Faith Bible Fellowship Church of York

Paul sees the idolatry in Athens and being provoked, he begins to evangelize. He preaches that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead to a culture that had rejected the notion of resurrections. Paul's day is not unlike our own, how do we handle a culture that has rejected the notion of a sovereign God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead.

Paul and Silas enter Thessalonica and preach the Word in the synagogues. God's Word is rejected. Paul and Silas go to Berea, they preach the same gospel and God's Word is accepted. What makes the difference? It's not the heart of man, but the power of God.

With Paul and Silas unjustly imprisoned, God sends an earthquake which frees their chains and opens the prison doors. But when Paul and Silas do not leave the jail, the jailer sees and receives salvation by believing in the Lord Jesus. Salvation is found in Christ along and God can use our circumstances of hardship and suffering to bring people to saving faith.

Paul is prevented from preaching the gospel in Bithynia but then receives the Macedonian call. In Philippi, Lydia is saved but when Paul casts out a demon, Paul and Silas are thrown in jail. What does this show us about the plan and purposes of God in our lives? How are we called today?

What do we do when we have a falling out with other Christians? Why does God want to pursue peace with one another? How do we do that? How should we respond to unbelievers in order to pursue peace? In this sermon from Acts we look at Paul and Barnabas' division and separation and then how Paul adds Timothy but prepares him for ministry with Jewish non-believers.

At the Jerusalem council the church affirms that because Jesus is resurrected the Gentiles are coming to saving faith. It had always been God's plan for the Gentiles to come to salvation. Thus, the church determines not to burden Gentiles with the ceremonies of Old Testament Law but may several clear ethical requirements.

In Acts 15 some were falsely claiming unless a person is circumcised in keeping the Law of Moses they cannot be saved. The church rejected this. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. Gentiles were getting saved and receiving the Holy Spirit simply by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ. Today the same is true: salvation is by faith alone apart from any acts of works of the Law.

Paul and Barnabas return to the churches they have planted and strengthen the souls of the disciples, encourage them to stand firm in the faith, and appoint elders to lead the church. Today, churches and disciples need to be built up and strengthened.

When Paul and Barnabas heal someone in Lystra the crowds seek to exalt them as gods. Paul and Barnabas immediately reject such praises, tearing their clothes. Then the preach the gospel calling the people to abandon the vanities of idolatry. We, too, need humility and to abandon selfish idolatry and self-exaltation.

When Paul preached God's Word in Antioch Pisidian we see the response that people gave. There was a hunger for God's Word as some wanted to hear more but there was also rejection and jealousy. Nevertheless, the light of the gospel went forth, especially to the Gentiles. Those appointed to eternal life believed.