https://youtu.be/3udIojF-RKo

– 2 weeks ago I preached the beginning of Acts 13, Paul and Barnabas were “separated and sent out” by the Holy Spirit, and “preach the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews.”

– In the verses today, that is exactly what Paul is doing.

– Often when we think of being “sent out” to share the gospel, we picture some far off mission field, but we’re also called to share the gospel in our own backyard. All people need the truth about Jesus.

– You may have heard it said, “The greatest mission field is inside the local church.” Maybe not the “greatest”, but it is vitally important to evangelize those who think they already know the truth too!

– Paul is sharing the Good News about Jesus the Messiah in a Jewish church during their worship service. All of these people know God, and know the scriptures, still Paul is trying to show them what they are not seeing.

This is what effective evangelism looks like.

– Paul knows his audience. He knows their culture and beliefs, and can speak their language.

– Example: Preaching in Cambodia, Matt 6:26 sermon, used freezing hummingbirds as my  example. I should have learned their struggles for provision, their birds, etc… BEFORE I spoke!

– Read Acts 13:14-16. “…Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.”

– “Synagogue on the Sabbath” is like church on Sunday for us. They read from “the law and   prophets” just like we would read scripture from the bible. These are “church people.”

– Paul was trained as a Jewish Pharisee. He knows their traditions and speaks with credibility.

– To establish common ground, Paul shows them how their own history, all points to Jesus.

– Read Acts 13:17-37  (This is long, but listen to his purposeful progression.)

– He starts with Moses, their hero, freeing their ancestors from Egypt, and God sustaining them in the desert. This is a key moment of God saving His people from slavery and death.

– He talks about King David, another hero of theirs, from whom the Messiah would come.

– Verse 23, From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior, Jesus.

– Verse 32-33, And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus.

– Many people witnessed his death on the cross, and him raised to life, walking among them.

– By the words of their own prophets, Isaiah and the Psalms, Jesus fulfills the promise of the coming Messiah and Savior of God’s children. They should have seen this coming.

This is what they are not seeing.

– Acts 13:38-39, Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.

– From the outside they see the Law, but the Law could not save them. Jesus is the life saver inside!

– Matthew 5:17, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”

* EXAMPLE: MCIWS, waterproofing your pack, the key to surviving in the water in full gear.

–  You cannot see the difference by looking at the outside of the pack. You must know what is inside.