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W H E R E Y O U R B R E A K T H R O U G H S A W A I T Y O U !
 LIVE THE TRUTH
Responding to the Truth
Wisely
 Responding to the truth wisely

There is a wise and unwise response

Our response is our responsibility
Our response will impact us – and others – in
a critical way
 Responding to the truth wisely

We respond WISELY

W HOLEHEARTEDLY
I INTENTLY
S INCERELY
E XALTANTLY
 Responding to the truth wisely
42As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people
begged them to speak about these things again the next week. 43Many
Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and
the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God.
44The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them

preach the word of the Lord. 45But when some of the Jews saw the
crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against
whatever he said.

Acts 13:42-52
 Responding to the truth wisely
Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, “It was necessary that
46

we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and
judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. 47For
the Lord gave us this command when he said,
‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’”
48When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for
his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49So
the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.

Acts 13:42-52
 Responding to the truth wisely

50Then the Jews stirred up the influential religious

women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a
mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of
town. 51So they shook the dust from their feet as a
sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium.
52And the believers were filled with joy and with the

Holy Spirit.
Acts 13:42-52
 Responding to the truth wisely

WHOLEHEARTEDLY

42As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that

day, the people begged them to speak about these
things again the next week.

Acts 13:42
 Responding to the truth wisely

Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that

through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your
sins. 39Everyone who believes in him is made right
in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could
never do…

Acts 13:38-39
 Responding to the truth wisely

And the people of Berea were more open-minded

than those in Thessalonica, and they listened
eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the
Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were
teaching the truth.

Acts 17:11
 Responding to the truth wisely

A person who is dead can never respond

 Responding to the truth wisely

INTENTLY

43Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism

followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men
urged them to continue to rely on the grace of
God

Acts 13:43
 Responding to the truth wisely

Oh, foolish Galatians! Who has cast an evil spell on you? For the
meaning of Jesus Christ’s death was made as clear to you as if you
had seen a picture of his death on the cross. 2Let me ask you this
one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of
Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed
the message you heard about Christ. 3How foolish can you be?
After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to
become perfect by your own human effort?

Galatians 3:1-3
 Responding to the truth wisely

“You and I are Jews by birth, not ‘sinners’ like the Gentiles.
16Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith
in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have
believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with
God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have
obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with
God by obeying the law.

Galatians 2:15-16
 Responding to the truth wisely

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when

I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more
important. Work hard to show the results of your
salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and

the power to do what pleases him.

Philippians 2:12-13
 Responding to the truth wisely

SINCERITY

When the Jews saw the crowds, they were

filled with jealousy. They began to contradict
what Paul was saying and heaped abuse on
him.

Acts 13:45
 Responding to the truth wisely

46 Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We

had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you
reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of
eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47For this is
what the Lord has commanded us:
“ ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may
bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

Acts 13:46-47
 Responding to the truth wisely

EXALTANTLY

48When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and

honored the word of the Lord; and all who were
appointed for eternal life believed.
49The word of the Lord spread through the whole

region.

Acts 13:48-49
 Responding to the truth wisely

But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women

of high standing and the leading men of the city. They
stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and
expelled them from their region.

Acts 13:50
 Responding to the truth wisely

So they shook the dust off their feet as a

51

warning to them and went to Iconium. 52And

the disciples were filled with joy and with the
Holy Spirit.

Acts 13:51-52
 Responding to the truth wisely

WISE RESPONSE UNWISE

RESPONSE
EAGER for the Truth CONTRADICT the Truth

BELIEVE the Truth REJECT the Truth

SPREAD the Truth DISCREDIT the Truth

 Responding to the truth wisely

Our job is to spread the gospel. Their response is

their responsibility
 Responding to the truth wisely

PROCESSING
QUESTIONS
How would you describe your response to the gospel? Is it a wise
response, or an unwise response?
What challenges you to respond wisely?
What will you do this week to demonstrate your eagerness to know
the truth?