55 Sermon Illustrations on Procrastination

One who resists light of divine testimony shuts himself up to judicial blindness and hardness of heart. Pharaoh had light but shut his eyes to it, therefore God hardens his heart

In Nebuchadnezzar's image, the lower the members, the coarser the metal: the farther off the time, the more unfit. To-day is the golden opportunity, to-morrow will be the silver season, next day but the brazen one, and so on, till at last I shall come to the toes of clay, and be turned to dust.— Thomas Fuller.

Edinburgh Review, "describes a village, situated on the slope of a great mountain, of which the strata shelve in the direction of the place. Huge crags, directly overhanging the village, and massy enough to sweep the whole of it into the torrent below, have become separated from the main body of the mountain in the course of ages by great fissures, and now scarce adhere to it. When they give way, the village must perish; it is only a question of time, and the catastrophe may happen any day. For years past engineers have been sent to measure the width of the fissures, and report them constantly increasing. The villagers, for more than one generation, have been aware of their danger; subscriptions have been once or twice opened to enable them to remove; yet they live on in their doomed dwellings, from year to year, fortified against the ultimate certainty and daily probability of destruction by the common sentiment; 'Things may last their time and longer."'

See EXCLUSION FROM HEAVEN.

PROCRASTINATION

He meant to insure his house, but it burned before he got around to it.

He was just going to pay a note when it went to protest.

He was just going to help his neighbor when he died.

He was just going to send flowers to a sick friend when it proved too late.

He was just going to reduce his debt when his creditors “shut down” on him.

He was just going to stop drinking and dissipating when his health became wrecked.

He was just going to provide his wife with more help when she took her bed and required a nurse, a doctor and a maid.--_Success Magazine._

Quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

“Love is the most durable power in the world. Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”

“Resistance and nonviolence are not in themselves good. There is another element in our struggle that then makes our resistance and nonviolence truly meaningful. That element is reconciliation. The tactics of nonviolence without the spirit of nonviolence may become a new kind of violence.”

“We are faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time.”

[last two paragraphs from “The Christian Citizen,” Vol. 2, 2000]

OUTLINE PLAN FOR OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION

1. Analyze your procrastination patterns.

a. What types of tasks do I procrastinate?

b. Who is involved, and what role do they play?

2. Evict the perfectionist.

3. Clarify your values.

a. What do I expect?

b. What do others expect?

c. What does God expect?

d. What are the most important things (my values) in my life?

1) Where did I get this value?

2) Is the value still important to me?

3) Am I living as if I believe in the value? Why or why

not?

4) Does the value reflect what I believe or what I

think I ought to believe?

5) Have I affirmed the value consciously or am I just

parroting the past?

4. Set realistic goals. Review them regularly.

5. Fight frustration with effective scheduling.

6. Make effective use of a to-do list.

7. Don't gift wrap the garbage.

8. Learn how to procrastinate creatively.

9. Use evaluation to grow from experience.

10. Live gracefully and draw on the power of God.

-- MARK HARRIS

SIX STEPS TO HELP YOU OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION

Dick Marcear

Most of us live our lives like we watch TV-- the program is not too good, but we are too lazy to get up and change the channel. Knowing what you need to do is not enough. We must be doers (James 1:22).

I'd like to share with you six steps that can help you get out of your rut and into action:

1) STOP TALKING AND DECIDE TO DO IT! Proverbs 14:23. Stop talking about losing weight, going to church every Sunday, etc., and do it.

2) SET A DEADLINE. Someone said, "A diet is what you put off while you are putting on." Resolve, I will lose 10 pounds in 30 days. I will read through the New Testament by September 15. Deadlines get you moving.

3) LEARN TO MASTER YOUR MOODS (Proverbs 16:32). Often we don't distinguish between "I can't" and "I don't want to." If you only pray or study the Bible when you feel like it, rest assured Satan will make certain that you will not feel like it.

4) BURN YOUR BRIDGES BEHIND YOU. Do not leave another way open. Leave your only option open as the one to move ahead.

