Sermon Tone Analysis

When I say Evangelism - most NA 21st Christians, would think huh - myabe share that spirituality is cool, not reiliogus , but here are my spiritual disciplines… @0th century Christians - 1950’s until millenial - after greatest Missionary Centyury - william Carry - to CMA - plant pchurches -… But 1950’s-1990’s perosnal evangelism = out of the salt shaker, navigoators, campus ministries… one to one -Remains true that more people come to Christ by family memeber or friend, often eventually with an invitation to a local church -

Our passage this morning, after the watershed decision in - no compromise of gospel - Jews and Gentiles - alike heart of gospel, evangelism - hearts washed -real cleansing and foreignness in Jesus and gift Holy Spirit new heart new life.

Not two different churches, not individualized spiritual paths - but people, all people, must know Jesus - come into tent of His church -

But hard thing - people so different, so many cultural hang ups - Jewish Christians before NT - customs, Gentiles culture tainted by paganism, so much sexual immorality - so with the letter saying No Salv in Jesus alone, not Mosaic rituals, not circumcision - - Second principle that for fellowship - for love of those with weaker consciences you’d refrain … Luther put it this way Paul was strong in faith, and soft in love… Now without this Jersuale COuncil this letteer - possbile not have Christianity - have Jewish spirituality with Jesus thrown in , Gentile with Jesus thrown in .. but instead - but now instead we have the rebuilt tabernacle of David, in human flesh - outsiders seeking the LORD and finding him - and we being built up with them into one unified beuatuiful church!

With that settled - hope you agree with essence of gospel and with the diversity and love needed to build us together in fellowship.

Evangelism of the world is goign to begin anew.

Paul’s second missionary journey.

At its very inception some surprising principles apply to how we are to do evangleism together today too!

God-strengthened churches, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, step into new territory and share Jesus regardless of results!

A. Evangelism Flows out of being a God-Strengthened Church

A. Evangelism Flows out of being a God-Strengthened Church

Too many people see evangelism and discipleship as two separate tasks and both just individual options for super serious Christians.

But notice the context of the 2nd Missionary Journey.

Paul and Baranabas after returning to Jerusalem with Judas and Silas - travel through churches but remain in Antioch.

It is five years since they planted those churches, Return from Jersuaelm in winter - and they are so anxious to see if thos elders in the churches in Galatia have been able to keep the gospel too- if they have with love in midst of all their diversity -been held together!

In context must see, that each place inluding Antioch as they return - with the letter, jusgment of the hcurch - Syria, through Cilician gates to Derbe, Lystra, Iconium, Antioch Mnts.STRENGTHENING!

4x, ..

Worth asking do you just care about your spiritual life, do you just care about our congregation?

Or do we have a mutaul concern for Sprigndale, Alliston, for …care about Church Plant.

Concern for body of Christ.

… eveanglism lunached out f regard for this whole broken world comoing to know Jesus - copme into his tent!

see in that is the context in which many are added numerically as they go from twon to twon, sity to city…

Often with an attractional model of church growth - idea is to dumb down minimize both doctrine and practice in order to gain numbers.

Here that is resisted, making people faith in Christ firm inwardly first, then results in outwardly others coming to that same faith!

ii.

But second thing I want you to see from the context, is that this evangelism is going to happen with imperfect churches who end up in conflict, but still press on to share the grace of God!

We see this in the SHARP, as sickles diasagreement about taking John Mark, Barnabas’ cousin.

Jesus disciples met in that house, John Mark young nephew of Peter?

Peter and John fled to her house.

But John Mark after going to first leg of 1st missionary Journey , cousin’s home, when land in Asia Minor big port, and Paul has plans to push up into Taursus Mnts to captial of provinec e where Srgio Paulus has family - he abandons Branabas and Paul…

Don’t know exactly - but the upshot is that Paul sees him as unreliable indeed not mature in the faith.

Going to be inmporatnt and cant’ rush to say Paul is just bullheaded, and Baranbas encouragr.

Paul must be wrong.

NO! What we have here - is to great servants of the Lord comiong to a disagrement of values, opinons, Not a confict Saddle calls moral behioviour, or misunderstanding, or competion over limited time or money.

Reminder that the best of men, are men at best.

Though inspired apostle, not above error.

Paul is just bullheaded, and Baranbas encouragr.

Paul must be wrong.

What we have here - is to great servants of the Lord comiong to a disagrement of values, opinons, Not a confict Saddle calls moral behioviour, or misunderstanding, or competion over limited time or money.

Reminder that the best of men, are men at best.

Though inspired apostle, not above error.

Full story they are gonig to recnicle - end of life - calls him co worker, urgeres Timothy to get him to come.

What a great message that No Christian is beyond hope of recovery.

No matter how immarture they are now, Nor how badly they have fallen, these is a road back to usefulenss in Christ’s kingdom for them.

In the end Mark is refered to by Peter as my son, and writes the gospel with Peter whispering in his ear.

