Turn The World Upside Down
from RADIO FPC
Why does the gospel stir up so much trouble? In Acts 17:1-15, the message of Jesus turns whole cities upside down. Dr. Toby Holt explains why the good news unsettles the world — and why that is exactly what it is meant to do. In Thessalonica, Paul reasoned from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths that Jesus is the Christ who had to die and rise. Some believed, but jealous opponents stirred up a mob, accusing the missionaries of proclaiming "another king — Jesus." Holt notes the real opposition is spiritual, and contrasts the angry crowd with the fair-minded Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily. Questions this study answers: 1. Why did the gospel cause such an uproar? Because it announces "another king, Jesus," and challenges the world's idols and power. A message calling for full allegiance to Christ always unsettles the way things are. 2. What was the real source of the opposition? Holt points beyond the angry crowd to a spiritual enemy. The struggle over the gospel is ultimately not against people but against spiritual darkness. 3. What made the Bereans different? Instead of reacting with anger, they searched the Scriptures daily to test whether Paul's teaching was true — showing us how to weigh everything by God's Word. "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." — Acts 17:6 (NKJV) Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.
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What this episode covers
Why does the gospel stir up so much trouble? In Acts 17:1-15, the message of Jesus turns whole cities upside down. Dr. Toby Holt explains why the good news unsettles the world — and why that is exactly what it is meant to do. In Thessalonica, Paul reasoned from the Scriptures for three Sabbaths that Jesus is the Christ who had to die and rise. Some believed, but jealous opponents stirred up a mob, accusing the missionaries of proclaiming "another king — Jesus."...
Chapters
- 0:00 The Gospel as a Threat to the World's Status Quo
- 0:25 Israel Set Apart: Why the Old Testament Had No Worldwide Mission
- 1:38 The Great Commission: A Revolutionary Mandate to the Nations
- 3:01 God's Eternal Plan to Bless All Nations Through Abraham's Seed
- 3:59 Paul in Thessalonica: Reasoning from the Scriptures in the Synagogue
- 5:51 Scripture as Its Own Witness: The Model of Reasoning from the Word
- 7:19 Isaiah 53 and the Suffering Servant Foretold
- 9:05 The Protoevangelium: The Promised Seed of Genesis 3:15
- 10:57 Faith Founded on Facts: The Historical Evidence for Christ
- 12:11 The Envious Mob and the Charge Against Jason
- 14:03 The Status Quo Disrupted: The High Priest's Rage in Acts 5
- 16:21 Another King Named Jesus: A Rival Kingdom to Caesar
- 17:29 The Lord of This World and the Unstoppable Gospel
- 18:55 The Noble Bereans: Searching the Scriptures Daily
- 22:26 Carrying the Gospel into Dark Places: The Call to Every Believer
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