U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.
West Fort Hood Community Chapel
Resurrection Sunday Worship Service
Killeen, TX
4 April 2010
Big Idea: Peter’s sermon encourages us not to get caught-up in issues of the past, but to move spiritually forward from the Resurrection.
Scriptural References: EAI (Expository; Application; Illustration); Leviticus 11 (Clean and Unclean Food indentified to Moses and Aaron) – God used a century old regulation to teach Peter an important spiritual lesson; The Romans killed by hanging people on a tree, while the Jews killed people by “stoning”; Mark Gospel: Translated from Peter’s sermons? Acts 10 (The story of Cornelius – Cdr of an Italian Regiment receiving Christ as Lord); Matthew 28:19-20 NIV (The Great Commission) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”; Acts 9 (Saul Conversion); Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.; Acts 10:35 (KJV) But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him; Isaiah 52:7 (ESV) How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”; Nahum 1:15 (NIV) Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed; Acts 1:8 (NIV) but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”; Matthew 28:19-20 – Great Commision; According to Webster-Collegiate Dictionary: one that gives evidence specifyically : one who testifies in a cause or before a judicial tribunal
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Acts 10:34-43 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Acts 10:34-43 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Acts 10:39-41 NIV (“We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that Peter’s sermon encourages us all to move spiritually forward from the Resurrection.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “He is Risen”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
(“A Moment of Silence” in honor of Sergeant First Class Griffin whose wife, this past Thursday, killed both his boys – ages 7 and 9 – then killed herself) … PAUSE...
I can’t imagine the pain that SFC Griffin must be experiencing right now. Know one ever expects to bury their children. As parents, we purchase life insurance to enable our children to bury us when the time comes. But, we never ever think that we will bury our children. Unfortunately, SFC Griffin will be burying his wife and children.
MOMENT OF SILENCE … then prayer for Sergeant First Class Griffin and his family.
Now, on a lighter note: I love the game of basketball, and during this time of the year, you can usually find me passionately watching and witnessing the results of March Madness.
Yesterday, after cutting and dressing our yard, my youngest son (Kendric) immediately left the house to find his playmates; while my middle son (Kendall) and I watched the NCAA Final Four.
We witness the undersized Butler University take down the Michigan State giants. We witnessed the game of basketball in one of its finest moment…
Likewise, some years ago, specifically in the month of June 2007;
Nike announced the introduction of its new “Witness” marketing campaign. This particular campaign celebrated superstar LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and his rise to prominence as he made his first NBA Finals appearance.
It has been said that this “Witness” campaign paid tribute to James while simultaneously acknowledging legions of fans worldwide who were “witnessing” James greatness, power, athleticism and beautiful style of play.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 1: In our Scripture today, like Nike for LeBron James; we find the Apostle Peter on a campaign for Jesus.
a. More specifically, Peter’s campaign pays tributes to “Jewish Witnesses” …
b. … Who acknowledge the Chosen One - the one that the Disciples knew;
c. … And the One that God knew from the Beginning of Creation. The Jewish Witnesses acknowledged Jesus’ greatness and His rise … for He is Risen!
d. He is risen does not refer to son of the widow of Nain;
e. Nor to the daughter of the ruler of the Synagogue.
f. Neither does the phrase, “He is Risen” refers to Lazarus;
g. But it refers to the one who is risen, never to die again; but to reign forever!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: In our Scripture Reading, this morning God uses a century old regulation in Leviticus 11 to teach Peter an important spiritual lesson.
a. When Peter arrived, at Cornelius’ House, he discovered that Cornelius had gathered relatives and friends to hear the message of life.
b. Cornelius was a witness even before he became a Christian!
c. As a result, - in his sermon - the Apostle Peter moves forward from the “Resurrection”.
d. Peter refuses to deal with stumbling issues between Jews and Gentiles of the past.
e. For centuries the Jews, on the basis of Old Testament Law had declared the Gentiles to be unclean, and some Jews even referred to the Gentiles as “dogs.”
f. Still, Peter was moving forward from the Resurrection!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: Now, my brothers and sisters, it has been said that CRISIS draws people to CHRIST.
a. This doesn’t mean, as believers, we WILL NOT experience CRISIS after receiving Jesus Christ into our lives.
b. It just simply means that troubles - in some form or fashion -initially draw us to Christ.
c. In other words, CRISIS draws people to CHRIST.
d. Tragedies, hardships, trials, other people death …
e. … or simply the belief that we we’re going to hell if we don’t change our unbelieving lifestyles and behaviors.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: The belief of going to hell is a crisis for many.
a. This belief along can – and often does - draw people like you and me to Christ.
b. Therefore, if this presupposition is true, then as a Community of Believers – we all have at least one thing in common.
c. We have all experienced a CRISIS of some form in our life.
d. As a rule of thumb - regardless of what the initial crisis - Was, Is, or Has Been – It Came or was Initially introduced into our lives before Christ.
e. Therefore, although the CRISIS came before CHRIST’s Resurrection in our Life - we to need to move “Forward from the Resurrection”!
f. Now, please don’t misinterpret me. Don’t get me wrong.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 5: What I’m simply saying is that we, as a Community of Believers, need to move FORWARD.
a. Yes … We should be able to RECALL the WHAT, WHEN, and WHERE in our lives
b. And we should rightfully acknowledge the pains of our past;
c. But move FORWARD.
d. As Christian, we should be able to WITNESS to others.
e. We should be able to tell others when we first heard the message of Christ speak directly to us – individually.
f. Like Peter (today), we should be moving forward from the Resurrection.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 6: As a BODY OF BELIEVERS, we can’t go forward – backing up.
a. We should NOT allow ourselves to WALLOW IN SELF-PITY;
b. WE SHOULD NOT LIVE IN THE SUFFERING, PAIN, AND ANGUISH OF GOOD FRIDAYS’ PAST.
c. AS WITNESSES, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD from the Resurrection!
d. For don’t you remember, Peter says … “ God raised … Jesus … on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses …” (Acts 10:40-41).
e. My brothers and sisters … We are all WITNESSES!
******* TAKE 5 BEATS ******
CELEBRATION:
As witnesses, … we need to share with others that on this Resurrection Sunday over 2100 years ago ….
Jesus Christ rose with all powers in His hands.
We need to make it very clear that although we may have talked about him and attended church regularly …
we really didn’t know who Jesus was before He resurrected into our lives!
But, now we know who He is in our lives; and He has risen.
Jesus is risen. He is risen indeed.
