Pastor Jeff on the Radio

Guest (Female): You're listening to Pastor Jeff Ministries, the teaching ministry of Pastor Jeff Schwarzentraub.

Guest (Male): On today's program, Pastor Jeff begins his message, The Church that Shakes the City, from the series Faithful Followers, and shows you how God can use your life to impact your city through the faithful proclamation of his word.

Our mission is to challenge people like you to respond to the word of God. So if you're looking to grow in your walk, you're in the right place. We invite you to visit PastorJeff.com where you'll find a wealth of resources to equip you in your faith. While you're there, you can sign up for Pastor Jeff's weekly devotional emails delivered right to your inbox. Now let's hear today's message from God's word with Pastor Jeff.

Pastor Jeff Schwarzentraub: Throughout history, small groups of people have changed the course of where we go. They've shaken cities, they've changed the culture, sometimes even changed nations. But no small group has been as powerful as those who live for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The reason that we're here today in Denver, Colorado is because there was a small group of people that Jesus gathered with, that he discipled for three years, that were empowered by the Holy Spirit that took the gospel to the nations. And the reason that we're here today is because they started a movement that is still going on. And that movement goes on through Christ's church.

Sometimes we think that we need to have large groups of people in order to see God work at his fullest. As a matter of fact, I hear the word revival all the time. I've been hearing it since I've become a Christian some 35 years ago. People talk about revival, revival, revival. How are we going to have revival? I want to talk about how it is that we can experience that, what God wants to do, what happens when his church is faithful, how God desires to change a city, challenge a city, and shake a city up.

I want to take a look at what kind of people do we need to be. When the Father looks down from heaven in Denver, Colorado, what does he see in Brave Church? Is Brave Church the kind of church that can shake a city? Is Brave Church the kind of church that can change the culture? Is Brave Church the kind of church that the Lord can use to change a nation?

I personally believe he can. We're going to be in a study in the book of 1 Thessalonians over the coming weeks to take a look at the kind of church that God blesses, what that church looks like. This morning, I want to start by talking about the church that shakes the city.

I want to talk about four truths or four elements of that kind of church. Like what you can expect to see in a church that's having that kind of radical impact in the city. Because you gather here and you come to Brave because you say we want to make a difference and we love Jesus and we want to see our city changed. This is how we do it.

This morning, we're going to be in the book of 1 Thessalonians. To start out, we're going to be in the book of Acts, Acts chapter 17 verses one to nine as we begin to spell out what it looks like for us to be that kind of church. Open your Bible up to Acts chapter 17 and we'll begin our study here today in these first nine verses of Acts.

What's been going on in the life of the traveling missionaries? Paul's on his second missionary journey and he's traveling to different cities. He and Silas had just had a revival that took place in Philippi. If you recall the story, the Philippian jailer was going to kill himself because all the chains broke off and the doors were open. But before he did, Paul told him, "Stop, don't do that." He led him to the Lord, ended up baptizing him and his entire family. They all came to Christ. As they continue on their journey, this is where our story picks up. This is what's taking place.

Acts chapter 17 starting in verse one, here's what he says. Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica where there was a synagogue to the Jews. Each of these cities was about 30 miles apart. As they're traveling, you may read in your Bible, Macedonia. Macedonia is just northern Greece, Achaia is southern Greece, and Greece is the whole thing. They're up in Philippi in the northern part in Macedonia. They're traveling southwest, going 33 miles to the first city, 30 miles to the second city, and then they come to the city of Thessalonica and there's a synagogue there.

According to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the scriptures, explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead and saying, "This Jesus who I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.

Let me give you the first element in a church that God blesses and a church that's going to shake the city is this. Here's an element that you will see in every church like that: you'll see faithful proclamation.

The Apostle Paul is traveling with Silas. They make their way through these cities, they get down to Thessalonica, and as was his custom, he went to a city that had a synagogue. He went to the synagogue and for three straight weeks, he began to proclaim in that synagogue. Why do that? Number one, Paul was born and raised a Jew, so he understood all the Jewish customs. He understood the synagogue, he knew when they met, he knew how people thought.

He knew how he thought before he was converted, and so that's where he would always start. As a matter of fact, in Romans chapter 1, he says the gospel goes out to the Jew first and then to the Greek. So he always started with the Jews. Jesus was Jewish, so he went to the Jews. He began to reason with them, explain to them, and proclaim to them that Jesus is indeed the Messiah that you're reading about.

