Welcome & Call to Worship
Good morning. We are honored that you have chosen to worship with us today.
In September of 1985, The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia, Ohio, reported a celebration of a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans city pool. In honor of the occasion, 200 people gathered, including 100 certified lifeguards. As the party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, 31, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season.
Sometimes I fear the something similar is happening at a spiritual level. People are dying and headed into a Christ-less eternity surrounded by others who know the Good news of Salvation.
Nobody wants this to happen and it stirs us to share Christ’s love and grace. As we begin week #2 of the sermon Series “Bridges and Ditches” we will focus on being “PEOPLE OF THE WAY” whom God can use to lead others into His care.
Listen as I read Luke 9:18-20 & 26
18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.”20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Let’s worship together.
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BRIDGES AND DITCHES: THE BOOK OF ACTS FOR TODAY**
THE PEOPLE OF THE WAY
ACTS 9: 1-2
Big Idea: The reason the first century church turned the world upside down was not because of some religio-socio-economic “perfect storm” that made their message ripe for the but rather it was the fixed and unswerving centrality of Jesus Christ as their message.
Supporting Scripture:
• 2 Kings 5:1-5, 9-14
• Luke 9:18-20, 26
• Romans 1:13-17 (Responsive Reading)
ACTS 9: 1-2 (ESV)
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
INTRO
Did you read the tragic news a week or so ago about the house fire in Blanchard, Oklahoma (December 28, 2014)? It was early Sunday morning; an 18 year old and his grandfather escaped but his 59 year old grandmother (Bonnie) perished in the fire. Sadly, they thought Bonnie was right behind them; following them out through the smoke-filled home.
Sometimes I fear the something similar is happening at a spiritual level. We think those we know and love are following us out of the impending Christ-less eternity only to discover, too late, that they did not know Christ as Savior at all.
Nobody wants this to happen and it stirs us to share Christ’s love and grace just as it did the Christians of the first century.
Those Christians were so faithful to their task that they were given nicknames reflecting their passion. Saul and others of that day referred to them as people who followed “the Way.”
I kind of like that – “PEOPLE OF THE WAY.”
That’s not a bad description of Christ followers. That sums it up rather succinctly. At least it did for Saul and those complicit in his persecution.
I am certainly not the only one who reads that and immediately thinks about the words of Jesus himself. In John14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
“The Way” has a direct reference – a direct link back to Jesus Christ himself.
And that, in a nutshell, is what we are talking about today. The people of Acts had a one-track mind. They are the epitome of “staying on message.” Every time they are filled with the Spirit and every time they give account for the hope that is within them they make a bee-line to the person and work of Jesus Christ.
They didn’t dilly-dally with existential angst, philosophical backdoors, psychological self-help or political ranting they had one message and one message only. As far as they were concerned – the bridge between them and those they spoke to was none other than Jesus Christ. He and he alone could get their family and friends out of the ditches they were stuck in.
This was made clear very early in their declarations, “It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead that this man stands before you healed. He is the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given by men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10-12).
Later Christ’s followers would be given another name. This one stuck … still sticks. In Acts 11:26 they are called Christians (actually “Christiani”). Again – that summarizes who they were very well.
Michael Green gives us some background on this name.
That was not the name they gave themselves. They called themselves simply disciples, or followers of the Way. It was those observing them who gave them the name that has stuck ever since. The origin of the term is obviously related to Christ, but its form is interesting.
In the first century there was a group of Romans known as “Augustiani.”
• It was a very very large group of people
• They were extension of the Imperial household
• They served almost as an Imperial civil service, all over the Empire
• It originated in the household of the Emperor Augustus himself
• They represented him They reported to him what was going on as they administered his lands and preserved his interests.
The title Augustiani proved an apt precedent for naming the followers of Jesus. When others saw the parallel and gave them the nickname of Christiani, they did not disclaim it.
• I fancy they were proud to bear it.
• Clearly their speech, their behavior, their way of life, reminded people of the relationship between the Augustiani and the emperor.
• That was a compliment:
• They were indeed Christ’s civil service
• The members of his extended household, scattered increasingly widely over the empire.
• They did represent his interests; they were charged with his message
• They did report back to him
• And they sought to live in such a way that people’s eyes were directed not to themselves but to him whose name they bore.
