Reflections on "We Are Witnesses" Acts 10: 34-43

“We Are Witnesses” Easter, 2011; April 23, 2011; FPC, Troy Acts 10:34-43

I had a minister one time tell me that if you can't preach Easter, you shouldn't be preaching.  To a certain extent, I understand what he meant.  The resurrection story sort of preaches itself -- if the preacher can stay out of the way!  Of course, the visual image of the flower cross acted as a powerful sermon.

The first part of the sermon worked really well.  The story about the Souwang house church in Beijing really spoke to me, although it was such a recent addition to the sermon, I'm not sure I developed it as well as I could have.

The sermon also worked better in the sanctuary service.  Sometimes, it seems like the different energies in the two services (chapel and sanctuary do have a different feel to them) mean the sermon will be better in one service than the other.   

Introduction: Christ is Risen (He is Risen Indeed)

We have the theme for the day down, don't we?

Move 1: When I was in about 4^th grade, I was in a play at North Texas State University. My father was a professor of drama and was directing the show.  When he had a little part that was not worth casting, he would me do it.  I was a newspaper boy. Walked on one side of the stage and off the other announcing the headline. I think I did it twice each performance.  It was, of course, critical to the plot development.

Part of my being in a show meant that one of the students with a small role or who might have been the thrid assistant director was assigned to Dr. Culp's kid.  That show Debbie was assigned to me.  On opening night, Debbie came up to me just before we were to go on stage and said, “Break a leg.” I didn't know what that really meant, that it was a common saying among actors and actresses; that it meant “good luck.” Much to the surprise of this college actress, I immediately blurted out, “and you go throw up.”

She then explained to me that “Break a leg” is really a phrase that means “good luck.” A few nights later before the final show, I found Debbie before the show and tried to really impress her with my actor savvy by telling her “Break a leg.” That night during the curtain call she fell off the platform and broke her leg.

“Break a leg.” Words that do not mean what they say, and when if they do, I won't say them.

“Christ is Risen” – words that mean what they say.

Let's be absolutely clear – Christ is Risen is not merely a metaphor; not just a catchy phrase for worship; not just an Easter greeting that has been exchanged for generations.

Christ is Risen is the truth we proclaim.

The tomb was empty.

Christ has been resurrected.

God has acted decisively to overcome death and sin.

Christ is Risen. A truth we proclaim.

a. Does not always have to be spoken.

1. Sarah reminded us this morning with her sign language that “jesus Christ is risen today” is not just for those who can speak or hear those words.

2. Christ is risen is true whether it is spoken or not.

b. Morning news on Internet http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/24/china.easter.crackdown/index.html?hpt=T1

1. Shouwang house church in Beijing, China.
2. Largest Christian house church.
3. Have been planning their Easter celebration for months.
4. 500 members prevented from leaving their homes this morning.
5. 36 church leaders “detained”
6. The outdoor gathering place stood empty this morning as the worship time arrived.
7. “Christ is Risen” was not spoken in a worship service that did not happen.
8. But the unspoken words remain true.
9. Christ is Risen.
   b. WE are witnesses to that truth and proclaim it to the world.

Move 2: Christ is Risen is a truth that the world desperately needs to hear.

a. Lots of death in this community of faith this year.

1. Whether the person who has died had lived many years and was ready to die or died too young with dreams of what they still would have liked to have done, we have joined together and proclaimed that Christ is Risen.
2. The only thing that brings us hope in the face of death.
3. Remember the story of Sarah Winchester, who lived in the late 19^th century and early 20^th centruy. Sarah Winchester's husband had acquired a fortune by manufacturing and selling rifles.
4. Husband and young daughter died from the flu.
5. She visited a spiritist who told her that as long as she was building on her house, she would not die.
6. 38 years later, she finally died. Her mansion had been under constant construction. She had spent over $5 million and the mansion had 150 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 2,000 doors, 47 fireplaces, and 10,000 windows. And Mrs. Winchester left enough materials so that they could have continued building for another 80 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winchester_Mystery_House
7. She still died.
8. Our only hope in the face of death is the truth we proclaim today.
9. Christ is Risen.

b. WE live in a world that where violence and bloodshed erupt daily, and still we pray for peace.

1. The prayers of a crazy out-of-touch people?

2. NO, the prayers of people who know that Christ is Risen and with God all things are possible, even peace in our war-torn world.

c. Resurrection also reminds us that anything is possible.

1. Most of us arrive here today hoping for more.

2. We want to be changed, but we are not sure if that's possible.

3. Your marriage needs work;

4. you feel ready for a job change.

5. You do not know what to do with your life and everyone keeps pushing you to do something.

6. the world seems to be closing in on you.

7. As you say the words, “Christ is Risen” you can dare to hope that you can change.

8. The God who raised Christ from the dead joins with you to make those changes possible.

Move 3: Christ is Risen is a truth that demands a witness, both words and action.

a. Peter

1. Talking with Gentiles.
   
   
2. Peter, who before this moment has understood Christianity as growing out of the Jewish tradition. Christianity was for those Jews who believed Jesus was the Messiah. No Gentiles allowed.
   
   
3. Now he finds himself proclaiming the gospel and inviting Gentiles to be baptized.
   
   
4. Peter has been changed in a dream by the God who resurrects.

5. So now Peters witnesses to the truth of who Christ is to the Gentiles.
   b. But for Peter it is more than words – it changes his whole worldview.

1. He now acts on the understanding that the gospel is for everyone in the world, not just those coming out of the Jewish tradition.
2. His actions speak to the power of God to resurrect and do a new thing in his life.

3. Peter witnesses to the resurrection by word and deed.

Conclusion: Several years before the collapse of the communist party’s domination of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, the leaders of the party were convened in a meeting. It was actually a kind of a pep rally for several thousand members of the party, a time to restate their purpose and to build up enthusiasm among its members.

As a part of the meeting, a Marxist philosopher, lectured the assembly on atheism. He fully explained why there is no God. He spoke for almost an hour.

When the official was finished with his lecture, there was scattered, polite applause.

Then an Orthodox priest was introduced and brought to the podium. He was told that he would have

only three minutes for his response to the official’s lecture.

The priest began by saying he would not need three minutes. He needed only three words. And then he raised his arms and shouted at the top of his voice, “Christ is risen!”

And then the great assembly thundered the response: “Christ is risen indeed!” Again the priest called out, “Christ is risen!” And again the people replied with the words of the Orthodox church’s liturgy, “Christ is risen indeed!”

Yet a third time the priest announced to this crowd of party bureaucrats and nominal atheists, “Christ is risen!” And for a third time, they in unison affirmed, “Christ is risen indeed!”

With that, the priest left the podium. (See “Homiletics” January-March, 1993, p. 41).

Alleluia. Amen.