5) TAKE THE FIRST STEP. This is the hardest. NASA says the rockets we launch to outer space require the majority of the fuel to get the rocket the first 30 feet off the ground. That's the hardest part for all of us too.

6) BE OPTIMISTIC. Remind yourself of the benefits for completion. Keep thinking what you'll receive, win or have when through.

What have you been putting off? DO IT NOW!

--Beltline Beacon, Decatur, AL

A minister stood up at the Annual General Meeting and said: "If there's one thing I won't stand for, Brethren, it's PROCRASTINATION! All that this church ever does is procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate!"

A member stood up, and asked, "What do you propose we DO about it, Reverend?"

"Well, for a start," said the minister, "I suggest that we take a long and serious look at this problem when we meet for our next Annual General Meeting!"

“Let me go back for just one more thing, Judd,” said a friend to Rev. Judd Wear, pastor of the Church of the Nazarene in Anaheim, California.

“Hurry,” the preacher cried, “see that wall of water coming down the arroyo! That means death if it hits us.”

“In a minute we'll be with you,” the man said, as he and his wife returned to the house to bring out a treasured possession.

But the flood waters, fed by a twenty-four-inch rain that had fallen into the mountains of southern California were sweeping toward the house with devastating force. Already the valley was flooded for miles. Orange groves worth multiplied thousands of dollars were washed away. Roadbeds were torn up. Bridges were wrecked. Mountain streams became raging torrents of water.

“Yonder it comes,” Judd cried. “It's almost too late.”

The couple rushed from the house, leaped into the waiting car, and started for the highway. But they were too late. The raging wall of water engulfed the car, whirled it around, turned it over, threw the preacher and his members out. Judd kicked out of his clothes as quickly as possible, and did all he could to rescue the man and his wife, who were poor swimmers. But when he could do no more, he gave himself to the current's will, and was washed to the roof of a floating house.

He clung to the roof of that house for eight hours, clung with a deathlike grip. He would not let go, however tired he might become. The next day when he was discovered, more dead than alive, he was still clinging to the roof.

“And the others?” the rescuers asked.

“They went back for just one more thing,” came the preacher's response.

It is that last thing that we are unwilling to give up that brings destruction to our souls. One more look at the world turned Lot's wife into a sack of salt. One more grip on the world turned Saul's soul into a cavern of despair, and dulled the heavens until God would not hear his cry. One more bag of silver caused Judas to betray Christ and to lose his soul.

That last thing must be given up before God will enter the soul with His forgiving power. His cleansing gift. Give it over into God's hands. There is nothing on earth, not one last thing, or one more thing, that is comparable in worth to one's soul.

By William Moses Tidwell, “Effective Illustrations.”

A bright boy heard and was deeply impressed by the text, “My son, give me thine heart.” Satan whispered, “Time enough yet,” and he put it off.

Ten years later a brilliant young collegian heard the same text under circumstances which seemed to make that the time of his salvation. Again the tempter whispered, “Time enough yet.”

Twenty years later a statesman of no mean renown listened to the same text from an aged bishop, and felt it to be a message to himself. This time the tempter said, “Visit foreign countries before you give God your heart.”

A traveler in Paris was stricken with cholera. His greatest suffering was agony of soul because he was not prepared to die and had not now time to get ready. His last words were, “Too late.”

The boy, the collegian, the statesman, and the traveler were one. Procrastination is Satan's best game.

William Moses Tidwell, “Pointed Illustrations.”

A young lady at Rose, New York, whose parents were church members,

came with them to a revival meeting. Near the close of the service a

pious aunt who was present became greatly distressed and burdened for

the salvation of the young lady. At last she went to the young lady's

seat and earnestly pleaded with her personally, but she refused to

seek God. At the close of the meeting the young lady started for home

with her parents. A few rods from the church the team became

frightened and ran out of the road, overturning the sleigh. The young

lady was thrown out with great violence, her head striking a telegraph

pole, and she was instantly killed. She was one hour too late!

