Not-So-Common Grace

Aim: To appreciate and avail ourselves of God's common grace.

Doctrine: The gospel has a savory effect on all of culture. This starts among the redeemed in the church, and it permeates everyone and everything else.

Exegesis: How common grace manifests itself: through an implicit respect for God's ministry (vv. 35-37), through a reasoned appeal for God's order (vv. 38-39), and through a proper use of God's authority (vv. 40-41).

Further application: Why common grace is such a blessing to the church and the world: because it supports the preaching of the gospel, which conveys Jesus to everyone.

Key verse: v. 37 ''For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.''