Sermons
Discomforting Jesus - Acts 9:1-19
Comfort is a desirable and good thing to have. Yet, it can easily become the focus of our lives. This has always been the truth. Yet, it is even more so in a society where new products are constantly marketed to consumers demanding greater ease and comfort. Consumer-oriented cultures like ours have to watch out lest we subject Jesus to supply the same sort of demand. That is because Jesus, the Prince of Peace, has always been in the business of discomforting his disciples for the purpose of bringing them better comfort.Nowhere is this more evident than in the conversion account of Saul, otherwise known as the Apostle Paul, which is repeated three times in Acts (9, 22, 26). Saul’s encounter with Jesus on his way to imprison Christians was not a tranquil, peaceful and easy moment. Jesus brought real discomfort into his life, causing Saul to face up to real yet difficult realities. Yet, Jesus did this wisely and at the precise time that his discomforting presence would have the greatest positive effect. Saul went on to experience greater comfort than he had previously known: God has put on sandals in Jesus and stepped into the abyss for his enemies; Jesus seeks his enemies out to let them know it; Jesus turns his enemies into shining trophies of his love by employing them in his mission. In this case he employed Saul in making Jesus’ severe kindness known throughout the then known world and writing a great deal of the New Testament.The Jesus of today is the same Jesus of the first century. He still will make us uncomfortable as we relate to him. The discomfort he brings is intended to bring about transformation and ultimate comfort. Yet, if we demand a Jesus that only brings ease, tranquility and a word of peace then we will not be dealing with him as we ought. And we will not grow as we ought. At moments of discomfort or stress we may even be ignoring him as the one who is seeking to encounter us with something we need to pay attention to.So, may I ask you: where is it most uncomfortable for you to relate to Jesus? When do you most desire to not be associated with him: family, friends, co-workers, online chats? Why does it make you uncomfortable? Where does he want you to grow?Your discomfort doesn’t surprise him. His grace is sufficient for us all. Let us humble ourselves with him, persevere through the difficulties and he will bring us out shining as a trophy of his mercy.The featured painting is Thomas Kinkade's Perseverance.
Concrete Identity - Acts 8:26-40
There are lots of little questions in life. Will I drink hot or iced coffee this morning? Should I turn on my blinkers when there is no one on the road at this hour? Should I put on the blue or the white shorts?Then there are big questions. The reason they are “big” is because of how much they will chart the course of life. One of those big questions is, “Who am I?”Who am I? Am I simply a collection of the many parts of my unique life story? Am I defined by my sexuality? By my failures? By my job? By my successes? By my ethnicity? By Christ? Who am I?This past Sunday we encountered the Ethiopian Eunuch on the road back home from Jerusalem. During that time he met Philip and was converted to Christ. What we noted was that his identity was primarily one who was now a part of the people of God, united to Christ by baptism. His supreme identity is that he is loved by Christ along with all of those who come to Christ by faith.Yet, we also read many details about this individual. He was ethnically Ethiopian. Sexually and socially he was an eunuch. In the world of work he was a treasurer. Politically he worked in the Ethiopian ruling court. Religiously he was a worshipper of YHWH, Israel’s God. By the end of Acts 8 he was still a worshipper of YHWH but now as he had freshly revealed himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit through the recent redemptive events witnessed to him by Philip. All of these details included about the Ethiopian serve to teach us that we still retain many important secondary identities as Christians. God wants us to enjoy and appreciate the multi-faceted ways he has created us. He also wants us to reflect upon our stories and experiences in light of our ultimate identity in Christ. We bring our secondary identities as gifts to Christ, asking him to mold them and use them for the sake of his reputation and the good of others.If you are asking the question “Who am I?” you can answer “Jesus loves me”. The real Jesus, resurrected 2000 years ago, really loved the real me. He dominates my identity but does not extinguish me.[button url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%209:1-19&version=ESV" newwindow="true" color="red"]Acts 9:1-19[/button]Questions for Conversation:[box icon="info"]What are your secondary identities (ethnically, politically, socially, etc.)?[/box][box icon="info"]Have you ever felt like they do not matter to Jesus or your discipleship?[/box][box icon="info"]What aspect of your identity most needs to be brought into the presence of Jesus? How might Jesus want to mold it? Use it? Sacrifice it?[/box]
Acts 6:8-7:60
Stephen Is Seized
8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” 15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Stephen's Speech