What we see in Paul is everywhere he went, guess what he had? Faithful proclamation. That means fidelity to the word of God. That means I'm going to proclaim what God says whether you want to hear it or not. Here's why: because what the word of God says is true. Everything that God says in all of the word is true. From Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21, it's all true. It's inspired by God the Holy Spirit who wrote the word through human authors over a period of about 1,400 years.

Think about this. Even in our New Testament, when we read this in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 16, here's what he says: "All scripture," that's Old and New Testament, "is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." All scripture's God-breathed. It's God's very word.

I, as a pastor, could be inspired to write a book about Jesus or tell truths about the Holy Spirit, but when I say inspired about the Bible, this is God's word. I will never write God's word. That canon is closed. These words in our 66 books are God speaking. Other people can come along and explain some things and do some things, but the word of God is authoritative. We have to take it at face value and believe what he says.

When Paul's proclaiming from the Old Testament, he's proclaiming the authority of God's word. That's why when he continues to exhort his protégé Timothy, he says, "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing in his kingdom: preach the word. Be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with great patience and instruction.

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine or teaching, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, and they will turn their ears from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

Here's what he was saying. He was being faithful with all of the other Old Testament prophets and all the New Testament apostles and prophets in doing this: preach the word. Be faithful to the scripture. Proclaim the scripture. If you go to a church where the scriptures are not proclaimed, leave the church because God is not speaking to that church. It's the word of God. He's either true in what he says or he's not.

This is what the Apostle Paul believed. Why is proclamation so important? Because Romans 10:17 tells us this: that faith comes through hearing and hearing through the word of God. Preaching the word is the primary ministry in a local church. I don't know if I believe in preaching, just give us a good feel-good message. No, it's preaching the word. Preaching the word changes hearts, preaching the word changes lives, preaching the word changes eternal destinations of the listeners that are listening. When you're faithful to the proclamation of the word, everything changes.

Paul did not have a New Testament. When he was in Thessalonica, he couldn't pull out 1 Thessalonians and talk to them because he hadn't written it yet. What scriptures is he using? He's using the Old Testament and he's reasoning with them. Notice what it says in Acts chapter 17 of how he was going about doing this.

In Acts chapter 17 verses three and four, he was there for three Sabbaths. He was probably in town a lot longer than that, but for three Sabbaths he was there with them and he reasoned with them from the scriptures, he explained, he gave evidence, and then it says, "This Jesus who I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." He's proclaiming. He's reasoning, explaining, giving evidence, and proclaiming that Jesus is the Christ.

This is what we must do as well. How was he reasoning with them? The Bible doesn't say which verses from the Old Testament scripture he used, but I know a few that I might have picked. I know a few that I'd pick today if I was talking to someone who believed the Old Testament scriptures but didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

How about scriptures like this in Isaiah 7 verse 14 about the virgin birth? "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Here's a prophecy about the Messiah according to your scriptures in the Old Testament if you're Jewish, that there's going to be a virgin who gives birth to a son and that son is going to be the Messiah.

Paul was saying, "Hey, there was a woman named Mary, she had a son named Jesus, and this is the one I'm telling you about that fulfills exactly what the prophecy said." Or how about the fact of where Jesus would be born? In Micah chapter 5 verse 2 it says, "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be a ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient of days."

Not only does this Messiah have to be born of a virgin, but this Messiah happens to be born in Bethlehem. Guess what? This Jesus I'm proclaiming to you was born of a virgin and guess where he was born? Bethlehem, just like the scripture testified that he would.

Guest (Male): You're listening to Pastor Jeff Ministries. Today's message, The Church that Shakes the City, from the series Faithful Followers, shows you how God can use your life to impact your city through the faithful proclamation of his word. We'll get back to Pastor Jeff in just a moment, but first, listeners like you make this ministry possible.

When you give this month to help share bold biblical truth with people around the world, we'll thank you by sending you Pastor Jeff's powerful booklet, Made New: Discovering Your New Identity, New Focus, and New Mission. This scripture-filled resource unpacks what it really means to be transformed by Jesus, because when you're made new in Christ, everything changes: your identity, your purpose, and your calling to advance God's kingdom. Request your copy today when you give to Pastor Jeff Ministries at PastorJeff.com. Now let's get back to Pastor Jeff for the conclusion of today's message.

Pastor Jeff Schwarzentraub: How about this one in Zechariah chapter 9 and verse 9? "Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey." How did Jesus enter the city of Jerusalem in his last week of his life? Humble and mounted on a donkey.

If you just had those scriptures, who else in the history of the world has been born of a virgin, born in Bethlehem, and has ridden into the city of Jerusalem humble and on a donkey? There's only one that's ever done that: the God-man Jesus Christ. Paul's reasoning with them, he's explaining to them, he's showing them.

