Mission in Thessalonica and Berea Acts: The Unfinished Story of the Church Series [32] Acts 17:1-15 October 21, 2012 Pastor Paul K. Kim

TRUE CHRISTIANITY: REFLECTED IN THE REAL-LIFE STORIES IN ACTS Question #1: How should we view the place and role of Scripture in the changing world? Question #2: What is a non-negotiable principle when we experience receptivity and fruitfulness for the cause of Christ? Question #3: What is a non-negotiable principle when we experience opposition and mistreatment for the cause of Christ?

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 1) PROCLAIMING CHRIST FROM THE SCRIPTURES when sharing the gospel (vs. 1-3) 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” (vs.1-3)

* Source: ESV Study Bible Online ( PAUL’S SECOND MISSIONARY JOURNEY * Source: ESV Study Bible Online (

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 1) PROCLAIMING CHRIST FROM THE SCRIPTURES when sharing the gospel (vs. 1-3) 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” (vs.1-3)  Paul based his reasoning, explaining, proving, and proclaiming Jesus being the Christ on the Old Testament Scriptures.  In his evangelism to the Jews, his focus was on the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ as prophesied in the OT.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. Psalm 16:10

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 1) PROCLAIMING CHRIST FROM THE SCRIPTURES when sharing the gospel (vs. 1-3) 1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” (vs.1-3)  Paul based his reasoning, explaining, proving, and proclaiming Jesus being the Christ on the Old Testament Scriptures.  In his evangelism to the Jews, his focus was on the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ as prophesied in the OT.  In following Paul’s example, we must regard and use Scripture the transforming source of our gospel message.

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 2) PURE MOTIVE IN SHARING THE GOSPEL when experiencing receptivity and fruitfulness (vs.4,12) 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. (vs. 4,12)  In both Thessalonica and Berea, there were those who were receptive to Paul’s witness—Paul saw the encouraging fruit.  In his first letter to Thessalonians, we get a glimpse of Paul’s pure motive and sacrificial choices that he made for them.

5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 1 Thessalonians 2:5-9 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 2) PURE MOTIVE IN SHARING THE GOSPEL when experiencing receptivity and fruitfulness (vs.4,12) 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. (vs. 4,12)  In both Thessalonica and Berea, there were those who were receptive to Paul’s witness—Paul saw the encouraging fruit.  In his first letter to Thessalonians, we get a glimpse of Paul’s pure motive and sacrificial choices that he made for them.  In following Paul’s example, we must also keep our motive pure at all times especially when our service in the cause of Christ are fruitful and well received.

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 3) BOLDLY PLEASING GOD IN SHARING THE GOSPEL when experiencing opposition and mistreatment (vs. 5-9, 13-15) 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 3) BOLDLY PLEASING GOD IN SHARING THE GOSPEL when experiencing opposition and mistreatment (vs. 5-9, 13-15) 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. (vs. 5-9, 13-15)  With the fruitfulness, there were always oppositions and conflicts in Paul’s witness—this was a reality of the Christians.  Paul chose to please God rather than pleasing men even if it meant more mistreatment; the believers also shared in this.

1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 3) BOLDLY PLEASING GOD IN SHARING THE GOSPEL when experiencing opposition and mistreatment (vs. 5-9, 13-15) 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed. (vs. 5-9, 13-15)  With the fruitfulness, there were always oppositions and conflicts in Paul’s witness—this was a reality of the Christians.  Paul chose to please God rather than pleasing men even if it meant more mistreatment; the believers also shared in this.  In following their example, we must also please God rather than men, being willing to suffer for Christ and the gospel.

WHAT PACESETTING EXAMPLES CAN WE LEARN AND FOLLOW IN THESE STORIES? 4) DILIGENTLY EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES when receiving teachings (vs.10-11) 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (vs.10-11)  The Jews in Berea were more open-minded and eager to receive the teachings that Paul and Silas brought them.  But they themselves examine the Scriptures daily to verify the truths of Paul’s teaching; a result, more Bereans believed.  In following Bereans’ example, we must also diligently examine Scripture to wisely discern any teaching of the word.

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.In what ways can I give the highest place and role of Scripture in my Christian life? 1.How can I keep my motive pure in serving Christ especially with the fruitful outcome? 1.What would it mean for me to boldly please God these days in spite of hardship in so doing?