Sermon 8
The Early Church Pattern For Evangelism
Acts 5:17-42
Primary mission of the church ...
not leading the crusade for social justice
not a political force to help change the culture
Not fellowship, discipleship worship (better accomplished in heaven)
Primary mission = evangelism Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8 Remarkable growth -2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7
This text presents 4 keys to the effective evangelism of the early church.
Key #1 - The Proper Response To Persecution, 5:17-26.
1. They did not resist arrest, v. 18. See Matthew 5:38-45.
2. They trusted and waited on the Lord to be free to preach, vss. 19-25. Sometimes we take matters in to out own hands and we interfere with something even greater that God was going to do. At the arrest of Jesus, Peter took matters into his own hands, pulled out his sword and set out to defend Christ. Zeal but without knowledge. In fact, what Peter did was actually interfering with the will of God. God intended Jesus to be arrested, condemned and even crucified. Jesus had to tell learned the lesson. Now, when they are being arrested they do not resist. God has a better plan. His plan is to miraculously release them from jail in order to preach. Did you happen to notice that when they were re-arrested they were not charged with escape from prison.
3. They responded to persecution "without violence", v. 26. The Jewish leaders would have stoned them immediately had it not been for their fear of the people. But there was no violence on the part of the Christians here either.
I certainly believe that if an intruder comes into my home intending to do harm to my family and me, that I am permitted by God to defend my life and the lives of my family. I also believe that there is not dishonorable about serving my country in a military force intended to protect our citizens from the threat of an attack. In that way, I support the idea of self-defense.
But it is an entirely different matter to take up arms and to use violence to keep from being arrested for one's faith. In such an instance the priority is not our freedom from harassment or imprisonment but the purity of testimony before a witnessing world.
Key #2 - The Boldness Of Their Witness, 5:27-40a.
See 4:18-20.
Obedience to authority. Exception: When obeying authority means disobeying an explicit command of God.
Wife told to lie, child to steal, church not to preach. Make sure you are on solid biblical ground.
Daniel's example for how to disobey. Peter's bold witness - vs. 30-32.
Boldness - Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
His boldness produced conviction, v. 33.
The wisdom of Gamaliel -vs. 34-40a.
Key #3 - Maintaining Joy In Times Of Suffering, 5:40b-41.
The apostles did not get by without pain. Verse 40 says they were beaten, threatened and released.
Verse 41 is an amazing testimony. They maintained the ability to rejoice no matter what. Think about the ordeal they just endured. Arrested twice in two days time. Accused of being law breakers. Facing the real possibility of being stoned. Beaten. Threatened. And yet rejoicing evermore.
Key #4 - Persistent Preaching And Teaching, 5:42.
Everyday, every house. They refused to stop telling people about Jesus.