Not Quite A Christian Series

How many of you remember the sermon from last weekend? Me either. Howard Hendricks used to say we have the potential of remembering 10% of what we hear, and that’s just the potential. Another pastor believes we forget 95% of a sermon after 72 hours.

For us to remember, we need to hear things repeatedly, so they get reinforced in our minds. I appreciated the reminder Luke from the Go Fund gave us last weekend about the three billion people in the world who have no gospel access. During the luncheon on Sunday, he reminded us of more truth, which we can’t forget.

• 97% of the unreached live in the 10/40 window, a rectangular area between 10- and 40-degrees north latitude. It encompasses 68 countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

• 60% of the unreached live in countries closed to missionaries.

• There are 400,000 missionaries in the world today.

• Of that total number, only 13,315 (or 3%) are ministering to the unreached.

• We have three options – Go, Send, or Disobey.

This past year, by God’s grace and through your generosity, we gave 14% of our budget to missions. Over the last several years, under the leadership of Pastor Dan and our missions committee, we’ve been prioritizing partnerships with those going to the least reached parts of the world. Right now, one of our own members is trusting God to provide prayer and financial partners as she prepares to serve in Asia.

We’ve been learning in the Book of Acts how we’re called to be witnesses to the whole world. That’s why we’ve been giving regular updates and praying for a family from Ukraine by name. Sasha and Sophia, along with their children, Lucas (4) and Emma (1), are scheduled to arrive in the QCA in about a week! They are really struggling emotionally and are tired. Let’s also pray all their documents come in.

Please turn to Acts 26 where we’ll learn how Paul witnessed to King Agrippa. Here’s our main idea: The Savior saved us so we will speak about Him to those He sends us to.

I see ten transferrable principles from this passage.

1. Get someone’s attention. It’s important to find a way to get someone to listen to you. We see this in verse 1: “So Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You have permission to speak for yourself.’ Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense.” Agrippa took charge and allowed Paul to testify. Amid all the pomp, Paul did not enter with the sound of a trumpet, but with the sound of rattling chains. He was not impressive in appearance. According to tradition, Paul was small and balding with a crooked nose and bowed legs (kind of sounds like me).

Paul wanted to make sure he had Agrippa’s total attention, so he “stretched out his hand.” This was a dramatic oratorical gesture indicating Paul lifted his whole arm from his shoulder to the end of his fingers. He would have closed his two smallest fingers while extending the other three. This was a customary way to show the earnestness of the speaker. This would have been striking because his arm was chained to a soldier.

My family often teases me for using my arms, hands, and multiple facial expressions when I’m preaching. Actually, I talk this way at home as well. When I had shoulder surgery, they all wondered how I was going to preach with my arm immobilized.

When you’re talking to someone who doesn’t know Christ, try to get their attention in some way, even if you don’t wave your arms around.

2. Make a connection by paying a compliment. One of the best ways to make a bridge to someone is by being complimentary. Let’s learn from Paul in verses 2-3: “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am going to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, especially because you are familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. Therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently.”

The word “fortunate” indicates Paul was happy about the privilege of talking with him. Incidentally, Paul calls him “King” or “O King” five different times, which was a way to show respect. The word Greek word translated “defense” is where we get the word “apologetics.” Paul affirmed as a Jew himself, King Agrippa was an expert in the customs and controversies of the Jews and beseeched him to listen patiently.

We’ve seen this principle throughout the Book of Acts. One of my favorites is from Acts 17:22, when Paul referred to the Athenian idolaters as “very religious.” He could have clobbered them for their paganism but instead, he looked for a way to build a bridge to them. When you talk to someone, look for a way to compliment instead of criticizing them.