isaiah 55:11 “So shall My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” 17

II Expect Encouraging RE- SPONSES (v 12) A. God Promises Results B. World Gives Opposition 18

“Three Anxieties of Modern Man” Paul Tillich (author and teacher) 1. Anxiety of death… 2. Anxiety of guilt… 3. Anxiety of purpose life… Paul Tillich (author and teacher)

II Expect Encouraging RE- SPONSES (v 12) A. God Promises Results B. World Gives Opposition C. Fields are White 20

John 4:35 “…life up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” 21

III Expect Disappointing DE- FECTIONS (v 13) A. John Mark Left Them 22

Acts 15:36-39 tell of Paul and Barnabas parting ways because Barnabas wanted to take John Mark on their 2nd mission trip. Paul didn’t want to take John Mark because he deserted them on their first mission trip…

III Expect Disappointing DE- FECTIONS (v 13) A. John Mark Left Them B. People Will Disappoint 24

To illustrate how people WILL disappoint us… a member of the church we were serving in Bloomington, IN came out of “Big Red Liquors”… This was after numerous times church family helped this family…

The greatest disappointment in this life comes from those who defect from The Faith…

We are to trust God and lock our doors…!

He offered his salesmen a free lunch if they could turn in 25 bona-fide “no’s” before noon on any given day Monday – Friday…

Conclusion and Summary Here then is my challenge. I’ll buy lunch for anyone here in the church family who in any one given week’s time in any week remaining in 2017… 1. No greater challenge than sharing the gospel… 2. No greater thrill than seeing positive results… 3. No greater opportunity than right now…