"the Acts of Christians" Preached by Kathy Wehrman

While I was listening to a Presbyterian preacher in Leland, MI last Sunday, Kathy Wehrman, the Program Director at First Presbyterian Church here in Troy, OH preached the following sermon.

SERMON  July 27, 2014     THE ACTS OF  CHRISTIANS
One purpose of a minister's sermon is to bring the books, and the characters' stories in the Bible, to life for those  desiring to learn and to live a Christian life.  Rev. Culp  has been revealing significant events from the Book of Acts  the past several weeks,  applying those events to our 21st century living.  So we continue, in a less scholarly fashion, but none-the-less,  we'll do what we can, where we are, with what we have,  while he's away!
We begin with a bit of Biblical trivia to help us understand the book of Acts:  Here is a fine example of a less scholarly path into preparing for a sermon.   Just look at your kid's Bible - I did!  The very first page tells you exactly what you need to know..... Acts: Written by Luke, the physician, who traveled as a missionary with Paul.  Why was the book of Acts written: To tell how the Christian faith was spread to the whole world.  For whom was Acts written:  for everyone who wants to know what happened after Jesus returned to heaven.
The title of this sermon is The Acts of Christians and was planned to bring you the characters described in the 5 verses of Acts 9:26-30.  In just these few versus, we can learn a number of things about people, about reactions to relationships, about the grace of God and His plan for us.
First, the character of Barnabas: He was nicknamed fondly  "son of encouragement"  because as a Christian leader he sought out others and assisted them.  For instance, often some of the new Christians, for whatever reason, ran a bit against the grain of mainstream thought and actions.  Instead of ostracizing them, Barnabas not only deliberately encounters them, but also listens to them and welcomes them warmly.  Barnabas' encouraging spirit had a big part in moving Saul forward into a new life.
Awhile back a group of us from this church were studying the special publication of Presbyterian Today entitled,  "What We Believe-2".  In researching  texts on Barnabas '  attentive character,  I was reminded of this bit from our study... Quoting page 17, "The church is charged with giving full expression to the rich diversity within its membership.  Our constitution requires us to promote inclusiveness, which means including all the different theological positions that are consistent with the Reformed tradition."  From the actions of Barnabas in scripture to our 21st century church, we are instructed to be encouraging and inclusive!
The character of Saul;  a really angry  guy, who most likely felt threatened by this Jesus and his growing number of followers;  a man who spied on and tagged Christians for the sole purpose of having them arrested and often done away with.   He followed the disciples only to spurn them publically and threaten to murder them.  He went so far as to obtain official papers from the high priest so that he could take any Christians he could find to prison in Jerusalem.  New Christians lived in fear of Saul and his henchmen.  However, down the road to Damascus, events  changed Saul.
If you had visited our Bible Adventure Station on Day 5 of VBS, you would have discovered a group of young Christians meeting in the dark, whispering nervously about whether anyone was followed to the secret meeting place and commiserating about Saul's dangerous reputation.  Everyone was at once excited about their new lives as followers of Jesus and fearful for their lives as they were stalked by Saul.  If you had been in the secret room, and  in conversation with those attending, you too would have jumped out of your skin when......JOHN MAUNTLER.......!  These were the conditions the first Christians were living in.
So, here we have a changed Saul and Barnabas, both believers in Christ, both willing and determined to spread the good news to the world. One has a reputation so damaging, it precludes his admission or acceptance to the group of disciples; and one is highly respected and welcoming; open to encouraging others in the work of Christ Jesus.
Here's their story...Previously, Saul has escaped certain death in Damascus  via a basket hoisted over and down the city wall.  Obviously, those disciples living and teaching in  Damascus, as well as new Christians, could  not get past Saul's arrogance and perhaps "car salesman style" approach to speaking about his experience, his change, nor his promotional response to Jesus as the Christ.  How can this man who threatened Christians, now proclaim allegiance to same.  So we see Saul secretly getting out of  Dodge to save his own skin.
He travels to Jerusalem in search of other disciples of Christ thriving there in that city,  attempts to join them  hoping to be in fellowship with like minded followers and work for Christ in spreading the Good News.  And, as described, these new disciples already knew about Saul.  They were hesitant to embrace his change.  Given Saul's passion for  his work against the Christians, you might understand the reluctance of these new disciples when,  with a renewed passion FOR Christ, Saul's exuberance was  met with mistrust, not a little fear, and most likely, utter disdain.
