'almost Persuaded… But Not Quite' (2023 Sermon)

SERMON OUTLINE:

Background: Meet the Cast:

• (1). Festus, the Roman Governor.

• (2). King Agrippa.

• (3). The Apostle Paul.

Outline: Scan the section:

• (1). Paul saw the light (vs 1-16)

• (2). The Gentiles need the light (vs 17-18).

• (3). Festus & Agrippa rejected the light (vs 24&28)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• While clearing out his loft, a man found an old cardboard box hidden among the rafters,

• When he opened it up, he saw it was an old eastern lamp.

• He started to clean off the dust and cobwebs,

• When to his amazement a genie suddenly appeared before him!

• The genie granted the man three wishes,

• And so, the man said, that is easy.

• "For my first wish, I would like a billion pounds."

• The genie snaps his fingers, and the man has a bank book in his hand,

• Inside it has all the right information!

• "For my second wish, I would like my football team to be the greatest in the world."

• The genie snaps his fingers,

• And the man has a newspaper in his hand revealing news of his team’s success.

• "For my final wish, I would like to be irresistible to every woman on the planet."

• For the last time, the genie snaps his fingers,

• And the man finds himself turned into a box of chocolates.

• TRANSITION: Most of us if not all of us like chocolate,

• I like the quotation that says,

“Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands,

And then to only eat one of the pieces.”

• I like what the quotation says because it is so true,

• And also, because it fits in with my sermon this morning.

• On paper we have two chapters of Acts to look at, chapters 25&26,

• But like the chocolate quotation I am going to leave some chunks uneaten!

• I am going to skip over chapter 25, which is a little repetitious of chapter 24,

• That we looked at last week.

• And I have decided to focus on chapter 26.

If you want the outline for chapter 22 it is, simple.

• The apostle goes from Felix the governor of Judea and Samaria,

• To the Roman Procurator Festus.

• Paul (who was Roman Citizen) appealed to Caesar (vs 1-12)

• Paul’s case was heard by King Agrippa - we will meet him today (vs 13-27)

• Paul stood before Agrippa and his wife Bernice (vs 23-27)

• So, your homework is to read and look at the chapter,

• And we will have a few discussion questions on that passage on Thursday evening.

• But this morning we are going to look at chapter 26.

Ill:

• Photo: I saw this picture post on Facebook, and it struck a chord.

• Under a Burger King sign is a noticeboard that reads,

• “Why work for a clown when you can work for a king?”

• TRANSITION: If we change it slightly.

• Although the pun has gone, there is a good challenge there for us.

• “Why live for (you fill in the blank) when you can live for a king?”

• That is the challenge of the Christian faith,

• Quote: C.T Studd

• Charles Thomas Studd, better known as C. T. Studd, was a British missionary.

• He was born in 1860, into a family of wealth and privilege.

• He became a famous English cricketer (as well known & popular as David Beckham),

• But gave it all up to become a pioneer missionary.

• He spent his life serving in China, India, and Africa.

• He wrote a well-known poem called, ‘Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past.’

• And I would like us all to read it together,

• I will read the verse if you can collectively read the refrain.

“Two little lines I heard one day,

Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart,

And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,

Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,

And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,

Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave,

And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,

Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill.