Sermon Tone Analysis

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Procrastination is my sin.

It brings me naught but sorrow.

I know that I should stop it.

In fact, I will… tomorrow.

^° % Gloria Pitzer has written this clever little poem:

Intro: First Order Things, Second, thrid, fourth order things.

Game of backgemon - wining battle …

Intro: First Order Things, Second, thrid, fourth order things.

Game of backgammon - wining battle …

The Gospel of Jesus is not something we can triffle with.

When it comes and when we present it through our lives and witness - not to be dabbling in “spiritual or eternal questions” - that can be left to more convient time, nor are we to be sided-tracked by all sorts of implications of the gospel - churchy ceremnonies, rituals, , or the the plitical implications of the gopsel, or even its moral imoplications.

All have a part but not the bulls eye - periphphial that will never call people to come to Christ, as Saviour and as Lord!

Key Truth: Neither politics, culture, nor our own comfort, should dull the urgency of the gospel with people we witness

with people we witness

While God’s Word speaks to issues political and moral,

A. While God’s Word speaks to issues political and moral,

A. The Heart of the Gospel is not political or moral, but spiritual

Do you ever notice that when you start to talk religion - very quickly lumped into radical political group - Conspiracy of Evangelical Christians with Donald Trump - narrow mindedly wreck the world!

Do you ever notice how it is easier to talk to people about Kathleen Wynne Liberal Government or Doug Ford than it is about your faith in Jesus?

It wasn’t only the Apostle Paul who faced a similar threat to his witness - to have it bent in oplitical direction.

It was also the whole early church - constantly presented by Rome as being against Caesar and order and peace, and by Jewish Leadership as apostasizing from OT faith .

But while at times that may be a great entry point to present the clams of Jeuss, more often it is how our witness gets derailed from presenting the Person and work and our reltionship with Christ, , and then dismissed as mere politics, or radical fanatical ...

But Luke writes both his gopsel and his history of Jesus Acts from haven, of the Spirits works through us, in order to show that Christainity isn’t against Rome.

SO important to him, as finishess book , though Clauidus Emperor when Felix made governor, Now as Paul 2 years later will going to Rome - it’s Nero - made sense as Sencae his tutor, model - Rome no threat to Christianity.

But pretty soon Nero is going to lose it - intense persecutions - Paul is estanblishing Christniaty not a threat to good order!

As Christain citizen s we will press the claims of Christ , but te church is not against good order and for it!

It is interesting that like with Christ in these pre-trial and now upcoming three trial scenes, Lycius by Sanhedrin, now Festus with a fe of High Priest friends, then Festus and finally Agrippa - that like Jesus - Paul is declared innocent by these judges:

Only official Roman letter in NT just before our text from that chiliarch Claudius Lycius - bends the facts to protect himself, but his conclusion is:

Paul himself declares he has done nothing against God or against Jews or Romans, lvies conscientiously before them.

Paul when he realized he had rebuked the high priest in dimly lit chamber - he apologizes and repents - respecting God-ordained authority even when occupied by ungdoly man.

, - obey God appoitned authority - call it to really be a servant for good,

But not free to ignore or work against the government - just because qa leader is a bad leader.

Honor everyone.

Love the brotherhood.

Fear God.

Honor the emperor.

So too here though not with the same flattery, Paul in hthis trial, gives the typical legal greeting before a judge - I recnognize and acknwledge - been governor for many years.

Do you get the point - the Gospel is not some opinion about politics or just amoral crusade for certain values!

The main Jewish charge is a political one, just as it was with Jesus - ie Other King.

Listen these Jewish leaders part of the Sanhedirn, so worried to to stop Christians from disturbing their status quo, hire a a Greek named and speaking lawyer, Tertulus to represent them to Felix.

He presents their main charge to the Roman Governor of Judea.

How would you respond to being called a PEST< A PLAGUE , aring leader - as if Paul had replaced Jesus as the Nazarene.

So interestin ghta that didn’t happen like all the other revultionary , zealot groups, always appionted a successor.

But Chrsitainty not a pltiical movment, leader not dead.

Even when they lay the charge that is tricky to prove, not that he defiled the temple, but that he attempted to.

The Sanhedrin is making a plitical claim:

And if you read the v.7 tht some manuscripts have in the footnote in our ESV - see the focus is on the Jews rightfully seizing Paul on their terf.

Big claim Caeasar in Rome gave the Jews the right to be in charge of their own temple, even kill a Gentiel overstepping bounds.

And they are claiming plticially this rebel rouser, should be returned to our jusrisdiction - so we can deal with him.

B. But look at Paul’s gospel-focused reply.

He says only there for 12 days - 3 of those in custody.

No were was I disputing, or stirring up a crowd - anywhere, in temple in synagogues, or in the city.

Remarkable claim - Paul who single handedly went to the heart Athens - came to Jerusalem knowing all the rumours, plitical strife - and he keeps his mouth shut here in that way.

He chose to quietly meet with church, , he left Greek speaking behind, he assured Jews Christianty isn’t end of him being a Jew or aphrisee but fullifliment - even agrees to pay a purification right, goes to temple.

