Please click the appropriate link to listen or download:
CrossView - February 26th, 2012
(entire service, including sermon)
Sermon - February 26th, 2012
(scripture reading and sermon only)
Click Here for corresponding scripture, small group connection guide, and sermon notes
CrossGroups Connection Guide
Today’s Scripture Focus: Acts 23:11-24
Paul had been rescued from a Judean mob and spared flogging by claiming his Roman citizenship. The Roman commander knew that Paul’s trouble had something to do with Jewish law, so he had the Sanhedrin assembled. This “supreme court” of 70-100 leaders sat in a semicircle, with three rows of their students behind them, and the court clerks standing in front. The scripture says Paul looked at them “intently”, meaning he was under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Ananias – the high priest – ordered he be slapped out of it! Ananias was known for his cruelty and would later be assassinated by his own people. Paul called Ananias a “whitewashed wall”, meaning he was a hypocrite for determining Jewish legal issues, yet ordering Paul struck illegally.
Though Paul’s life was on the line, he was having a little bit of fun with the court. He likely knew very well who Ananias was, but was in effect saying “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize a man who would act this way was the high priest!” Now, the reason Paul was in trouble was for his belief in Jesus, who had been resurrected from the dead. The Sanhedrin was composed of two main parties – much like our political system today. Pharisees believed in life after death and the spirit world; Sadducees did not. Pharisees were larger in number, but the Sadducees held all the power. Paul, still having fun with the group, claimed his Pharisee party membership and set off a full scale battle. Much like today, the leaders were so busy fighting they could accomplish nothing.
Things became so intense that Paul was once again removed. Jesus Himself visited Paul in the barracks! We don’t know if this was a dream, a vision, or an actual visit, but the Lord told Paul to be brave. In other words, Paul was not to worry if his life appeared to be in danger, for God’s plan was for Paul to make it all the way to Rome. This word from the Lord proved timely advice, for the very next thing we read of is a plot on Paul’s life. Under the Empire system, murder plots were a common way of carrying out justice when the courts failed to do so. A group of men, likely Zealots (fundamentalists) who were known for taking the law into their own hands, put themselves under a curse if they failed to assassinate Paul. In their mind, he had dishonored God.
One of the strongest emotional bonds in Judean culture – even more so than that of man and wife – was between brother and sister. Evidently Paul’s sister, who by custom would have been married to Paul’s cousin, lived in Jerusalem. Her son learned of the plot against Paul, either through the gossip network or due to his own involvement with the Sanhedrin. He came to visit Paul, who through favor with the Roman commander was granted considerable freedom in receiving guests. The young man delivered news of the plot, and Paul sent him to tell the commander. Now knowing Paul was a Roman citizen, and hoping to gain favor with Felix the governor, the commander sent Paul on to Caesarea, surrounded by about 100 soldiers!
In today’s sermon, we’ll look at Jesus’ command to Paul to take heart.
• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.
• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.
• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?
• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.
1. Have you ever had to serve on a jury? Was it a positive or negative experience?
2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?
3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?
• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.
Today’s Sermon
Key Truths –
• Paul’s circumstances were troubling.
• We all have troubling circumstances.
• Jesus commanded Paul to take heart.
• Jesus commands us to take heart.
This Week’s Assignment –
Having a CrossViewed life means being courageous, even when our hearts are troubled. What is troubling your heart today? Write it down here, then know that Jesus is not finished with you yet! Every day, pray “Thank you Lord for taking care of __________ “(whatever is troubling your heart.)
CrossGroups Connection Guide
Today’s Scripture Focus: Acts 22:22-30
We are continuing our winter study on the last section of Acts. So far this year, we have learned of Paul’s mission activity in Ephesus, the capital city of the Asian province. Paul spent three years establishing the church here, but was forced to leave when a riot broke out among the pagans. Despite being warned repeatedly of the danger awaiting him, Paul was compelled to return to Jerusalem, the city of his formative years and home of the mother church. Here, the church elders requested Paul participate in a public vow in order to dispel rumors that were circulating about him. Paul agreed, but was still met with mob violence at the Temple. This prompted Paul’s arrest by the Roman officials, who carried him into the barracks to save his life.
This is where we left Paul last week. In the final section of Acts, Paul moves from Jerusalem to Caesarea to Rome. This marks the fulfillment of two noteworthy statements in Luke-Acts. First, there is the statement in Jesus’ final words to the disciples – “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you opportunity to testify” (Lk 21:12-13). The second is specific to Paul – “I have chosen you to bring my name before Gentiles: both kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). Throughout the remainder of Acts, Paul repeatedly uses his unfortunate circumstances as opportunities to witness.
In this week’s readings, Paul delivers the first of five “defense” speeches found in Acts. The speech in Acts 22 follows what is known in Hebrew poetry as a chiastic pattern (ABCDE – main point – EDCBA). A) Paul came from gentile territory to Jerusalem. B) Paul persecuted the Way. C) Paul journeyed to Damascus. D) Paul had a supernatural encounter with Jesus. E) Ananias restores Paul’s sight. F) main point – Paul is given his mission to serve as a witness E) Ananias urges Paul to be baptized. D) Paul had a supernatural encounter with Jesus. C) Paul was commanded to leave Jerusalem. B) Paul remembered his days as a persecutor and A) Paul was sent from Jerusalem to gentile territory. This speech is framed by two exchanges with the Roman commander. Paul surprised him with his use of Greek language.
