Why Are We Here Now in This Place and at This Time (Paul was in Prison)?
Sermon Notes
The Importance of Your Story – How Does the Gospel Change Your Life?
Pre-conversion
Conversion
Post-conversion
What is the Gospel?
Christ died
Christ was buried
Christ rose the third day
As I think of conversion (my conversion and the conversions of Scripture and life), I cannot help but think of the great hymn I have included here. It is a confession of his conversion. He wrote it in 1738 shortly after his conversion. I love his title – “And Can It Be?” How could it be that God would die for us! The point of all of this is that we as followers of Jesus ought never to get over our conversions. The apostle Paul never did. He tells his conversion story three times in these chapters (Acts 22, 24, and 26 [today’s text]). Our conversion is our commission. It is said that on his deathbed, Wesley wanted these words read to him. He lived and he died being captivated by wall that God did for him on the cross. The apostle Paul was the same – and that is God’s call to us as well.
Read the words, and take them in.
“And Can It Be?” by John Wesley
And can it be that I should gain Refrain:
An interest in the Savior's blood? Amazing love! How can it be,
Died He for me, who caused His pain That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
'Tis mystery all: th'Immortal dies: Refrain
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father's throne above Refrain
So free, so infinite His grace
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam's helpless race:
'Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
No condemnation now I dread; Refrain
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th'eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Paul’s Five Trials
• Paul speaks to the people (22.1ff)
• Paul defense before the Council (23.1ff)
• Paul’s defense before Felix and Drusilla (24.1ff)
• Paul’s defense before Festus (25.1ff)
• Paul’s defense before King Herod Agrippa and Bernice (26.1ff)
Paul Before King Herod Agrippa (26.1ff)
Who was Herod Agrippa?
Herod the Great (father – tried to kill Jesus at birth – Matthew 2.16)
Herod Antipas (son – beheaded John the Baptist – Matthew 14.10)
Agrippa I (grandson – killed James the son of Zebedee – Acts 12.2)
Herod Agrippa (great-grandson of Herod the Great – Acts 26)
Pre-conversion (26.1-11) – a Pharisee and a fanatical persecutor of the church
Conversion (26.12-18) – his conversion and commissioning
Post-conversion (26.19-23) – his obedience (I did not prove disobedient)
Are you persuaded of the Gospel? Are you obedient to the commission?
Application – We are here now in this place at this time so that, in whatever situation we are in …
1. We might be persuaded of the truth of the Gospel – for ourselves - everyday.
2. We might be persuaded to know the presence and power of God in our lives right now in the midst of our challenges. What are you going through that is a test to that truth?
3. We might be free to share the Gospel and persuade others to believe it. That is our commission.
4. We might make disciples and encourage each other to press on to “lay hold of that for which I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3.12).