StoneBridge Community Church
Summer in the Cities: "Filling Your Hearts With Joy" - Acts 14:8-18
Senior Pastor Jon Saur
Locations & Times
StoneBridge Community Church
4832 Cochran St, Simi Valley, CA 93063, USA
Saturday 5:15 PM
Sunday 5:20 PM
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http://bit.ly/2glYW8ESummer in the Cities
In this sermon series, StoneBridge will be journeying through the cities mentioned in the Book of Acts, looking at how the Holy Spirit works through the Apostle Paul in each city. By doing so, we will be able to more clearly see the Holy Spirit at work in our own city.
In this sermon series, StoneBridge will be journeying through the cities mentioned in the Book of Acts, looking at how the Holy Spirit works through the Apostle Paul in each city. By doing so, we will be able to more clearly see the Holy Spirit at work in our own city.
Introduction to the Book of Acts
Here is a brief introduction to the Book of Acts.
https://stonebridgesimi.com/resources/acts-introThe Text In Context
"God used Paul to heal a man who had been lame from birth, and the crowd was ready to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas as gods. Shortly after, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium who hated Paul’s message easily persuaded the same crowd to… “ Click link to read more.
https://bit.ly/3znA1elWhat is Lystra?
Lystra was located in what is today south-central Turkey. It had a reputation as a "backwoods" type of community. Many authors in Paul's day mocked the Lystrans. They were called "Mountain-dwellers" and had a reputation of being superstitious "yokels."
You can see this stereotype playing out in the book of Acts, with the way the Lystrans rush to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.
Lystra was located in what is today south-central Turkey. It had a reputation as a "backwoods" type of community. Many authors in Paul's day mocked the Lystrans. They were called "Mountain-dwellers" and had a reputation of being superstitious "yokels."
You can see this stereotype playing out in the book of Acts, with the way the Lystrans rush to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.
Ovid's Poem
About a hundred years before the book of Acts was written, a poet named Ovid wrote a story about Zeus and Hermes visiting Lystra. In this story, no one showed hospitality to Zeus and Hermes except an elderly couple. Because of this, the elderly couple received gifts from the gods. Everyone else was wiped out in disaster. With this background in mind, it's easier to see why the Lystrans rushed as quickly as they did to believe that Paul and Barnabas were Zeus and Hermes and to offer them sacrifices.
Ultimately, it was a fear of petty, vengeful gods that drove the Lystrans to behave how they did. It may be easy to laugh at them, but we are probably more similar to them than we could care to admit.
About a hundred years before the book of Acts was written, a poet named Ovid wrote a story about Zeus and Hermes visiting Lystra. In this story, no one showed hospitality to Zeus and Hermes except an elderly couple. Because of this, the elderly couple received gifts from the gods. Everyone else was wiped out in disaster. With this background in mind, it's easier to see why the Lystrans rushed as quickly as they did to believe that Paul and Barnabas were Zeus and Hermes and to offer them sacrifices.
Ultimately, it was a fear of petty, vengeful gods that drove the Lystrans to behave how they did. It may be easy to laugh at them, but we are probably more similar to them than we could care to admit.
Sermon Outline
I. Apostle's Speech
A. Vague
B. Where is the Gospel?
II. Lystra
A. "Backwoods"
B. "Mountain-Dwellers"
C. Ovid's Poem
III. Why do we create gods?
A. Fear
B. Insecurity
IV. What fearful people need to hear.
V. Apostle's Speech
I. Apostle's Speech
A. Vague
B. Where is the Gospel?
II. Lystra
A. "Backwoods"
B. "Mountain-Dwellers"
C. Ovid's Poem
III. Why do we create gods?
A. Fear
B. Insecurity
IV. What fearful people need to hear.
V. Apostle's Speech
NEXT STEPS:
1. Identify one of your deepest fears.
2. Identify how you have responded to this fear in your life.
3. Have you placed this fear in the hands of another human instead of God?
4. If so, repent and pray that God would receive your fear.
1. Identify one of your deepest fears.
2. Identify how you have responded to this fear in your life.
3. Have you placed this fear in the hands of another human instead of God?
4. If so, repent and pray that God would receive your fear.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. Read the Apostle's speech in Acts 14:15-18. Is this how you would present the gospel? If so, what do you appreciate about this message? If not, what seems missing to you?
2. In what ways might this message be perfectly suited for the Lystrans?
3. Is there anyone that, in your opinion, people treat as though they were "gods?" Is there anyone that you may elevate too much?
4. What do you think drives people to look to powerful people more than they should?
5. How can the apostle's message speak specifically to people full of fear?
1. Read the Apostle's speech in Acts 14:15-18. Is this how you would present the gospel? If so, what do you appreciate about this message? If not, what seems missing to you?
2. In what ways might this message be perfectly suited for the Lystrans?
3. Is there anyone that, in your opinion, people treat as though they were "gods?" Is there anyone that you may elevate too much?
4. What do you think drives people to look to powerful people more than they should?
5. How can the apostle's message speak specifically to people full of fear?
Starting Wednesday, June 15th! Hosted by Stephanie Leedy, Director of Children's and Family Ministries, the StoneBridge Parents podcast is dedicated to having real, honest conversations with members of our community. Each week we will talk with a special guest about a variety of topics including Youth Director Ryan Joslin's vision and goals for youth ministry, Ms. Stephanie's journey with postpartum depression, and Preschool Teacher Kristen Castellano's words of wisdom on the transition from preschool to kindergarten! We have some amazing episodes, moments, and parenting game-changers parents of all ages will want to hear.
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