Then how about this Messiah? What's he going to endure? Because there's Jews today that are still looking for the coming Messiah that's going to rule, but the scriptures claim that he had to be crucified first. In Psalm 22 it says, "They have pierced my hands and feet, they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots."

Guess what happened to Jesus? He was crucified, they pierced his hands and feet, and then they cast lots for his garment. So he was born of a virgin in Bethlehem, he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey in humble, he was pierced on a cross, and when he was, they gambled and cast lots for his garments. He's four-for-four so far.

How about this, Isaiah 53? Who is this one? Well, he was pierced for our transgressions and he was crushed for our iniquities, and with his wounds we are healed. He's the one that God placed all his wrath on for our sin. And what about his return? I put this one in there. I was studying this this week, I just happened to be in Zechariah. But in Zechariah 12 and verse 10, when it talks about the one who is coming, the Messiah that's coming, the one the Jews say is going to come, it says they will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him.

Even if you just have the Old Testament, the one that's coming back, you're going to look on and realize that was the one who was crucified, who all the scriptures testified about. Who could that possibly be? Jesus. When you have faithful proclamation and fidelity to the word of God, that changes everything.

Why? Because when the word of God is faithfully proclaimed, you have one of two choices: you can accept it or reject it, but you can't take a middle ground. It's either true or it's not. So when I hear people say, "Well, I kind of believe and I kind of don't," it's because you haven't heard the truth of the scriptures.

You haven't heard the proclamation of Jesus. If you hear the proclamation of Jesus, you will either respond with contrition and repentance and joy and thanksgiving that he receives you, or you will be angry, but there's no middle ground. Why? Because here's what the apostle was proclaiming and here's what I proclaim to you and here's what I say every single week: there is only one way of salvation and it's through the person and work of Jesus. There is no other way.

Well, I know some Muslims, they're good people. There is no other way. I know some Hindus. There is no other way. What about Buddhists? There is no other way. There's Jesus and there's no other way. That's the gospel. Listen, here's why Jesus came: he came because of your sin.

He came because from the time you took your first breath, you already had a heredity of sin that was passed down from your parents, and then you began to demonstrate just how selfish you are from the beginning. It's not just your personal selfish acts on the earth; it's that you are rebelling against a perfect holy God that created you.

That's who you are, and you're dead in your sins, and the wrath of God is on you. From the time you breathe your first, you're already on your way to hell and there's nothing you can do about it. But God in his mercy sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity who had always existed. 2,000 years ago, he was born of a virgin, so he's now the God-man.

He didn't have a heredity of sin. He put on a human flesh. He combined that with God, so he's truly God and truly man. He's fully God and fully man at all times and he always will be. He came and did for you what you couldn't do. He fulfilled the law. He did not sin. He didn't do anything wrong.

And yet at the end of his life, what he did was he went to a cross and was nailed to a cross, and on that cross took the full wrath of God that was deserved for you. You want to know how serious God is about sin? Take a look at how serious he treated it in his son. He put your sin on his son and punished his son in your place.

Jesus Christ hung and bled on that cross for six hours. He died, he was buried in a grave. But I want to tell you something, three days later he rose from that grave. The God-man is alive today as he's ever been before.

Here's the truth about that message. Either A: you recognize you're dead in your sin, you repent of that—meaning I don't want that anymore, I'm on my way to hell, I want to be loved by God, I want to be forgiven—and you turn to Jesus. You give him all your sin and he will give you all his forgiveness, all his grace, all his mercy, and you become his.

If you don't do that, you're still on your way to hell and you get everything that the Bible says that you deserve for your sin. Here's how you'll get it: you'll one day when you die, you'll stand before the glory of Jesus and you'll hear these words: "Depart from me, you worker of iniquity, I never knew you." You'll be cast out of his presence into an eternal hell.

You will live forever somewhere. You will either live forever in the beauty of the forgiveness of God as an adopted son or daughter of his and you are in his family with his love, or you will be apart from the goodness of God experiencing the fury of God for your sin that you're responsible for and your rebellion that you're responsible for all these days.

So when that's proclaimed, you're in one of two camps. You're either, "Thank you Jesus, you're saving me," or "I hate that message." Every single week I preach, there's always two or three that get up when I start talking like this that walk out. I think, "Lord, as long as I'm faithful, I'm okay with that. I'm okay with that."

