1. Too Hot to Handle
Acts 9:26-31

2. The Odd Man Out vs. 26 “…came to Jerusalem…”
The Cold Shoulder “…trying to associate…but…”
Cephas not “Bocephas”

3. The Odd Man Out vs. 26 “…came to Jerusalem…”
The Cold Shoulder “…trying to associate…but…”
I have also seen churches and church people who simply struggle with loving others that God sends our way.

4. The Odd Man Out vs. 26 “…came to Jerusalem…”
The Character “…the disciples…were…afraid of him,…”
“Confidence is a plant of slow growth, and starts up, not by a sudden profession, but is the result of a course of life which is worthy of affection and of trust.”
Albert Barnes
The biggest issue I have found being a pastor are those who claim to have Jesus in their hearts but are still mean- spirited, crafty, conniving, and manipulative.

5. The Intervention vs. 27 “…brought him to the apostles…”
The Mediation “…Barnabas…described…”
The name Barnabas means encourager – the “but” before his name means he chose not to act like the rest of the Christians

6. The Intervention vs. 27 “…brought him to the apostles…”
The Recognition “And he was with them…”
Jesus stepped in between us and a Holy God and it cost Him His life, but in return it can be said that “we are now with Him and He is with us.

7. The Fanatic vs. 29 “…talking and arguing…”
Stirring Up “…the Hellenistic Jews…”
Hellenistic Judaism - a form of Judaism in the ancient world that combined Jewish religious tradition with elements of Greek culture.
When a Greek gymnasium was introduced into Jerusalem, it was installed by a Jewish High Priest. And other priests soon engaged in wrestling matches in the palaestra (gymnasium). They plainly did not reckon such activities as undermining their priestly duties.
Erich S. Gruen
May
(Ancient Historian)

8. The Fanatic vs. 29 “…talking and arguing…”
Steering Out “…down to Caesarea…to Tarsus.”
UFO
“Too Hot to Handle…”
Years active:
1968 to present

9. The Fanatic vs. 29 “…talking and arguing…”
Steering Out “…down to Caesarea…to Tarsus.”
“They sent him, away to Tarsus”
Acts 9:30
“Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.”
Acts 9:31

10. Things to Remember & Practice
To offer a warm shoulder instead of a cold one will require that you look beyond yourself, your habits, your own insecurities, and your own comforts to see what is best for someone else.
Its never easy to love the unlovely, to reach out to the lepers, to loving deal with the demon oppressed, to accept the prostitutes and show compassion to the sick and those feeble minded.
It should be forever written on our hearts and minds that the end goal of religion is death, but the end goal of a relationship with Jesus is everlasting life.