StoneBridge Community Church
Senior Pastor Jon Saur
Summer 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.
Acts 14:8-18 NRSV
What 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.
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.
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
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.
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?
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