Creekside Church, Sunday, August 1, 2021
Rooted in Resurrection
Locations & Times
Creekside Church
660 Conservation Dr, Waterloo, ON N2J 3Z4, Canada
Sunday 9:00 AM
Quick outline of chapters 24-26
- Paul is on trial before governor Felix
- Paul argues his case before governor Festus who proceeded Felix
- Paul argues his case before King Agrippa
**all of this took place over the course of at least 2 years while Paul was under house arrest.
---
Paul was a man rooted in resurrection.
It's central to everything he does and says and is a key theme of Acts chapter 24-26.
---
Notice the theme of resurrection in Paul's two big speeches and in how Festus recounts Paul's situation to Agrippa.
Acts 24:14-15 (Paul before Felix)
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
Acts 24:20-21 (Paul before Felix)
20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
Acts 25:18-19 (Festus talking to Agrippa)
18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.
Acts 26:6-8 (Paul before Agrippa)
6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:22-23 (Paul before Agrippa)
22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
**Paul makes resurrection (Jesus' and ours) the foundation for his argument. It's the foundation for his hope. For Paul, he wants his accusers to see resurrection as normal.
---
Can we learn from Paul to not be afraid to normalize resurrection?
---
Paul is playing a completely different game than these lawyers, governors, kings and religious people.
Paul isn't trying to hang on, he is held.
Are you living as one who is rooted in resurrection or are you caught up in some other game?
---
Be held and yet hold on.
Take Action. Take Courage.
Acts 25:9-11 (Paul talking to Festus)
9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
God's grip on you is stronger than your grip on him.
---
Paul is rooted in resurrection and longs for others to experience the same thing.
Acts 26:24-29
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
- Paul is on trial before governor Felix
- Paul argues his case before governor Festus who proceeded Felix
- Paul argues his case before King Agrippa
**all of this took place over the course of at least 2 years while Paul was under house arrest.
---
Paul was a man rooted in resurrection.
It's central to everything he does and says and is a key theme of Acts chapter 24-26.
---
Notice the theme of resurrection in Paul's two big speeches and in how Festus recounts Paul's situation to Agrippa.
Acts 24:14-15 (Paul before Felix)
14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
Acts 24:20-21 (Paul before Felix)
20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
Acts 25:18-19 (Festus talking to Agrippa)
18 When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. 19 Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive.
Acts 26:6-8 (Paul before Agrippa)
6 And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. 7 This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. 8 Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?
Acts 26:22-23 (Paul before Agrippa)
22 But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— 23 that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
**Paul makes resurrection (Jesus' and ours) the foundation for his argument. It's the foundation for his hope. For Paul, he wants his accusers to see resurrection as normal.
---
Can we learn from Paul to not be afraid to normalize resurrection?
---
Paul is playing a completely different game than these lawyers, governors, kings and religious people.
Paul isn't trying to hang on, he is held.
Are you living as one who is rooted in resurrection or are you caught up in some other game?
---
Be held and yet hold on.
Take Action. Take Courage.
Acts 25:9-11 (Paul talking to Festus)
9 Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”
10 Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. 11 If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
God's grip on you is stronger than your grip on him.
---
Paul is rooted in resurrection and longs for others to experience the same thing.
Acts 26:24-29
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”