To Rome With the Gospel

Acts 28:23-31

August 2, 1998

 

"The most urgent need in the Christian church today is true preaching" MLJ 9.

 

Romans 1:8-17, Paul's desire to preach in Rome fulfilled, yet the way to Rome was not paved with flowers.  As was his custom, Paul found Jews and spoke gospel to them:  they had background familiarity, they had some desire for Messiah; here, Paul gets the jump on his accusers v. 17-22.  Then he goes to the Gentiles (v. 30-31).

 

(1) Preach gospel to those who may be familiar.

(2) Preach to those who may even reject the message (vv. 26-27).

(3) Preach to whomever God gives you (vv. 30-31).

 

Preaching is up for debate in our day.  Many use it as a means for worldly (religious) success.  Conrad Mbewe stated, "We should measure success in the biblical sense.  To seek it any other way is to do so at the expense of many, many souls."

 

I Corinthians 1:17-25

I Corinthians 2:1-5

II Corinthians 4:1-6

 

I. A Word About Preaching

 

1. Setting forth truth

 

     a. Carries the idea of laying something out, making it plain 

          e.g. giving evidence in a trial, or giving explanations in a classroom

     b. You are setting forth truth that has affected your own life, hence "solemnly bearing witness" 

          e.g. obese person teaching "Weight Watchers"

     c. You are serious about the truth, "solemnly" means this is not joke time or entertainment

          e.g. the preacher who told me he spent more time on his opening joke than anything

     d. You are setting forth truth that calls for a radical, total change of life for the "kingdom of God."  The goal 

        is not to add people to church rolls but to the Kingdom of God. 

 

2. Persuading through Scriptures

 

     a. Persuasion is not the same as manipulation, trickery, pushing. Much current preaching follows this pattern

    b. Persuasion appeals to the mind and will

    c. Persuasion obviously implies that we are to be passionate in our preaching.

          e.g. MLJ Preaching and Preachers quote p. 97, 99.

    d. The persuasion is to be through the exposition of the Scriptures.  You have not truly expounded a text 

        until you deal with the doctrines in the text. 

 

II. A Word About People

 

1. The believing

 

     a. Convinced of the truth (II Thessalonians 2:10; I Peter 1:22-25)

     b. Born by the Spirit

    c. Listen to truth gladly (v. 28)

 

2. The unbelieving

 

a. Not that they cannot believe but they will not believe

b. There will always be those who reject the truth.  If you take this personally you will develop an inferiority 

    complex.  So what if they reject you?  But if they reject God who has spoken through His Word, they have 

    rejected everything.  Quote verses 26-27.

 

III. A Word About Ministry

 

1. Open to all (v. 30)

Beware of a narrow ministry

 

2. Maintain balance

     a. Preaching - kerygmatic

     b. Teaching - didactic

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