1. Series Review -- Close Encounter of the Holy Kind
a. We have a universal longing for God -- Ecclesiastes 3.11
b. His singular provision is his glory/presence within and among us
c. We have a common access to that glory in and through the church
d. The Epic Failure of Many Churches -- Loss of that Presence
e. The Process to Reclaim the Glory of God
* Unapologetic preaching of God's Word
* The Unashamed Adoration of His Son
* The Unceasing Prayers of His People (1 Thessalonians 5.17)
* The Bold Demonstration of God's People --
2. Black Death/Bubonic Plague
In the early 1330s an outbreak of deadly bubonic plague occurred in China. The bubonic plague mainly affects rodents, but fleas can transmit the disease to people. Once people are infected, they infect others very rapidly. Plague causes fever and a painful swelling of the lymph glands called buboes, which is how it gets its name. The disease also causes spots on the skin that are red at first and then turn black.
Since China was one of the busiest of the world's trading nations, it was only a matter of time before the outbreak of plague in China spread to western Asia and Europe. In October of 1347, several Italian merchant ships returned from a trip to the Black Sea, one of the key links in trade with China. When the ships docked in Sicily, many of those on board were already dying of plague. Within days the disease spread to the city and the surrounding countryside.
By the following August, the plague had spread as far north as England, where people called it "The Black Death" because of the black spots it produced on the skin. A terrible killer was loose across Europe, and Medieval medicine had nothing to combat it.
In winter the disease seemed to disappear, but only because fleas--which were now helping to carry it from person to person--are dormant then. Each spring, the plague attacked again, killing new victims. After five years 25 million people were dead--one-third of Europe's people.
People came up with crazy ideas as to the cause and cures.
* Air was polluted and the bad air caused the disease. Therefore, carry flowers to prevent it. If someone was infected, doctors would sprinkle flower petals on them in order to clear the air. Some were taken to flower beds for healing or if too ill to go, flowers were brought to them.
* When close to death, the patients would cough up a black phlegm; so, they tried to get patients to cough it up sooner, thinking it would cure them. They would feed them spoons full of ashes so they would cough and sneeze.
* Neither worked and the children came up with this Rhyme:
Ring-a-ring-a-roses,
A pocket full of posies;
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down.
The last two lines:
Hush! Hush! Hush! Hush!
We've all tumbled down
* People are dying (eternally) and do not know the reason or the solution
* You know why and what -- Sin/Knowing Christ and the power of his resurrection
3. Write names of some people you know that are without Christ -- PRAY for ways to get gospel to them
4. Luke 2.8-20
5. Bold Actions around the Shepherds:
I. The Bold Exclamation of the Angels -- 2. 8-14
A. A Partnership with God in Announcing the Birth
1. Angels = Messengers (can be People or Angelic Beings)
2. A Great Mystery -- the Redemption of ALL Men -- Ephesians 3.7-12
7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
3. Unseen and then Declared -- first by Angels then by Men
B. A Proclamation of God's Glory
1. The Same thing today
2. WE are the witnesses to God's actions in our world
3. WE have a bold message
II. The Bold Examination of the Shepherds -- 2.15
A. God Invites Our Examinations -- Luke 24.39-40 (also Thomas)
39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
1. Invitation to Taste -- Psalm 34.8a Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
2. To Come -- Jesus called disciples to follow; invites us -- Matthew 11.28-30
B. Examination includes Participation -- Live the life and see if anything changes
Mitsuo Fuchida was the pilot in charge of one of the most successful aerial attacks in recorded history. Under his command were 360 specially selected pilots, and on Dec. 7, 1941, Fuchida's squadrons bombed Pearl Harbor.
He quickly became one of the most highly decorated pilots in the Japanese air force, and the one most hated by the American forces. That included Jacob DeShazer, a young B-25 bomber pilot who longed for the day when he would be able to pay Japan back for what they had done.
One day that opportunity arose as DeShazer became a part of the very first bombing raids over Japan. But after dropping his bombs on the city of Nagoya, DeShazer lost his way in the heavy fog and was forced to bail out when his plane ran out of fuel.
He was quickly taken prisoner, and for almost two years, DeShazer suffered from hunger, cold, dysentery, and watching his fellow prisoners die. And the more he experienced this treatment the deeper his hatred of the Japanese grew.
