Acts 27 on Adams

Sunday we read Acts 27, the story of Paul and others in a treacherous sea storm. It was appropriate for us to read because, while many Christian movements today place an emphasis on prosperity, ours is one overtly denying ourselves and becoming servants to others. Paul’s story illustrates that God will at times place us in danger. The story also shows that if we are faithful He will bring us through.

If you haven’t, you might want to read Acts 27:1-28:16. In doing so, I came across several points applicable to our life together serving Normal Heights as Adams Avenue Crossing.

1. Followers make great sacrifices having joined the journey of a burdened leader: In v. 1 the narrator, Luke, identifies he and others as “we” as opposed to their leader “Paul and some other prisoners.” With a bit of humor I draw the parallel that I have been inflicted with a burden to help the people of Normal Heights and that will at times place others on board a ship headed into the storm.
2. In v. 3 we are introduced to a centurion, Julius, a Roman official who is in many ways opposition to Paul’s cause but is in this story an ironic ally. Paul’s exploding Christian sect had initially begun as a Jewish phenomena, and of the Romans were noted adversaries. Moreover as a prisoner Paul was to be held captive by the centurion and soldiers. But in v. 3 we see that Julius treats Paul with “kindness” (TNIV; Greek φιλανθρώπως philanthropos). We have chosen to do church not in a building but in an urban community, out in the rhythms of the streets, and often we will find ourselves with seemingly opposing forces (to religious eyes) who are, in the end, human like us – children of God.
3. As the journey went along there was “difficulty” (v. 8) and “much time had been lost” (v. 9). How apropos! Our voyage of planting a church has been just that, tardy by human plans. But we aim to please God, and patience is a fruit.
4. Now this one is silly. They were sailing in the autumn (v. 9 speaks of a fast, which was the Day of Atonement). No one sailed come November, and that was just around the corner. No wonder the ship wreck! There will be times we humans just make flat out bad decisions.
5. Likewise, just as the passengers “gave up all hope of being saved” (v. 20), at times our despair and discouragement will overcome us. Many times I have felt as though we could not succeed in transforming Normal Heights. And we have a long way to go.
6. But we are to be encouraged, just as the passengers who had “gone a long time without food” were lifted by Paul’s testimony of hope (vv. 21-22).
7. Furthermore we should take note in the way he shared with the people his experience with God. This tale is no model for the popular hit-’em-over-the-head evangelism. Paul hints at the gospel and is more inviting than overt when he says, in v. 23, “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul.’” What? Doesn’t that leave you wanting to know more? The listener would be inquisitive and filled with wonder. I’m reminded of the proverbial “many words mark the speech of a fool” (Ecc. 3:6). Paul is suggestive of something that he must have explained to those who inevitably came to ask him, for he spoke with such authority given his wisdom which was proven out by the events of the storm. As we do life with people we can simply share our faith in brief, authoritative statements, and as the storms and calms of life come and go others will have opportunities to respond to our testimony.
8. Similarly Paul uses the simple first person, “I have faith in God” (v. 25). As we are out on the streets it is effective to simply share our belief with first person statements. One cannot argue a point like this. “I have faith in God.” That is irrefutable.
9. Paul’s story was one of religious plurality. Notice the others who “prayed for daylight” (v. 29) but obviously did not trust their gods for they made “an attempt to escape from the ship” (v. 30). We too want to be around people who worship other gods.
10. And we should not hesitate to openly relate with our God while out in the public. Notice how Paul “gave thanks (Greek: εὐχαρίστησεν, from which English derive “Eucharist”) to God in front of them all” (v. 35). He basically did the Lord’s Supper right there with everyone, whether they worshipped Zeus or whatever! While so many churches only allow the Supper to be administered by priests and to baptized believers, Paul seems to be modeling a much more spontaneous, joyous expression of life with Christ. And I think this was more in tune with the Gospel narratives of Jesus.
11. Sure enough the chapter ends with the aforementioned centurion sparing Paul’s life (v. 43). There are many friends of God, often across opposing lines. Those lines are invisible in the kingdom of God. Let it be in Normal Heights.

During table talk there were a few applications I gleaned from others. Over time Paul earned the trust of the passengers. Such trust is only built during difficulty. Until that, people are inclined to do their own thing. But trust takes time to build and comes so especially with difficulty and perseverance.

It is also apparent how in a group setting there will be many differing motives. On the ship there were those invested in the cargo who wanted nothing more than for it to be safe; the centurion and guards were motivated by transporting the prisoners; the travelers like Luke who paid for the journey were interested in their own safe arrival; and the prisoners themselves too. Take a little place like Normal Heights and see how innumerable are the interest groups.

Finally our own Paul Woolf (evoking imagery from C.S. Lewis’ Space Trilogy) made the point that Satan could keep us from doing many good things, by paralyzing us with fear in the storm; listening to reports of violence; not being heavily encouraged by the church. But there is no fear in love. Be encouraged in the story of Acts 27.