Sermon Tone Analysis

Seven Qualities the Spirit Uses to advance the Godpel

1. Spirit Controlled (1)

In Such a Manner:

2. Boldness (3)

polarizing message.

When opposition because of the message comes, you know that you are being effective.

When opposition because of your manner or attitude comes, you know that you are just being a jerk.

3. Active in Gifting (3-7)

Temporary gifts - signs, wonders

Permanent gifts - preaching (sharing the gospel effectively), teaching (explaining the Bible skillfully), exhorting (pushing people into action), mercy, giving, helps...

1 Corinthians 12 also

4. Humility (8-18)

Legend of Zues and Hermes: The explanation of their being taken for gods lies in the legendary history of Lycaonia.

The people round Lystra told a story that once Zeus and Hermes had come to this earth in disguise.

No one in all the land would give them hospitality until at last two old peasants, Philemon and his wife Baucis, took them in.

As a result, the whole population except for Philemon and Baucis was wiped out by the gods, and Philemon and Baucis were made the guardians of a splendid temple and were turned into two great trees when they died.

So, when Paul healed the crippled man, the people of Lystra were determined not to make the same mistake again.

Barnabas must have had a noble presence, so they took him for Zeus, the king of the gods.

Hermes was the messenger of the gods; and, since Paul was the speaker, they called him Hermes.

—William Barclay [Barclay, W. (2003).

The Acts of the Apostles (3rd ed.

fully rev.

and updated., p. 127).

Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.]

They could have thought of the advantages of being thought of as gods.

They could have justified it by thinking that it would help spread the gospel even faster if they were well respected.

Some do this today by compromising their faith to get ahead in business or to receive recognition from men.

Those who do this wrongly think that the gospel will be more palatable coming from them because of their success in the world.

[“If I work 80 hours a week and make a name for myself in my business then I can point people to Christ more effectively.”

Except a workaholic like this works so much that he/she destroys their family, neglects the assembly of believers and usually ends up with such a tainted testimony that no unbeliever will take them seriously.]

5. Persistence (19-20)

Disciples who stood around Paul—where did they come from?

Paul’s preaching of the gospel.

Who were they?

The formerly lame man, Lois, Eunice, Timothy.

Robert Morrison (1782-1834), the first Protestant missionary to China, was born in England to Scottish Presbyterian parents.

Though he was raised in the church, even memorizing large portions of Scripture as a child, he began to wander from his faith until the Lord captured His heart in 1798.

Almost from the moment of his conversion, he felt the Lord's call to spread the Gospel to the nations, writing that he desired "that God would station him in that part of the missionary field where the difficulties were greatest and to all human appearances the most insurmountable."

In 1807 the London Missionary Society sent him to Canton (Guangzhou), China.

The emperors of China had pronounced the death sentence on any of its nationals that would teach a foreigner the Chinese language.

They prohibited the import of western goods.

They even forbade westerners to enter on Chinese soil.

He took residence in the American section of a restricted enclave where the Chinese government allowed foreign traders to live and conduct business with Chinese traders.

Learned Cantonese, translated the whole Bible, wrote a dictionary, grammar book, and encyclopedia.

It was years before he saw a actual convert.

27 years of ministry.

Morrison, the forerunner, laid the foundation for the later missionary labors of Hudson Taylor and many others

6. Thoroughness (21-25)

Could have gone on to Paul’s home town of Tarsus.

[MAP|

They did the follow up.

Why?

They were out to make disciples not just converts.

strengthen=to make firm.

encourage=give hope for them to continue in the faith.

(22)

Not the “God has a wonderful plan for you life” message.

Not a health and wealth gospel.

Those lies suck the hope from believers and leave them disillusioned concerning the faith.

Identified and appointed leaders (23).

Plurality of elders.

Let them go (23)

7. Christ Exalting (26-27)

Antioch was the sending church.

Reporting back to the local church is a key aspect of effective ministry.