Acts 17.28 - Double Listening

One reason Paul was so effective in ministry is that he used both ears well. John Stott called this ‘double listening.’ One minute the Apostle quotes Hebrew Scripture, the next Greek poets. He heard and understood the Eternal Word and also his changing world. So should we. With our ‘big’ ear we should listen to God - He made them both! And with our ‘little’ ear we should listen to people because God made them too. One theologian spoke of having the Bible in one hand and the newspaper (maybe today I should say, iPad) in the other. This balance can be hard to maintain with our busy lives. Last week I challenged you to give 5 minutes a day to reading the Bible – more is fine too! We also need to hear the decisive ideas and events that shape our society.

Acts 18.3-5 - You gotta eat!

Every worker for God has material needs. How can you – and your family - survive in the service of God? “Paul…was a tentmaker…he stayed and worked…Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ”(Acts 18.3-5). Here we see two ways God supplied Paul. 1) He worked. Today we call self-supporting Christian workers ‘tent makers.’ Paul’s day job was tents, his calling was to preach. 2) He received support. The fledgling church in Philippi sent financial support for their spiritual father to plant churches in other cities. Of course, the source of supply for all our needs is the Lord Himself – Jehovah Jireh! As we all enjoy serving ‘full time’ we receive both His daily strength in our labors and His surprising mercies of faithful provision.

Act 19.9 - 3,120 Hours

“Paul taught daily from 11 am to 4 pm” this is found in the ‘Western Text’ of Act 19.9. It is not part of the original text of the Bible and does not appear in any of our translations. Yet, many scholars think this ‘scribal gloss’ is an accurate record of what actually happened. Thus, while most of Ephesus enjoyed their afternoon siesta during the heat of the day, Tyrannus rented out his hall to the Christians. And Paul taught the Word of God for 3,120 hours. (No days off or Thailand trips!) That is more hours than my seminary program. There are no ‘short cuts’ to true discipleship. It might take just ’30 Seconds’ to make you a ‘Manager.’ ‘Cliff Notes’ might get you a passing grade on your literature exam. And ‘Theology for Dummies’ might help you squeak through an ordination exam. But maturity in Jesus is a life sentence. And the diligent study of Scripture is the core requirement.

Acts 20.22-24 - Toughing it Out

We are saved through our troubles, not from them.  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10.13). In Acts we see Paul bravely practicing what he penned. His temptations were a painful brew of conspiracy, corruption, and confinement served up by Jews and Romans. Sadly, these woes are all too ‘common to mankind’ even in our day. Preachers who promise escape from pains or problems are exposed for their folly by Paul’s hardships. In Acts we’ll not see Paul freed from prison, but we’ll see him unwaveringly faithful in his chains. He is such because ‘God is faithful.’ And God’s ‘way out (is) so that you can endure it.’ Emmanuel is our endurance.

Acts 20.37 - A Good Cry

September 11, 2001 - all our lives are impacted - ubiquitous searches before travel, the fearful pause seeing someone covered in religious robes, and deep chasms dividing our world. In both this morning and evenings sermon texts – Paul cries! Isn’t Paul a hardened soldier of the Risen Jesus? His theological mind is a steel trap. His mission focus burns like a laser. But these flow from a tender heart. Today we only see religious leaders cry when caught in their moral failures! This overheated world might cool a few degrees if religious leaders shed more good tears. Tears that we fall short of God’s holy and righteous standard. Tears that we are so incredibly loved and blessed. Tears that we know a lot less than we think we do. Tears that too many innocents die in the cross-fire of our foolish hatred. Tears of hope that someday God will dry our eyes.

Acts 21.37 - Workin’ Men

Two cogs in ‘Pax Romana’ interlock the mighty wheels of Divine Providence – one soldier, one politician. Their posting to Judea, very far from Rome, must have seemed a curse. They ruled a people who loathed their Empire.  One State employee is self-serving, the other self-sacrificing. Far from the gaze of Caesar, who would know if Governor Felix made a little extra money on the side? Why should Commander Claudius Lysias risk lives for an unknown man nearly torn apart by a Jewish mob? Both deeds of these workin’ men are seen by God and recorded in Scripture. What we do, even when we think nobody notices, matters. Like Esther we are born “for a time such as this.” The mighty wheels of Divine Providence make their appointed turns, and our faithfulness and our failures are recorded by our Sovereign God. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3.23,24).

Acts 26 - Deaf Ears

If you’re asleep right now, or fidgeting for a cozy snoozing position, I am in good company. Most of the sermons in Acts fell on ‘deaf ears.’ Paul’s final sermon here in Acts, perhaps one of his last, is splendid as always. But, the two big shots in the room seem unaffected. The Governor thinks he is crazy, the King thinks he is cute. If you have ever poured out your heart to tell people you love about a God who loves them even more, only to have it land with a thud, welcome to the noble club. Jesus, Peter, Stephen, Paul…. all preached to deaf ears. Not every message brought a Pentecost harvest. Thankfully, somebody thought enough of their messages to record them! And, to those with ‘ears to hear’ these Words from God extend life-giving power for millennia. Ask God to open ears, starting with yours, whenever His Word is spoken.