"The Power of Persuasion"
Slide: “The Power of Persuasion”
(Show during the announcements
and intro;)
Intro;
Two teams/Two sides
Each team had a goal.
Achieve that goal.
Quarterback / convince his players
That if they would listen to him / he could lead them to their goal.
The quarterback had to persuade his players.
If they would trust him / he could get them in the end zone.
And a couple of times it got pretty tuff.
The end result celebration in the end zone.
As the other team walks away/defeat.
I want to talk about “The Power of Persuasion”
How we’re persuaded…
The music we listen to.
The people we hang with.
The television we watch.
You have opposing teams pulling you opposite directions. Easy to be persuaded.
That’s where we are today scripture.
Paul and Barnabus are trying to persuade Jews…
Jesus Christ is the Messiahdied for sinsrose again.
Paul and Barnabuspersuade them need Savior.
Slide:
Acts 14:14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out
15 and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,
NKJV
Paul say’s “Turn from these useless things” idols/things of the world.
We are always being persuaded by useless things.
Illustration:
A friend of mine drove by church last Sunday.
Continually being persuaded…
Clothes we wear.
Music we listen to.
Cars we drive.
Some are good things/some are not.
Slide:
Acts 14:16 who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways.
17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
18 And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them.
NKJV
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
v. 16 who in bygone generations allowed all the nations to walk in their own way.
Illustration:
A friend who fallen back…
So how’s that working for you?
Lost job/illness
He was persuaded by the worldwalk in the way of the world immediate gratification.
Not eternal/immediate.
v. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good…
God is continually calling you. Continually trying to persuade you to come back…and so is the world.
Slide:
Acts 14: 19 Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
20 However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
NKJV
Here is “The Power of Persuasion”
Just last week the multitudes were saying “The gods have come down to us.”
Stoned Paul dragged his dead body out of town.
Sound familiar?
Fifteen years earlier/Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Crowds were crying “Hosanna in the Highest”
“Blessed be the name of the Lord”
Next day / screaming mob
“Crucify Him!”
v. 17 Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good…
Slide:
Acts 14: 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch,
22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
NKJV
We’ve followed Paul and Barnabus.
Antioch, Cypress on to Perga
through Iconium, Lystra and Derbe.
Beatenthreatenedran out/stoned.
Turned around to do it again.
He’s exhorting them/persuading them to continue in the faith!
v.22 (last half) saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
Illustration:
I did that because I knew what the treasure was going to be!
I’m trying to persuade you today, because I know what the treasure is!
I want to encourage you to press on.
Slide:
Acts 14:24 And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25 Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.
26 From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed.
NKJV
Conclude here;
We’ve come full circle.
Paul and Barnabus began journey Antioch.
Purpose/Goal persuade people trust in the Lord.
Cursed Spit Threatened Run out town Stoned and left for dead.
They preached in Cyprus/multitudes believed (persuaded)
They preached in Antioch/multitudes believed (persuaded)
The preached in Iconium…
They preached in Lystra, Derbe
I want to persuade you to try something new in your life.
Slide:
Acts 14:27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
NKJV
Every Sunday I stand up here and try to persuade you.
Call in the Lord trust in the Lord believe in the Lord.
I want to persuade you to do something radical.
Quit sharing the gospel
Start shouting the gospel!
From your rooftop!
From your workplace!
From your living room!
Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is my Savior.
Bruised / hurt…