Sermon for 5/27/2007
Galatians 1:13-24 Memorial Day
Introduction:
A. Tomorrow is Memorial Day. We honor and remember those who have died fighting for the United States and for the cause of freedom.
B. Our sign out front is in honor of Memorial Day. Had a young lady ask a few questions about the sign. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.
C. In our day we can say pretty much the same thing. Not everyone can go into the military but for those who do we can say with gratitude in our hearts that we owe much to our service men and women. When we look at this for Memorial Day we can also say that we owe much (we being the many) to those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice (the few). We enjoy the fruits of their sacrifice.
D. Get back to Memorial Day at the end of this sermon.
WBTU:
A. Read Galatians 1:13-24.
B. Last week I mentioned it and I often refer to it that the best way in our day to share our faith is to share our story of what Jesus Christ has done for us.
C. We can give many evidences and many arguments for the truth of the gospel and the New Testament but in our day that is not as effective as it once was. This is the Information Age and there are many sources and many individuals who have mounds of information backing up their ideas and their philosophies. Our children and young people are bombarded every day with many different messages on many different topics. For every proposal there is a counter proposal, for every thesis there is an anti thesis.
D. How do we win people for Jesus Christ? It is by what we say, but what we do and by whom we reflect. A life that has been changed by Jesus Christ, a walking talking testimony for Christ, is the best way to win people in our day. However, how many times do people see that today?
E. We don’t have to have an ability to craft clever arguments and quote Greek to let people know about Jesus. All we have to have is a testimony about what Jesus did for us. If we know Christ as your Lord and Savior, we can witness.
F. This is what Paul did. Yes, he debated and reasoned with Jews and Gentiles. But we see that two times in Acts and throughout his letters he talks about what happened to him before and after his conversion to Christ. He shared his personal life story with people.
G. Our mission is to share our lives with whom we can. But what should I share? How can I share? What should I focus on?
Thesis: Paul gives us several thoughts on how to share our lives, our testimony with people.
For instances:
1. Find an angle for our stories.
A. In this Scripture Paul is just giving part of his life story. He could have said a whole lot more. However, his main purpose in this letter is to show his independence from the Jewish faith and his direct revelation from Jesus Christ. That is his angle.
B. What is your main angle? I remember in college we had to give our personal testimonies. My main angle was the Jesus Christ drew me to himself by offering his friendship. This seems to be a main theme in my life. But what about your life?
C. What needs did Jesus Christ fill in your life?
C. When sharing our lives we need to hear other people’s stories and then when we are allowed to share our story we need to apply it to people’s needs.
D. We could talk about how our past has prepared us for our present ministry and life. We could talk about our own spiritual development. We could talk about circumstances and changes that have made significant impacts upon our lives.
2. All stories are different.
A. Paul here is sharing his story. Everyone’s story is different. Most people’s stories will be very different from Paul’s. Think about the life of Saul, later Paul. His story is not a measure for my story.
B. Now everyone goes through the plan of salvation, belief, confession, repentance, baptism. But how we got there and what we do after that is usually very different.
C. Most people’s stories are not as dramatic as Paul’s. Most people’s stories are much more gradual than Paul’s.
D. God has given different stories to reach different people. Who better to reach an alcoholic than another alcoholic. Who better to reach a homosexual than another homosexual. My story doesn’t include these two things, so I am thankful for many different stories.
3. All stories must center on Jesus Christ.
A. The first thing that a new Christian will do is tell his life story in a new and different way. The basic change is: What mattered most to me before does not matter; what did not matter before is now important.
B. (Phil 3:7 NIV) But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.(Phil 3:8 NIV) What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
C. Paul’s life is now entirely shaped around his relationship with Christ. Look at the complete reworking of his life.
1) Vs. 13
2) Vs. 14
3) Vs. 16- To the Gentiles!
D. As Christians our life story should be outlined as three points.
1) BC- Before Jesus Christ
2) Conversion
3) AC- After conversion (calling, our ministry)
E. Some people that I have heard talk longingly about their life before Jesus Christ and the fun sinful things they used to do. Let me say that is not sharing our life story. Our life story needs to be centered on Jesus Christ not around past sins. (John 10:10 NIV) I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
F. Could come at this from many angles, but no matter what we need to tell it in such a way that Christ is the main thing. We need to put aside our own egos and make Christ the center. This teaches us to see our lives as God sees them, as lives that have been transformed by Jesus Christ.
4. Our stories need to be honest and truthful.
A. Galatians 1:18-19.
B. This does not back up Paul’s argument but for the sake of being honest and truthful, he says that he did go to Jerusalem one time. Inconvenient but he has to be honest.
C. If we are still struggling with some things, be honest! Look like we are perfect. He’s still working on me! (Phil 1:6 NIV) being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
D. In our day some want to juice up their past lives to have a dramatic conversion story like Paul. Must be honest. I was raised in the church and so my before Christ is not much. Had a bad attitude but as far as notorious sins, I don’t have any.
E. Mike Warnkey, Christian evangelist and comedian, made his living from his testimony. It is a shame it was not honest or truthful. In 1973 Warnkey published a book called the Satan Seller. In three months the book was a best seller. In the Early 90’s the truth came out. Look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Warnke for more info.
5. Our stories need to include sacrifice.
A. Before my life was miserable, but now with Christ I am healthy, wealthy and wise. Talk about not being honest!
B. As we look at Paul’s conversion we see one characteristic, it was complete. Paul moved from a commitment to Judaism to an even more strenuous commitment to Christ.
C. While it is clear that Paul is not the one we are to follow, it is also clear that Paul was an obedient servant whose life was a shining example of devotion.
D. It is a sad commentary on the church today that so many of those who claim to be Christians have a commitment to Christ that is far less than complete.
E. What would the martyrs of the faith think of our “demand-less gospel?” How can we look these martyrs in the eye and content that our lives do not have to be put on the line? In contrast to this thinking, we have the example of Paul. He provides us a stiff challenge; let us give our lives wholly to Christ and his calling in our lives.
F. In our day people are looking for something that they can sink their teeth into.
F. As in the days of Paul, the churches will praise God for such a life (vs. 24).
G. On this Memorial Day, we praise God for those who risked their lives for our country. We also should praise God for those who have laid everything on the line, including their lives, for the cause of Jesus Christ.
H. Paul, Peter, James (Lord’s brother) all died martyrs deaths.
H. Are we as committed to Christ as we were to our pre- Christian goals and dreams?
J. (Gal 2:20 NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
