“Before Paul finished defending himself, Festus shouted, “Paul, you’re crazy! Too much learning has driven you out of your mind.” But Paul replied, “Honorable Festus, I am not crazy. What I am saying is true, and it makes sense.” (CEV) The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.” (NIV)Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade (convince) me to become a Christian.”And Paul said, “I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.” (NKJV) Acts 26:24-29
Two Questions We Should Ask Ourselves
- Is what I am believing trueand reasonable?
Think of…
- The testimony of the disciples, the others who saw Jesus, the evidence, Paul, the early church, history and extrabiblical sources regarding the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus
“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word, I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 NIV
- The testimony and honesty of the Bible(2 Peter 3:16)
- The continuation of the Church(Matthew 16:18)
- The testimony of changed lives(2 Corinthians 5:17)
Who or What Can Offer What He Offers?
- Eternal life(John 6:68)
- Everlasting Hope(Hebrews 6:19)
- Real Peace(John 14:27)
- Real Joy(John 15:11)
- Purpose(Philippians 1:21)
- Who really are the crazyones according to Jesus?
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.” Matthew 16:24-27 NIV
- The one who trusts in riches(Luke 16:13)
“I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all. But the things I have placed in God’s hands, I still possess.” Martin Luther
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot
- The one who trusts in their own goodness(Matthew 7:13-14)
- The one who is “almost”a Christian (Revelation 3:15-16)