Why does Paul restrain himsel fin Jerusalem, it is for the sake of that Christain church in Jersuaelm - give no undo cause for disrespect or reproach.

Paul a well trained Roman citizen appeals to principlae of Roman Law, influence our ssytem too.

You have a right to stand before your accussers, it was the Asiatic Jews, from EPhesus - stirred up all the trouble, and if they have a claim that defiling the temple, borught.

Trophomius in, they should be here theye are not.

And the Sanhedrin - completely unable to establish a legal charge against Paul, and Claudius Lysicus concluded.

And the Sanhedrin - completely unable to establish a legal charge against Paul, and Claudius Lysicus concluded.

So now politically this Governor Felix has quite problem on his hands.

Felix already brutally put down several nationalistic Jewish revolts, crucified the ring leaders.

But knows Roman citizen done nothing wrong, already arrested without charges, ought to let go , , but ruling this land, he must also keep the public happy, see at the end of the chapter keep in jail , as a favour to the Jews.

But it is what happens in the middle of the trial that is most surprising.

Paul answers the three charges -

B. Give a hope-filled, gospel reply to moral & political questions.

In addition to defending against the 3 charges, Paul volunteers two things that he says must be at the heart of this witness - and they actually put his accusers and his judge on trial: Look at it

In a sense, this is like what Paul did in Athens.

Do you remember : you know God as Creator and Provider - -I know that God too, Unknown God but now He has come into this World in His Son Jesus Christ, By His resurrection - new salvation at lose in this world - you can take hold of it.

Paul says - the God that he used to know only from the Law and Propehts, the God the Jews should know form their - that God who said send a Messiah and He will bring a resurrection- well that is the Way - completely predicted, and sketched out in the OT - IN Jesus Christ - THE WAY, what both Jews and Gentiles now calling the Nazarenes.

And Felix knew what he was talking about, spread so far East, more numerous than the Ph or Sadducee party now.

And Paul says, that’s because it isn’t a sect or little political religious group - it is the WAY Of God - that Abraham and faith … but now fulfilled in Christ.

Paul says - the God that he used to kno wonly fom the Law and Propehts, the God the Jews shoudl knw form their - that God who said send a Messiah and He will bring a resurrection- well that is the Way - completely predi ted, and sketched out in the OT - IN Jesus Christ - THE WAY, what both Jews and Gentiles now calling the Nazarenes.

And Felix knew what he was talkingabout, spread so far East, more numerous than the Ph or Saducee party now.

And Paul says, that’s because it isn’t a sect or little pltoical relkgioua group - it is the WAY Of God - taht Abrhaam anad faith … but now fulfilled in Christ.

THIS IS The Ultimate Hope , Hope of Israel and the world.

Not only that God would send Messiah, but that He would bring Resurrection.

No wonder in his short remarks - he says not only clear conscience , but cheerfully make a defense.

Christ resurrection , My Risen Savior is the proof and the goal and the seed of resurrection you need.

Christi’s resurrection is the proof of God accepting sacrifice for forgiveness of sin, its the proof of Real Life of Jesus by His Holy Spirit shared with you.

It ‘s the only guarantee of of life, instead of eternal death and punishment after your physical death here.

Surely, we can testify of that good news!

Paul then concludes saying, that’s why I was in Jerusalem , I was worshiping , but even more I was bringing real help - alms, What Paul in

calls an offering to God.

Well pleasing - from the Gentile show they are thankful to be ingrafted in vine of Israel, For Jewish believers to knowledge work of grace help them - UNITY

So often rabbit trails lea us away from actually speaking about Jesus and simply showing that our good works - joyful response to what he is doing n his church in people’s lives!

I wonder if next time you are side tracked - just poltics, anrrow minded rules - to speak of your hope in Jesus, to point to good work Jesus starts working for others good in them.. That’s not bragging or holier than thou … that’s Jesus sayingin

people will notice your good works - sacrificial love, real compassion, and they will PRAISE YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN.

They will see your hope - - ask what reason do you have to think that foriven, clear consicence, - that after you die heaven!

That more importnat than Nero being King, or FElix being governeor, or Agrippa … Jesus is really King of Kings and his laws his promises his kingdom is what matters most!

And that brings us to the the final point of why we must not

C. Let nothing dull the urgency of our witness to Christ!

And here I don’t want you to misunderstand me.

Just like when I say saved to serve, doesn’t mean - if you are not serving every where you are a bad Christian.

So too with witnessing - I am not saying unless you are walking around with a sandwich board everywhere - that's says Flee from the Wrath to Come, Unless you are bringing sin and repentance and God’s justice and heaven and hell into every single conversation you’ve betrayed the urgency of the gospel.

No, even Paul in this stage of life unable to freely go around.

Just like your duties before God, each a little different no ne all of them -, so too with our witness, got near neighbours family, close neighbour live beside you, got bro and sisters in this church, workplace of work, 3rd places like sports team, hangout , curling club, cards in your apartment…

Be faithful in TALK BUT ALSO YOUR WALK to represent Christ, and like with Paul, situations will come When they ASK.

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,