Back from Vacation and Acts Chapter 17

I'm back from vacation and it was great. We drove 3000 miles and saw some of the most beautiful sites anywhere in the world. On top of that, I got to wake up everyday and spend it with my wife and kids which is always a treat. Here's what happened: Kansas driving, Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, Royal Gorge, boring drive to Albuquerque, Painted Desert, Petrified Forest, Meteor Crater, on to Phoenix to see my dad and stepmom (and various cats and dogs), swimming, dinner with aunt and uncle, golf with my wife (shot a 83!), the Phoenix zoo, Rainforest Cafe, naps, more golf (only a 96 this time), train park, Scottsdale shopping, PF Changs, more swimming, family dinner, Sedona, ice cream with Kelly Ripa and family (kind of), Grand Canyon, and then the very long drive home. I loved all of it.

Now that I'm back, we're moving on to Acts 17 - Thessolonica, Berea and Athens.

Paul's Entrance Strategy:
It's the same as before - in all three places Paul starts at the synagogue. Verse 2 even explicitly recognizes that this is a pattern. In Athens he also tries out going to the places of philosophical and/or religious conversation.

Gospel Presentation:
This is my favorite part of the chapter. We get a glimpse of how Paul shares the Gospel in two different settings - first, in a synagogue in Thessolonica, and second, in a meeting of philosophers in Athens. We can learn a lot from how Paul approaches each situation. In both cases he uses the religious background of his audience to share the Gospel. In the synagogue he 'reasons with them from the scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead.' With the philosophers, he does not use scripture. He instead starts with their religious experience and builds off of it. He talks about their altar, and their poetry. He begins the Gospel with God and creation, not with Jesus. He gets to Jesus in the end, but as he has done in previous chapters, he just mentions Him and His resurrection then waits for them to ask for more. In both cases his message is very God centered and not people centered. He does not appeal to selfish, personal, individual needs.

This is so much different than what many in the church demonstrate today. There is no 'altar call'. There is no 'sinner's prayer' there is no promise of individual prosperity. We see that the way we share about Jesus with an Atheist, a Buddhist, a Hindu, a Muslim, a Chinese person, an Indian person, a European person should be DIFFERENT. And sometimes it may be best not to quote scripture (gasp!).

Leadership Development:
Silas and Timothy are able to stay in Berea and carry on the work on their own. Paul is clearly investing into these two men.

Out of his control:
Persecution is everywhere. This is maybe the dominant theme in Acts so far - that persecution comes and mostly sparks expansion rather than hinders it.

Results:
New leaders gain experience and begin to do some things on their own.
There are new believers left in every location.

Looking in Acts - Chapter 16

First, I have to say that Acts Chapter 16 is a great chapter! There is a lot going on here and a lot to learn from. Paul again reveals his entry and gospel strategy. He always seems to either share the Gospel at a 'spiritual' location or as the result of a miraculous event. We see entire households believing together which indicates the involvement of non-believers and new-believers in reaching their family. We see baptism happening quickly after belief with no stated prerequisites other than belief.

I wonder what would happen if the American church did a better job of challenging people who are thinking about following Jesus with sharing with their family up front. There is power in groups and in positive peer pressure. Imagine a family beginning with Christ together!

I also wonder what would happen if we emphasized Baptism more and if it was done asap after belief by the person who led the new believer to Christ. I believe Baptism is at it's core a confession of faith. Being that, it seems to lack some meaning if done months or years later by a pastor you may have never met before, or if done just to meet a church membership stipulation. Baptism should not be about joining an organization, but rather should be about identifying with a movement and a person (Jesus Christ) It is a good thing for a new believer to realize that faith requires immediate obedience, even if obedience is something as seamingly silly as letting a good friend dunk you under water!

So here are the details:
Strategy for entry, gospel, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication:

Leadership Multiplication: vs 1-5 the finding of Timothy. Paul decides to take Timothy with him. This is really the first sign of leadership multiplication - the selection of a key leader to come along.

