THE PEOPLE CALLED CHRISTIAN
ACTS 11:26
Big Idea: Communion sermon celebrating the tie that binds; Jesus Christ.
In the 2nd century, when the Roman world was still confused about the identity and beliefs of the people called Christian, an unidentified believer tried to explain in a letter to Giognetus:
Christians cannot be distinguished from the rest of the human race by country or language or customs. They do not live in cities of their own; they do not use a particular form of speech; they do not follow an eccentric manner of life. This doctrine has not been discovered by the ingenuity or deep thought of inquisitive men, nor do they put forward a merely human teaching, as some people do …
They live in their own countries, but only as aliens … Every foreign land is their fatherland and yet, for them, every fatherland is a foreign land … they busy themselves on earth but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws, but in their lives they go far beyond what the laws require.
They love all men and by all men are persecuted. They are unknown and still they are condemned; they are put to death and yet they are brought to life. … They are completely destitute and yet they enjoy complete abundance. They are dishonored and yet in that very dishonor they are glorified; they are defamed and yet are vindicated. They are reviled and yet they bless; they are affronted and still pay due respect.
A lot of things have changed since that letter was written 18 centuries ago. But, still, in many places Christians find themselves an embattled minority. As you know, more Christians have been persecuted and killed in the last 100 years than in the preceding 19 centuries combined.
Christians still have some explaining to do. Many people, even in our society, still do not understand who and what the people called Christian are all about.
Why is this so when the Christians faith has been around for so long? We can understand why it had to be explained in the second century, it was new and they were few but not anymore – not today. Christianity is worldwide and the western civilization does not make sense apart from the presence and movement of Christianity.
Maybe … maybe that’s part of the problem. For many post-moderns Christianity is “just there.” It is part of the cultural and historical landscape. Like furniture in Grandma’s house, people don’t notice it – it’s just there and has always been there.
Unfortunately, for others Christianity does not mean to them what it means to us. Some will call a person “A fine Christian gentleman” and what they really mean is “he helps old ladies across the street and never kicks his dog.”
For others, it is associated with narrow-mindedness, intolerance, and mean-spirited. But these are poor caricatures of the people called Christian.
But who are these people called Christian? After all, we are all over the world.
There are some things that, regardless of where you find them, that Christians have in common.
1. CHRISTIANS ALL KNOW THE SAME PERSON
Christians know Jesus Christ. They do not know about Jesus, as a historical figure or good person, they know Him as their personal Savior and Lord. Most people find it easy to appreciate Jesus; even other religions acknowledge him as a good man and great teacher but Christians know him much differently and more intimately.
In Acts 11:26 it says “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” The pagans meant this as an insult but they accidentally got it right! To qualify as a Christians in those days required a personal pledge of allegiance to Jesus as Lord. It was considered treason to not pledge allegiance to Caesar and saying “No king but Jesus” put one’s life in jeopardy. Christians were not just courteous people who went to church on Sunday. Christians understood Jesus to be God’s ultimate answer to life’s problems. The commitment to Jesus was so radical that it was equated with being reborn … born again.
A prosperous merchant in Plymouth, England spent his whole life at home and on solid ground. One day he met a boyhood friend who spent his life as a sailor; he sailed with Admiral Hawkins and was classified as one of his “sea dogs.” The sailor was missing his teeth from scurvy, missing a leg, prematurely aged, and barely making a living. The merchant asked him condescendingly, “What have you got to show for your life on the sea?”
The old sea dog straightened up and replied without hesitation, “I am a confidant of and have sailed with the greatest seaman to sail the seven seas!”
Some people wonder what we have gotten out of being Christian. The world mocks.
They ask, “What are you getting out of being a Christian?”
The answer is nothing. Life is not about getting – it’s about giving and knowing Jesus makes it all worthwhile.
1. Christians all know the same person
2. CHRISTIANS ALL BELIEVE THE SAME BASIC THINGS
That statement sounds silly at first. Gordon-Conwell seminary released a study in 2002 stating there were 34,000 denominations. In 2012 they revised the number to 43,000! But in spite of some minute (and silly) differences we still hold more in common than we do not.
The New Testament rallied God’s people around a collection of central convictions. In the 4th century they were compiled into a confessional statement called “The Apostle’s Creed.” You are very familiar with it. Please say it with me:
The Apostle’s Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into Hades.
