Jump Start # 3458

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.’”

It happened 180 years ago this month. Alexander Campbell, the great restorer of primitive Christianity, engaged in a debate in Lexington, KY with Presbyterian N. L. Rice. This would be Campbell’s fifth debate and it would be the longest of his debates. For sixteen days, (November 15-December 1), from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM, every day,  the two men discussed baptism, the role of the Holy Spirit in conversion and the use of human creeds. The debate was printed in a massive 912 pages, half a million words, book that is still available today. The outcome of that debate solidified the movement of restoration and need for immersion for salvation.

The age of debating has pretty much fizzled out. I have attended a few many years ago. Today, most don’t care what the Scriptures teach. Most justify what they do by how they feel. Feelings have pushed faith and Scripture out of the picture.

Our verse today, shows that the apostle Paul for three weeks was reasoning from the Scriptures, explaining and giving evidence about Christ. Although formal debates do not attract the attention nor the crowds that they once did, what we learn from our verses today is so helpful in talking to our family and others.

Notice some things Paul did:

First, he went to them. They didn’t come to him. If we sit back and wait for others to bring up the topic, then it probably won’t happen. If we wait for others to ask us a question, we’ll be waiting a long time. Paul went to them. He was on the offense. He started the conversations. That’s a lesson for us. Ask the questions that will bring about conversations. “Did you go to worship this weekend?” “What Bible verses are you reading?”

When Philip went up to the chariot that the Ethiopian was riding in, he asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He went to him.

Second, he reasoned from the Scriptures. That’s important. That’s powerful. That’s where we must begin. Some will reason from feelings. Some will reason from self. Some will reason from what their parents did. Some will reason from what their church tells them. Paul went to the Scriptures. That’s the source. That’s always the best place. The Scriptures are absolute. They are God’s answer.

Some may have to understand how to read Scriptures. Some many need to understand the authority of the Scriptures. But once that has been established, go to the book!

Third, he explained and gave evidence. Paul didn’t just read a passage. He taught. He explained. He showed the proof. Our faith is not blind. It does not rest upon thin air. Give the evidence. Back up what you say with Scripture. It’s not what our church believes. It’s not what I’ve always heard. Look in the book. Dig. Lower the nets.

Let me add, it is very helpful that the person you are talking with has a Bible. Let them read and see these things in their own Bible. If the discussion ends, their Bible will always say what you showed them. Be kind. Stick to one topic and don’t spend an hour jumping from one topic to another and chasing rabbits through the fields. You’ll accomplish nothing that way.

Explain. Show. Give evidence. Then it will be up to the person’s heart and God. You have done your part. There are many current events that give you an opportunity to have a Bible discussion. The war in Israel, is it prophesied? What about abortion? What about changing gender? What about worship?

Get to the book and let’s see what God says about this.

Honest hearts change when they see clearly what God says.

Roger

Jump Start # 1692

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.’”

  Did you watch the presidential debate Monday night? It was promoted as “The debate of the century.” Early numbers report that 85 million people watched part or all of the debate. Moderator Lester Holt, who is a member of the Manhattan church of Christ, has been criticized as leaning too much to one side during the debate. Discussing differences, whether political, social or even religious is not something unique to our times and our country. Our verse today shows the apostle Paul doing that very thing in Thessalonica. The expression, “reasoned with them,” actually means to debate.

Religious debates were once very popular in the 1800’s and early part of the 1900’s. Scores of people saw clearly what the Bible taught because of those debates. When one side misused verses, was inconsistent or simply could not answer solid Biblical arguments, the truth prevailed. But times have changed. Religious debates have fallen to the wayside in an age of getting along and tolerance. Folks do not try to Biblically prove that they are right any more. They simply do what they want, with or without Bible authority.

Our verses today remind us of some great principles that are helpful to us.

First, Paul’s habit, or custom, was to reason with people from the Scriptures. He went to the Bible. That was normal for Paul. We could learn from this. Keep pulling that Bible out and keep checking things in it. That’s what we must do. We reason from feelings. We reason from what makes sense to us. We reason from what we like. We reason from history. Our reasoning needs to come from Scriptures. Jesus also had “custom.” He went to the synagogue, Luke tells us, as was His custom. When Judas came with soldiers to arrest Jesus, he knew the place where the Lord would be. Jesus was in the garden praying. He had been there often. Judas knew. Do you have spiritual customs? Do you start the day with any spiritual routines? It might help your walk with the Lord to do that. Some, are reading these Jump Starts as a part of their daily custom. We are glad to be a part of your day and your walk with the Lord.

Second, Paul was patient. The text tells us that he reasoned with them for three Sabbaths. Three Sabbaths means three Saturdays, that’s three weeks. Paul wasn’t one and done. He stayed and taught and taught. Many folks need to hear things more than once. Don’t be in a hurry. Explain and teach carefully. The following verses reveal the outcome. It says, “And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks and a number of leading women.” It paid off. The three Sabbaths of teaching and explaining things worked. People saw the truth. People become convinced. They were believers. There may be that person in your family that hasn’t been persuaded. Don’t give up. It may take time. Be patient. Teach. Show. Illustrate. Pray.

Third,  Paul reasoned. To reason means to debate. That very idea means some had other ideas. Some were challenging Paul. Some shot arguments back at him. This is the process of learning and conversion. Expect some push back. Some stop when this happens. Some assume that they are not interested and they end the discussion way too soon. The “debate” atmosphere means an exchange of ideas. A point is countered. That counter point is countered. Back and forth. Reasoning does not have to be loud, ugly or name calling. Some have a sour taste when it comes to debating because of what they have witnessed in the past. I don’t think Paul had a formal debate, with set time and a moderator, and a detailed proposition that he was defending. That is too often our image of a debate. Paul was simply teaching. Some were questioning what he said. Paul answered their questions. When they challenged Paul, he answered those challenges. Moms and dads do this all the time with their teenagers. The kid wants to stay up late on a school night. Parents think it’s time to go to bed. An exchange of reasoning takes place. We don’t view that as a debate. We simply call it parenting, but it’s similar to what Paul was going through. It’s what you experience when you are in discussions with co-workers and family members about spiritual things.

