This Sunday takes us to Thessalonica and Athens. My concentration will be focused on the apostle Paul's encounter with those in Athens, where he draws upon popular culture.
To set the scene: Paul makes the journey to Athens by himself - apparently because of the commotion caused in Thessalonica and Berea. His life might have been in danger. He comes to Athens and observes that the city is filled with idols. He came upon an"altar to an uknown god." He said, "What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you...." (Acts 16: 23) Paul then explains to them who this God is. He even draws upon some lines from their own poets to support what he is saying!
Paul was willing to debate with the Stoics and Epicureans. He was willing to speak to the Athenians on their own turf!
Do we realize the power of popular culture? We do live in a media-driven culture. Television, radio, and the Internet have made a vast difference in the information that comes to us. People are also attracted to movies, songs, and books that rank high on the charts. If we look closely, we can begin to see questions that people are asking. We would also see some common themes that come through such as the supernatural, love, freedom, and searching for purpose in life.
What values do you think people are acquiring through what they see at the theater and television? How might we draw on popular culture for reaching the unchurched?
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Divine Detours in Your Life
Have you ever mapped out your life to see what it would be like? Would it be linear; i.e. everything went smoothly without any detours along the way? Or did you find twists and turns that came unexpectedly? Try telling a college graduate today that his or her career will be with one company for 40 years! We live in a volatile world today, where we don't know what the future will bring.
We as believers in Christ, who have also received the Holy Spirit, need to realize that our lives are just as volatile as we live under the guidance of the Spirit. Our lives will not be linear. We really can't make any long range plans. There will be detours along the way.
This conviction comes from reading Acts 16 and the experience of the apostle Paul and others. We read: "They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them." (Acts 16:6-7) Paul then receives a vision from a "man of Macedonia" to go into that territory to bring the word of Jesus to them.
The Spirit might close a door in our own lives, only so that another (perhaps more fruitful) activity comes our way. Might a door have been closed for your own safety and protection? Are we willing to follow the promptings of the Spirit?
Think of a door that has closed in your life? What was your reaction to it? Have you had an openness to the Spirit's leading in your life?
We as believers in Christ, who have also received the Holy Spirit, need to realize that our lives are just as volatile as we live under the guidance of the Spirit. Our lives will not be linear. We really can't make any long range plans. There will be detours along the way.
This conviction comes from reading Acts 16 and the experience of the apostle Paul and others. We read: "They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them." (Acts 16:6-7) Paul then receives a vision from a "man of Macedonia" to go into that territory to bring the word of Jesus to them.
The Spirit might close a door in our own lives, only so that another (perhaps more fruitful) activity comes our way. Might a door have been closed for your own safety and protection? Are we willing to follow the promptings of the Spirit?
Think of a door that has closed in your life? What was your reaction to it? Have you had an openness to the Spirit's leading in your life?
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Showing No Partiality
Our country has been a melting pot from its inception. We can see diversity in all forms throughout our land.
Before Jesus coming, God's people had been monolithic, being confined to the Jews. They were a select group of people chosen by God from whom the Messiah was to come. With Jesus' coming and the sending of the Holy Spirit, a major shift took place in who would all be included as God's people.
This thought brings us to Acts 10, where we come to Caesarea. It is here that a Roman centurion by the name of Cornelius is converted to faith in Jesus thanks to the work of Peter.
We must understand that a radical shift had to occur in Peter's life for this to happen. He is in Joppa and has a vision of a sheet being lowered down from heaven with reptiles and birds. A voice tells Peter to eat, but he realizes that according to his Jewish upbringing, he cannot eat anything that is ritually impure. A voice tells him that God has made the food clean!
Next, messengers from Cornelius arrive and ask for Peter to come at once. When Peter reaches the home of Cornelius, he declares: "I tuly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34) Peter proclaims the message of salvation and they come to faith and are baptized.
The Holy Spirit is empowering the Gentiles to come to faith. Do we understand and appreciate the shift that is occuring here? For one who was Jewish and for the person who was a Gentile? The word of God was expanding beyond Jerusalem and extending beyond those who were Jewish. Luke is giving us detailed information about the growth of the church.
Do you appreciate that the word of God has been extended to you? How do you relate to those of a different culture when it comes to talking about religious matters?
Before Jesus coming, God's people had been monolithic, being confined to the Jews. They were a select group of people chosen by God from whom the Messiah was to come. With Jesus' coming and the sending of the Holy Spirit, a major shift took place in who would all be included as God's people.
This thought brings us to Acts 10, where we come to Caesarea. It is here that a Roman centurion by the name of Cornelius is converted to faith in Jesus thanks to the work of Peter.
We must understand that a radical shift had to occur in Peter's life for this to happen. He is in Joppa and has a vision of a sheet being lowered down from heaven with reptiles and birds. A voice tells Peter to eat, but he realizes that according to his Jewish upbringing, he cannot eat anything that is ritually impure. A voice tells him that God has made the food clean!
Next, messengers from Cornelius arrive and ask for Peter to come at once. When Peter reaches the home of Cornelius, he declares: "I tuly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34) Peter proclaims the message of salvation and they come to faith and are baptized.
The Holy Spirit is empowering the Gentiles to come to faith. Do we understand and appreciate the shift that is occuring here? For one who was Jewish and for the person who was a Gentile? The word of God was expanding beyond Jerusalem and extending beyond those who were Jewish. Luke is giving us detailed information about the growth of the church.
