Have you ever been shocked by a certain bit of news? If so, you will understand what
is meant by Christianity being a shocking religion.
Text: Acts 17:19-32
People are always shocked when confronted with the truth of the gospel.
Some are shocked at:
Its message.
The demands it makes.
The worship it demands.
The scope of its promises.
The reaction of the Athenians is very typical of people's reaction to the truth.
Today, let's study some of the shocking events centered around Christianity.
THE BIRTH OF ITS FOUNDER, JESUS, WAS A SHOCKING EVENT.
Shocking to the prophets - hundreds of years before.
I Pet. 1:10-11
Isa. 7:14 - virgin
Isa. 53:1-5
Dan. 10 - shocked by the vision of man.
When prophecies were fulfilled, it was shocking to:
Mary - Lk. 1:31 - Angel - son - Jesus - can't be, I am a virgin.
Joseph - Matt. 1:19 - desired to put her away.
Shepherds, Lk. 2 wisemen, Matt. 2 - must have been shocked.
The birth of Jesus didn't fit the mold that the world thought of as what a great
man's birth should be.
THE LIFE OF JESUS WAS SHOCKING TO HIS SOCIETY.
As many people count success, Jesus' life was a miserable failure.
He never built a financial empire.
Never achieved academic excellence.
Was never a successful politician.
Never even owned a home - Matt. 8:20 - foxes have...
Measured by materialism - His life was a failure.
YET, His life affected many people:
His followers called Him Master.
Crowds in the 1,000's thronged to hear him preach.
Religious leaders shocked by his claims.
At 12 years old - shocked and confounded the doctors of the law.
When grown - astonished people because he had not attended the higher school so Jewish thought.
Matt. 13:54-57
Matt. 7:29 - taught with authority...
Jesus' manner of life was shocking to many - humble, unselfish life.
Did not act like a king.
Refused the crowds to make Him king - John 6:15.
He well defined His life and purpose on earth.
Matt. 20-28 - "even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give His life a ransom for many."
He shocked his disciples when they quibbled over who was the greatest in the kingdom.
Luke 22:26 - "but he that is greater among you, let him become as the younger, and
he that is chief, as he that doth serve."
That God "exalts the humble and humbles the proud," still shocks many people.
THE DEATH OF JESUS SHOCKED HIS FOLLOWERS.
When Jesus said He must die - disciples were shocked.
Matt. 16:22 - (Peter) - and Peter took him, and begin to rebuke him, saying, "Be
it far from thee Lord, this shall never be done to thee."
Mark 14:50 - "and they all left him and fled."
Luke 24:21 - "but we hoped that it was he who should redeem Israel..."
At the death of their teacher they saw only the end of their hopes and dreams...Only
after the resurrection, did they have their hope revitalized.
The idea that life comes from death still shocks people.
I Cor. 1:18
The death of Jesus is the source of our Spiritual life.
Heb. 2:9 - "...that by the grace of God He should taste death for every man."
Heb. 2:14 - "...that through death He might bring to naught him that hath the power
of death, that is the devil."
Rom. 5:8
It may be shocking, but true.
Heb. 9:22 - "and according to the law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed
with blood, and apart from shedding of blood there is no remission."
PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED AT HIS CHURCH.
At the idea of ONE church.
Prophets foresaw only one - Dan. 2, Isa. 2.
Christ promised only one - Matt. 16:18.
Christ purchased only one - Acts 20:28.
Apostles established only one - Gal. 1:6-9; Acts 2.
Bible reveals only one - Matt. - Rev.
Christ prayed for only one - John 17.
Most say that the Church has no relation to salvation.
Acts 2:47
Eph. 5:23 - Christ is the Saviour of the Church.
CONCLUSION:
Christianity is a most shocking religion.
Some are shocked to see what the Bible says about becoming a N. T. Christian.
