Sermon Listening Guide
Speaker: Pastor Kenny Stidham
Scripture: Acts 26:24-32
Sermon Title: "Are you out of your mind?"
Acts 26:24-32 (NIV)
24 At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 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. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 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. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”
28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
29 Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”
30 The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. 31 After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”
32 Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
Q: How do you respond when you are confronted with something that you cannot comprehend?
This passage reveals three stages in going deeper with God that will look like insanity to the world around us.
1. A personal _________________ with the _________ Jesus (v.19-24).
In these verses Paul boldly shares his salvation testimony with the elite members of Judea. Their response was that Paul must be out of his mind. They questioned his sanity.
Key Personalities:
Felix = Governor of Judea who first heard Paul’s case
Festus = Roman governor who replaced Felix in Judea
Herod Agrippa II = Jewish king of Galilee considered an expert in Jewish affairs
Bernice = wife and sister of Agrippa
Herod Agrippa I = Killed James, arrested Peter, eaten by worms (Acts 12)
Herod Antipas = Executed John the Baptist, Tried Jesus
Herod the Great = Ruled at time of Jesus’ birth, murdered children in Bethlehem
How would you describe your experience with the risen Jesus? Is there any part of your testimony that sounds unbelievable to a lost world?
2. A consuming ____________ for others to ___________ Jesus (v.25-29)
Paul’s experience with the risen Jesus had given him a consuming desire for others to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
The term “Christian” was used in New Testament times as a term of derision. How is that term perceived in our culture?
Q: To what degree do you desire for your family and others to know Jesus? What outward indicators reveal your desire for others to experience salvation? How does your passion compare with Paul’s passion for the Jewish people in Romans 9:1-3?
Q: How can our desire for others to know the risen Jesus increase?
3. A sacrificial ____________________ to ____________ Jesus (v.30-32).
Paul counted all things loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ.
Q: What are you willing to sacrifice that others may come to know Christ?
Going deeper with God is always costly, but the reward is far greater.
Blank fill-ins:
1. Experience / risen
2. Desire / know
3. Commitment / obey
This passage reveals three stages in going deeper with God that will look like insanity to the world around us.
1. A personal _________________ with the _________ Jesus (v.19-24).
In these verses Paul boldly shares his salvation testimony with the elite members of Judea. Their response was that Paul must be out of his mind. They questioned his sanity.
Key Personalities:
Felix = Governor of Judea who first heard Paul’s case
Festus = Roman governor who replaced Felix in Judea
Herod Agrippa II = Jewish king of Galilee considered an expert in Jewish affairs
Bernice = wife and sister of Agrippa
Herod Agrippa I = Killed James, arrested Peter, eaten by worms (Acts 12)
Herod Antipas = Executed John the Baptist, Tried Jesus
Herod the Great = Ruled at time of Jesus’ birth, murdered children in Bethlehem
How would you describe your experience with the risen Jesus? Is there any part of your testimony that sounds unbelievable to a lost world?
2. A consuming ____________ for others to ___________ Jesus (v.25-29)
Paul’s experience with the risen Jesus had given him a consuming desire for others to know Jesus as Savior and Lord.
The term “Christian” was used in New Testament times as a term of derision. How is that term perceived in our culture?
Q: To what degree do you desire for your family and others to know Jesus? What outward indicators reveal your desire for others to experience salvation? How does your passion compare with Paul’s passion for the Jewish people in Romans 9:1-3?
Q: How can our desire for others to know the risen Jesus increase?
3. A sacrificial ____________________ to ____________ Jesus (v.30-32).
Paul counted all things loss compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ.
Q: What are you willing to sacrifice that others may come to know Christ?
Going deeper with God is always costly, but the reward is far greater.
Blank fill-ins:
1. Experience / risen
2. Desire / know
3. Commitment / obey