The title was given, no doubt, partly in jest and mockery. It was intended to hurt. And yet it would not have been given at all had there not been some noticeable parallel between their lives and that of Jesus.
To put it bluntly, they reminded people of Jesus. As Acts 4:13 expresses it, people “took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
(“Thirty Years that Changed the World” P. 57-58)
It makes me ask myself … what do we talk about? I have to confess that I have seen God open doors so wide that a train could barrel through it and I have watched Christians (myself included) talk about everything except Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
God opens the door and:
• We talk of psycho-babble
• We start talking about politics
• We excuse it and basically tell them “I’m okay and you’re okay.”
We may even give them a religious answer but we never bore down to bedrock. All-the-while what they are needing is the only real answer we have. As Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).
Do we believe that?
The reason the first century church turned the world upside down was not because of some religio-socio-economic “perfect storm” that made their message ripe for the audiences (like we try and do with our politics here in America) but rather it was the fixed and unswerving centrality of Jesus Christ as their message.
They had personally experienced the story of Jesus. He was alive in them – their sins were forgiven and their hope was firm and this … this … made the up the crux of their message.
For the modern church, the resurrection is a doctrine and the impetus behind a special day each year. But for the “PEOPLE OF THE WAY” it was not a doctrine ... it was a motivation! The good news was a recognizable message that could be explained and proclaimed and witnessed and experienced and acted upon by onlookers.
The major emphasis of their preaching was on the one who broke the power of death and rose on the first Easter day. That is what they insisted they were witnesses of (2:32). The resurrection of Jesus and their relationship with this living God is threaded through every declaration and defense in the book. They emphatically declared that Jesus was not dead but alive and that they knew him. Jesus was a contemporary to them – not a historical figure. And they could not keep quiet about it.
The “PEOPLE OF THE WAY” had no intention of keeping talk of Jesus in the synagogue. They took Him to the streets, the prisons, the debate centers, the courtrooms, on board ship, in front of the high and mighty and the beggars alike.
And they knew what the resurrected, living Christ could do for their world. You see, those three great hungers of the human heart that I gave you last week – they are all satisfied – fully satisfied in Jesus!
• The need to cleanse a nagging conscience
• The need for security
• The need for answers regarding immortality
I know its not in vogue today but, whether it is spoken of or not, humanity still struggles with guilt and looks for any means possible to cleanse the conscience. And just as the forgiveness of sin through the work of Jesus Christ was a major drumbeat then, it can be / must be now. As they said in Acts 10:43 “Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
In fact, at least five times they proclaim forgiveness of sin to be the offer of Jesus to humankind. And each time they expect, dare I say, anticipate, the listeners to turn to him and receive the offer. And you know what? In many cases they did!!!
Why? Because the “PEOPLE OF THE WAY” believed what they said; and they trusted God’s Holy Spirit to prick the conscience of the listener. They were not content to simply declare it – they sought to see those they loved come to faith and they made the offer and necessity clear.
I could say the same about the other two hungers of the heart (the quest for security and the hope for immortality). Both are satisfied through the name of Jesus in Acts.
And guess what … they are today too.
Can I stop here for a moment. I am under no illusions that everyone within the sound of my voice has experienced this Good News of Jesus Christ. You may all know about him … but do you know him personally?
• You do not have to struggle with a guilty conscience. You can leave here today knowing your sins are forgiven.
• You do not have to walk through this life alone. You can leave here today knowing Jesus as your contemporary and filled with His Spirit.
• You do not have to fear death and wonder about what happens next. You can leave here knowing your future has been secured through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
And you can receive any and all of those through one simple act … acknowledging Jesus as your savior and confessing Him as Lord.
Right now … this day … today is the day of salvation.
WRAP-UP
The “PEOPLE OF THE WAY” knew that the good news was only effective among those who repent, believe, and are prepared to engage in costly, self-sacrificial discipleship.
And they were not afraid or ashamed to tell it.
We needn’t be either.
The “gospel” of Jesus has a clearly defined content. You can spread the good news, teach it, announce it, chatter it, make it known, or put it forward for discussion. In response it can be heard, received, accepted, considered, pondered or rejected.
But for any of this to happen requires us to open our mouths!