Oh, to be a year too late, or a month too late, or a day too late,

or an hour too late is to be forever too late and forever lost!

William Moses Tidwell, "Pointed Illustrations."

An engineer who had been in the service for over forty years

decided to retire. He had been successful, never having had a serious

accident during those long years. The last day and the last trip had

come. He said to his wife on leaving, "I will be back in the evening.

When I reach the curve, I will blow the whistle that you may know I am

coming in on my last trip." The run was made successfully up to that

time. He reached the curve and reached for the cord to blow the

whistle when suddenly the mighty engine, which was moving swiftly

along, left the track and turned over. Coaches were piled up. The

wreck was terrible. When the engineer was reached, he held the

throttle with one hand and the whistle cord in the other -- but he was

dead!

William Moses Tidwell, "Pointed Illustrations."

A FISHERMAN skilled in music took his flute and his nets to the

seashore. Standing on a projecting rock, he played several tunes in

the hope that the fish, attracted by his melody, would of their own

accord dance into his net, which he had placed below. At last, having

long waited in vain, he laid aside his flute, and casting his net into

the sea, made an excellent haul of fish. When he saw them leaping

about in the net upon the rock he said: "O you most perverse

creatures, when I piped you would not dance, but now that I have

ceased you do so merrily."

Jesus is currently playing His flute of mercy hoping that you will

convert. However, the day will come when Jesus will come to judge the

Good and Bad, but on that Day it will be too late to seek His Kingdom.

Archias, the magistrate of Thebes, was sitting with many mighty men drinking wine. A messenger came in bringing him a letter informing him of a conspiracy against his life and warning him to flee. Archias took the letter, but instead of opening it, put it into his pocket and said to the messenger who brought it, “Business tomorrow.” The next day he died. Before he opened the letter, the government was captured. When he read the letter, it was too late. I put into the hand of every man and woman, a message of life. It says: “Today if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts.” Do not put away the message and say, “This business tomorrow.” This night thy soul may be required of thee.

-- Pulpit Treasury (see #2084)

In the ruins of Pompeii there was found a petrified body of a woman

with her jewels in her hands which she had spent her time gathering up

instead of fleeing from the doomed city. By her delay, she lost both

her jewels and her life. Multitudes are making the same mistake. In

trying to get earth and heaven, they lose both. "Ye cannot serve God

and mammon." --Topical Illustrations

A little girl one day said to her mother, while she was busy at

needlework, "Mamma, my Sunday school teacher tells me that this world

is only a place where God lets us live awhile that we may prepare for

a better world. But, mother, I do not see anybody preparing. I see you

preparing to go into the country and Aunt Eliza is preparing to come

here, but I do not see any one preparing to go there."

--Topical Illustrations

Why is it some people are always a few minutes late? They are too late to school, too late to church, too late everywhere. They seem to be in as much of a hurry as anybody else and if they could only set themselves forward ten minutes they would be right the rest of their lives.

A little boy who ran to the station just as the train had pulled out was greeted with the cry: "You didn't run quite hard enough." "Oh yes I did," said he. "I ran as hard as ever I could, but I didn't start soon enough."

That is the reason many will fail to get into the kingdom of God. They will run fast enough and try hard enough, but they will start too late. "When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying, Lord, Lord open unto us, he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye arc." "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near." I confess I know nothing of the force of human language if such advice does not imply that there shall be a time when the Lord shall not be found and when he will not be near to regard our call. --Topical Illustrations

There is an ancient story about three demons who were arguing

over the best way to destroy the Christian mission in the world.

The first demon says, "Let's tell all the Christians there is no

heaven. Take away the reward incentive and the mission will

collapse." The second demon says, "Let's tell all the

Christians there is no hell. Take away the fear of punishment

and the mission will collapse." The third demon says, "There is

one better way. Let's tell all the Christians that there is no

hurry" and all three immediately say, "That's it! All we have to

do is tell them there's no hurry and the whole Christian

enterprise will collapse."