Then, in 1944, someone gave DeShazer a Bible. He started at Genesis and read on and on, barely sleeping. And by the time he had come to the Book of Romans he had surrendered his heart and life to Jesus as his Savior and his Lord.
Immediately Matthew 5:44 became a crucial challenge to him, "Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."
Because of Jesus and that verse DeShazer's attitude toward his Japanese guards began to change. His hostility evaporated and every morning he greeted them warmly. He prayed for them and sought to witness to them. Slowly their attitude toward him also changed and some of them even began bringing him extra food and supplies.
Finally, the war was over and DeShazer was freed. Returning home he studied for the ministry and decided to return to Japan as a missionary. After establishing a church in Nagoya, the very city he had bombed, he wrote a pamphlet entitled, "I Was a Prisoner of the Japanese." It wasn't long until thousands of Japanese wanted to see and hear the man who could forgive and love his enemies.
Meanwhile, Fuchida, the Japanese hero, had come out of the war a very disillusioned man. He went back to his farm, but because of his wartime commission he was often called into the city to testify at the war crimes trials.
On one of those trips he was handed a pamphlet - the pamphlet DeShazer had written. Fuchida read it and reread it, and despite being a firm Buddhist was intrigued enough to buy a Japanese Bible.
He was especially affected by the words Christ spoke upon the cross when He prayed, "Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).
Then he met DeShazer, and it wasn't long until these two men, who once were sworn enemies, became the best of friends and brothers in Christ. And Fuchida became a great evangelist, witnessing in Japan and then throughout the world.
From diverse backgrounds of hatred and pride, both of their lives were changed by Jesus and His love.
III. The Bold Explanations to Others -- 2.18
[We have children in this congregation who tell people about Jesus -- without fear; a normal way of life -- Isaiah 11.6b a little child shall lead them.
Jeremiah 20.9 If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
1 Corinthians 9.16 16 For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
A. A Barometer of Our Relationship with Jesus
1. Much love for Jesus -- Much desire to tell others about Him
2. Little Love -- Little interest in others [ties to first and second commands]
B. Boldness is not:
* Loudness
* Pushiness
* Sanctified Obnoxiousness
* Rudeness
* Manipulation
* Demanding
C. Boldness is:
* Direct, simple, compassionate statements about Jesus -- "God loves you; I understand what you are dealing with -- Jesus can help you as he helps me."
o Mark 8.31-32 = "plainly" (not arguing/debating)
o John 7.25 -- Speaking Openly
o John 11.14 -- Plainly (Lazarus)
o Acts 2.29 -- Confidence (not arrogance)
o Acts 4.1-31 -- Prayed for boldness, not protection
* A type of Authenticity
D. Boldness is Bigger than Persuasive Techniques (2 Corinthians 4.17 -- "peddlers")
* Targeting people to manipulate friendships
o Good to introduce friends to Jesus
o People do not have to like us to follow Jesus (they do need to respect us)
o It is not about us -- they need to see Jesus
* Using Impressive People to Convince People to Follow
o Tom Hanks
o Faith Hill
o Tyler Perry: "I am a Christian, I am a believer, and I know had I not been a person of faith, I couldn't be here in this place, and I wouldn't be walking the path that I'm on now. And I think the greater good of the path I'm on now is to teach people to learn to forgive and move on, in a way that's done through the healing power of humor."
o Chuck Norris
o Carrie Underwood
o Kirk Cameron: "Put your nose into the Bible every day. It is your spiritual food. And then share it. Make a vow not to be a lukewarm Christian."
o Andy Griffith "I was baptized alongside my mother when I was 8 years old. Since then I have tried to walk a Christian life... and now that I'm getting older I realize that I'm walking even closer with my God."
o Emmitt Smith: When he was accepted into the NFL Hall of Fame, Emmitt Smith thanked God saying, "Thank you to my Lord and savior Jesus Christ for blessing me to play the sport I so dearly love for almost three decades."
* "Because it is easy." -- Easy to understand but is not easy, it is costly -- it costs everything -- Matthew 16.24; Mark 8.34; Luke 9.23
* "Because life will improve immediately." -- the Gospel of the Great Offer -- Health and Wealth Gospel
* What does it take? Sincerity/authenticity; commissioned by God; in the sight of God; speak in Christ (v. 17)
1. When the empty place in our hearts is filled with God He flows through us
2. We are unashamed in our lifestyle and bold/confident/plain in our message
3. Luke 2.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
