Paul begins revolutionizing the world with one simple tool: the preached word.
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Acts 13 Summary
The focus shifts from Jerusalem as preachers are sent out from Palestine to the broader Roman empire. So begins the account of Paul's first missionary journey.
The first stop Paul usually makes in a new city is at the Jewish synagogue, where he's often invited to to bring a word of encouragement (v15). Paul takes advantage of the offer to 'exposit' scripture - that is, to show how every passage points to Christ, and that
through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. (v38-39)
As is often the case, the local establishment forcefully rejects this good news and evict Paul from their city.
Dig Deeper
Many churches spend thousands of dollars and lots of angst trying to determine what it is that makes a church 'attractive' to modern culture.
Unfortunately, many, if not most, churches miss this elusive moving target.
We need not look much farther than Acts 13 to answer this question:
The intelligent government official is attracted to the apostles who preach the Word of God; He believed not just because he saw the miracle, but because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord (v12).
When Paul illustrates how the scriptures were pointing to the gospel of Christ, the next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord (v44).
After being rejected by the Jews, Paul immediately pivots and proclaims the gospel to the Gentiles, who began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord (v48).
The primary function of the Church is to preach the Word. It might not always be popular (it certainly wasn't for Paul), but it will always be attractive.
AAA Prayer:
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father God, who has brought Israel a savior (v23)
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would seek the Word of the Lord just as the intelligent proconsul did (v7)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