"Run, speak to this young man." What young man? I would speak to

that young man who is saying, "I know I ought to be a Christian; but

there is time enough yet." Who told you that there was time enough

yet? Has God commissioned me to tell you tomorrow you may have an

opportunity to attend to your soul? Never! While I have no sympathy

with eccentricities in the work of revival, there was a time, a few

years ago, when I did one thing that seemed to be eccentric. I stood

speaking in the church were there was a broad aisle down through the

center. In the midst of my sermon I felt deeply impressed, and I

stopped and said, "I believe I am preaching the funeral sermon of some

person in this house."

If a thunderbolt from a clear sky, at twelve o'clock, had struck my

congregation, I do not believe they would have been more startled. It

threw perfect consternation among the people; but I could not keep it

back. I felt that I must speak, though I did not know why. As soon as

the people settled down I went on. At the close of that address an

aged mother, a widow, arose and walked up the aisle and said to me,

"Sir, will you pray for my dear son?" He was a young man of 24 years

of age, the only dependence of a widowed mother.

I stepped right from the desk and took him by the hand, and said,"

Will you attend to your soul now?" He replied, "I thank you for you

kindness, but there is time enough yet." I pressed it upon him. Said

I, "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." He put me

off. That young man was the one whose funeral sermon I preached that

night.

Just thirty-six hours from that time, I heard a noise from my

window. I looked out and saw six men bearing the body of a seventh

toward the depot. I ran out as quickly as I could to the depot. They

had just laid him down upon the floor. He looked anxiously from his

dying eyes. As I stood over him--for I recognized at once it was the

same young man--he acted as if he wanted to speak. I dropped on my

knees and put my ear down by his lips, and he said in a dying tone.

"Oh! Mr. Graves, I wish I was a Christian."

These were the last words he ever uttered, and he is now in

eternity. Young men! "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of

salvation." Oh that this night you would surrender your hearts to

Jesus; lay up you treasure in heaven; become a noble, Christian young

man. Then you are ready to live or to die. --Albert P. Graves

Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly.

-- Thomas Huxley, "Technical Education"

Procrastination: Putting off today what you can do tomorrow

by Kerry L. Johnson, Ph.D.

Have you ever before procrastinated? Have you put off returning phone calls only to find that you are too embarrassed to return a call when you receive the third attempt from a caller. Have you ever put off doing an assignment for someone and then when it came due, you made an excuse in an effort to gain more time?

Most of us procrastinate from time to time. Most of us also feel very guilty due to our perceived lack of personal self-control. But procrastination is not only undesirable, it is losing business for you. Have you ever been late to an appointment? 10 years ago, as an aspiring consultant, I was 20 minutes late to an appointment with a qualified prospect. Before the days of car phones, I couldn't call ahead. I just showed up late and embarrassed. My prospect entered the waiting room and told me that if I didn't have the courtesy of arriving on time, he wouldn't extend me the courtesy of listening to me. End of meeting. Tardiness is certainly a symptom of procrastination. It could be argued that when you are late, you put off the effort it takes to be prompt. But in my case tardiness cost me thousands of $ in revenue. If you have ever put off producing information or a proposal for a hot prospect, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

AVOIDING DISCOMFORT

There are many reasons for procrastination. The most salient is avoiding discomfort, a feeling of insecurity that you don't have the information to do the task. It could also be the illusion that the task is simplistic enough that there is no rush to start now since you have so much time left to complete it. Unfortunately you may also feel guilty. You have probably heard in the past to “just do it”. So if overcoming procrastination is that easy, there must be something wrong with you for being unable to control yourself. Yet there is much more to the problem than an arrogant irritation with your inability to control yourself. The truth is that you need help in controlling procrastination before it affects your “bottom line”.