7 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And Stephen said:“Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Go out from your land and from your kindred and go into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran. And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living. 5 Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him as a possession and to his offspring after him, though he had no child. 6 And God spoke to this effect—that his offspring would be sojourners in a land belonging to others, who would enslave them and afflict them four hundred years. 7 ‘But I will judge the nation that they serve,’ said God, ‘and after that they shall come outand worship me in this place.’ 8 And he gave him the covenant of circumcision. And so Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day, and Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs.9 “And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him 10 and rescued him out of all his afflictions and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who made him ruler over Egypt and over all his household. 11 Now there came a famine throughout all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first visit. 13 Andon the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh. 14 AndJoseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers, 16 and they were carried back to Shechem and laid in the tomb thatAbraham had bought for a sum of silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.17 “But as the time of the promise drew near, which God had granted to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt 18 until there arose over Egypt another king who did not know Joseph. 19 He dealt shrewdly with our race and forced our fathers to expose their infants, so that they would not be kept alive. 20 At this time Moses was born; and he was beautiful in God's sight. And he was brought up for three months in his father's house, 21 and when he was exposed, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and brought him up as her own son. 22 And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds.23 “When he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. 24 And seeing one of them being wronged, he defended the oppressed man and avenged him by striking down the Egyptian. 25 He supposed that his brothers would understand that God was giving them salvation by his hand, but they did not understand.26 And on the following day he appeared to them as they were quarreling and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why do you wrong each other?’ 27 But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying,‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? 28 Do you want to kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?’ 29 At this retort Moses fled and became an exile in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.30 “Now when forty years had passed, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. 31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight, and as he drew near to look, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob.’ And Moses trembled and did not dare to look. 33 Then the Lord said to him, ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.’35 “This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’—this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, performing wonders and signs in Egypt and at the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the Israelites, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received livingoracles to give to us. 39 Our fathers refused to obey him, but thrust him aside, and in their hearts they turned to Egypt,40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us. As for this Moses who led us out from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 And they made a calf in those days, and offered a sacrifice to the idol andwere rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and gave them over to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the prophets:
44 “Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as he who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. 45 Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But it was Solomon who built a house for him. 48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, 53 you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”
The Stoning of Stephen
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
The Apostles Arrested and Freed - Acts 5:17-42
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words ofthis Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Thenthe captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying,“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and youintend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel,a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while.35 And he said to them, “Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing. 37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
People Over Possessions (P.O.P.) - Acts 4:32-5:11
The church is the greatest place on earth!The church is full of hypocrites and worse!Which of the above statements is true? Both. The reality is that although Jesus is doing bigger things than ever in his church, there is still much wrong with us.We see this in Acts 4:32-5:11, when Luke records the good works of God’s people like Barnabas and the selfish deed of Ananias, Saphira, and Satan. Will the rest of Acts bear out a community like Barnabas, one that is shaped by Jesus’ radical commitment to people over possessions? Or will this community be more defined by valuing possessions over people?God gives a strong answer at the beginning of this fresh movement of his Spirit recorded in the book of Acts. The church will be defined by Jesus’ work, which is a work that exemplifies a commitment to people over possessions. Barnabas is a positive example of selling a field for the sake of the community. This is the exact opposite of Judas, who sold Jesus for money to buy a field.[quote name="Book of Acts" center="true" float="right" size="one-third"]Ananias and Saphira, on the other hand, value possessions over people.