Just recently someone was telling me  about a newspaper  article that was written that was, apparently, somewhat damaging to the topic highlighted.  The following day a correction was printed in the same newspaper changing the previous day's damaging comments significantly.  According to statistics, more readers of that article will retain and believe the mis-information even though a retraction was printed the next day.  In Saul's case, his reputation was real; but, so was his conversion.  How many would readily believe that?
Let's look at Barnabas, for without Barnabas and others like him, Saul may well  have ended up dead before he could begin the work of God!   Barnabas listened to Saul's story of meeting Christ;  He being told by Christ himself to stop this persecution; being blinded by the bright encounter; healed by a reluctant Ananias under God's direction, then being instructed by Jesus himself to begin working for His cause.  Barnabas, being the encourager he was, took a really good look "into" Saul;   the change God had made in this man was evident to Barnabas;  trusting that their Lord and Savior had indeed touched and moved Saul to a different direction.   Barnabas was also aware of the fear manifested in the troublesome reactions of the new disciples, so he  took  Saul to speak with the Apostles, those first chosen by Jesus to help change the world.  As you might expect, the experiences of the Apostles' close relationship and work with Jesus did lend them "the bigger picture" of such a meeting as Saul experienced on the road to Damascus.  The Apostles could see and feel and understand Saul's passion to be FOR Christ.  So, with the help of Barnabas, who encouraged Saul and the Apostles who saw God at work in him, Saul began a new life.
As scripture is explored from Acts through the next 13 books of the Bible, you will find Paul in the lead in each of these books.  Each are instructive letters to new Christians.  So it begs the question, where would Paul be if a character like Barnabas did not intercede for him?  Where would Paul be if Ananias had ignored God's request to  heal Saul's blindness?  Where would Paul be if Christ's own Apostles refused to acknowledge his change of heart? And, more importantly, where would all those new Christians in those 13 books be without Paul?
Can we find it in ourselves to be like Barnabas?  Seek ways to encourage one another?  Be in conversation with new members, visitors, people we become acquainted with, our own children about a life in Christ.  Can we put ourselves in fellowship with each other in Parish gatherings, a  Bible study group , social events where good conversations and stories can be shared.  Can we open up ourselves to see ways to bring others into the comfort and freedom of the love of God.  Can we carve out time for sharing our stories of conversion with our children?
There's the  hope that these scriptures will reveal the right way for each of us.  There's the hope that we will find ourselves in these versus and understand God's purpose for each of us and know, down to our toes, that we, as was Saul,  belong to God.
 What we can hope for all of us is that we keep our eyes and ears open to the possibility of change in people and in ourselves.
Sometime ago, I was with my granddaughter  at Winan's  just enjoying some downtime and time together, when her friend  stopped in and joined us.  I had reached out to give this girl a hug in greeting and after doing so, my granddaughter grabbed me in a two-armed hug and said, "She's mine, MINE!"
There's two things  here to understand...one is, especially if you're a grandparent,  this public display of affection and declaration of ownership felt absolutely wonderful.  Puts a smile on my face every time I think about it.  But, the other thing?  This is EXACTLY, please hear this, this is exactly  how God feels about YOU.  You are His and He will pursue you with His love.  Nothing and No one can take that away from You.  God will be beside you, before you, behind you, above you and within you.  That is why Saul was able to be changed despite his hard heart!  God used his inexhaustible resources; Jesus himself, Ananias, Barnabas and the Apostles to bring this man's talents and heart into the work for God's people.  The result of  Saul's conversion and assistance given by God's own people is revealed in the beginning scriptures in Galations  where Paul introduces himself, "Paul, an apostle - sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised me from the dead - and all the brothers with me."
The children of this community learned this lesson during VBS this year.  Very different creatures, that we don't see  everyday, were used to teach children about how Jesus'  love is one-of-a-kind.
Now we come to yet another less scholarly way of putting a sermon together.  This is a responsive lesson in w hich, you all reply "Jesus loves me", when I indicate it's your turn.  Hopefully, the kids will belt it out like they did at VBS!
Consider the story of Saul and Barnabas in the lessons of VBS:  Even when you're left out...Jesus Loves you.  Even though you're different...Jesus loves you.  Even when you don't understand...Jesus loves you.  Even though you do wrong...Jesus loves you.  Even when you're afraid...Jesus loves you.
Barnabas'  character afforded an opportunity for Saul to be included,  even though Saul was different, left out, did wrong.  Why?  Because Barnabas belongs to God.  Because Saul, belongs to  God.   Because all those people in the next 13 books of the bible belong to God.  What's in these five verses of holy scripture?  If you listen,  you can hear God declaring, "You are Mine! Mine, and I love You."   Take those words into your world and be changed by them.  Amen