A few years ago, I was assigned a deadline for writing a book. When I was asked by the publisher if I could keep to the schedule I said, “sure”. After all, I had about 4 months to do the outline and whopping 30 days to give them a rough draft. But as you might have guessed, I procrastinated until the week before the deadline to even start the project. After the outline was accepted, I then waited 3 weeks before the rough draft deadline to put pen to paper. The project was completed, but to this day I wonder what would have happened if I had taken the time to prepare better instead of rushing at the end. I knew what a big job it was. So I allowed myself to be fooled into thinking that as soon as I did all the research necessary, I could start writing. Problem was, I even procrastinated doing the research.

SELF-DOUBT

A key reason for procrastination is self-doubt. It occurs when you are unsure of your abilities to accomplish the task. So a way of avoiding the rejection inherent in failing is to procrastinate starting it. This perceived lack in self-competence exists often in those who don't think they can measure up to the job. For example, a salesperson I knew doubted his ability to complete an advanced sales course which would have helped him increase his ability to sell to more affluent prospects. In avoiding taking this course, he experienced significantly decreased sales since his normal prospects were buying less and less. If he had completed the training, he may have increased his income by $100,000 per year. Procrastination costs money.

Self-doubt at times results from the discomfort that there is a no win situation. I've often wondered why prospects refuse to accept phone calls from salespeople who are trying to follow up. It becomes very apparent to even the most green salesperson that the prospects who do not want to do business with you are the ones least likely to return phone calls. The general feeling is that “if I can't say yes, then I'll try to avoid communicating at all. I don't want listen to the salesperson try to overcome my objections”. This seeming Catch-22 dilemma exists because your prospect is procrastinating making the call due to a perception of discomfort.

OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION

There are 3 basic steps that will help you overcome the self-doubt and discomfort inherent in procrastination. These steps, if utilized, will help you get on the road to getting things done and doing them now. These steps are 1) plan 2) learn 3) observe 4) and engage.

One of the most common ways you block your own success is failing to even start a project. You have likely heard in the past that “inch by inch anything's a cinch”. But the hardest inch is the first one. You can make that first step easier if you sit down and create a game plan of what to do in completing the project. One tactic is to utilize down time. I find myself constantly in lines waiting for someone to serve me. These lines are often at airline ticket counters, restaurants or stores. A long down time could be the time it takes an airplane to load and take off. I recently balanced 4 months worth of my checkbook during this wasted time in which most people simply look out the window. So start by making a plan of what you have to do no matter how big and imposing the project. Do it during a time when you have nothing else to do like during down time.

LEARN

Secondly write down what you will have to learn in order to complete the project. In many ways we feel paralyzed and procrastinate because we don't know ahead of time how to do the job. Recently, I was assigned the task of writing a series of articles for a major magazine. I wasn't as familiar with the topic as I would have liked, so as I planned the project, I put ( ) around the areas I needed to do more research. During the next few weeks I found myself talking to almost everybody I met about the topic and gaining all the information I needed in the meantime. This is a side benefit of planning early. If you wait to start any part of your project until the day that it is due, you will not be able to let your mind automatically solve problems for you.

OBSERVE

The first two techniques of observation and planning are great for working on projects like a new marketing technique or painting the house. But what about the procrastination problems that keep you from arriving on time to appointments and cause you to avoid balancing your checkbook. These are the behavioral problems that probably upset you the most.

Get a sheet of paper and list the emotional benefits you receive from procrastinating. Seem silly? It shouldn't. There are definite reasons why you don't get things done. You aren't fatally lazy. Procrastination allows you to avoid looking bad on a job. It enables you to avoid getting rejected. One of my worst problems is tardiness. I recently listed the reasons that being late gave me. I was surprised to learn that I have an intense loathing towards having to wait. I have anxieties about sitting in someone's office reading a useless magazine until the person wrangles enough time to see me. So I try to depart for an appointment at exactly the time that I suppose it will take me to arrive. Unfortunately I rarely estimate drive time and traffic delays well. So I frequently get stuck. All this due to my fear of waiting resulting in procrastinating my departure time. What benefits do you derive? Take some time to list them now. By doing this exercise, you'll take some of the power away that procrastination holds over you.

