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Getting in Trouble for Talking – Acts of the Apostles Pt. 26

By

WEBCAST –

Dear RCF Sisters and Brothers

Albert Einstein was once asked what he believed to be the best formula for success in life.  He replied, “If ‘A’ equals success in life, I should say the formula is ‘A = X + Y + Z’.  He went on to say, “X being work and Y being play.”  The interviewer inquired, “And what is Z?”  Einstein answered, “Z is keeping your mouth shut.”

Most of us have lived long enough to know of the wisdom in Einstein’s formula.  We have learned the hard way that “Silence is golden” when we have brought problems upon ourselves by talking too much, about the wrong things, to the wrong people, or at the wrong time.  If we have gained the virtue of self-control we try to live by the axiom “You can’t get in trouble for something you didn’t say!”

However, Jesus commands us to speak up about Him to others, not merely be witnesses by our lifestyle.  We see this most marvelously in the life of the Apostle Paul who was gifted, prepared, and called by Jesus to be His spokesman to the Gentiles.  We also see him getting into a great deal of trouble for the things that he said.  Some people received his message about Jesus and others resisted it.  There were those who roused opposition to Him which led to him suffering great personal harm.

When we speak up for Christ, we should expect the same reception or rejection that Paul received.  When he got to Europe, his message began to be tailored to the audience to which he was speaking.  In the synagogues, he spoke to Jews and God-fearers who knew the Old Testament.  But in Europe, he would also be speaking to many who had a Classical Greco-Roman worldview.  Therefore, his message had to be formatted to their presuppositions and way of thinking.

Einstein’s advice is not always applicable, as there are times when it is not virtuous or godly for us to “keep our mouths shut”.  As we see Paul speak the Good News in different cities and settings, we can learn how we may communicate the love, grace, and salvation Jesus offers to those in our world.

Join us this Sunday morning as we continue in the theme To the Remotest Part of the Earth, and our Discussion Bible Study in the History of the Early Church.  Please prepare by reading Acts 17.  This week we will examine and discuss that text with the title “The Good News Gets Tailored To The Western World”.

Attached is an outline (in two sizes) of the text we will be focusing upon this Sunday morning.  Please print it ahead of time, as it will help you take part in the discussion.  We will also have copies when we gather on Sunday morning.

Here is the Table Discussion Question for Sunday:

When Paul, Silas, and Timothy left Philippi, Luke remained there. Do you believe that was planned? If you were Luke what would you have done there?  Why?

In this series we have already discussed the following texts and topics:

The New Era Begins: Acts 1:12-2:21
Who is to Blame for Good Friday?: Acts 2:22-23
The New Community Begins: Acts 2:24-47
The First Official Pushback Is  Pushed Back: Acts 3
The First Official Pushback Is Pushed Back –  Part 2: Acts 4
God Elevates His Purity and His Principals: Acts 5:1-11
God Elevates His Purity and His Principals – Part 2: Acts 5:12 – 6:7
The Spark That Ignited The Flames of Persecution – Part 1: Acts 6:8 – 7:43
The Spark That Ignited The Flames of Persecution – Part 2: Acts 7:44 – 8:3
The New Community’s Pearl Harbor: Acts 8:1-25
Going Global: Taking The New Community International: Acts 8:26-40
Going Global: Taking The New Community International: Acts 9:1-25
Not “E Pluribus Unum”, But “Nos, Et Nos Nos”: Acts 9:26-31
The Border Crisis:  God’s Path For Foreigners To Become Citizens: Acts 9:32-10:33
The Border Crisis:  God’s Path For Foreigners To Become Citizens – Part 2:  Acts 10:34-11:30
Uncivil Rest – Part 1: Acts 12:1-17
Uncivil Rest – Part 2: Acts 12:18-25
How The West Was Won…To Christ: Acts 13
How The West Was Won…To Christ – Part 2:  Acts 13
How The Gospel Was Almost Lost…From Grace – Part 1: Galatians
How The Gospel Was Almost Lost…From Grace – Part 2: Galatians
The Gentile Question” Must Be Answered:  Acts 15 & Galatians
A Church “Council” Answers “The Gentile Question”:  Acts 15:1-35
The Western Expansion Continues – Part 2:  Acts 16:13-40

We hope that you will join us in person or online this Sunday morning at Bay Lodge at 9:30 am!