Reflections on "The Voices of Change" Acts 9: 1-19

this sermon continues the series on "Significant Moments in Acts."  It would have been a good sermon to have multiple people participate as the different voices, but I did not work that far ahead.  

The dialogue included in the sermon is an approximation of what was actually said.  As I spoke their words, I found that they wanted to say things a bit differently than I had written them!

I find this story to be a powerful and instructive one for us today:  the gospel transforms lives (see Saul), and we need others to help us change (see Ananias).  And we live that out as part of our calling to follow Christ.  I hope the dialogue helped convey that message.

A final note -- I did not link the Saul's conversion story with Corneluis' conversion in Chapter 10, but I found the idea that those two stories need to be read in tandem to have some merit.

“The Voices of Change” July 20, 2014; FPC, Troy; Significant Moments in Acts; 2014 Acts 9: 1-19

Introduction: In one of her letters, the great American writer Flannery O'Connor commented on Paul: "I reckon the Lord knew that the only way to make a Christian out of that one was to knock him off his horse." (The Habit of Being (355) as quoted in Interpretation: a Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching Acts (William Willimon, 73).

The conversion of Saul to Paul may be the best known story in Acts, with the exception of the Pentecost story.

A powerful dramatic scene with a bright light from heaven, Saul being struck blind, and a voice speaking to him from the heavens.

Perhaps even more dramatic than the roadside scene is the change that takes place: Saul, the persecutor of Christians becomes Paul, the great evangelizer and leader of Christians.

But the story is also about Ananias, and his willingness to reach out to Saul.

As I reflected on both these men, I was struck by the Saul talking back to the voice from the heavens.

It occurs to me that Saul, and perhaps Ananias, and perhaps you and I engage in conversation with the voice of God as we try and understand our calling as disciples of Christ.

This morning, I invite you to listen to what might have been part of Saul's conversation with God; Ananias' conversation; and then Paul's conversation with God.

We have no record of these conversations, but in our heart of hearts, we know these types of conversations take place because we have them ourselves.

Move 1: What might Saul and God been talking about two days into Saul's blindness.

Saul: Uh God, I've had a couple of days to think about this, and I'm not sure I buy it.

I know that day on the road to Damascus, it seemed convincing that I was wrong about persecuting Christians.

When I was on my knees hearing a voice that I thought was your voice from the heavens, it was easy to believe that I was wrong to persecute Christians, but I'm not so sure I was wrong anymore.

After all, I have spent my life studying Torah. I'm a Pharisee. If anyone should recognize the Son of God, I should.

Who are these Christians to decide that Jesus was your Son?

There have been lots of stories of faith healers and miracle workers. I've even heard stories about people being raised from the dead. None of those people turned out to be the Son of God.

I'm usually right about matters of faith, and I'm pretty sure I just got caught up in the moment on the road to Damascus. I let my emotions get the better of me.

Now that I've had a few days to think about it, I'm not so sure whose voice I heard that day or who I saw. no one else saw anyone. OK, they say they heard your voice, but they only said that after I told them what I had heard.

When this temporary blindness goes away, I'm think I'm going to go back to my working finding Christians and holding them accountable to their false claims about the resurrection.

Lord: Really. You're not sure if you believe in resurrection? You're not sure whose voice that was?

You're still blind, right?

You may think it's temporary, but you keep praying to me to heal you. I'm going to send someone to heal you of your blindness. When that happens, will you then believe?

The voice from the heavens that you heard does not fit with what you want to believe because you want Pharisee answers.

I don’t' have Pharisaical answers – all I have is my love and the hope and power of the resurrection to give to you.

You want answers. So does everyone else.

Guess what you are the one who I am sending to bring them answers.

