Hello everyone. Today I have a couple of illustrations from sermons I heard last spring, when we were working through the book of Acts. Usually I have complete, finished illustrations to show you. Sometimes I take the time to color them, I really miss doing that, but I just don't have the time anymore. These are rough, not completely finished illustrations. The scripture covered in the first illustration is Acts 13:13-52, and the scripture covered in the second illustration is Acts 15:1-41. I have another good sermon and illustration inbetween these two and while I love the concept I came up with it was in to rough of a stage to present here.
In this first piece of scripture Paul lays out a succinct, complete gospel message in Antioch and Pisidia. From Egypt, to David, to John the Baptist and then Jesus. The people BEGGED to hear more of this teaching as they went out, and the next Sabbath huge crowds turned out, which filled the Jewish leaders with jealousy and anger. Go and read verse 46 to see if Paul and Barnabus were intimidated, haha... yeah right. They tell the Jewish leaders if you won't hear it, we'll take the gospel to the Gentiles(and the Gentiles rejoiced!).
I really enjoyed drawing this scene, and love the way it came out. It's a different sort of a scene than I usually draw. Most often I try to draw an action. Something exciting, to draw the viewer in. This time Paul is preaching, the others are sitting and listening. I really like how the characters came out, and how they I was able to stay "on character", or make them look like my other drawings of Paul and Barnabus.
The second piece of scripture covered here is Acts 15: 1-41. Here Paul, Barnabus and the Apostles and elders get together to settle the circumcision of the Gentile believers, with Paul and Barnabus saying all you need is Jesus, not Jesus plus the law, or circumcision, or anything else. James agrees with them, and backs them up in verses 13-21, the entire group agrees, and sends Paul and Barnabus out to spread the news. Then we come to the split. The group also agrees to send Silas and Judas(AKA Barsabbas) to help on the journey. Barnabus also wants to take John Mark along on the trip(who if you remember left Paul and Barnabus back in Pamphylia in the beginning of the story), and Paul is against it. A sharp disagreement ensues, and the parties split up with Barnabus and John Mark going to Cyprus, Paul and Silas to Cyprus. I leave you to ponder that whole situation, perhaps at some point I'll get to hear a sermon about how they work it out in the end, but that's a story for another day.
As you can see here this drawing is as I said in a rough stage. Their feet aren't even completely finished, and some of the textures are not as refined as I usually like to get them. I really wanted to share these with you all, so I hope you don't mind.
The characters we see here are Paul and Silas, Barnabus and John Mark (That's the same John Mark that left them and went back to Jerusalem back at the beginning of chapter 13, which really cheesed Paul off). This sermon is the last one our family went toat NW Gospel Church in Washington before we moved to Kansas. June of 2023 seems like ages ago. While we miss our family and friends in the Pacific North West, we have found a terrific, strong church family to join at North Side Baptist Church.
I hope that you have enjoyed my synopsis of the sermons, and my illustrations. to hear the sermons please go here(Acts 13), and here (Acts 15). I hope that you are challenged or encouraged by my post.
As always if you have any questions please feel free to drop me a line, if I don't know the answer I'll find out for you. May God richly bless you my friends, until next time.--Ryan