The third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit;
the Church universal;
the communion of saints;
the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
1. Christians all know the same person
2. Christians all believe the same basic things
3. CHRISTIANS ALL BELONG TO THE SAME FAMILY
The New Testament would suggest that you cannot have God as your Heavenly Father without having a whole bunch of brothers and sisters. Through faith in Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit we are adopted into the family of God.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, recounts a dream he had one night. He was standing at the gates of hell. Wesley asks,
“Are there any Roman Catholics here?”
The response; “yes.”
“Are there any Presbyterians here?”
The response; “yes.”
“Are there any Congregationalists here?”
The response; “yes.”
“Are there any Methodists here?”
The response; “yes.”
In the mystic ways of dreams he was then taken to the gates of Heaven. Again Wesley asks,
“Are there any Roman Catholics here?”
The response; “no.”
“Are there any Presbyterians here?”
The response; “no.”
“Are there any Congregationalists here?”
The response; “no.”
“Are there any Methodists here?”
The response; “no.”
Lost in wonder and panic, Wesley then asks “Well who then is inside the gates of Heaven?”
The answer came: “Christians! Only Christians.”
We are all of the same family.
1. Christians all know the same person
2. Christians all believe the same basic things
3. Christians all belong to the same family
4. CHRISTIANS ALL SHARE THE SAME MISSION
Being a Christian means so much more than having your sins forgiven. You become a part of a family and you become part of a divine mission. Our mission is to bring God’s “Good News” to all humankind and as they come to know Jesus as personal Savior and you as a family member, to help them grow to maturity … into disciples.
You see, we are convinced that Jesus Christ is God’s solution to the human dilemma and we must get the message out.
Sometimes Christians turn inward and become timid or even fearful. There are some who have never shared their faith with another person. But in our best moments Christians take Jesus’ mission seriously knowing the “world of good” Jesus can do for the world.
The former head of Nazarene Missions and now a research facilitator for the church says this: “Whether we realize it or not … we are living in a time of the greatest gathering of people into the Kingdom of God that the world has ever seen. Media does not report this kind of news but it’s true. It ranges across the spectrum of evangelicals and beyond. … All over the world the Spirit of God is moving.”
Christian researchers have estimated that in the first century the ratio of non-Christians to Christians was 1 in 220. Today it is estimated be 1 in 3 with evangelicals being 1 in 7!
Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the good news … Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved...”
WRAP-UP
1. Christians all know the same person
2. Christians all believe the same basic things
3. Christians all belong to the same family
4. Christians all share the same mission
5. CHRISTIANS ALL SIT AT THE SAME TABLE
This is “The Lord’s Table” not the church’s table. We come at His invitation; at his cost.
This is a sacrament – it is a holy moment when God connects with His people. And it is celebrated across the globe and across the centuries! We are one with God’s family when we gather here. We confess the same Savior and the same mission and we celebrate the same redemption.
Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
That is why we have gathered today; to celebrate the love of God.
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God. Let us draw near to God as we partake of the Lord’s Supper together.
The Lord himself ordained this holy sacrament. He commanded His disciples to partake of the bread and cup, emblems of His broken body and shed blood. This is His table. The feast is for His disciples. Let all those who have with true repentance forsaken their sins, and have believed in Christ unto salvation, draw near and take these emblems, and, by faith, partake of the life of Jesus Christ, to your soul’s comfort and joy.
Let all who seek the Lord come and partake; may you find him and be found by him.
Let us all remember that this is the memorial of the death and passion of our Lord Jesus. It is also a token of His coming again.
Let us not forget that we are one, at one table with the Lord.
Father God,
in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ,
we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving
as a holy and living sacrifice,
in union with Jesus’ offering for us,
as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Please say the words on the screen with me.
Christ has died; Christ has risen; Christ will come again.
Lord, pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and cup.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
that we may be for the world the body of Christ,
redeemed by his blood.
By your Spirit make us one with Christ,
one with each other,
and one in ministry to all the world,
until Jesus comes in final victory
and we feast at his heavenly banquet.
All this we ask through your Son Jesus Christ.
Please say the words on the screen with me.
By him, and with him and in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father,
now and forever. Amen.
And as our Lord has taught us to pray, we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
I invite you to make your way to the front and receive the elements. After you return to your seats, if you would just hold on the elements and wait until everyone is ready, we will partake of the bread and cup together, as one.
Song:
We are reminded that in the same night that our Lord was betrayed, He took bread and, when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Take and eat this, in remembrance that Christ died for you.
Likewise, after supper, He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this, in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.
Let us pray together:
Eternal God, we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
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** Special thanks to Rev. Randal Denny the former pastor of Spokane Valley Church of the Nazarene for the sermon idea.
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
