Bridges And Ditches: Everything Old Is New Again (#4 Of 5 In The Series) Series

Welcome and Call to Worship

Good morning. We are so honored that you have chosen to worship with us today. We are in our fourth week of a sermon series from the book of Acts titled “Bridges and Ditches” and we are looking at ways to build bridges and jump ditches in order to bring the message of the Gospel to our community.

Today we will look at some “crossovers” – some things that our modern world has in common with the first century – all in hopes of finding encouragement and help in sharing our faith with our friends.

I’d like to read a poem to you this morning titled “Return the Cross to Golgotha”

“Return the Cross to Golgotha”

Return the Cross to Golgotha

I simply argue that the cross be raised again at the center of the marketplace as well as on the steeple of the church.

I am recovering the claim that Jesus was not crucified in a cathedral between two candles

But on a cross between two thieves: on a town garbage heap; at a crossroad of politics so cosmopolitan that they had to write His title in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek

And at the kind of place where cynics talk smut, and thieves curse and soldiers gamble.

Because that is where He died, and that is what He died about.

And that is where Christ's people ought to be, and what Christ’s people ought to be about.

(Source unknown)

LET’S PRAY OUR “PRAYER OF MISSION” TOGETHER.

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Responsive Prayer For Mission

Leader: Here in this sanctuary, we remember, O God, your gift of life to each of us;

People: And we seek to carry it to the streets-

Wherever there is death and violence

Wherever there is grief and loss.

Leader: Here in this sanctuary, we remember, O God, your invitation to belong and find shelter;

People: And we seek to carry it to the streets- Wherever there is loneliness and rejection Wherever there is homelessness and people displaced.

Leader: Here in this sanctuary, we remember, O God, your reign of justice and righteousness;

People: And we seek to carry it to the streets-

Wherever there is lawlessness or tyranny

Wherever there is corruption and oppression.

Leader: Here in this sanctuary, we remember, O God, your sacrifice of love and mercy;

People: And we seek to carry it to the streets-

Wherever there is hatred and evil

Wherever there is hopelessness, regret, and guilt.

Leader: Here in this sanctuary, where we remember all that you have done for us, O God, we remember also your call to live what we sing and pray.

People: And so we commit to ourselves again to carry our worship from the sanctuary to the streets.

AMEN. COME LORD JESUS!

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BRIDGES AND DITCHES: THE BOOK OF ACTS FOR TODAY**

EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN!

ACTS 5:33-42

Big Idea: Throughout the ages Jesus’ church has been flexible and adaptive in its tactics and methods but there are some crossovers which always seem to be present when the church is effectively winning the lost.

Supporting Scripture:

• Isaiah 43:1-13

• 1 Corinthians 9:19-22 (Responsive Reading)

• John 9:1-7, 22-25

ACTS 5:33-42

33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them: …

38 … In the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God." 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

INTRO

The ditches are getting deeper and the need for bridges is getting more urgent.

• For the first time in our nation’s history less people can explain the simple Gospel than can. It used to be that even the unchurched understood the Gospel to mean: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. That he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). But not any longer.

• The number of people who say they never attend church has increased from less than 10% in the 1970 to over 25% in 2012 (Wall Street Journal, Dec. 2014)