Jump Start # 604

Acts 17:2-3 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “ This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”

Our passage today is like a journal entry, except it comes from God. It is taken from Paul’s travels. This wasn’t a vacation trip, but a preaching trip. He was traveling deep into new lands to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our verse finds Paul in Thessalonica where he visited a Jewish synagogue and used the opportunity to teach Jesus Christ.

There are three lessons here.

1. “According to Paul’s custom.” Today, we’d use the word “habit.” It was his habit to go to synagogues and teach about Jesus. Our Lord had “customs” or habits as well. Luke 4 shows Jesus in the synagogue as was His custom. There He read from the prophet and declared that the prophecy was fulfilled in their midst. Spiritual habits. We have them and often do not recognize them. We attend church services on Sunday. Our neighbors see us leaving every week, carrying Bibles in our hands. They know where we are going. Others have the habit of praying every day. Still others, spend a few moments reading the Bible every day. If a person wanted to find Paul on a Sabbath day, they’d go to one of the synagogues. He was surely there teaching.

2. “For three Sabbaths.” In my book, that’s three weeks. It’s not much of a habit or custom if you do something now and then or once in a while. Doing things consistently makes it a custom or habit. For three Sabbaths Paul taught in the synagogues. Teaching takes time. It takes patience. One sermon, one lesson, one class is often not enough. Paul stayed and taught. He taught for three weeks. Preachers need to remember this. One lesson, one time is often not enough. Parents need to remember this. The smaller the child, the more often the parent has to repeat the lesson. Some days it seems like you are repeating the lesson every day. Consistency is the key here. Stay with it. The same goes for our person growth and walk with the Lord. Anyone can do Sunday. That’s easy. What about Monday? Then Tuesday afternoon? Walking with the Lord…being righteous…letting your light shine. At work, at play, every day… Stay at it. Stay with it. If Paul had quit after the first Sabbath, little would have changed. He stayed. He taught. A church was started.

3. “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence” Don’t expect people to believe just because you say so. Show them. Prove it to them. Give evidence. The word “reasoned” could also be translated “debated.” Paul taught. They argued otherwise. Paul reasoned. Paul debated. Paul taught. Truth stands the test. Truth doesn’t bend or compromise. Paul didn’t say, “I see it differently, but that’s ok.” No, it’s not ok. Some things are right and some things are not right. A person can’t have it both ways. Tolerance doesn’t fit all subjects

This also shows us that our faith isn’t blind. Our faith is based upon “evidence” and proofs. First and foremost, from the Scriptures. The fulfillment of prophecy is what Paul was showing this Jewish audience. They knew the O.T. They knew prophecy. They didn’t know that those prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus. Paul connected the dots. He showed them. They became convinced because of the evidence.

Proof—that’s what college students need for their faith. Proof that the word of God is indeed from God. How do you know? Other books claim to be from God, but they’re not. What makes the Bible different? Proof. Evidence.

What about creation? Evolutionists believe that they have all the proof on their side. They see it as a match between science and religion. Some believe that there is no room for discussion. Fossils. Age of rocks. The light years of stars. The similarities between different classes of animals. Is there any hope in believing the creation account in Genesis? Yes. There is proof, internally and externally. Evidence points to creation.

Our children need to be shown evidence. Just saying, “because I said so,” often isn’t enough, especially for the bigger kids. They need to know why. Give them evidence. Give them proof. This requires doing your homework. This calls for some digging and thinking and reading and note taking. The evidence is there. It’s up to us to find it and reveal it to others.

What a great example from Paul. He had habits, he stayed with it, and he revealed proof that Jesus was the Christ. The result was several Thessalonians became Christians. Got a friend you’ve been trying to teach? Think about what Paul did. Are you busy raising your kids? Think about what Paul did.

For most of us, that is exactly how we became Christians. Someone patiently taught us over a course of a few weeks. Our questions got answered. Our doubts were removed. We saw the evidence in the Scriptures. It worked then. It still works today.

Stay with it…Paul did.

Roger