We love you all!

Jim and Jenny

The Acts of the Apostles, Part 26 – Outline (PDF)

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Dear Sisters and Brothers,   Jesus’ transformation of humanity was never intended to end at the completion of His thirty-three year life.  The plan which was conceived in eternity prior to the creation of the universe was always that Jesus would come to earth and provide the complete means of mankind’s redemption.  He did that first by […]

You Could Cut Their Fear With a Knife – January 24, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, After Jesus was crucified and buried, it was reasonable for Jesus’ closest male disciples to fear that the Jewish leaders might arrest and prosecute them.  If that happened they could be crucified as well.  The Sabbath which began at the time of Jesus’ burial gave them 24 hours of potential relief […]

Fearful and Flummoxed – January 17, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, When Jesus was crucified and died, the hopes of the multitudes who thought that He was going to redeem Israel from Roman rule were dashed.  Thursday evening’s Passover was celebrated with expectancy as many Jews believed that Jesus was about to set them free, just as Moses did for their ancestors […]

“Perhaps We Were Wrong About Jesus the Nazarene?” – January 10, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, Compared to Jesus’ public ministry the past three years, His arrest and trials were witnessed by comparatively few people.  Many of those who observed what was happening to Jesus during and after His arrest, such as the Roman officials and soldiers, had only modest personal interest in the proceedings.  The huge […]

He is Brought Before Pilate – January 3, 2021

Dear Sisters and Brothers, This coming Sunday, January 3, 2021, we will begin the new year by focussing on Our Lord’s final trial, condemnation, suffering, and death in our discussion Bible study.  We will end our time together by reflecting upon these events in the manner He instructed His disciples to, by having “The Lord’s Table”.  Therefore, please […]

The Battle Ahead – December 20, 2020

Dear Friends, Two Sundays ago we saw how people, without even knowing it, can try to derail God’s plans.   Since before the world was created God had planned that His Son would die as the Passover Lamb Who would rescue people from their bondage to sin and its penalty.  God’s timeline was in jeopardy until […]

Final Instructions – December 6, 2020

Dear Friends, If you knew that you only had only hours to live, it is likely that you would want to tell the most important people in your life the most important information they needed to know. That is true regarding Jesus’ final evening with His chosen apostles. During that final Passover evening Jesus communicated […]

The Die Is Cast – November 29, 2020

Dear Friends, Sometimes you just have to just move on.  Differences and tensions that you have experienced with others for a long time have not improved despite your best efforts to explain your perspective and position.  In fact, despite your best efforts and explanations over time the more entrenched others have become and the die is […]

There is No Convincing Some People! – November 22, 2020

Dear Friends, The current political division in the United States demonstrates that it is nearly impossible to convince people that their views may be wrong.  Because their minds are so entrenched that they are right they could never even consider that they might be wrong.  That was certainly the case with the religious leaders of […]

The Breach Becomes a Breaking Point – November 8, 2020

Dear Friends, In our discussion Bible study last Sunday we saw Jesus send three more “miracle-bombs” into Jerusalem just prior to His final entry into Jerusalem to get those in the capitol city to believe in Him as their long-promised Messiah.  “Miracle-bombs” are notable public miracles which Jesus did outside of Jerusalem which had an enormous impact within the city of […]

The Lord’s Supper and “Harmony” – November 1, 2020

Dear Friends, There are three important happenings at RCF which you need to know about for this Sunday, November 1st.   1.  Daylight Savings Time – Remember to move your clocks back.  If you don’t stay up later than normal on Saturday you get an extra hour sleep! 2.  The Lord’s Supper – We will be beginning our time together commemorating Our Lord’s sacrifice […]

Dropping “Miracle Bombs” in Jerusalem – October 25, 2020

Dear Friends, If you wanted to change a major policy in our nation today, there are two ways you could go about it. One way would be to travel widely and speak throughout the fifty states to get a majority of people to agree with your ideas. A second way would be to travel only […]

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No matter your age or background, you have a place at RCF! We are passionate about reaching people with the life-giving and life-changing message of Jesus and we’d love to meet you!

 

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Bay Lodge
492 Bradley Rd.
Bay Village, OH 44140