Subject: Evangelism Title: Almost, But Lost Text: Acts 26:1-28

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1 Subject: Evangelism Title: Almost, But Lost Text: Acts 26:1-28 Introduction Acts 26 contains Paul s fifth and final speech in the book of Acts. This is considered to be his masterpiece by many. The speech before Agrippa is a powerful record of the Gospel and the implicit demands that the Gospel makes on the life of the hearer. Agrippa is a Jew, an expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews (v.3). Paul has already proven that the charges leveled against him are false, this is another opportunity for Paul to fulfill his calling to preach the Gospel. Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: In this chapter we see: * The hope of the mission * The message of the mission * The ministry of the mission A. The hope of the mission - One day God will right all wrongs. - One day God will restore a broken image. - One day God will heal all disease. - One day God will raise life from death. - Our hope drives our mission. These are realized in forgiveness and inheritance. B. The message of the mission (18) - To open eyes - Turn from darkness to light - Turn from the power of Satan to God - Forgive sins - Pour an inheritance upon us Felix would hear when convenient. Festus thought Paul was crazy. Agrippa gave the Gospel the brush-off. Bernice did not respond. Nero would burn Christians on crosses. C. The ministry of the mission - All are ministers - All are witnesses - All are to know the message - All are to practice obedience - All live in two worlds, one, the Kingdom of God - that has preeminence 1

2 Objections to Coming to Faith in Christ 1. The Bible is full of errors and contradictions. 2. What about people who have never heard? 3. No one can know he is saved. 4. Religion is for people who need a psychological crutch. 5. I believe that as long as a person is sincere, God will understand. 6. There are many ways to eternal life. Every religion essentially believes the same thing. 7. I keep the Ten Commandments. 8. I am not ready. I must become a better person. 9. I cannot believe in a God who allows such suffering and pain this world. 10. Churchgoers are Hypocrites. 11. I am too great a sinner. I cannot be forgiven. The Parable of the Sower, Seed and Soils (Luke 8:1-15) * Wayside Hearers * Stony Ground Hearers * Preoccupied Hearers * Good Ground Hearers Eagle Scale (The Football Analogy) -10 Awareness of the Supernatural - 9 No Knowledge of Christianity - 8 Initial Awareness of Christianity - 7 Interest in Christianity - 6 Awareness of the Basics of the Gospel - 5 Grasp of Implications of the Gospel - 4 Positive Attitude Towards the Gospel - 3 Awareness of Personal Need - 2 Challenge and Decision to Acts - 1 Repentance and Faith 0 Conversion - New Birth - Salvation It is our goal in evangelism to move people who are lost closer to conversion. 2

3 Message The focal point of the chapter for the sake of this message is found in Acts 26:28, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Almost! Almost, but Lost. Do you find yourself in an almost position? Do you need something else to push you over the edge? Another truth? Another fact? Another sermon? A sign? What? Agrippa was almost saved but lost. There are other Bible accounts that are similar: Mark 12:28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the fi rst commandment of all? 29 And Jesus answered him, The fi rst of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the fi rst commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: 33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifi ces. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. Mark 10:17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. 19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. 20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. 21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. 22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. 3

4 Dr. W. A. Criswell ministered for 55 years at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. He went to Heaven in In 1944 Dr. Criswell succeeded George W. Truett as the Pastor of First Baptist. WWII was still going on. Dr. Criswell tells the story of a woman in his church whose only son was serving in the military. He remembers her earnest and fervor to see her son return home. The war ended and her son headed home. Dr. Criswell says that one of the most difficult pastoral visits he ever made was to tell his mother that her son had perished in an airplane crash in the U.S. on his way home. ALMOST, but lost. Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Why are there people who are almost saved, but lost? Are you one of them? Why do we wait? I. Are you waiting on someone else? (Parent, spouse, friend, child?) II. III. IV. Are you looking for a more convenient time? Do you need to be convinced with one more truth? Fact? Answered question? Something missing? Or is it procrastination? Do you need a personal verbal invitation? V. Are you afraid? Timid? Fearful? VI. Do you think your religion is good enough? That you are good enough? VII. Do you say, I m just not ready? VIII. Is it pride? Christian, How many of your friends, family members are almost? Listen carefully: All have sinned (Romans 3:23) - there is none righteous (Romans 3:10) - all are basically qualified to be saved! The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) - the choice is simple, death, spiritual death, hell, separation from God OR forgiveness and life - the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 4

5 Repent (Acts 26:20) - sincere godly sorrow for your sin and rebellion against God and His truth. Believe (Acts 16:31). John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. I John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Almost? John 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 5

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