“Should I Stay or Should I Go?”, Acts 14.1-7, Thames Valley churches of Christ, Malcolm Cox

• Modern Konya, 90 miles east of Antioch.  

• Abundant water, a genial climate, rich vegetation, and great prosperity.

• “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.” (Acts 14:19 NIV11)

• “They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,” (Acts 14:21 NIV11)

• “The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him.” (Acts 16:2 NIV11)

• “what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.” (2 Timothy 3:11 NIV11)

• “refused” - a choice

• “considerable time”

• “boldly”

• Message of his grace - wonderful phrase

• God with you

• God enabling you - ‘didomi’

• How?

• Prayer - “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” (Acts 4:29 NIV11)

• Suppression of ego: “for the Lord”, v3

• Focussed on preaching a person, not a religion: “for the Lord”

• Preaching a positive message - “his grace”, not negative one

• More serious this time

• Gentiles and Jews - unholy coalition. Reminds us of Pilate and Herod.

• Why do they decide to move on?

• How do we decide when to move on?

• Surrounding countryside: Herts, Beds & Bucks

• Cynics - pigs simply devour - ““Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7:6 NIV

• When other opportunities present themselves - “Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”” (Mark 1:38 NIV11)

• Expect people to choose

• Expect the negative people to oppose you

• Move on when to stay would prevent the gospel being spread

• Unstoppable zeal

• Neither poisoning nor plots were enough to deter them

• Starts with “as usual”

• Ends with “continued to preach”

• God:

• Confirmed the message of His grace

• Empowered his messengers

• Affirmed his bold ambassadors

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

God bless, Malcolm

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

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