But you choose. Do you want to believe in my son Jesus, or do you want to cling to your desire to be right in the eyes of the Pharisees?

Your choice.

Move 2: As Saul ponders his choice, Ananias is having a conversation with God.

Ananias: you want me to what?

You really want me to go to the house where Saul is and touch his eyes so that he can be healed of his blindness.

God, you know who Saul is, right?

Saul, the one who stood by and smiled as they stoned Stephen.

Saul, the rabid Pharisees who wants to persecute Christians.

He came here to find people like me to punish us.

I know, I know. I've heard what he's telling people. How he's been changed. How the Lord spoke to him while he on the way her from Damascus.

But do you know how much evil this man Saul has done?

Can he really be changed? I’m not sure I can believe that.

It feels like you are asking me to walk into a trap.

God: I never said following my son Jesus would be easy. Part of being a disciple is being willing to serve in ways you mind not have imagined doing.

Sometimes you have to choose – do you want to do what I send you to do, or not.

Ananias: But, I am scared.

God: I know. But remember that I am with you. You go with the power of the Holy Spirit. I will not abandon you.

Ananias: I know, but I'm still scared.

Move 3: Even after Saul chooses to follow Christ and becomes Paul, he still is in conversation with God.

a. Paul: God, I'm not sure this is working.

I ask the Christians what they want me to do, how they want me to help, and they won't even talk to me.

They see me coming, and they run the other way.

They still think I want to persecute them.

They won't give me a second chance.

It's hard enough to change who I am, but when no one believes I've changed, well, what's the point?

God: What about Ananias? Didn't he come to the house and heal your blindness?

Or Barnabas? Hasn't Barnabas shown a willingness to work with you.

Paul: OK, yes, Ananias and Barnabas have seemed to accept me, although they are clearly reluctant to do so.

They are not doing it because they trust me; they only do it because you are making them.

No one else seems to trust me or want to help me. They either think I am some kind of spy, or they act jealous of me.

You don't know what it's like to have everyone look at you with suspicion in their eyes, acting like they want me to just go away.

God: I think I probably do know a thing or two about rejection.

How about this Paul. How about you keep telling people about the resurrection of my Son; you keep proclaiming the resurrection; you go and tell anyone who will listen

If you run into people who do not want to believe, move on. I promise you that the world is full of people who need to hear about my love and the hope and power of the resurrection.

How about you go and do what I send you to do and quit worrying about things over which you have no control.

Move 4: I ran across a Mark Twain quote

a. "The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."

1. When I researched the source of this Twain quote, I discovered that Mark Twain probably never said it 
(http://humorinamerica.wordpress.com/2012/10/02/if-i-hear-it-again-i-swear-ill-scream-hemingway-huck-finn-and-cheating/), but I suppose if I can preach a sermon with conversations that may never have taken place, I can use a quote that may never have been said Mark Twain!

2. all over the Internet lately.
3. 
   
4. Reveals the desire people have fro their lives to have meaning.

3. b. Want to have a purpose.

1. As Christians, we discover our purpose as we listen to where God sends us as disciples of Christ.

2. We have to listen for the voice of God; we have to listen to the stirrings our our restless spirits that want to change.

3.  we have to be willing to give up our desire to right instead of faith; we have to be willing to go into places that might be uncomfortable; we have to do what we can do and then let God be God.

Conclusion: How do we do it? Maybe we can ask Saul? Or Ananias? Or Paul? Or better yet, ask God and listen for the answer.

"the Voices of Change" Acts 9: 1-19

I stayed up late last night to do the blog, but somehow lost the data in transmission.  Here I go again.

The conversion of Saul to Paul may be the best known story in Acts, with the exception of the Pentecost story.  I initially thought about leaving it out of the sermon series and spending the week on a lesser known story, but ultimately decided this story reveals such a powerful story of conversion and change in life that it should be told again.  As many members of the congregation I serve can attest, I allude to this story often.

In the original planning for the sermon series, the sermon for this text was going to be a dramatic interpretation with Saul talking to Paul.  When I studied the text further, however, I ended up reflecting on more than two voices -- the voice that Saul heard; the voice that Paul heard; the voice that Ananias heard; and the voice that we hear as we make decisions in our lives.  That led to a little bit different sermon than a  dialogue between Saul and Paul.

