Helping new converts
1) Philip the evangelist went to Samaria and because to preach about Jesus.
2) A man named Simon heard the gospel, believed it, and he obeyed it.
3) Sometime after become a Christian, he fell into sin.
4) This part of the story begins in verse 18 and goes through verse 24 – READ.
5) Tonight I want to look at examples of what might be called “new converts.”
6) The intent is to extract some simple but useful points from a variety of texts that deal with new Christians.
7) Acts 8 is our beginning point, and this chapter provides us with some helpful information.
8) In fact, at least two distinct points are recorded for us by Luke.
a) First, Simon was tempted by sin fairly soon after he was baptized.
b) Not only was he tempted to do wrong, he sinned.
c) Both of these points are worthy of consideration for our day and time.
9) When people today become Christians, it will not be long before temptation sets in.
10) New Christians will quickly be tempted to go against some part of God’s will.
11) Given the nature of humanity, we should not be surprised that new Christians stumble.
12) When this happens a more mature Christian might be tempted to say, “That’s okay. It happens to all of us.”
13) While there is a sense in which this is true, this is not what Simon was told.
14) He sinned, it was evident that he sinned, and Peter told him he was in the wrong.
15) What Peter said and did is important for us to know and apply.
a) After people become Christians, they can take a wrong turn just like Simon.
b) If we see this happen, we should not be surprised because of the example in Acts 8.
c) Secondly, if we see this happen, we should help turn that new Christian back to the right way.
16) A second conversion from Acts which is useful is found in Acts 16.
a) Paul and Silas were arrested and entrusted to a jailor.
b) This official was told to keep the men “safely” (23b).
c) This was a general command that could have been carried out in several different ways.
17) We know how the jailor chose to do it, and his choice suggests some degree of cruelty or unkindness.
18) Verse 23 says the Paul and Silas had been beaten several times.
19) Receiving a severe beating takes much of the spunk out of most people.
20) Nevertheless, this jailor put the two Christians in the “inner” prison.
21) He also put their feet in stocks.
22) About 10 verses later, we read about a distinct change – verses 33-34 – READ.
a) From this account we find that people who became Christians changed their behavior.
b) Today a lot of people claim to wear the name Christian but they have not changed their ways.
c) In Bible times, the word Christian meant something.
d) This single term represented a wide variety of things:
e) Christian meant a person believed in and followed the Lord.
f) It meant a person was owned by the Lord.
g) It meant a person was so committed to Christ that he or she would die for the sake of Jesus.
h) A Christian was also someone who had a transformed life (repented).
23) Our next passage also comes from Acts 16.
a) In the past denominational people have sometimes said to many of our brethren,
b) “You people in the churches of Christ are afraid of this or that verse.”
c) Our brethren have been not hesitated to face these accusations head on.
d) We are not afraid of any verse in any of the Bible’s 66 books.
e) We love every word in the Scriptures and are afraid of no passage.
f) One passage we have been accused of not using or being scared of it found in Acts 16.
24) Luke relates a story about a woman who became a Christian.
25) He describes her as a businesswoman and tell us her name (Lydia).
26) What we have been accused of running from is the statement in verse 14 – READ.
a) Denominational people have run around saying, “God opens the heart. Look at Acts 16.”
b) “You people in the churches of Christ don’t believe that. You don’t believe the Bible.”
c) We do believe the Bible, and we believe this passage means exactly what it says.
d) God opened Lydia’s heart, and anyone who denies that is denying God’s word.
e) The issue is not “did He,” but “How did He open this woman’s heart?”
f) Did God inject a supernatural influence upon this woman and force her to believe?
27) If God did that, why did a preacher need to come talk with her?
28) Notice what is said in verse 13 – READ.
29) Paul was a preacher. What did he do? He talked about Christianity.
30) He talked about Christianity and Lydia’s heart was opened.
31) How did that happen? It occurred by this woman’s being exposed to the gospel.
32) Hearing the word interests some and disinterests others.