Fourth, Paul reasoned and explained things from the Scriptures. That’s the powerful point there. His proof was not what he thought, felt, or experienced. It wasn’t about him. The word of God was the final answer. Paul didn’t get into this, “Here’s how I see it,” nor, “I think it ought to be this way.” His arguments, his reasoning, his proof, came from the Scriptures. This means that he knew the word of God. He knew how to use it accurately. He knew how to explain it. He knew how it showed that Jesus was the Christ. There is way too much, “I think…” today. There is too much reasoning from nonbiblical sources today. Paul’s answers and Paul’s line of thinking came from God’s word. To argue with Paul meant you were arguing with God. To disagree with Paul meant you were disagreeing with God. We need to stop comparing churches. It’s not which church is doing more, is bigger or is more active. Reason from the Scriptures. Notice also, Paul didn’t just state a verse, he gave evidence. He proved that Jesus had to die. We can use verses like Dr. Hook’s magical medicine pills. Just read this verse and that solves everything. Satan used a verse in the temptation of Jesus. He misused it, but he put it out there. Paul explained things from the Scriptures. The Bible leads us to Jesus. The Galatians were told that the law was a tutor to lead us to Christ. That’s the way Scriptures work. When explained and understood properly, they reveal with will of God.

Shouting, getting upset, threatening, attacking one’s character—none of those things prove that a person is right Scripturally. Don’t twist things to make things say what you want them to. Don’t be dishonest in explaining things. Let the word of God work on a honest and good heart. It will do the job.

Reasoning. Explaining. Teaching. Defending. Showing. These are the common components of teaching God’s word. It worked back then for Paul and it still works today. Don’t run because someone challenges what you say. Spend some time showing why you believe what you do. Use that Bible of yours. Let them read verses in their own Bible.

Presidential debates give me a headache. Biblical discussions, on the other hand, can lead to changes lives and hearts that are walking with the Lord.

Roger

Jump Start # 888

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.”

On a recent trip through Tennessee, my wife and I stopped in Dayton. It’s a small town. In the basement of the court house is a museum dedicated to an court trial in 1925 that drew national attention. It was the Scopes trial for violating a state law about teaching evolution. Through the years it has become known as the Scopes ‘Monkey Trial.’ Two famous attorneys battled each other over the teachings of the Bible and the theories of evolution. John Scopes, the substitute biology teacher, charged with violating the state law, was a pawn to bring bigger attention. Scopes was found guilty, which pleased his legal team. They wanted that. They needed a reason to appeal the verdict on a larger, national scene.

Interesting things. Sadly, today a biology teacher would be charged for teaching creation. Times have certainly changed. But one thing has not, truth has always been attacked and there has always been a need to support, defend and stand up for what the Bible says.

Our passage shows three things Paul was doing in Thessalonica.

First, he reasoned with them from the Scriptures. His appeal was not emotional, political nor what’s best for the city, rather it was based upon Scriptures. This shows that the Scriptures teach a certain way. Too many weak preachers and socially interested churches have left the impression that the Bible reads differently to each person. Everyone has their own interpretation, they tell us. Have you heard that before? Paul didn’t think so. He reasoned from the Scriptures, just as Jesus had done. No one would say, “Well, that’s how you see it. I see it differently.” There was no differently to it. You agreed or you disagreed, but the Scriptures taught one truth.

Secondly, Paul explained things. Paul connected the dots. Speaking to a Jewish audience, he would have shown how O.T. prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Philip explained the Scriptures to the eunuch in Acts 8. There is an explaining part of learning, even the Bible. Understanding who is speaking, the context, grasping the meaning of words all helps in knowing God’s word. Paul explained. Understanding doesn’t just happen. There is an explaining part to it. A learning that must take place.

Thirdly, Paul gave evidence. Our faith isn’t blind. It isn’t in dreams and hopes and wishes. There is evidence. There is proof. There is internal evidence (that is, within the Scriptures) and there is external evidence (outside the Scriptures). There is evidence that God exists. We know there is a God. How? Evidence. There is evidence for creation. And in this passage, there is evidence that Jesus had to die and rise again. Proof.

All of this shows us that Paul could do two things: He knew why he believed and he could prove it. It wasn’t something vague like a feeling. I’ve heard some say, “I don’t know, it’s hard to explain, I just feel that I’m right,” or, “I just feel that I am saved.” Paul didn’t say that. He explained, gave proof and reasoned from the Scriptures.

Can you do that? Why is it that you believe what you do? Not sure? Good enough for your mamma? Told not to question things? Maybe it’s time we looked deep within the Bible and began to ask some serious questions.

How about it? Why creation over evolution? Or, why evolution over creation? Got proof? Why life after death? Got proof? Why second coming? Proof? Why did the early church not use instruments in worship? Proof? Why immersion for baptism? Proof? Why a spiritual mission, not social for the church? Proof? Why Heaven? Got proof?

Looking for proof takes you to the Bible. That search will open your eyes. It may reveal things you didn’t know. It may show that your faith stands upon the word of God or it may show that you believe things without any Biblical evidence and proof.

I know whom I believe…I know because the Bible says so. Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so…The foundation of our faith is the evidence and teaching of the Bible. Faith, the Romans were told, comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Paul reasoned from Scripture…Paul explained…Paul gave evidence.

We need to do the same!

Roger

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