The Epic Life - Bob Hallman

32a-So Why Are You Here? (Acts 17:26-27)

 
 
5/30/2007

32-To the Unknown God (Acts 17:16-34)

Today, we pick up our study of Paul’s second missionary journey where we find him alone in the great city of Athens. Acts 17:15 tells us that he had been escorted on the 300 mile trip to Athens by some fellow believers due to Jewish opposition in Berea. Once they arrived with Paul, they immediately returned home with instructions from Paul to send Silas and Timothy as soon as possible.
 
Although Athens was no longer politically important, having been conquered by Rome in 146 B.C., the city was still the intellectual center of the world:
It was the site of the Acropolis and the Parthenon, one of the architectural wonders of the world.
It was a center of art, beauty, culture, and knowledge.
It was the academic and intellectual capital of the Greco-Roman world.
It was the home of the great philosophers: Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and others.
It was the home of numerous idols and altars of worship:
           a. It was the home of the worship of Zeus and Bacchus
           b. It was the home of over 30,000 idols:  3,000 devoted to the goddess                         Aphrodite. Petronius, one of the ancient historians, said that is was easier                 to find a god in Athens than a man! (The population was approx. 10,000                   at the time)
Paul had heard about Athens since his earliest youth. But now, for the first time, he had the opportunity to actually visit and tour of this famous Greco-Roman city. Verse 16 tells us of his immediate and strong reaction!!

31-What are You Known For? (Acts 17:1-15)

We pick up the story line of Paul’s second missionary journey as Paul, Silas and Timothy preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in three strategic cities: Thessalonica (17:1-10a), Berea (17:10b-15), and Athens (17:16-34).  Each of these cities were on the famous Roman road called the Egnatian Way, which crossed Macedonia and connected the Adriatic Sea with the Black Sea.
From Luke’s brevity, one might think that Paul and Silas’ journey was little more than an afternoon stroll.  But Amphipolis is thirty-three miles from Philippi, a day's journey on foot. Apollonia is some thirty miles from Amphipolis, another day's journey. Thessalonica is thirty-seven miles beyond Apollonia, and that is a full day's journey. So it took Paul at least three days and 100 miles to come from Philippi to Thessalonica.
4/1/2007

30-From Slavery to Salvation (Acts 16:11-40)

In our last study in Acts 16:1-10, you will remember that Paul had a vision of a man from Macedonia asking him to come over and help. Paul responded immediately and after being redirected by the Holy Spirit, they are now on their way to Europe.
In our text, Luke has woven together three separate, but related incidents:
The first is the conversion of Lydia.
The second is the encounter with the demon-possessed slave-girl.
The third incident is the conversion of the Philippian jailer and his household.
3/11/2007

29-Lessons from the Mission Field (Acts 15:36-16:10)

In our study last week, Paul and Barnabas had returned from Jerusalem with a letter from the apostles and the elders defining and defending Sola Fide -- salvation by faith alone, which the brothers proceeded to read to the churches in Antioch.
In today's passage, Paul and Barnabas have a sharp disagreement. Barnabas did not seem to be willing to go without Mark; Paul seemed unwilling to go with him. They had come to an impasse, and neither was willing to change their position.
So which man was right? 
 

28-Sola Fide (Acts 15:1-35)

The same danger that threatened to pervert the gospel in the 1st century church and is still alive and well today. It may assume slightly different forms, and it may change the vocabulary, but in the end, it insists that salvation and sanctification are the result of faith plus works. 
We must be vigilant in our own lives and in the church to preserve the incredible message -- the Good News -- of Sola Fide!
 
2/18/2007

27-Taking it to the Streets (Acts 14:1-28)

The Book of Acts is the record of the expansion of the early church from Jerusalem to Rome.
Acts 13 represents a turning point -- a critical transition in the ongoing ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ in several ways:
A transition from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)
A transition from the ministry of Peter to the ministry of Paul
A transition from ministry to the Jews to ministry to the Gentiles
A transition from the ministry in Jerusalem to the ministry in Antioch
 In Acts 14 we find Paul and Barnabas in the middle of their first missionary journey as they preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in three different cities; Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe. 

26-Paul's Inaugural Message (Acts 13:13-52)

In our text today we have the Apostle Paul’s first sermon.  Actually, he had preached many messages before, but this is the first recorded for us in the text of the Bible. 
It was a very powerful message preached in the synagogue at Psidian Antioch on a Sabbath morning.  It was a clear, historically detailed and persuasive presentation of salvation by faith in the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Bob Hallman, Kauai (2/4/2007)

25-Silencing a Sorceror (Acts 13:1-12)

Acts 13 represents a turning point -- a critical transition in the ongoing ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ in several ways:
A transition from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)
A transition from the ministry of Peter to the ministry of Paul
A transition from ministry to the Jews to ministry to the Gentiles
A transition from the ministry in Jerusalem to the ministry in Antioch
Given by Bob Hallman (1/28/2007)

24-Dealing with a Dictator (Acts 12-19-25)

In Acts 12, we studied the account of Satan’s effort to destroy the fledgling church of God through a dictatorial king by the name of Herod.  As you will Herod sought to bring harm to the work of God by arresting a number of church leaders including James and Peter. He killed James and intended to do the same to Peter. These were the actions of a cruel dictator!
 
Given by Bob Hallman (1/21/2007)