33) God’s word divides people. It tests and proves the hearts of men and women.
a) Yesterday Teresa and her brother plus his wife split off from me at the mall.
b) I went down the religious bookstore to see what was in the bargain area.
c) There I saw a woman struggling with a concordance.
d) I asked if she needed help, and we began to talk.
e) Her intention was to find a better way to study the Bible.
f) I spoke with her for probably 30 minutes, and studied with her using one of the store’s Bibles.
g) God opened that woman’s heart just like Lydia’s heart was opened (through the gospel).
34) Sometimes it takes a while to see how a heart responds. Lydia was almost immediate in her reaction.
35) In other cases, a person may hear the gospel for several years before saying yes.
36) At one point or another, the Word of God divides all people into one of two categories.
37) What other useful points can we find in the recorded stories of conversion?
38) Acts 8 provides us with another that contains at least three important lessons.
a) Philip, the same fellow who spoke with Simon, was sent to a man returning to Egypt.
b) Philip taught this man by using the “scriptures” (Acts 8:35).
c) When a Christian dealt with a non-Christian in New Testament times, the Word of God was used.
d) If we are going to reach the lost today, we must still open up God’s word.
e) We have no power but the gospel.
f) A preacher used the Bible and the sinner asked about baptism.
g) Acts 8:35-36 – READ
h) Today a lot of so-called preachers preach, but few sinners ask about baptism.
i) Why was this done in New Testament times but not today?
j) The answer is that the first century message is not the same message often proclaimed in our time.
39) If we are preaching Jesus, we are also preaching baptism.
40) Our third point comes from Acts 8:36, and I will read that passage again – READ.
a) The man who needed to be saved asked about being baptized immediately.
b) He found the truth, water was available, so he asked, “why wait?”
c) In today’s religious culture, this account would read somewhat differently:
41) “Wait till the 15th of next month when we have our quarterly baptismal ceremony.”
42) “Hold off till Sunday morning till the whole church is assembled.”
43) “It’s late, so we will do it tomorrow.”
44) Or, “The water is not ready; maybe we can have things prepared in a few days.”
45) Those who worked with and for God in first century times baptized people immediately.
46) This act was done on the spot because Jesus placed baptism as a condition of salvation, Mk. 16:16.
47) My next reference is outside the book of Acts, but it is a well known passage.
48) Several parables are given in Mt. 13, and one of these parables involved a man who planted some seed.
49) Jesus spoke of seed that was planted but didn’t last.
50) It had no root, Mt. 13:6.
51) In our time, we will find conversions that are just like this.
a) People find the truth and may ask to be baptized immediately.
b) Within a day, the first week, or within the first year they wither away.
c) For us, that is discouraging.
d) It is discouraging to preachers. Elders look at these people and ask, “What went wrong?”
e) Jesus knew that some in the spiritual realm are quitters. There are people who throw in the towel.
f) Some seem dead 10 minutes after they are baptized.
g) Baptism is a beginning point, not an ending point.
52) Our next passage comes from Acts 11:17.
53) Peter baptized some Gentiles; he was at the household of Cornelius.
54) He justified this action to others by saying the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit just like the apostles had.
55) Acts 11:17 – READ.
a) We understand what Peter meant, but I want to look at his words in a slightly different way.
b) Peter saw a similarity between the Day of Pentecost and what happened with Cornelius.
c) He said the Holy Spirit came upon them like it had come upon the apostles.
d) In view of what Peter said, we too can think back to the time of our conversion.
e) What happened after we were immersed?
56) Did something bad happen shortly after we became a Christian?
57) If so, might that same kind of thing happen to a new Christian in our midst today?
58) If yes, is there something we can do to prevent that?
59) Did something good happen to us after we entered into Christ’s church?
60) If yes, would it be helpful for that same thing to happen to new converts today?
61) If we believe the answer to this question is yes, can we make that happen?
62) If we think back to our successes and failures, we are in a position to help new Christians.
63) We talk about the need to teach people the truth and this is an on-going need.
64) Once people are taught and decide to become Christians, they need our help.
65) Tonight we see from various conversions in the Bible why that help is important.
66) People are going to wrestle with sin, be tempted to leave, and face the battles we have already faced.
67) One of the great works we can do is help people who are new in the faith.
68) We hope this is something you have committed to do as a Christian because this is part of New Testament Christianity.
69) We also hope that each person in this assembly has become a Christian.