One church historian says this,
No philosophy of life, no system of morals, engaged the attention of the first preachers, but only the living, loving person of Jesus. I cannot help being struck by their concentration on the person of Jesus – the one who can still troubled consciences (13:39), fill an empty life (2:38), restore a paralyzed man (3:6), exorcize a demonized girl (16:18), or rescue sailors in a storm (27:21ff). It is the person of Jesus that has supreme fascination. He and he alone, has that endless power to attract people of all types and backgrounds. We must, therefore, keep the spotlight on Him.
Be Christ-centered, however flexible your presentation, if you want to follow the example of the earliest missionaries.
(“Thirty Years that Changed the World” P. 83)
Now maybe you are saying. I just don’t know how … I don’t know who to talk about Jesus. Well, we want to help you with that too. There is a sign-up sheet in the foyer for a class on how to share your faith. If you are interested I would strongly encourage you to join that small group.
There is a song I want you to hear as we close this morning. When it comes to building new bridges for declaring the old Gospel nothing illustrates it quite like Christian artist Lecrae’s “Tell the World.” Some of you will find this new. We have provided you with the lyrics on your handout.
Service Helps:
o (Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc8x33lAnAk)
I am not suggesting that we should have the same audience as LeCrae. He is building bridges and jumping ditches to those within his calling. I am suggesting we can:
• Learn from his passion
• Catch his spirit of confidence in the Gospel
• Emulate his creativity in sharing the Gospel
• And stay on message as he does.
As a creative, passionate bridge builder of past years (John Wesley) once said,
“We have nothing to do but save souls.”
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** The idea, and much of the content, for this sermon series is owed to two books by Michael Green, “Thirty Years That Changed the World” and “Evangelism in the Early Church.”
This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
First Church of the Nazarene
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
Responsive Reading:
“I Am Not Ashamed of the Gospel”
(Romans 1:13-17, portions)
Leader: I do not want you to be unaware brothers.
People: I am obligated both to the Greeks and non-Greeks, both the wise and the foolish.
Leader: That is why I am so eager to preach the Gospel also to you who are at Rome.
People: I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
Leader: For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last.
People: Just as it is written, “The righteous will live by faith.”
Bulletin Handout
“Tell the World”
by Lecrae
Now I’mma tell the world, tell ‘em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell ‘em
Yeah, I’m a billboard
Tell the world, tell ‘em
I’m a broadcastin’ like the radio
Tell the world,
You oughta know, I’m brand new
I know one thing’s true: I don’t even deserve to know you
But, I-I’m a witness that you did this and I’m brand new
So I-I’m read’ to go, and I’mma tell the world what they need to know
A slave to myself but you let me go,
I tried getting’ high but it left me low
You did what they could never do
You cleaned up my soul and
Gave me new life – I’m so brand new
And that’s all that matters
I-I aint love you first, but you first loved me
In my heart I cursed you but you set me free
I gave you no reasons to give me new seasons, to give new life, new breathing
But you hung there bleedin’ and ya died for my lies and my cheatin’, my lust and my greed, (and Lord!)
What is a man that you mindful of him?
And what I have to deserve this lovin’
Tryin’ make the moments last
Holdin’ on to the past
But, like a hero in a dream,
Christ came, and rescued me
Now I’mma tell the world, tell ‘em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell ‘em
Yeah, I’m a billboard
Tell the world, tell ‘em
I’m a broadcastin’ like the radio
Tell the world,
You oughta know, I’m brand new
I can’t offer you nothin’ but your care and kindness keeps comin’
And your love is so unconditional, I get butterflies in my stomach
I got the old me in the rearview, now the new me got a clear view
And I was so dead, I couldn’t hear you,
Too deep in sin to come near you
But you drew me in, you cleaned me up
So take me home, beam me up
Before you do just let me tell the truth
And let those folks know that I done seen ya’ love
And it’s everlasting, infinite, it goes on and on,
You can’t measure it
Can’t quit ya’ love, they can’t separate us from the love of God
There’s no estimate
My face look the same, my frame ain’t rearranged
But I’m changed, I promise I ain’t the same
Your love’s so deep you suffered and took pain
You died on the cross to give me a new name
Ain’t nothin’ like I’ve seen before,
I gotta beamin’ glow
I was low, down, and dirty, but you cleaned me up, Lord
You adopted me, you keep rocking me
I’mma tell the world, and ain’t nobody stoppin’ me
