Turning the World Upside Down: The Message of the Dunlap church of Christ

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2. Acts 17:1-10 “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: (2) And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,”

3. “Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. (4) And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.”

4. (5) But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.”

5. (6) And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; (7) Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.”

6. (8) And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. (9) And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go. (10) And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.”

7. Acts 17:6 (6) And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;”

8. Acts 17:6 (6) And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also ;” These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also

9. Turning the World

10. Turning the World Upside Down

11. Turning the World Upside Down • Meant to be a derogatory statement. • The Jews did not want to be told to change. • Their whole world was being shaken up. • People today are the same way!

12. Turning the World Upside Down • Another interpretation: • In a significantly positive way • They WERE in fact turning the world upside down. • They were trying to make changes that would influence the whole world!

13. Turning the World Upside Down Therefore, Considered Positively… • What kind of attitude does it take? • What kind of action does it take? • Are we doing our part?

14. Why Turn The World Upside Down? • Not for prestige… • Not because it was easy… • II Corinthians 11:22-28

15. Why Turn The World Upside Down? • They believed in what they had • The Gospel of Christ! • It was valuable, and they knew it! • Acts 3:1-10 • They believed everyone needed to hear it • Mark 16:15-16 • They took this command seriously! • Colossians 1:23

16. Colossians 1:23 “…be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;”

17. Why Turn The World Upside Down? • They believed that what they had was worth dying for! • In 1861 the 14th Tennessee Regiment of 960 soldiers was formed in Clarksville. • 2 years later at the beginning of the battle of Gettysburg there were 365 left. • After the 1st day of battle there were 60. • At the end of the 2nd day, there were 3.

18. Why Turn The World Upside Down? • They believed that what they had was worth dying for! • Stephen (Acts 7:54-60) • Stephen had other options: • He could have not taught the gospel at all • He could have stopped when the crowd got angry • He could have changed the message • But the truth was too important to him!

19. Why Turn The World Upside Down? • This reflected their attitude toward what they had. • It was valuable • It was important for all the people • It was worth dying for • But, they had to go beyond attitude!

20. First Century Disciples Were Active! • The results in the first century came because Christians were active • They taught • They believed they held the responsibility to spread they gospel • I Corinthians 9:16 • Jeremiah 20:9

21. First Century Disciples Were Active! • They were active enough to draw the attention of other religious leaders. • They were… • Forceful • Not trying to spare the feelings of the guilty • They were trying to convince people to change • They were blunt (Acts 2:22-24)

22. Application For Us! • Can we be recognized as the type of church these men and women were a part of? • Is the gospel valuable to us? Proverbs 23:23 • Just how valuable? • It is shown by how we treat the gospel. • Do we teach it, or is it bound up in our Bibles, gathering dust on the shelves? • Is it important enough that every person on earth should hear it? • Who has heard it from us?

23. Application For Us! Is the gospel worth dying for? • Is the gospel worth losing family over? • Is the gospel worth losing friends over? • Is the gospel worth losing a job over? Matthew 10:37-39

24. Turning the World Upside Down

25. What A Responsibility! What An Opportunity!

26. God’s Simple Plan HEAR (Rom. 10:17) BELIEVE (John 8:24) REPENT (Luke 13:3) CONFESS (Rom.10:9-10) BAPTIZED (Gal. 3:27) ADDED TO THE CHURCH (Acts 2:41,47)