The Gospel to the Cities
Acts 16-19
Introduction
- 1. This is a longer text than usual, so one expects a common thread will be identified.
- 2. Urbanization is one of the great facts of our world. More than ½ of our world's population live in urban centers. How will we as a church with rural roots reach into the cities of our world?
- 3. The urbanization process is a great challenge for the church, and no congregation, regardless of where it exists geographically, can ignore this great challenge if missions is a part of our heart.
- 4. Living in the suburbs or in the distance is no substitute for incarnational involvement.
- 5. Here are major cities of the first century Graeco-Roman world. Such cities were then and are now significant in the spread of the gospel. What is Paul's pattern for infiltrating such cities?
I. THE CITIES AND THEIR CONDITION
- A. Philippi
- 1. Study in more detail next week. Three people, not noteworthy in personal background or influence, show God uniting people of very different kinds in the Philippian church. Cities give wonderful opportunity for showing true nature of the universal church, without distinctions. Is this church with which Paul shared such a special relationship one of God's unique masterpieces?
- 2. Here is a great example of the unifying power of the gospel. Where in the NT is a more disparate group of converts than these three? They are different--national/ethnic origins; social backgrounds and status; psychological needs; economic status. They are the same--they need guidance and salvation.
- B. Athens
- 1. Intellectual center, philosophies, religions, educational center, students, knowing, intelligent persons, international flavor, the younger intelligensia is drawn as to a magnet.
- 2. Encounter between the gospel and culture is difficult, but religion must have a voice in the public arena, and not be delegated exclusively to the private world of the believers. What does Christianity say to modern, educated people, to those in universities, etc.?
- C. Corinth
- 1. Commercial center, emporium, immorality, gospel can radiate from such centers
- 2. Process
- a. Go to those who accept message most readily (evangelize Jews, visit synagogue, etc.)
- b. Go to the Gentiles. Success of that approach seen here. (18:6-7; 19:9)
- c. In both cities, Paul's approach is vindicated with responses (18:8; 19:10)
- d. God's presence is the power for this proclamation (18:9-10; 19:10)
- e. Opposition from Roman authorities questions legitimacy of gospel (18:12ff; 19:35ff).
- D. Ephesus
- 1. Commercial center, market of Asia Minor (Barclay), also a religious center, imperial cult, Diana/Artemis; superstitions, occult, educational center, schools (Tyrannus).
- 2. Process
- a. Go to those who accept message most readily (evangelize Jews, visit synagogue, etc.)
- b. Go to the Gentiles. Success of that approach seen here. (18:6-7; 19:9)
- c. In text, Paul's approach is vindicated with responses (18:8; 19:10)
- d. God's presence is the power for this proclamation (18:9-10; 19:10)
- e. Opposition from Roman authorities questions legitimacy of gospel (18:12ff; 19:35ff
- E. OUR CITIES
- 1. Intellectual, governmental, educational, commercial center, religious center; superstitions, occult, schools, contemporary, post-modern world.
- 2. Process
- a. Go to those accepting the message most readily (church, religious folks)
- b. There will come rejection.
- c. Go to the Gentiles (Base of operations: house groups, public arena teaching).
- d. Expect responses; establish church. Begin church meetings.
- e. God's presence is power of proclamation: church, small groups (not operations base), unrelated activities; more becoming part of church, fellowship, worship
- f. Expect challenges/opposition questioning legitimacy.
II. THE CITIES AND THEIR CHALLENGES
The cities must challenge us in their priorities. The Christian message must challenge at every level--at the highest intellectual level; at all strata of society, at formally educated and less educated; successful; commercial interests, religiously, educationally....
The cities must challenge the hearts of Christians with their lostness. Are we genuinely committed to the spread of the gospel. Illus: Tegucigalpa. How will we every work through this city? Mexico City, the great urban areas of our nations and world.
The cities must touch our hearts with the immorality and aimlessness of the people. We must sense the distress as Jesus did in Matthew 9: people helpless, hopeless, homeless, hapless. Sheep without a shepherd, following the siren songs of our day.
In our day we have to begin with the religious, but we must move beyond that sphere. In the churches, we can read Scripture, offer prayer, reach God-fearers, attract the uncommitted. But we must proclaim the gospel further. We must limit evangelism to the religious. We are neglecting the non-religious. We must reach religious people in religious buildings, and secular people in secular settings: homes, lecture halls, educational institutions, public arenas and forums, in neutral and public settings. (Campbell and his national debates)
III. THE CLAIM OF CHRISTIANITY: Good News
While there may be common ground between Scripture and other knowledge, the ultimate call is the repentance, and none can claim the Christ while rejecting the call. Ultimately, gospel preaching must call for repentance, from all, despite the fact that some will reject the call.
The contemporary culture is inadequate, a call to repentance issues from that cultural inadequacy of the world around us.
This is a reasoned, argued, persuasive claim (18:4,13; 19:8,9).
IV. CONVINCING--Proclamation
The proclamation is apparent. To convince, to make plain, to persuade. It matters to us how people respond because we are people of love. This is not a take it or leave it matter. Arguments are no substitute for God's work through God's spirit. And trust in the HS is no substitute for reasoned argumentation. They are not opposing alternatives. The HS is of truth, and he brings people to faith not in spite of the evidence but because of the evidence. We want a viable voice, making clear the evidence and allowing God to work in his spiritual realm.
V. CONVERTING--Process
The process which occurs changes us. It is conversion--that means to change. Certain we change our minds, our commitments, our priorities. But that we would call the commitment to Christ conversion is most clearly seen in the expectation of changed lives. Rom. 12:1-2.
Conclusion
I fear a contrast between our evangelistic efforts and fervor and Paul's shows the shallowness of our day. We are lackadaisical, apathetic, lethargic in the matter of the multitudes of our world. Our evangelism is too church-centered (competing churches, inviting people to church), and we must discover again the gospel in our homes and in our marketplaces. Much evangelism in our world suffers either from too much HS or too little HS. While following Jesus is an emotional experience, this is a reasoned, persuasive decision we make. We must escape superficiality and find seriousness.
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Last updated March 20, 2005.