But if the message of the cross is preached and people say, "Well, that's good for you, but this one's good for me," then they haven't heard the message. No, it's Jesus and his cross only. If you don't believe that Christ died for you and rose and you haven't turned from your sin and trusted him, you are on your way to hell and you get everything you deserve.

That's the message. But God in his mercy loves you so much he's persuading you and beckoning you: don't die in your sins. When I was 18, I heard this message for the first time. I wish I could tell you the first time I heard it, I was really excited about it. I was mad.

Because when my young life leader started explaining this to me, I had K through 8 in a Lutheran school where we memorized Luther's small catechism and several Bible verses. And I'd been going to a Methodist church from the time I was a baby. I was even baptized as a six-month-old, so I mean, I was so doubly protected, it was great.

And in my mind, I was better than most of the people I hung out with. I didn't sin the big ones. So when he said to me what the gospel was and that I really wasn't a believer and if I didn't repent and trust Christ, I was on my way to hell and it had nothing to do with how good I was, I was angry at him.

I was like, "I'd never want to serve a God like that. I've spent my whole life trying to be good." And that counts for nothing? He goes, "No, it doesn't count for anything." But because he was so faithful in what he told me, the Lord got a hold of my heart and I realized I am going to hell and it has nothing to do with anything I've done; I've never trusted Jesus.

I stood to my feet the next day and accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and savior and I've never been the same. Amen? If you ever find yourself in a different city or you can't go, you can't be here in a weekend, only go to a place that preaches the faithful proclamation of Jesus. If they don't, leave, because God's not there.

We got way too many pulpits in our culture that are presenting their own agendas and their own ideas and their own ideologies and it doesn't matter if they're conservative or liberal or whatever. If you're not proclaiming Jesus the Christ, the son of the living God, you are not being faithful in the pulpit. Amen? That's it.

So when he goes, he preaches that. That's what you see in a church that God can use is faithful proclamation. Notice what happens in verse four: and some of them—not all of them—as he's having these conversations over three Sabbaths, some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas along with a large number of God-fearing Greeks, which means when he wasn't in a synagogue, he was out in the city sharing about who Jesus was, and a number of the leading women, a number of the influential women in the city joined.

So now what you have is Paul and Silas are reasoning and these people are like, "We're going to follow what you guys are saying because that Jesus, we believe he's the Christ. That Jesus, we believe there is no other. That Jesus is who we're going after. It's not about being good or being bad, it's about being redeemed.

We're dead and God's wrath was on us and now we're completely forgiven." So some of the Jews came, some of the Gentiles came, some of the leading women came. There's this group that's being formed. We would say, "Praise God, right?"

So what happens? What happens when there's faithful proclamation? People get saved, people's lives get changed, people's eternities change and go a different direction. But let me give you a second thing that happens. The church that shakes the city not only is there faithful proclamation, but there's also fierce opposition.

There's fierce opposition. Notice what happened next. "But the Jews, the ones who didn't follow him, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace—they found some hoodlums—formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. And attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people."

When they did not find them, they couldn't find Paul and Silas, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have upset the world have come here also. And Jason has welcomed them and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar saying that there is another king, Jesus."

They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things. And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them. Do you see this fierce opposition? See, when the word of God is truly being proclaimed, the people that accept it love it.

The people that reject it hate it and they want it far from them because it reminds them of what their future is. It's been true in the first century and it's still true to this day. There's fierce opposition. So what are they going to do? They're going to go get Paul and Silas.

They go to the place where he's staying. It's interesting to me you read all these Greek names in the New Testament and then there's Jason. I mean, what's up with that? So they go to Jason's house. They can't find them there, so guess what? They go after Jason.

They find Jason and they grab Jason and they're hauling him down to the city. It would be the perfect time for Jason to say, "Enough of this, I don't even know the man." He goes through the whole thing. Notice this backhanded compliment that they give when they're stirring up a riot: "These men," talking about Paul and Silas, "these men who have upset the world have come here also."

Guest (Male): Thanks for listening today. That was Pastor Jeff with his message, The Church that Shakes the City, from the series Faithful Followers, showing you how God can use your life to impact your city through the faithful proclamation of his word.

Thanks for joining us for today's program. Before you go, just a quick reminder: when you give a gift of support today, we'll thank you by sending you Pastor Jeff's powerful booklet, Made New: Discovering Your New Identity, New Focus, and New Mission. This scripture-filled resource will help you understand what it really means to be made new in Christ, how your identity, your focus, and your mission are transformed when you surrender your life to Jesus.

Request your copy today when you give to help others hear the truth of God's word. Just visit PastorJeff.com. That's PastorJeff.com. We'll see you next time.