[/quote] Ananias and Saphira on the other hand value possessions over people. Possibly in the pursuit of gaining a cool nickname like Joseph did ("Barnabas"), Ananias and Saphira choose possessions over people. They want a good name for their virtue, but they also want some good money in their pocket. The solution: lie. However, they cannot lie to God, and he takes this opportunity to remind this community what he is about: honoring his Son who honored people over possessions. Jesus put himself at our disposal for the glory of God, and his holy community will do the same thing. Ananias and Saphira are a warning shot to all those who will seek to use the church for their own purposes. Whereas the lame man in Acts 3 was a picture of the ultimate complete restoration of our created humanity, Ananias and Saphira are a picture of God’s judgment upon false members of the community. Does that mean they went to hell? It is possible that God used these foolish Christians to warn the rest of us, nevertheless mercifully accepting them into his presence. We will not know until Christ returns. Until then, may the Spirit so strengthen us to understand the love of Jesus so that we become a people marked by service to others, not service to money.[button url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%204:32-5:11&version=ESV" newwindow="true" color="red"]Acts 4:32-5:11[/button]Questions for Conversation:[box icon="info"]Where did Jesus exemplify a love for people over possessions? How does this make you want to worship God?[/box][box icon="info"]Read Leviticus 10. Do you see any parallel with the story of Ananias and Saphira?[/box][box icon="info"]Where does Satan tempt us to be devoted to possessions over people today? Why is loving people more beautiful?[/box]
The Acts of the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 3:1-4:31
Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesushas given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001
The House and Family of God - Acts 2:36-47
…36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
Pentecost: King Jesus' Pouring - Acts 2:14-36
Last week we learned that the book of Acts plays a key part in the unfolding drama of God’s work to restore his creation through Jesus Christ. As the church today we must, like the disciples in Acts, live faithfully, creatively and glocally. That is to say we must know where we are at in the drama (after Pentecost and before the second coming), creatively speak and act in keeping with where we are, and be mindful that the stage upon which the drama is playing out is global even as we improvise locally.I was reminded through an email from a congregant that although we are part of what God is up to we also have to remember that we are not at the center of it all; we are not the main characters on stage. This week we engaged Acts 2 and the crucial event of Pentecost. Peter made that congregants point beautifully. Pentecost, as some might suspect, is not about us and our experience of the Spirit as much as it is about Jesus’ exaltation to the right hand of God and expansion of His kingdom. Jesus is at the center of it all.Scottish Theologian Sinclair Ferguson put it well in his book The Holy Spirit,[quote name="Sinclair Ferguson"]"Pentecost, like the visible manifestations of every coronation, is by its very nature sui generis [of its own kind]. It is no more repeatable as an event than is the crucifixion or the resurrection or the ascension of our Lord. It is an event in redemptive history (historia salutis [history of salvation]), and should not be squeezed into the grid of the application of redemption (ordo salutis [order of salvation])….That is not to say that Pentecost has no existential dimension or contemporary relevance. But it does mean that we should no more anticipate a ‘personal Pentecost’ than that we will experience a personal Jordan, wilderness, Gethsemane, or Golgotha. While such language has been popularly employed it is theologically misleading. Pentecost itself is no more repeatable than is the crucifixion, the empty tomb or the ascension.”[/quote]It is important to remember that Pentecost is about Jesus expanding his kingdom because it helps us to remember that:1. Jesus is center stage2. We are not center stage3. Our experience of the Spirit is secondary to the main event4. The Spirit is poured out by Jesus so that we might make Christ known5. Jesus will always remain at the right hand of the Father as King of his expanding KingdomThe flow of the relationship (covenant) between God and his people is from heaven to earth. Pentecost therefore exemplifies the Biblical priority of God's grace and descent to us.As I studied the passage I think that the best way to see Peter’s point in how he ultimately answers the question “What does all this mean?” (2:12). “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36).[button url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%202:14-36&version=ESV" newwindow="true" color="red"]Acts 2:14-36[/button]Questions for Conversation[box icon="info"] Peter quotes many Old Testament passages? What about his audience made that a wise choice?[/box][box icon="info"] Much that could have been said about this passage was left out due to time. What did you most want to hear about also? Are there still questions lingering on your fingertips about this passage? Type them out and send them to us.[/box][box icon="info"] Where does it matter in our life as a congregation, your family’s life or yours that Jesus’ being King is what Acts 2 is about? What needs to change as a result? What can you be encouraged about?[/box]
The Promise of the Holy Spirit - Acts 1:1-11
The Promise of the Holy Spirit1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.4 And while stayingwith them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” The Ascension6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
True Spirituality: Physical, Public and Pneumatic - Luke 24:36-53