ENGAGE

The last step in overcoming procrastination is to engage yourself in your goal. The most productive of achievers work a little each day on important projects even if it is just opening the folder reviewing what they have done so far. If you mentally engage yourself in doing something with a high degree of frequency, there is absolutely no way you will be able to put it off for long.

Procrastination is one of the our worst problems. It seems to be a prescription for failure in nearly every career and endeavor. Yet by using these techniques to diligently work through this problem, you'll be able to get more accomplished and certainly feel better about yourself as a result. This week, write down at least 2 projects you would like to accomplish that you have been procrastinating. Apply the Plan-Learn-Observe-Engage strategies to deal with them. Then secretly thank me for the extra money you will make as a result of using them this next month after completion. Good Luck.

DR. KERRY L. JOHNSON is a Tustin, CA-based professional speaker and author of Mastering The Game: The Human Edge in Sales and Marketing. You can order it by calling 800/883-8787.

Copyright © 1997 International Productivity Systems, Inc.

A boy told his father, "Dad, if three frogs were sitting on a limb which hung over a pool, and one frog decided to jump off into the pool. How many frogs would be left on the limb?

The dad replied, Two. "No, the son replied. There's three frogs and one decides to jump, how many are left?"

The dad said, "Oh, I get it, if one decides to jump, the others would too. So there are none left.

The boy said, No dad, the answer is three. The frog only DECIDED to jump.

________

TS--Sound like last year's New Year's Resolution? Great inspiration and great resolutions but often times we only decide, and months later we are still on the same limb of do nothing.

”Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” — Proverbs 24:33, 34

The worst of sluggards only ask for a little slumber; they would be indignant if they were accused of thorough idleness. A little folding of the hands to sleep is all they crave, and they have a crowd of reasons to show that this indulgence is a very proper one. Yet by these littles the day ebbs out, and the time for labor is all gone, and the field is grown over with thorns. It is by little procrastinations that men ruin their souls. They have no intention to delay for years — a few months will bring the more convenient season — tomorrow if you will, they will attend to serious things; but the present hour is so occupied and altogether so unsuitable, that they beg to be excused. Like sands from an hour glass, time passes, life is wasted by driblets, and seasons of grace lost by little slumbers.

Oh, to be wise, to realize that poverty of the worst sort awaits us, eternal poverty which shall want even a drop of water, and beg for it in vain. Like a traveler steadily pursuing his journey, poverty overtakes the slothful, and ruin overthrows the undecided: each hour brings the dreaded pursuer nearer; he pauses not by the way, for he is on his master’s business and must not tarry. As an armed man enters with authority and power, so shall want come to the idle, and death to the impenitent, and there will be no escape. O that men were now wise, and would seek diligently unto the Lord Jesus, or ere the solemn day shall dawn when it will be too late to plough and to sow, too late to repent and believe. In harvest, it is vain to lament that the seed time was neglected. As yet, faith and holy decision are timely. May we obtain them this night.

I’m Okay

The house is a mess, the dishes are dirty.

I’m too old for this stuff, I’m well over thirty!

The car is not clean, my hair is a wreck,

And I’ve already spent next Friday’s paycheck.

The laundry needs washing, the kids are too rowdy,

And I never have time for a leisurely “Howdy.”

With all that I do, it’s never enough,

It’s never quite finished, it always looks rough.

I looked in my mirror and what did I see?

A harried old stranger, where I used to be.

The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.

Today is tomorrow, and I’m not caught up yet.

My kids are growing at such a fast pace,

That I’m missing their childhood for the sake of this race.

I work and I clean and I cook, and I say

“Hit the books, clean your room!” there’s no time for play.

Well, the Lord, for some reason, chose ME with the care

Of three of His children, but I’m rarely there!

I’ve GOT to slow down lest there’s nothing to show

For my role as their mom when they pack up and go!