Entry Strategy: vs 6-10 Once again, Paul only goes where God is calling. He relies on the Spirit of God. It is important to me that he is constantly trying new things, and then relying on the Spirit. In this case, the Spirit blocks his ideas in order to call him to a new place. (Macedonia) Paul obeys immediately.

Entry Strategy: vs 13 Once again, Paul starts by going to a 'spiritual' place and talking to the people there.

Gospel Presentation: Lydia hears and believes.

Discipleship: Two important things here. First, she believes with her household all at once meaning Paul in some way had her reach out to her household! Who says that discipleship has to start after belief?!! Second, she is baptized immediately. Baptism acts as a first step of obedience, a confession of faith, and a clear mark in the life of Lydia and her family.

Entry, Gospel Presentation: Paul chooses not to leave when the jail is opened miraculously. Seems like a strange decision to me, but he must have sensed a higher purpose. The jailer believes as a result of this miracle.

Discipleship: We see the jailer's household believe in a similar way to Lydia's, and we see immediate baptism. The word immediate is even included in the text.

What was uncontrollable?

Once again, miracles and persecution.
vs 6-10: The calling to Macedonia.
vs 16+: The slavegirl that is healed leading to persecution.
vs 25: The jail is opened.

What was the result?

Lydia and the Jailer and both their households believe. They are baptized. We can guess that they are given some basic teachings, but Paul again leaves early, following a pattern he showed in earlier chapters.

Looking in Acts - Chapter 15

Acts Chapter 15 doesn't really apply to the questions I've been asking because Paul is not on a church planting journey in this chapter. It is really a chapter of conflict, and because of that I think there are some really valuable observations. Here is what I see in the chapter:

1. Those troubling the new believers were existing believers bound by tradition. It should not be this way, but often nothing kills the enthusiasm of a new believer faster than an 'old', supposedly mature believer listing off a bunch of commands.

2. When Jesus is reduced to a set of rules and traditions, we completely miss the point. I think this is why I love cross cultural missions. Our rules and traditions look silly in another culture, and it forces us to focus on the person of Jesus - a person who came to bring something that rules and traditions could not bring - LIFE.

3. Imagine a conversation like this ... "you know, (insert Indian, Chinese, Arabic name here), I'm glad you want to follow Christ, but I need to tell you something ... you know that extra skin down there - chop it off!" That would go over well. Maybe we could even provide a sharp rock like Moses had. Praise God we have baptism as a new symbol!!

4. The apostles, listened, then looked at scripture, then responded. We would do well to follow that pattern.

5. Paul and Barnabas had big conflict and separated for their future journeys. Conflilct happens and God uses it. It's ok to disagree on what's next, and still love Jesus! Why do we always think conflict is bad?

6. Finally, both Paul and Barnabas went back to the churches to strengthen them. So they did leave early on in the church planting process and trusted those churches to God, but that doesn't mean they never went back.

Looking in Acts - Chapter 14

As I looked at Chapter 14 a few things stand out to me. The miracles and persecution are constant. Paul and Barnabas face persecution boldly, but also run from it when it gets to a certain severity. As a practical matter, Paul returns to each of the places he has been and appoints elders. It is interesting that he did this on his return trips and not initially. Maybe this was to let things settle down, and see who sticks with the faith. He also prays, fasts, and trusts these churches to God. He realizes that God must be sufficient for the new churches. God does not require him to stick around.


What was Paul's plan for entry, gospel presentation, discipleship, church formation, and leadership multiplication?

Entry and Gospel Presentation:
In Iconium, Paul went to the synagogues again to share the Gospel. When persecution came, they decided to stay and speak boldly. When a death threat came, they fled.

In Lystra, Paul tries to talk people out of sacrificing to him. Everything was in upheaval so there doesn't appear to be any strategy here.

Discipleship and Church Formation:
Paul returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch encouraging the believers to overcome hardship. Paul appointed elders for each church. With prayer and fasting committed the churches to the Lord and left.

What happened that was uncontrollable?
In Iconium, both persecution and miracles were not controllable.
In Lystra, God healed a crippled man through Paul.
In Lystra, Paul was stoned and left for dead by people from Iconium.


What were the results?
Many believed, and many opposed. On return trips, churches were formed and elders were appointed.