It’s either this or it’s that, but it can’t be both, right? Some things really are life or death, black or white, good or bad, apples or oranges. Dichotomies can be helpful. Dichotomies can also be unhelpful or false. God’s people have been known to make unhelpful distinctions between their “spiritual life” and their “home life”, “social life”, etc. When I recently asked a friend of mine in the Carolina’s what he thought Christians meant by their “spiritual life” he said, “Quiet times, prayer time and Sundays”. Is this really what constitutes Biblical spirituality? Is true spirituality just the private time we have with God? Is spirituality only about those specific times we gather with others to do religious things and focus on the desires of the soul? Or, is spirituality about the body AND the soul? Does it concern the private AND the public life? And finally is spirituality wholly a work of man OR fully the work of God?[quote name="" center="true" float="right" size="one-third"] The answer appears in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension as recorded in Luke 24:36-56.[/quote]The answer appears in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension as recorded in Luke 24:36-53. Luke’s record turns us to the answer that true spirituality is physical, public and pneumatic. Christ has bodily risen as the Lord of all creation: True Spirituality is Physical. Just as Jesus is raised flesh and bone, he is about the business of redeeming us body and blood. Christ calls his disciples to preach repentance from sin in all areas of life: True Spirituality is Public. Just as we are to be a part of the movement to call people to pray and read their Bibles we also are to call for proper use of money, excellence in engineering, and justice in warfare. Ascending to the Father Christ will pour out his Spirit upon his disciples: True Spirituality is Pneumatic. Just as the disciples are given understanding regarding their mission they are told to stay put till they are clothed with power. Without the grace of the Spirit of Christ they could do nothing and neither can we.Here’s the rub: if we see spirituality as only applying to the reasonable soul (Plato), the private world of values and not the public world of facts (Enlightenment), and a work of only man or only God (Pelagius or Hyper-Calvinists) we ultimately fail to grasp the goodness of the gospel. False dichotomies are like Pied Pipers leading us to the wrong places for help. When we don’t see that Christ came to redeem the body we will tend to look to others for that need. If we think that Christ’s authority doesn’t extend to the workplace or our bank accounts we will look to other guides as our ultimate hope. We may even grasp the bodily and global implications of the gospel and yet fail to see how God promises to empower us to live out the implications. Thinking we can accomplish it on our own will only lead to pride; thinking it is completely God will only lead to confusion. Jesus won the promise of the Father for us through his death and resurrection. We have not earned or deserved the forgiveness or power we receive by the Holy Pneuma (Spirit). Yet, by his presence in our lives we are being restored and are a part of God’s work to bring restoration to his good creation.If you are interested in reading more along these lines there are intriguing reads like Creation Regained by Al Wolters, Living at the Crossroads by Goheen and Bartholomew or anything by Christopher J.H. Wright.[button url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:36-53&version=ESV" newwindow="true" color="red"]Luke 24:36-53[/button]Questions for Conversation[box icon="info"]Which dichotomy do you see as most problematic for you:
- Christianity is about the reasonable soul NOT the physical body
- Christianity is about the private religious life NOT the public life.
- Christianity is about my doing spiritual things for me NOT me being empowered to respond to the resurrected Christ.
[/box][box icon="info"]What is the biggest problem you are facing in life right now? How are you dealing with the problem? Is your way of dealing with it working? How does the resurrection give clues as to how you might better respond?[/box]
On the Road to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-35
[button url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:13-35&version=ESV" newwindow="true" color="red"]Luke 24:36-53[/button]
Searching for the Living or the Dead? - Luke 24:1-12
We had a great worship service this past Easter Sunday. The sermon was on Luke 24:1-12 where we were encountered by the empty tomb of Christ – a shocking surprise to hearers ancient and present. The apostles who heard the news passed it off as “nonsense” or an “idle tale” (Luke 24:11). Many throughout history have passed the empty tomb off as an idle tale, including Thomas Jefferson. Indeed, he even went so far as to not include the four Gospel’s united resurrection account in his version of the Gospels (although Wikipedia is not the best of sources here is more info on the Jefferson Bible if you are interested http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Bible).Nevertheless, my intent was not so much to bring Jefferson into focus as much as how ending the story of Christ at the burial leaves us looking at a graveyard. Luke wants us to look elsewhere. He wants us to look into Paradise (Luke 23:43) and into the face of Jesus. The way Luke records the story functions like this: as we stare depressed at the graveyard of the Lord Jesus he comes from behind and turns us around to look into his face. Luke, under the inspiration of the Spirit, wants us to look into the face of our living and loving Lord.Jesus is living – the Living One (24:5). He is no ancient character from history past only to be regarded for his great morals. No! Jesus is alive! He is Risen! [quote name="Luke 24:5" center="true" float="right" size="one-third"]Jesus is living – the Living One (24:5). He is no ancient character from history past only to be regarded for his great morals. No! Jesus is alive! He is Risen![/quote] We can communicate with him now and he hears our prayers.Jesus is alive…but that may not bring us repose. I mean, he’s holy and we are sinners. Yet, the heavenly men at the tomb remind the women that