One of my favorite quotes about this story comes from Flannery O'Connor's work The Habit of Being (355) as quoted in Interpretation: a  Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching Acts (William Willimon, 73).  O'Connor noted about Paul:  "I reckon the Lord knew that the only way to make a Christian out of that one was to knock him off his horse."  I wonder how many of us might need that as well.

Both Willimon and Ben Witherington (The Acts of the Apostles:  a Socio-Rhetorical Commentary, 303) argue that Saul's conversion is closely connected to the story of Cornelius' conversion in Chapter 10.  Although they follow each other chronologically, I have never thought about those two stories in tandem.

Reflections on "The Seven" Acts 5: 12-16; Acts 6: 1-6

I thought the sermon went well, although I was reminded of the teaching point at the preaching seminar I went to a few years ago that suggested that listeners should be able to leave the sermon with something concrete in mind to do in response to the sermon.  In a sermon about how to be the church, what exactly can the listener do in response?  

it did not make my Thursday blog, but at some point I had thought about adding a point to the sermon about the 8th person, and comment on women and ministry (all the seven were men).  I had a great line to use in the sermon:  "there was an eight person, a woman, who was waiting in the wings for time to pass before she could assume her rightful role of leadership in the church."  but, that would probably be a whole sermon, not just one point of  sermon.

“The Seven” July 13, 2014; FPC, Troy;  Acts 5: 12-16

Introduction: The apostles, the twelve, are out doing some amazing things.

It sounds like if Peter's shadow lands on those in need of healing, they are healed.

Lots of people coming to believe in Jesus Christ.

They are also getting lots of attention from the authorities. If we had read the section between the two Scripture lessons, we would have read about the apostles appearing before the authorities and the persecution that was taking place.

I imagine the gossip circles in town were going crazyl

Did you hear about this healing.

Who are those crazy people talking about resurrection.

Can you believe this – they talk about God's love, but they don't even make sure the widows in their group are getting food.

That last piece of gossip gets the church leaders' attention. Let's reflect on how they handle it.

Move 1: Should the church takes its cues from the world?

a. Woman complaining that the church seems to be following the world.

1. I was in a group of Presbyterians this week discussing General Assembly.

2. One member of another church, but perhaps it could be a member of this congregation, noted: “when I read about what the Presbyterian church is doing, it seems like it is straight out of the papers. The church seems to following the world. That's not how it's supposed to be.”

2. Most of us would agree with that. The church ought to lead the world, not follow.

3. in fact, we know that the word for church, ekklesia, in the New Testament literally means “called out.”

b. But, this story in Acts shows the church leadership acting a bit differently.

1. The Hellenists, those outside the church, have a complaint against how the early church is acting.

2. We may not have Hellenists complaining among us, but we know about people who have critiques of the church: church is full of hypocrites; church only worries about itself; church just doesn't get it – behind the times. themselves; not with it.

c. We might expect the early church to just ignore the Hellenists.

1.  Dismiss them because they are “of the world” and don't really understand what the church is doing.

2. But instead, the leaders not only listen to the complaints, but they take them seriously.

3. The widows, and we know “widows” is a term that means all the vulnerable, were being neglected.

4. The worldly critics have a valid point.

5. the early church changes the way it does business.

the early church takes its cue from how the world views them.

500. the “called out” recognize that they are sent back into the world.

1. Not to ignore the world, but to listen to the world crying out for God's love and saving grace.

2. To engage the world.

3. The church does not exist on a mountaintop separate from the world, but the body of Christ is in the world.

Move 2: responsiveness of the church.

a. Whenever I read this story, I marvel at the responsiveness of the early church.

1. They discover an issue. They resolve it.

2.  apparently, no committee needed to be formed; no vision study or feasibility study;

3.  a solution was needed, and a solution was provided.

4.  now on to ministry.

5. Wow – how decisive and responsive.

b. How many of you remember the summer we were under construction on our new building and renovations on the older part of the building?

1. I learned a lot in that process.

2. If you get called to come to the church site immediately, that meant there was some sort of problem.

3.If when you drove up people were standing there staring at the building, then it might be a big problem.

4. If everyone had their hands on their hips and they were standing in the street as if they were afraid to get to close to the construction site, it is a really, really big problem.

