The Soul Winner s Pulpit: Evangelism Strategies from Acts Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Text-Driven Preaching Conference 2019 Daniel C. Dickard, Ph.D. March 4, 2019 The necessity of gospel witnessing confronts many churches today. It confronts many believers as well. Baptisms are in decline. Church membership is on a downward trajectory. Church attendance continues to retract. Gospel conversations have decreased while lostness around us has increased. The need of the hour is Text-Driven, Christ-Focused, Evangelistically Centered Preaching. Join us as we consider the major methods and strategies of evangelistic preaching from the Book of Acts. I. Observation: See the Big Picture 1. Authorship 2. Date 3. Purpose, Occasion, and Background 4. Literary Genre and Features 5. Purpose 6. Overarching Message and Theological Thrust II. Examination: Focus on the Smaller Units 7. Identify the natural units for preaching III. Application: Aim for Application 8. General Tips for Preaching Acts IV. Preparation Resources for Text-Driven Preaching 9. Recommended Resources
1. Authorship Observation: See the Big Picture Nearly all scholars, other than a few dissenting voices, agree on Lukan authorship o There are striking similarities between the Book of Acts and the Gospel of Luke Common vocabulary Similar style Shared themes o The early church, dating back to Irenaeus, accepts Lukan authorship. 1 o The author of Acts was likely a traveling companion of Paul (cf. Col. 4:14, 2 Tim. 4:11.) o Lukan authorship is tied to the we passages in Acts (cf. Acts 16:10-17; 20:5-15; 21:1-18; 27:1-28:16). 2. Date The date of Acts varies greatly, ranging from A.D. 57/59 to A.D. 150 Most likely, the book was written before A.D. 64. The Book of Acts ends abruptly and, because key apostles were martyred in Rome in A.D. 64-67, it is possible that the book was written several years before the death of Peter and Paul. 3. Purpose, Occasion, and Background The Book of Acts purposes: o to provide historical accuracy of the early church through an orderly account of the things that have taken place (Luke 1:1-4) o to continue the story of Jesus through the apostles (Acts 1:1) o to communicate the spread of Christianity into Gentile regions (Acts 1:8) o to demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit unleashed (Acts 2) o to encourage the early church in gospel witnessing despite anonymity and persecution (Acts 2-28) 1 Polhill asserts, Beginning with Irenaeus, the tradition has maintained that this single author, whose two volumes comprise nearly 27 percent of the entire New Testament, was Luke. For Irenaeus the occurrence of the first-person plural in the later chapters of Acts pointed to the author of the book as having been a traveling companion of Paul. See, John B. Polhill, Acts, vol. 26 New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1992), 24.
4. Literary Genre and Features 28 chapters total (1,000 + verses) Luke has been described as the most Greek of the New Testament writers. 2 Luke s writings are grounded in Old Testament language 90 percent of his vocabulary is found in the Septuagint. 3 The genre of the book is narratival in format and chronological in sequence. The book focuses on the outward development of Christianity beginning in Jewish locale and continuing into Gentile regions. The expansion of Christianity is mentioned in 1:8 and this verse serves as a table of contents for the remainder of the book. o Jerusalem (Ch. 1-7) o Judea and Samaria (8-11) o Ends of the Earth (12-28) The chronological sequence of Acts falls into two divisions: the mission of the Jerusalem church (1-12) and the mission of Paul (13-28). The structure of the book is cyclical with several common features: o Preaching: The church preaches the gospel o Profession: God, through the preached gospel, converts unbelievers o Persecution: Religious and political leaders persecute believers o Protection: God protects the church amidst persecution as the gospel is preached The location of Christianity s outward advancement develops as the letter progresses o 1:1-6:7 The church in Jerusalem o 6:8-9:31 Judea and Samaria o 9:32-12:24 Gentiles o 12:25-16:5 Asia o 16:6-19:20 Cosmopolitan Europe o 19:21-28:31 Rome Acts 15 functions as epicenter of book (linguistically and theologically) The speeches, interspersed between the flow of narratival texts, accounts for a third of the Book of Acts (300 of 1000 + verses) 4 Ryken claims 32 speeches in Acts 5 2 J. de Zwaan, The Use of the Greek Language in Acts, Beginnings 2:65 3 Polhill, 42. 4 Kummel, Introduction to the New Testament, translated by H.C Kee (Nashville: Abingdon, 1975), 167. 5 Leland Ryken, Literary Introductions to the Books of the Bible (Crossway: Wheaton, 2015), 403.