I’m only one person, but look through my door,

What appears to be one, divides into more!

I’m a chauffeur, a cook, a planter of trees,

A teacher, an umpire, a mender of knees.

Sometimes, I forget that deep down inside,

There’s a lady with feelings, and last night, she cried.

She gets tired and lonely, feels taken for granted

She wants to see blooms from the seeds that she’s planted.

Then, amidst all the turmoil in this mind-bending pace,

My little ones look at me — square in the face…

And just when I need it, they all in one day

Say, “Momma, I love you” and then … I’m OKAY!

Acts 24:22–25:12 — Paul from Felix through Festus to Caesar (outline by F. F. Bruce, NICNT) « Leader information shown in this fashion »

{A.} The Birth of the Church (1:1–5:42)

{B.} Persecution and Expansion (6:1–9:31)

{C.} The Acts of Peter & Beginnings of Gentile Christianity (9:32–12:25)

{D.} Church Extension from Antioch & Apostolic Decree at Jerusalem (12:25–15:35)

{E.} Paul Leaves Antioch & Moves to the Aegean World (15:36–19:20)

{F.} Paul Plans to Visit Rome and Gets there by an Unforseen Route (19:21–28:31)

{1} He Prepares to Leave Ephesus for Macedonia and Achaia (19:21–20:6)

{2} The Journey to Jerusalem (20:7–21:16)

{3} Paul at Jerusalem (21:17–23:30)

A. Meeting with James and the Elders (21:17–26)

B. Riot in the Temple (21:27–30)

C. Paul Rescued by the Romans (21:31-36)

D. Paul Obtains Leave to Address the Crowd (21:37-40)

E. Paul’s Defence to the People of Jerusalem (22:1-21)

F. Paul Reveals His Roman Citizenship (22:22-29)

G. Paul Brought before the Sanhedrin (22:30)

H. Paul Before the Sanhedrin (23:1-10)

I. The Lord Appears to Paul by Night (23:11)

J. Plot Against Paul’s Life (23:12–15)

K. The Plot Revealed (23:16–22)

L. The Tribune Prepares to Send Paul to Caesarea (23:23–24)

M. Letter from the Tribune to Felix (23:25–30)

{4} Paul at Caesarea (23:31–26:32)

A. Paul Taken to Caesarea (23:31–35)

B. Paul Accused before Felix (24:1–9)

C. Paul’s Defence before Felix (24:10–21)

D. Felix Adjourns Proceedings 24:22-23 (NKJV)

1. 22 But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.’ 23 So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. « – read Josephus XX.viii.7 re more of this man »

2. Comment on the character of Felix

a. respecting the Way « – though he knew the truth he was not interested in its personal application; a fence-sitter »

b. respecting his decision « – he neither here nor later makes any decision in Paul’s case; a procrastinator »

c. respecting Paul « – that he be treated kindly, in a relative liberty (form of house-arrest) but had an ulterior motive as will be seen; Felix would exercise justice insofar as it was convenient and expedient »

E. Paul’s Interviews with Felix 24:24–26 (NKJV)

1. 24 And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’ 26 Meanwhile he also hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him. Therefore he sent for him more often and conversed with him. « – Drusilla was only partly Jew, partly Edomite. Her father slew James; her great-uncle Herod, John the Baptizer;, her great-grandfather, Herod, the babies; left her former husband »

2. Comment further on Felix’ character

a. respecting the gospel « – curious but uncomfortable – one who knowing the truth cannot commit to it »

b. respecting Paul « – only cause to keep him imprisoned was Felix’ cupidity, how he could profit (Paul’s mention of his bringing alms or Paul’s nephew’s demeanor suggested $!) »

3. What elements of salvation did Paul present?

a. righteousness « – the necessity in order to stand before God, the ultimate authority (Matthew 5:8, Hebrews 12:14) »

b. self-control « – one of the evidences of salvation (Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Peter 1:6) vs being lost (2 Timothy 3:1–3) »

c. judgement « – faced by all due to sin, punishment only to be escaped by accepting Christ’s substitutionary death »

4. How did Felix respond to this good news? « – no decision for Christ (cf. Mark 10:21-22) so he must face punishment that until now he had avoided in this world; not an abstract discussion »

F. Felix Replaced by Festus; Paul Left in Custody 24:27 (NKJV)

1. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favour, left Paul bound. « – read Josephus XX.viii.8-9 about this transition »

2. Paul does not appear to have written any epistles in these two years; he could minister to church of Caesarea. Luke may well have been gathering material for the Gospel and the Acts.