Jesus’ love for them included the cross (24:6-7). Christ had told them that this all would come to pass. What seemed to the women to be a senseless act of violence against their innocent Rabbi turned out to be part of God’s loving plan for the Son of Man and his people.Finally, Jesus is Lord. Nowhere in Luke had Jesus been called “the Lord Jesus” until 24:3. Then, in Luke’s second volume (the Book of Acts) Jesus is called by that title over and over again. Why? Christ has now officially been vindicated in his role as King of Kings and Lord of Lords by his resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:1-4). This is partially what Peter may have been marveling about as he trekked home from the empty tomb (24:12). Peter, who had given up so much for the Jesus movement and seen it all crash days before now had regained hope for the movement based in Jesus’ proven Lordship.Christian: Jesus is alive today – he hears your prayers. Jesus loves you today – he does not mean you harm in the least. Jesus is Lord today - his movement is alive. Don’t get stuck staring at the graveyard, sin, depravity, and death. The story has moved beyond the grave to the resurrection and Jesus has turned us to look at him our resurrected Lord and Friend.[button url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:1-12&version=ESV" newwindow="true" color="red"]Luke 24:1-12[/button]Questions for Conversation[box icon="info"]Do people modify the Gospels today? How so?[/box][box icon="info"]How do Christians truncate the Gospel story?[/box][box icon="info"]Have you ever thought that it was proper to dwell on the death of Christ in isolation from his resurrection? Is that possible?[/box][box icon="info"]What would you tell a friend who is not a believer about the resurrection of Jesus if you had one sentence?[/box]
The Burial of Jesus - Luke 23:44-56
[quote name="Luke 23:44-56"]44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, "Surely this was a righteous man." 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. 50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. 55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.[/quote]New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
The Death of Jesus - Luke 23:44-49
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” 48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Blessing in Disguise - the Crucifixion - Luke 23:32-45
Jesus saves. Today we highlighted how the crucifixion is part of the way that Jesus saves, as strange as that may initially seem. At least it should seem strange. It certainly was to Luke’s early readers familiar with the practice of crucifixion.We noted the paradox of salvation through Jesus’ crucifixion in three ways. Why would the “Chosen One” (Isaiah 42:1-4) of God be hung upon a tree of God’s cursing (Deuteronomy 21:23)? How could one in such a weak and helpless state be the “King of the Jews”? Why would the Messiah, in the line of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4), be the sacrifice and not the one making sacrifice?The substitutionary-nature of the crucifixion is the key to understanding the paradox, to making sense of God’s plan. Jesus, the Chosen One, became the Rejected One, so that we might become chosen ones (Isaiah 52:13-53). Jesus the King became as the Tyrant so that we might become submissive citizens in his kingdom. Jesus the Messiah-Priest became the Sacrifice so that we might have Paradise (see how author of Hebrews references Psalm 40:6-8 in Hebrews 10:1-18).Since Jesus has made us chosen ones, why do we still refer to ourselves as rejects? Why do we put ourselves down so much? Does the "tape" playing in your soul more often put you down or edify you according to your new identity in Christ? Are you more prone to refer to yourself as “loser” or “idiot” or “useful” and “desirable”?Since Jesus has made us citizens of his kingdom why do we regard freedom as the absence of submission? We have been freed from the imprisonment of sin and freed back into the society of Jesus. That doesn’t[quote name="Tim Carroll" center="true" float="right" size="one-third"]Finally, Jesus had to be crucified to re-open the gates of Eden. The only way into the garden is through those doors built by the wood of his cross. [/quote] mean we go back out and break the law again. Rather we enjoy our freedom to live in submission to our King and his wise government. Freedom is not being master-less but in having the right master, as Dr. Michael Williams has written.Finally, Jesus had to be crucified to re-open the gates of Eden. The only way into the garden is through those doors built by the wood of his cross. Let us respect the work of Jesus by giving hope to our friends and neighbors through the crucifixion of Christ.[button url="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2023:32-45&version=ESV" newwindow="true" color="red"]Luke 23:32-45[/button]Questions to Consider[box icon="info"]For further consideration read Psalm 22 in conjunction with the crucifixion. Jesus embodies the moans of the righteous sufferer in this Psalm. There are many times Psalm 22 is used in Luke 23:32-43.[/box][box icon="info"]Does the crucifixion help to clarify the love of God for you? How so? If not, why?[/box][box icon="info"]What adjectives most come to mind when you think of the crucifixion? Why? What times in your life could be qualified by those adjectives? How does that shape the way you think about Jesus’ self-sacrifice?[/box]
Institution of the Lord's Supper - Luke 22:14-23
14 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. 15 And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” 17 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. 18 For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. 22 For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” 23 And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright ©
2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