5. Purpose The letter purposes to show the outward development of Christianity through faithful witnesses. 6. Overarching Message and Theological Thrust The person and work of Jesus drives the early church to pursue the mission of God through the advancement of the gospel. Themes: o Mission of God o Sovereignty of God o The Power of the Holy Spirt o Faithful Witnesses o Advancement of the Gospel Examination: Focus on the smaller units 7. Identify the natural units for preaching 6-39 sermons total Section I: 1:1-6:7 o (1:1-11) Introduction Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit and Ascends to Heaven o (1:12-26) Matthias is chosen to replace Judas as the 12th Apostle o (2:1-41) Pentecost o (2:42-47) The Early Church after Pentecost o (3:1-4:4) Lame Man Healed Peter Preaches and Calls for Repentance o (4:5-31) Peter and John Arrested, Interrogated, and Released o (4:32-36) The Life and Community of the Early Church o (5:1-11) Ananias and Saphira o (5:12-42) Signs and Wonders/High Priest Persecute the Apostles o (6:1-7) Growing Pains Deacons Section II: 6:8-9:31 o (6:8-7:60) Stoning of Stephen Resisting the Holy Spirit o (8:1-25) The Witnesses Scatter Samaria o (8:26-40) Phillip and the Ethiopian Eunuch o (9:1-31) The Conversion of Paul 6 Kyle Walker, Preaching Acts, Lecture Notes from 2018 Text-Driven Preaching Conference
Section III: 9:32-12:24 o (9:32-43) Two Miracles Performed by Peter o (10:1-48) Peter s Conversion To God s Mission Holy Spirit Given to Gentiles o (11:19-30) The Church at Antioch o (12:1-24) Peter s Rescue Peter is late for Prayer Section IV: 12:25-16:5 o (12:25-13:1-52) Paul s first missionary journey Part I o (14:1-28) Paul s First Missionary Journey Part II o (15:1-35) The Jerusalem Council o (15:36-16:5) Paul s Second Missionary Journey Part I Section V: 16:6-19:20 o (16:6-40) Macedonia Slave Girl and Prison o (17:1-15) Paul proclaims Christ in Thessalonica and Berea o (17:16-34) Paul s Address to the Areopagus o (18:1-22) Conclusion of Paul s 2nd Missionary Journey o (18:23-28) Paul s 3rd Missionary Journey Part I o (19:1-20) Paul s 3rd Missionary Journey Part II Section VI: 19:21-28:31 o (19:21-41) Paul s 3rd Missionary Journey Part III: The Riot at Ephesus o (20:1-12) Paul s 3rd Missionary Journey Part IV: Eutychus Raised to Life at Troas o (20:13-38) Paul s 3rd Missionary Journey Part V: Paul Meets Ephesian Elders o (21:1-14) The People Plead with Paul not to go to Jerusalem o (21:15-22:29) Paul s Arrest and Defense in Jerusalem o (22:30-23:35) Paul on trial before the Chief Priests and The Council o (24:1-27) Paul on Trial before Felix o (25:1-26:32) Paul s Defense Before King Agrippa o (27:1-44) Paul s Journey to Rome Part I o (28:1-15) Paul s Journey to Rome Part II o (28:16-31) Paul in Rome
Application Aim for the Application 8. General Trips for Evangelistic Preaching in Acts 3 Keys: Text-Driven, Christ-Focused, Evangelistically Centered preaching Look back to project forward We have always been a gospel people. Keep the mission urgent priorities over preferences Do not reinvent the wheel the major methods of evangelism in Acts remain applicable today o Personal Evangelism o Evangelistic Preaching o Revivalism Remind your people what happens when you gospelize in pre and post Christian cultures. The predicable pattern of Acts can prepare us for what s coming. o Preaching: The church preaches the gospel o Profession: God, through the preached gospel, converts unbelievers o Persecution: Religious and political leaders persecute believers o Protection: God protects the church amidst persecution as the gospel is preached Let the expansion of mission in Acts drive your church to expanded mission Do not confuse the content of the gospel with the implications of the gospel Privilege dissenting questions they are often the pathway to deeper conversations
Preparation Resources for Text-Driven Preaching 9. Recommended Resources Barrett, C.K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, vol. 1. Edinburgh: Clark, 1994. Bock, Darrell L. Acts: BECNT. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007. Bruce, FF. Acts. NICNT. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co, 1988. Dunn, J.D.G. The Acts of the Apostles. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1993. Keener, Craig S. Acts: An Exegetical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012. Larkin, William J. Acts. IVP. Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1995. Longenecker, R.N. Acts: The Expositor s Bible Commentary, vol. 10: ed. T. Longman III and D.E. Garland. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007. Merida, Tony. Acts. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Broadman and Holman: Nashville, 2017. Marshall, I. Howard. The Acts of the Apostles: An Introduction and Commentary. TNTC. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980. Marshall, I. Howard and David Peterson, eds. Witness to the Gospel: The Theology of Acts. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998. Polhill, John B. Acts. NAC. Broadman and Holman: Nashville, 1992. Ryken, Leland. Literary Introductions to the Books of the Bible. Crossway: Wheaton, 2015. Soards, Marion L. The Speeches in Acts: Their Content, Context, and Concerns. Louisville: Westminster, 1994. Stott, John. The Message of Acts: To the Ends of the Earth, BST. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1990