3. What was Festus’ motivation? « – gaining political power through currying popular favour. »

G. Festus Visits Jerusalem 25:1–5 (NKJV)

1. 1 Now when Festus had come to the province, after three days he went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2 Then the high priest and the chief men of the Jews informed him against Paul; and they petitioned him, 3 asking a favour against him, that he would summon him to Jerusalem – while they lay in ambush along the road to kill him. 4 But Festus answered that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there shortly. 5 ‘Therefore,’ he said, ‘let those who have authority among you go down with me and accuse this man, to see if there is any fault in him.’

2. Why the early trip of Festus to Jerusalem? « – Felix had been recalled to trial in Rome for mishandling the Jewish situation. In Jerusalem were the principal Jewish authorities. He needed their co-operation for a successful rule in Judaea. »

3. In what ways was it beneficial for Paul to have Festus succeed Felix? « – he did not succumb to the Jewish suggestion of Paul going to Jerusalem and he was open to Paul’s being innocent »

4. Two years had gone by – those who vowed to kill Paul must have been really thirsty and hungry by now! « – there was provision for the setting in abeyance vows impossible to fulfill. »

5. What were Festus’ requirements of for the accusers? « – that they be those in authority, not the general populace. This meant that they could be held accountable for what they said and any false accusations would result in reprisals against those with the most to lose. »

H. Paul Appeals to Caesar 25:6–12 (NKJV)

1. 6 And when he had remained among them more than ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day, sitting on the judgment seat, he commanded Paul to be brought. 7 When he had come, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood about and laid many serious complaints against Paul, which they could not prove, 8 while he answered for himself, ‘Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I offended in anything at all.’ 9 But Festus, wanting to do the Jews a favour, answered Paul and said, ‘Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and there be judged before me concerning these things?’ 10 So Paul said, ‘I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. 11 For if I am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.’ 12 Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, ‘You have appealed to Caesar? To Caesar you shall go!’

2. What characterized the charges against Paul?

a. They were « – serious; they were not trivialities and would be items related to Roman rather than Jewish law … of treason, fomenting insurrection and so forth. »

b. The could not « – be proven; like those made previously, they would be accusations against Paul’s character and intentions; things not liable to objective demonstration »

3. What three charges does Paul specifically deny, and what was the implication of each?

a. He denies acting « – against the law of the Jews; this would have made him subject to their judicial process, by which he could not have suffered death but imprisonment for an uncertain term. »

b. He denies violating « – the temple; the one religious charge that could result in his being put to death. »

c. He denies offending « – the rule of Caesar; the charge that could bring execution even as a Roman citizen. »

4. What was Festus’ goal in suggesting the Jerusalem trip? « – to gain favour on what appeared to him as an insignificant point »

5. Beside the ambush plot, what was the specific exposure of Paul to injustice by going to Jerusalem? « – the council (Sanhedrin) would be Festus’ advisors in Jerusalem; as well, by giving in to the Sanhedrin on the venue, inexperienced Festus might well give in to them on other points. »

6. Should Paul have appealed to Caesar or trusted God to keep him safe in Jerusalem (see Acts 23:11) « – he knew from the Lord that he was headed to Rome in any event; also, from long past (Acts 22:18) that Jerusalem would not receive his testimony, and also of the former Jewish plot (Acts 23:16) … “Thou shalt not tempt (test) the Lord” (Matt 4:7, Deut 6:16), »