Acts 20:23

[evangelist6589]

On pages 82-83 of the book "What did Jesus do?" Comfort lists a number of reasons the Apostle Paul was not a popular preacher. One of these reasons is found in Acts 20:23 which you may look up in your favorite translation whether that would be NIV, ESV, KJV, or whatever. I find it simply amazing how much the church ignores the book of Acts in this regard and insists that if someone is not popular than they are not "gifted or called" to evangelism. I am sure glad that Paul set a different example.

You see in Acts 20:23 the text is obvious when it says that Paul will face persecution wherever he preaches the gospel. Paul did not preach a "God loves you message" he preached a message that emphasized the moral law, a message that addressed sin, and repentance and I am sure he did not preach the messages softly but under conviction.

I challenge those that are called and gifted to go out to the streets and preach a hard message on repentance, sin, judgment, and holiness and see how you will be treated by the unsaved. You may get cussed out, have lysol sprayed at you, get heckled, or even challenged to a fight.

 

[InTheLight]

insists that if someone is not popular than they are not "gifted or called" to evangelism. I am sure glad that Paul set a different example.

Name one person on BB that thinks this way

You see in Acts 20:23 the text is obvious when it says that Paul will face persecution wherever he preaches the gospel. Paul did not preach a "God loves you message" he preached a message that emphasized the moral law, a message that addressed sin, and repentance

Wrong. Paul preached the death burial and resurrection of Christ.

.
(I'll go look for rabbits.)

 

[Don]

Here's my question: You make the statement that Paul preached a message that emphasized moral law, and sin, and repentance; would you provide the scripture reference to that sermon (or sermons)?

 

[Rolfe]

I find it simply amazing how much the church (...) and insists that if someone is not popular than they are not "gifted or called" to evangelism.

I have never heard this Claim in any Church that I have attended.

 

[blessedwife318]

On pages 82-83 of the book "What did Jesus do?" Comfort lists a number of reasons the Apostle Paul was not a popular preacher. One of these reasons is found in Acts 20:23 which you may look up in your favorite translation whether that would be NIV, ESV, KJV, or whatever. I find it simply amazing how much the church ignores the book of Acts in this regard and insists that if someone is not popular than they are not "gifted or called" to evangelism. I am sure glad that Paul set a different example.

You see in Acts 20:23 the text is obvious when it says that Paul will face persecution wherever he preaches the gospel. Paul did not preach a "God loves you message" he preached a message that emphasized the moral law, a message that addressed sin, and repentance and I am sure he did not preach the messages softly but under conviction.

I challenge those that are called and gifted to go out to the streets and preach a hard message on repentance, sin, judgment, and holiness and see how you will be treated by the unsaved. You may get cussed out, have lysol sprayed at you, get heckled, or even challenged to a fight.

Wow could you have ripped a verse more out of context to try to make your point.
Here is Acts 20:23
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
It starts in the middle of a sentence.
Now here for just a little bit of context

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by[c] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

Amazing what one more verse will do, not to mention having the complete sentence will do for understanding what Paul is saying.
Its clear from the entire sentence that Paul had been warned in every city that Jerusalem would bring about imprisonment and affliction.

Maybe if you had actually looked up the verse yourself in context you would have realized that but once again you have shown that your man written books are higher then the Bible in your mind.

And thank you in advance for whatever animal you give me for this post

 

[JonC]

I find it simply amazing how much the church ignores the book of Acts in this regard and insists that if someone is not popular than they are not "gifted or called" to evangelism.

I have never heard this. There are churches that insist if someone is not popular they are not called??? Every church that I've attended preached the exact opposite - that we are to bear our crosses and expect persecutions.

But my experience is limited to SBC. I also have dealings with free-will Baptist churches, and I know they don't believe this. But I've never attended a Reformed Baptist church and will rely on your experience. Have Reformed Baptist churches started teaching that if someone is not popular then they are not "gifted or called" to evangelism?

 

[blessedwife318]

I have never heard this. There are churches that insist if someone is not popular they are not called??? Every church that I've attended preached the exact opposite - that we are to bear our crosses and expect persecutions.

But my experience is limited to SBC. I also have dealings with free-will Baptist churches, and I know they don't believe this. But I've never attended a Reformed Baptist church and will rely on your experience. Have Reformed Baptist churches started teaching that if someone is not popular then they are not "gifted or called" to evangelism?

I can tell you that my reformed Baptist church does not teach this.

 

[JonC]

I can tell you that my reformed Baptist church does not teach this.

Unfortunately we don't have many reformed Baptist churches in my area. Maybe it is a Colorado phenomenon, or a regional teaching...?

 

[blessedwife318]

Unfortunately we don't have many reformed Baptist churches in my area. Maybe it is a Colorado phenomenon, or a regional teaching...?

No I never encountered that growing up in Colorado.

 

[JonC]

No I never encountered that growing up in Colorado.

How peculiar. It almost seems as if churches have never taught that one must be popular to be considered "gifted or called" to evangelism. You never know, I know of an evangelist who holds anomalous positions. And I'm shocked considering the source, but I think that this may be a "straw man" argument.

 

[blessedwife318]

How peculiar. It almost seems as if churches have never taught that one must be popular to be considered "gifted or called" to evangelism. You never know, I know of an evangelist who holds anomalous positions. And I'm shocked considering the source, but I think that this may be a "straw man" argument.

Yes it would seem to be a straw man argument.

 

[blessedwife318]

Interesting that Evan has not come back to this thread after I pointed out the proper context of Acts 20:23.

 

[JonC]

Interesting that Evan has not come back to this thread after I pointed out the proper context of Acts 20:23.

That is the problem with looking for answers in books instead of using them as a resource for study. Evan is an enigma. I wouldn’t look for him to deal with the passage, or for clarity in general. But...he may prove me wrong.

 

[padredurand]

How peculiar. It almost seems as if churches have never taught that one must be popular to be considered "gifted or called" to evangelism. You never know, I know of an evangelist who holds anomalous positions. And I'm shocked considering the source, but I think that this may be a "straw man" argument.

Churches in the Ichabod northeast don't teach that either.

I'll go get my own rabbit.

blessedwife318 I'll see if I can round up a cow or something. It'll keep the pig company.

 

[blessedwife318]

That is the problem with looking for answers in books instead of using them as a resource for study. Evan is an enigma. I wouldn’t look for him to deal with the passage, or for clarity in general. But...he may prove me wrong.

No he won't. If its not in a book he cannot explain it on his own.

 

[blessedwife318]

Churches in the Ichabod northeast don't teach that either.

I'll go get my own rabbit.

blessedwife318 I'll see if I can round up a cow or something. It'll keep the pig company.

Thank you. Steak and Bacon can't go wrong with that.

 

[OldRegular]

Wow could you have ripped a verse more out of context to try to make your point.
Here is Acts 20:23
23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
It starts in the middle of a sentence.
Now here for just a little bit of context

22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by[c] the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.

Amazing what one more verse will do, not to mention having the complete sentence will do for understanding what Paul is saying.
Its clear from the entire sentence that Paul had been warned in every city that Jerusalem would bring about imprisonment and affliction.

Maybe if you had actually looked up the verse yourself in context you would have realized that but once again you have shown that your man written books are higher then the Bible in your mind.

And thank you in advance for whatever animal you give me for this post

You are one tough young lady, but a lovely sister in Jesus Christ. Always enjoy your posts!

 

[blessedwife318]

You are one tough young lady, but a lovely sister in Jesus Christ. Always enjoy your posts!

Thank you. I enjoy your post as well.