Christian Heritage Church Indeed my Heritage is Beautiful To Me (Psalm 16:6b)

Acts 17:4-9 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus." They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.

Responses to the Truth  A Believing Response 1.Persuaded 2.Identified with Christ 3.Identified with God’s People  An Unbelieving Response 1.Pride and Jealousy 2.Strange Alliances 3.Rejecting the Messenger 4.Distorting the Message 5.Going Out of Their Way to Oppose the Truth

A Believing Response We have seen many believing responses to the GospelWe have seen many believing responses to the Gospel In all these instances the people who believed showed evidence of conversionIn all these instances the people who believed showed evidence of conversion Identification with ChristIdentification with Christ Christ centered lifeChrist centered life Devotion to prayer and the Apostle’s teachingDevotion to prayer and the Apostle’s teaching Care and concern for one anotherCare and concern for one another Boldness to proclaim the truth and support those who doBoldness to proclaim the truth and support those who do

Persuaded Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.Acts 17:4Acts 17:4 These were people who were persuaded and their lives bore evidence of itThese were people who were persuaded and their lives bore evidence of it A few verses later they are accused of upsetting the world or turning the world upside downA few verses later they are accused of upsetting the world or turning the world upside down

A.B. Simpson The chief danger of the Church today is that it is trying to get on the same side as the world, instead of turning the world upside down. Are we turning the world upside down or are we conforming to it?Are we turning the world upside down or are we conforming to it?

Identified with Christ Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.Acts 17:4Acts 17:4 What did it mean to join themselves to Paul and Silas?What did it mean to join themselves to Paul and Silas? They were now identified with Christ and ChristianityThey were now identified with Christ and Christianity Do we readily identify with Christ and His cause?Do we readily identify with Christ and His cause?

Identified with God’s People Acts 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading womenActs 17:4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading womenActs 17:4Acts 17:4 Jews had a problem associating with GreeksJews had a problem associating with Greeks Because we identify with Christ we also identify with His people – all types of peopleBecause we identify with Christ we also identify with His people – all types of people Are we willing to identify with our brothers and sistersAre we willing to identify with our brothers and sisters

An Unbelieving Response We have also seen many unbelieving responses to the GospelWe have also seen many unbelieving responses to the Gospel For us - So that we know many more will reject the truth than embrace itFor us - So that we know many more will reject the truth than embrace it For unbelievers – So they don’t flatter themselvesFor unbelievers – So they don’t flatter themselves Romans 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became foolsRomans 1:22 Professing to be wise, they became fools

Pride and Jealousy Acts 17:5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.Acts 17:5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.Acts 17:5Acts 17:5 Matthew 27:18 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that because of jealousy they had handed Him over.Matthew 27:18 At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that because of jealousy they had handed Him over.

Pride and Jealousy The people who were sitting under the Jewish leader’s teaching were validating what they were sayingThe people who were sitting under the Jewish leader’s teaching were validating what they were saying By joining themselves to Paul and Silas – they are now invalidating their teachingBy joining themselves to Paul and Silas – they are now invalidating their teaching The unbelieving response does not consider the evidence, but proudly holds fast to its traditionsThe unbelieving response does not consider the evidence, but proudly holds fast to its traditions The Jews could have considered the evidence presented by Paul, repented and turned to ChristThe Jews could have considered the evidence presented by Paul, repented and turned to Christ Every step we take toward the truth is and admission that where we were standing previously was errorEvery step we take toward the truth is and admission that where we were standing previously was error How do we respond to the truth when it conflicts with our current beliefs?How do we respond to the truth when it conflicts with our current beliefs?

Strange Alliances Acts 17:5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.Acts 17:5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.Acts 17:5Acts 17:5 The Jews (who wouldn’t cross paths with a Gentile) are now joining forces with the rabble and low-lives from the market placeThe Jews (who wouldn’t cross paths with a Gentile) are now joining forces with the rabble and low-lives from the market place Don’t be surprised at the different types of people that join forces to oppose you and the GospelDon’t be surprised at the different types of people that join forces to oppose you and the Gospel

Rejecting the Messenger Acts 17:5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.Acts 17:5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people.Acts 17:5Acts 17:5 They are not rejecting the messenger they are just rejecting the messageThey are not rejecting the messenger they are just rejecting the message If they reject or despise the message they hate the messenger as well.If they reject or despise the message they hate the messenger as well. It is hard to accept the notion that people could despise Jesus and the Gospel yet like me.It is hard to accept the notion that people could despise Jesus and the Gospel yet like me.

Rejecting the Messenger Luke 6:26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.Luke 6:26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.Luke 6:26Luke 6:26 Matthew 10:22 " You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.Matthew 10:22 " You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.Matthew 10:22Matthew 10:22 We need to encourage people in a Biblical wayWe need to encourage people in a Biblical way Acts 14:22 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter [participate in] the kingdom of God."Acts 14:22 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter [participate in] the kingdom of God."

Distorting the Message Acts 17:6-7 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."Acts 17:6-7 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also; and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."Acts 17:6-7Acts 17:6-7 Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but were they instigating a rebellion to steal the throne from Caesar?Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, but were they instigating a rebellion to steal the throne from Caesar? There is great distortion of our message todayThere is great distortion of our message today

Going Out of Their Way Acts 17:8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.Acts 17:8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.Acts 17:8Acts 17:8 It wasn’t enough for the Jews not to believe they had to stir up others against the truthIt wasn’t enough for the Jews not to believe they had to stir up others against the truth Acts 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowdsActs 17:13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowdsActs 17:13Acts 17:13 This is evidence that you are preaching the truthThis is evidence that you are preaching the truth Whenever a case goes before the Supreme court whose God is on trial?Whenever a case goes before the Supreme court whose God is on trial?

How Do We Respond to the Truth?  A Believing Response 1.Persuaded 2.Identified with Christ 3.Identified with God’s People  An Unbelieving Response 1.Jealousy 2.Strange Alliances 3.Rejecting the Messenger 4.Distorting the Message 5.Going Out of Their Way to Oppose the Truth