Why Have You Sent For Me?

1
Why Have You Sent For Me?

• Acts 1024-33

2
Context

• Cornelius and Peters visions
• Both were obedient
• What can be learned?
• Why send for a preacher?

3
Desire For Human Wisdom?

• Corinthians
• One of their problems (1 Corinthians 122)
• Still a serious problem
• Pauls decision
• Only preach Christ (21, 2)
• Knew others preferences (122, 23)
• Reason (125)

4
Scratch Our Itching Ears?

• Some want this kind of preacher
• No longer want Truth (2 Timothy 43, 4)
• Available for a dime a dozen
• Preachers platform
• Preach the Word (42)
• Sound doctrine (Titus 21)
• Expect all the Truth (Acts 2020)

5
Looking To Satisfy Our Curiosity?

• Athenians
• Want something different (Acts 1718, 21)
• Seek Old Paths (Jeremiah 616)
• A curse to do otherwise (Galatians 16-9)
• Many desire speculation
• Forbidden (1 Timothy 64 Titus 39)
• Never satisfied (2 Timothy 216 37)

6
Cornelius Attitude

• The humble want the Truth
• Cultivate a love for Truth (Acts 1711, 12)
• Pride brings rebellion (Acts 757)
• Truth seekers listen attentively
• Not turned away by plainness (John 666)
• No apology for strong preaching (Matthew
  1512-14 Luke 1145-52)

7
Why Invite A Preacher?

• Churchs responsibility
• Uphold the Truth (1 Timothy 315)
• Who will if we dont?
• Speakers responsibility
• Preach the Word (2 Timothy 42 Titus 21)
• Not be intimidated (Titus 215)
• Pauls example (Acts 2026, 27)

8
Samuel Rogers

• In those days we were emphatically a Bible
  people. The Scriptures were our daily study we
  attempted to do nothing, either as a church or as
  individuals, without the divine warrant. As we
  were assembled together to worship on the Lord's
  day, we resembled more a school of children, with
  textbooks in hand, than a modern congregation of
  worshipers.

9
Samuel Rogers (Continued)

• In fact, between the religious worship of that
  day and this, there appears to me to be almost no
  resemblance at all. We occupied the time then
  chiefly in reading and expounding the Scriptures,
  and in the breaking of the loaf. Now the sermon
  is the main source of attraction and, in too
  many instances, that is but a string of sickly
  sentiments, poorly calculated to

10
Samuel Rogers (Continued)

• impart vigor to the soul, or to edify the body
  of Christ. We then delighted in the law of the
  Lord now, we delight in the eloquence of the
  preacher. Then the chief object of our worship
  was to please God now, it is to please the
  multitude.

11
Samuel Rogers (Continued)

• When I speak of these things, I am told that
  the times change, and we must keep up with the
  times that such old-time service would drive the
  people away, and leave us nothing but empty pews.
  I answer, that it would be better to have a few
  empty pews than to have the pews filled with so
  many empty heads and hearts.

12
Samuel Rogers (Conclusion)

• We had better fall behind the times than to go
  beyond the bounds of Apostolic doctrine. I am
  now, and have always been, afraid to follow the
  times, lest they lead me clear out of sight of
  Christ and the Apostles. I had rather have a few
  hearers and Jesus in the midst, than to have ever
  so many hearers and be without Him.
  Autobiography of Samuel Rogers, p. 123

13
Conclusion

• Preacher- Preach Truth
• Church- Demand Truth