Paul asked to speak to the crowd. In trying to make them understand that he was an observant, law keeping Judean, he spoke to them in their native tongue of Aramaic. This got their attention. The mention of witnessing to gentiles, however, was too much for the Judean mob. They came unglued and cried out for Paul’s execution. The Roman commander still had no idea what was going on, and decided torturing Paul through the gruesome practice of flogging would get some answers and perhaps calm the crowd. Paul, however, claimed his Roman citizenship. Flogging a citizen without conviction was a serious offense. Paul’s Judean credentials had failed to impress the Jerusalem crowd, but his citizenship spared him with the Romans – for now.
In today’s sermon, we’ll examine our own credentials!
• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.
• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.
• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?
• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.
1. How many certificates and licenses do you have? Most people have at least two – birth and drivers. Are you certified in any other areas? (careers, hobbies, etc.) Who in your class has the most certificates/licenses?
2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?
3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?
• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.
Today’s Sermon
Key Truths –
• Paul had credentials.
• We all have credentials as well.
• The Spirit used Paul’s credentials to all him to witness.
• The Spirit will use what we have to allow us to witness.
This Week’s Assignment –
Having a CrossViewed life means using what we have to gain opportunities to tell others about Jesus, and what He has done for us. What “crowd” will you encounter this week, and how can you show them Christ in their native tongue?
Please click the appropriate link to listen or download:
CrossView - February 12th, 2012
(entire service, including sermon)
Sermon - February 12th, 2012
(scripture reading and sermon only)
Click Here for corresponding scripture, small group connection guide, and sermon notes
CrossGroups Connection Guide
Today’s Scripture Focus: Acts 21:17-36
Last week we journeyed with Paul to Ephesus, the capital of the province of Asia in the Roman Empire. Here, Paul worked with a group of existing disciples to establish a church. Many miracles were done, and the church’s influence spread. In the second half of chapter 19, we find that as usual, this caused trouble. A silversmith named Demetrius who made his living fashioning idols of the goddess Artemis gathered all the local tradesmen, and warned them that if Paul’s teaching continued, soon all of Asia would be “led astray”. If no one worshipped Artemis, no one would buy their trinkets, and they would go broke. This eventually caused the entire city to riot. Rioting was a serious offense, and brought swift retribution from Rome.
This prompted Paul to finally leave Ephesus, having worked there for three years. He travelled to Greece, and eventually ended up in Troas. On the Lord’s Day, the disciples gathered to share the Lord’s Supper and listen to Paul speak. Paul preached until midnight! In that day, meetings at night were always suspicious and caused rumors. The town would have assumed this group was plotting subversive activity, or even partaking in human sacrifice. When a young man dozed off and fell three stories to his death, Paul prayed and he came back to life. This would quell any rumors! Paul set sail for Jerusalem, stopping to give final words to the Ephesians on the way. Chapter 20 contains Paul’s last words in Acts to any of the churches he established.
Though constantly warned that going to Jerusalem meant certain imprisonment, Paul was determined. He and his companions joined a ship traveling that direction, and soon arrived in the Judean province of Tyre, where they stayed a week with disciples. These brothers warned Paul not to go! But he continued on to Caesarea, where he stayed with Phillip. Phillip was one of the seven deacons, chosen in Acts 6 to care for the culturally Greek Jewish widows. Once again he was warned through a prophet not to go to Jerusalem. Paul finally and emphatically proclaims he is ready to go to Jerusalem and die if that is what it takes to accomplish his purpose – to proclaim the gospel of Christ.
Finally Paul and his group made it to Jerusalem, where they were greeted warmly by the mother church, headed by Jesus’ brother James. Paul reported on the rapid spread of the Gospel throughout Asia and Greece, and the great response. The Jerusalem elders, in response, reminded Paul that there had also been great success among observant, law keeping Judeans. This group, however, believed that Paul was teaching Jews in other provinces to stop observing the Law. The elders advised Paul to dispel this rumor by taking a vow at the Temple. Paul agreed, but when he entered the Temple, some of the Judeans incited mob violence against him. Paul’s life was spared through arrest by the Romans. We’ll see God’s plan at work here in weeks ahead.
Today’s sermon will show us how Christians deal with gossip and violence.
• Go around the table and share prayer requests. Have someone lead in prayer.
• Let everyone who would like to share anything exciting from their week.
• Did anyone do last week’s assignment? What was the result?
• Ask these three questions. Let as many answer each one as they would like.
1. Have you ever been the victim of gossip? How did it make you feel, and how did you respond?
2. Is there anything in today’s scripture that especially speaks to you?
3. What questions would you like to ask about today’s scripture?
• Go over this week’s assignment (below). Commit to work on it together.
Today’s Sermon
Key Truths –
• Paul was the victim of gossip and violence.
• Christians have been victimized ever since.
• The Spirit didn’t waste Paul’s circumstances.
• The Spirit doesn’t waste our circumstances.
This Week’s Assignment –
Having a CrossViewed life inevitably leads to mistreatment. When you are misunderstood or victimized for following Jesus, allow the Spirit to sustain you while God works the plan!