MISSIONS BEGIN ACTS 13:1-12

ACTS OUTLINE But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 Acts 1-7: Jerusalem Acts 8-12: Judea & Samaria Acts 13-28: To the end of the earth

SERVANT LEADERS Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. Acts 13:1

A WORSHIPING PRAYING CHURCH IS A MISSIONARY CHURCH While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:2-3

GOD’S WORD NOT OPINION So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them. Acts 13:4-5

GOD PREPARES PEOPLE TO HEAR BUT ALWAYS OPPOSITION When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar- Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Acts 13:6-8

ONE PERSON IS THAT IMPORTANT TO GOD But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time.” Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Acts 13:9-12

WHY EVANGELIZE? True for you but not true for me! Who are you to judge? You bigoted intolerant fundamentalists are always forcing your religion on others! You should be more tolerant of others! Why don’t you just mind your own business!

CURRENT AMERICAN CULTURE RELATIVE VS. ABSOLUTE Relative: Religion, morals, values – Subjective preference: ice cream & sports – Neither true nor false Absolute: Math, science, technology – Objective truth: insulin, 2+2=4 – Either true or false The denial of truth does not remove it.

“ERAS OF TRUTH” The objective foundation for truth, morals, meaning, purpose, and value: – Premodernism – is found in God – Modernism – is found in man, nature, reason, and science – Postmodernism – does not exist (relativism)

TRUTH VS. RELATIVISM Objective vs. Subjective Absolute vs. Relative Universal vs. Local Knowable vs. Unknowable Prescriptive vs. Descriptive Discovered vs. Invented From God vs. From man

TYPES OF RELATIVISM Subjective Cultural relativism – Society/Culture says relativism Subjective Individual relativism – I say relativism

SUBJECTIVE CULTURAL RELATIVISM Truth is reduced to power No immoral societies/cultures No immoral laws No moral reform Missionaries are unethical criminals

SUBJECTIVE INDIVIDUAL RELATIVISM Pleasure and personal preference = truth No one and nothing is wrong Evil doesn’t exist Cannot place blame or accept praise Cannot make charges of unfairness or injustice Cannot make moral improvement Cannot have moral discussions or disputes Cannot obligate anything

WHY EVANGELIZE? The Bible is absolute, objective, universal truth All people are equally important & valuable & have an eternal destiny depending on their relationship to Jesus Christ God commands it It honors and glorifies God

EVANGELISM METHOD Defend the Christian faith – your words and life Pray for persuasion – HOLY SPIRIT Care about people And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:13-14

EVANGELISM METHOD Demonstrate interest Explain your faith Furnish answers Expose their presuppositions – worldview – How do you know that? – Why do you believe that? – “Ask Them Why”, Jay Lucas Navigate through his errors: A – I – P Direct him to Christ

UNBELIEVER’S ERRORS Arbitrary – unjustified belief – Opinion – Unargued worldview bias – Prejudicial conjecture Inconsistent – cannot live their worldview – Behavioral – Logical Preconditions for knowledge – no justification – Uniformity of nature – Laws of logic – Reliability of our senses – Reliability of our memory – Universal moral standard

PRECONDITIONS FOR KNOWLEDGE UNIVERSAL, ABSOLUTE, IMMATERIAL Justified only by the Christian worldview – Uniformity of nature: operational science – Laws of logic: rational reasoning – Reliability of our senses: reliable observation – Reliability of our memory: useable knowledge – Universal moral standard: moral values and duties Impossibility of the contrary – If the Christian worldview was not true, you could not know anything.

DIRECT THEM TO CHRIST “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

SUBJECTIVE OPINION OR OBJECTIVE TRUTH? Temple, Texas is the best place to live Nell’s bread pudding is the best We should all cheer for the Texas Longhorns Sex outside of marriage is immoral Marriage is an unconditional lifetime commitment Elective abortions are immoral The One Triune God exists Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to God All people will live forever in either heaven or hell dependi