LIsten you maybe failed, in evnagleism, or discipleship, even in moral obeideince.

But that doesn’t mean that you ar doomed to live out the rest of your life as a second-rate Christain , never to experie3ne the msile of God’s approval, on real and menaigul servic to him.

dESPITE FAILURE, SIN, HUMAN DISAGREEMENTS gOD’S WORK STILL GOES FORWARD, EVEN WITH WEAK STRIFE FILLED CHURCHES WERE THERE IS DIVSION.

Martin Luther writig to a friend distressed about his failures said:”Learn to know Chrit and him crucified.

lEARN TO SING TO HIM AND SSAY: “Lord you are my righteouness, I am your sin.

You took on you what is mine; you set on me what is yours!”

Martin Luther writig to a friend distressed about his failures said:”Learn to know Chrit and him crucified.

lEARN TO SING TO HIM AND SSAY: “Lord you are my righteouness, I am your sin.

You took on you what is mine; you set on me what is yours!”

But what wasted reources… And here is the big deal Barnaabas blood is thicker than water… Often in church … As an aside in doing church life, and evangleism included not suprpised by conflict, the breaking of that partneership and work together, remined that oguht to deal with conflict quickly; can’t be so “nice” afraid to confront in love… that has happened here… But also happened to that conflict arisses and rupture created…

If envalgism just personal indivudal thing - go own way end of it.

But launch pad is the church - look what happens sent with church commedning them with grace: ,

If envalgism just personal indivudal thing - go own way end of it.

But launch pad is the church - look what happens sent with hurch commedning them with grace: ,

God is able to overrule our weakness , now two grace empowered, and strengthen teams sent out

iii.

But a third thing we must notice from the context is a most surprising one.

People who know Jesus and his grace, are willing to sacrifice to reach their lost neighbours!

iii.

But a third thing we must notice from the context is a most surprising one.

People who know Jesus and his grace, are willing to sacrifice to reach their lost neighbours!

Paul and Silas begin by heading back to Syria, to Phrygia - kind of reverse order to most recent converts - now it seems from town to town.

This region just about all of them Jewish presence, start with synagogue - and Paul in Lystra sees Timothy - and other connection between evangelism and discipleship - best way is COME WITH ME approach.

Mind if I bring , he’s a Christian too.

Partner in reaching out.

Apparently though young, mature beyond - wonder if you young people realize like Timothy gift of growing up in church.

Mother who taught him the Scriptures trained him for huge spiritual impact in this world!

But look what Paul does.

Why a problem?

Just said no way don’t require Gentiles to be circumcised to be saved another gospel .

In fact had visited Jerusalem earlier, and Judaizer group saw Titus with Paul, said, got to circumcise him - Paul went toe to toe - , will say circumcision is nothing - when it comes to salvation, not required.

But Paul also underlines this principle of evangelism exemplified here but spell out later in Corinthians ,

People knew Timothy in this area - knew his mother had married a Greek who hadn’t become a Jew and hadn’t gotten Timothy circumcised, looked as an outsider, not allowed to speak in synagogues -a hinderance.

… Paul recognizes free to have Timothy not for salvation, but to be accepted by fellow Jews who had not yet become believers!

So too areas of Christian freedom for us - Shibboleth what Bible Version, whether drink alcohol, go to the movies… forgo what have right o, in order to not to indulge or pretend I’m better or holier or more serious than you - but give up your right to something indifferent in order to share the gospel more fully.

Sacrifice for Paul - bet opponents ridiculing him “compromiser” Pragmatist” … For Timothy imagine …some Jews wanting so badly to fit in with Romans, deny their faith, prove it having circumcision reversed… Timothy gets the circumcision in order to become missionary to his own people.. Paul and the church stand behind him.

THink of Deirdre Walters most recent prayer letter - Oasis - basement room … hang out there…

What do we sacrfice to stand beside lost neighbours.

Time, join a group, do we cross boundaries -lay aside things indfifrernt to make contact.

Desire to reach those outside the faith!

Desire to reach those outside the faith!

B.

More briefly - in the next unusal twist of providence, we must learn to B. Follow the Spirit’s guidance in whom We Reach out to!

Of course whole world that needs Jesus.

But you are a limited person.

We are a limited church.

Share it indsicrimaetly to all … but involves choisng were to inviest evangelistic time, energy, relatiship, money.

You are like a lego block only som ny connectors… Only so many, good to have at least one free one..

Here great mystery that man proposes but God disposes.

Chose to head from Phrygia -after visiting all those Est churches into new terrioty… west into Asia towards Ephesuss -all major cities up coast to Troas … : But road block:

Here we need to knwo some geography to know how God through road blocks guided this evangelisitc effort.

Imagine - I’m going to save the world…ultimately road blocks from Spirit of Jesus - careful - OK how about N to Bithynia.

when its somehting we want… But as they get to Misia - they go through without preaching.

Spirit of Jesus made them wait, commanding them not to go to Asia, Bithynia, wait for great work in Macedonia.

So too many great missionaries, ...