Do you appreciate that the word of God has been extended to you? How do you relate to those of a different culture when it comes to talking about religious matters?
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Helping Others See Jesus
As we move on in the Summer Travelogue series, we come to Samaria as our destination for this Sunday. The disciples experience persecution in Jerusalem and are forced to move out of the city.
Philip ends up going northward to Samaria and is still determined to speak for Jesus! There Philip is responsible for the conversion of Simon the magician. Peter and John lay hands on folks in that area, and they receive the Holy Spirit. Simon wants to purchase this power, but he is reminded that the Spirit's power in one's life is a gift.
Then, an angel of the Lord directs Philip to meet up with an Ethiopian who is traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip goes directly to this foreigner's chariot, notices that he is reading from the book of Isaiah, and asks, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The Ethiopian replies, "How can I unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:30-31)
Are we willing to help people see Jesus in Scripture? We are people of the book and ought not shy away from making reference to it even if people are not already reading it. The Ethiopian was reading a passage from Is. 53. We can help people to see that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophesy as put forward in the Hebrew Scriptures. Of all the predictions given in the Hebrew Scriptures concerning the Messiah, only Jesus matches all of them. He fits the fingerprint of who the Messiah was to be!
I wonder how much we must be aware of what image people have of Jesus as they are searching in their faith. Might they not have some misconceptions which need attention?
Have you ever used Scripture to help someone see Jesus? How might you grow in your own knowledge of Scripture to use it as a tool for witnessing?
Philip ends up going northward to Samaria and is still determined to speak for Jesus! There Philip is responsible for the conversion of Simon the magician. Peter and John lay hands on folks in that area, and they receive the Holy Spirit. Simon wants to purchase this power, but he is reminded that the Spirit's power in one's life is a gift.
Then, an angel of the Lord directs Philip to meet up with an Ethiopian who is traveling on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza. Philip goes directly to this foreigner's chariot, notices that he is reading from the book of Isaiah, and asks, "Do you understand what you are reading?" The Ethiopian replies, "How can I unless someone guides me?" (Acts 8:30-31)
Are we willing to help people see Jesus in Scripture? We are people of the book and ought not shy away from making reference to it even if people are not already reading it. The Ethiopian was reading a passage from Is. 53. We can help people to see that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophesy as put forward in the Hebrew Scriptures. Of all the predictions given in the Hebrew Scriptures concerning the Messiah, only Jesus matches all of them. He fits the fingerprint of who the Messiah was to be!
I wonder how much we must be aware of what image people have of Jesus as they are searching in their faith. Might they not have some misconceptions which need attention?
Have you ever used Scripture to help someone see Jesus? How might you grow in your own knowledge of Scripture to use it as a tool for witnessing?
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
We Can Offer the Gift of Faith
With this Sunday I begin my sermon series on the book of Acts that will be in the form of a travelogue. We will see how the Holy Spirit led Peter, John, Paul, and others to various places under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I want us to see, too, that as people of faith, our lives are not linear. There will be twists and turns along the way that come from the Spirit's direction.
Pentecost was that powerful event with the Spirit being outpoured on those disciples. Peter became the main speaker - amazing since he seemed like an unlikely candidate. For the one who had denied Jesus three times, we see how God uses him to witness to Jesus' death and resurrection. Luke tells us in Acts that thousands came to faith because of Peter's proclamation!
This Sunday our attention is brought again to Jerusalem. In Acts 3 we read about Peter and John going to the temple to pray. They come across a man who was lame and asking for money. Peter says "we have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." (Acts 3:6). The man was healed!
Certainly, there are times when we can offer tangible items to those in need, whether it is food or money. Then, again, maybe we don't have the resources. In that scenario, maybe the greatest gift we can give is our faith; i.e. to offer pray for those in need. When we pray for someone in need during a time of illness or unemployment, God might surprise us (and the person in need) with what can be done.
We at Savior Divine have a strong prayer ministry. I believe this is what we can offer to our friends and community. We believe in the power of prayer! In the biblical sense our sanctuary is a "house of prayer." (Isaiah 56:7)
Have you ever felt inadequate because you didn't have any tangible items to offer someone in need? Have you ever mentioned you would pray for that person or bring that person's name in prayer in Sunday worship?
Pentecost was that powerful event with the Spirit being outpoured on those disciples. Peter became the main speaker - amazing since he seemed like an unlikely candidate. For the one who had denied Jesus three times, we see how God uses him to witness to Jesus' death and resurrection. Luke tells us in Acts that thousands came to faith because of Peter's proclamation!
This Sunday our attention is brought again to Jerusalem. In Acts 3 we read about Peter and John going to the temple to pray. They come across a man who was lame and asking for money. Peter says "we have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk." (Acts 3:6). The man was healed!
Certainly, there are times when we can offer tangible items to those in need, whether it is food or money. Then, again, maybe we don't have the resources. In that scenario, maybe the greatest gift we can give is our faith; i.e. to offer pray for those in need. When we pray for someone in need during a time of illness or unemployment, God might surprise us (and the person in need) with what can be done.
We at Savior Divine have a strong prayer ministry. I believe this is what we can offer to our friends and community. We believe in the power of prayer! In the biblical sense our sanctuary is a "house of prayer." (Isaiah 56:7)
Have you ever felt inadequate because you didn't have any tangible items to offer someone in need? Have you ever mentioned you would pray for that person or bring that person's name in prayer in Sunday worship?
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