Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian

“Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” Acts 26: 28

Agrippa: the “Almost” Christian • The book of Acts records the parable of the sower in real life (Lk. 8: 4 -15) • The book of Acts records three different responses to gospel preaching: rejection, postponement, conversion (Acts 17: 32 -34) • What was Agrippa’s response? “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian” (Acts 26: 28)

The “Almost” Christian: Who Are They? • Relatives of someone who is a Christian (spouse, child, parent, etc. ) • Those who regularly attend and hear many sermons • An older person who is ready to die • Agrippa’s background gave him an opportunity to know the truth (Acts 26: 22 -23, 26 -27; note his father was Herod Agrippa I, Acts 12: 1; and his greatgrandfather was Herod the Great, Mt. 2: 1 ff)

The “Almost” Christian: Why Are They? • Message: the gospel is new and needs time to work or the gospel is old and has lost its appeal • Intellect: the mind stands in the way (1 Cor. 1: 22 -23) • Motive: the lack of desire keeps one from completing the task (Jas. 1: 22 -23) • Morality: the self-indulgent lifestyle stands in the way (Mk. 10: 17 -22)

The “Almost” Christian: Why Are They? • Time: the hope that a more convenient time will come along (Acts 24: 25) • Fear: the worry of what others will say (Jn. 9: 22; 12: 42) • Hypocrites: the fakes in the religion are a turn-off (Mt. 23: 3 -4) • Cares: the things of this life are more important (Lk. 8: 14)

The “Almost” Christian: What Are They? • They are almost “persuaded”, won over through teaching (Acts 13: 43; 17: 4; 19: 8) • They are almost persuaded “to be” changed and converted (Acts 3: 19) • They are almost a “Christian, ” a follower of Christ (Gal. 2: 20) • They are almost saved: Lot’s wife (Gen. 19: 26), Rich young ruler (Mk. 10: 22)

Almost Persuaded • “Almost” counts in some things in life, but not in matters of our eternal salvation! • Are you open to persuasion today? • Almost persuaded is all together lost!