Preaching Persecution and Perseverance Pauls First Preaching Journey

Preaching, Persecution and Perseverance

Paul’s First Preaching Journey Acts 13: 2 -14: 28 4 10 5 11 12 9 68 7 13 1 3 2 2

Places in Acts 14 • Iconium: ~80 miles SE of Antioch, 1 -5 • Lystra: 18 miles SSW of Iconium, 6 -20 • Derbe: About 40 miles E of Lystra, 21 – Returned to Lystra, Iconium & Antioch, 21 -24 • Perga, 25 • Attalia, 25 • Antioch of Syria, 26 -28 3

• Purposes of gospel preaching – Produce faith unto salvation, 14: 1; Rom. 10: 13 -15; 2 Ths. 2: 13 -14 – Oppose faithlessness, 14: 13 -18 – Strengthen the souls of the disciples, 14: 22 – Use the teaching opportunities God gives, 14: 27; Eph. 6: 19 -20 4

• Persuasive gospel preaching is built upon: – Careful reasoning from the Scriptures, 14: 1 (13: 16 -41) • Reasoning and explaining, Acts 17: 2 -3 • Speaking true and reason, Acts 26: 24 -25 • Reason and result: Faith in the power of God, not men, 1 Cor. 2: 1 -5 5

• Persuasive gospel preaching is built upon: – Miraculous validation, 14: 3; Mk. 16: 20 • It is revelation from God, Gal. 1: 11 -12 • Miraculous validation of God’s power and approval, 14: 8 -10 • Irrefutable evidence, 1 Cor. 2: 4 -5; Heb. 2: 3 -4 6

• Persuasive gospel preaching is built upon: – Faithfulness of the Lord, 14: 22; 1 Cor. 1: 9 – Result: Boldness in preaching the gospel! 14: 3; 2 Tim. 1: 7 -8 7

• Gospel naturally produces conflict and persecution, Lk. 12: 49 -51 6: 26, 2223; 2 Tim. 3: 10 -12; Phil. 1: 27 -30 • Opportunities, 1 Cor. 16: 9; Phil. 1: 12 -14 – Resist the temptation to shrink back – Commitment to the work, Acts 14: 3 8

• We enter the kingdom of God through many tribulations – Persecution endured through patient faith, 14: 22 • Paul and Barnabas are a pattern of perseverance, Acts 14: 5 -7, 19 -21; 2 Tim. 3: 11 • Faith comforts and sustains the persecuted, 14: 22; Heb. 11: 35 -39 • Faith in God’s grace and strength, 2 Cor. 12: 9 -10 • Conscience toward God, 1 Pet. 2: 19 -23 9

• Keep doing God’s work, 14: 22 -23; Cor. 15: 58 1 – Strengthen the brethren to continue in the faith (11: 23) – Develop leaders in the churches: Appoint elders • Elders help us continue in the faith, Heb. 13: 17 • Qualified and made elders by the Holy Spirit (Acts 20: 28) 10

• Be assured that God is doing His work through you, 14: 26 -27 – Gospel work is God’s work, not the work of men – God is working in us to accomplish His purpose when we faithfully obey, Phil. 2: 12 -13 – God is making you complete, Heb. 13: 20 -21 – Blessed assurance! 11

• Does not mean Christians will live free of trials, trouble and trauma (26) • Does mean God will use you to do His work (27) 12