5. asbestos!.

6. I can't remember if they discovered it on a Thursday or a Friday. I do remember that the whole construction site became off limits, and that included the Sanctuary, which really was not even part of the construction.

7. No one allowed in the Sanctuary or construction site until the test results were back.

8.what about church on Sunday? Can't happen in the sanctuary. Really? Really!

C . emergency committee meeting at my house early evening. We sat around the dining room table.

1. Let's worship in the courtyard outside – that's not in the asbestos zone.

2. Let's divide the congregation up and call everyone (this was before the elink and electronic communication throughout the church).

3. Let's get hymnals (that part of the story probably still should not be told!).

4. Let's get chairs from the funeral home and organize the set-up.

5. within 30 minutes or so the decisions were made, people were notified (including the family that had a wedding scheduled for the next week-end), work was split up, and everyone went home to make their phone calls.

6. Worship in the courtyard went so well, we began a tradition of having an outdoor worship service each summer!.

7. A clear need was met with quick action to implement a plan.

8. yes, the church can act quickly if needed.

d. The example set in the early church was placing ministry over process.

1. They were set-up to have twelve leaders, but they needed some help with pastoral care.

2. amend that model (and remember,this is the historic model based on the twelve tribes of Israel) to add seven more leaders with a new job description because the care of the widows and orphans was very important.

3. sometimes a well-developed, thoughtful plan is needed.

4. I am not suggesting no long-range plans.

5. but sometimes we need to be reminded that the church exists for the ministry, not for those of us who like to serve on committees!

5. when ministry needs to happen, we need to make it happen.

Move 3: Important for the church to know what is vital ministry.

a. By its actions, the early church stresses that the work of the church involves both sharing the good news and sharing God's love with those who find themselves living on the margins.

1. Perhaps we should not be surprised by this.

2. When we look to the story of the Israelite people, there has always been a concern for the widows and the orphans in their midst (widows an orphans refers to the poor and vulnerable).

3. The prophets had often scolded the Israelite for not caring for the poor among them.

4. they knew the importance of caring for others.

b. In this post-resurrection time, however, the emphasis has been on preaching and sharing their faith in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

2. some miraculous healings have taken place, but they have been less about caring for the vulnerable and more about showing off the power of the resurrection.

3. It would have been easy for the early church leaders to ignore the complaints of the Hellenists and only commit to continuing to do their evangelism.

4. to say that “this is what's important so we're only going to focus on telling people about the resurrection.”

4. Or, they could have acknowledged the importance of pastoral care and had the twelve do less evangelism and add pastoral care to their work load.

c. instead, they recognize that both are critical.

1. people need to know about the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

2. The need to care for the vulnerable in our world.

1. The church has more than one task to do – we need to do both.

d. A cautionary tale for us today about the importance of both telling people about Christ and serving people on behalf of Christ.

1. God's concern is for body and soul.

2. God wants to save and care for the world.

3. that is our calling.

Conclusion: We live in a time when fewer people go to church; easy to to point out the flaws of the church.

In that context, we join with the early church in listening to the needs of the world as we live out our calling of the being the body of Christ in the world.

"the Seven" Acts 5: 12-16; Acts 6: 1-6

We continue through "Significant Moments in Acts."

I am not sure yet how the passage from Chapter 5 will fit into the sermon.  It seemed fitting to me to give some sense of what the disciples were doing at the time of this story.  Any thoughts on how the passage from Chapter 5 fits with the passage from Chapter 6?

If you have served on a Nominating Committee at FPC, Troy since I have served here, there is a good chance you have heard me reflect on this passage. Although the word for "deacon" is not used here, we recognize in this story (perhaps Luke tells this story to confirm the purpose of deacons) the development of deacons, who are called on to do pastoral care.  It seems to me that the church had a choice -- we can either split up those who are evangelizing, or we can do the pastoral care thing, or we can do both.  I think it's a powerful statement that the leaders decide that the task of sharing the good news is too important to not do, but that they also recognize the need to add pastoral care to their repertoire.

I also find it interesting that the early church learns from the critique of the secular world.  Sometimes we think that the world ought to learn from the church, but the church can't learn from the world.  In this case, the early church takes its cue from how the world views them.

I also marvel at the willingness of the early leaders to try a new thing, instead of insisting that everything fit into the idea of twelve leaders who do evangelism.  Can you think of examples when the church leadership/structure were very flexible?  I am reminded of how the Building committee worked to switch worship from the Sanctuary to the outdoors when the threat of asbestos was discovered.  I also remember how quickly the church I attended in college created a College age group when they discovered seven freshmen attending their church.  Generally, we think about the church as being difficult to change and inflexible.

Reflections on "An Awesome Beginning" Acts 2: 37-47

Solid sermon.  Didn't really do much creative with the text.  Felt sort of like "been there, done that."

I love the early era of American history.  The sermon does not do justice to the compromise and effort that went into creating and passing the Constitution that would become the framework of our nation.  I missed an opportunity to expand the illustration by not referencing how James Madison "worked" the tavern in the days prior to the Convention (and as they waited for a quorum to arrive).  In some ways, the time spent sharing food and drink created the atmosphere that would allow for compromise to happen.  That would have fit into the final point when I was discussing gathering around the Table.

“An Awesome Beginning” July 6, 2014; FPC, Troy Acts 2: 37-47

Introduction: We continue to look at significant moments from the Book of Acts, which is also called the Book of the Acts of the Apostles!

Today, we reflect on what happened after Pentecost.

Move 1: After Pentecost, “Awe came upon everyone.”

     a. Indeed, Pentecost and its aftermath represented a powerful moment.

           1. Tongues of fire.

           2.  Descending of the Holy Spirit.

          3.  Speaking of all the languages of the world.

          4.  3,000 believed.

b. But it was not enough.

         1. WE know about what happens when people become filled with enthusiasm in the moment.

         2. It wears off quickly, and they return to their normal routines.

         3. root word in Greek for enthusiasm is theos – God; filled with God (The reflection on enthusiasm grew out of reading William Willimon's comments in his cmmentary on Acts that is part of the Interpretation series, p.39)

           4. apt description for those 3,000.

           5.  But we expect that number to dwindle quickly right? The enthusiasm wears off.

           6. In seminary I subbed as a security guard at a sorority house. Sit at the desk to keep people, mostly men, who were not allowed beyond the visiting room. Make the rounds every hour.

I was there one night after a rush party when the sorority sisters were discussing those young women they had met. I quickly figured out that they were not supposed to say anything negative about someone. They could only be positive.

Game of how to express negative while using positive terms.

Enthusiasm became the key word. A young woman who was enthusiastic or showed a lot of enthusiasm became the seemingly nice person that you did not want for the long-term as a sorority sister.

A lot of enthusiastic young women did not make the cut.

         7. Enthusiasm might be good for the long-term, but something more is needed for the long-term.

c. July 4, 1776

         1.  declare independence from England.

         2.  A new concept, democracy, shared in bold words as written in the Declaration of Independence, backed up by heroic victories on the battlefield.

         3.  Free nation.

         4.  But it was not enough.

         5.  Constitutional congress in 1787 (http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/; or read American Creation: Triumphs and Tragedies at the Founding of the Republic, Joseph Ellis)

         6. The excitement and enthusiasm for doing a new thing had worn off, now they had to deal with the nitty-gritty of how to be thirteen states that co-existed and what did it mean to have a federal government

c,. That's where these new Christians are that we read about in Acts this morning – they have had an awesome beginning, but how to they make it long-term.

          1.  If the promise is for their children and their children's children, what do they put into place to ensure that their faith makes it to the next generation?

          2.  IN other words, what does it mean to be the church?

As previously mentioned, prayer and Holy Spirit are found in most stories in Acts, but this morning I want to reflect on the building blocks for the church that are repentance and community.

Move 2: Repentance

a. An elderly woman had just returned to her home from an evening of religious service when she was startled by an intruder. As she caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables, she yelled, "Stop – Acts 2:38!" (..turn from your sin...). The burglar stopped dead in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar, "Why did you just stand there? All she did was yell a scripture to you." "Scripture?" replied the burglar, "She said she had an AXE and two 38's!"

      1. What will it take from someone to change what they are doing?

      2. To do a new thing?

b. Luke shares the story of Peter calling on the people to “Repent.”

         1.  No surprise that Luke makes this a critical part of being the church because “repent” is one of his favorite concepts in both his gospel and the Book of Acts.

           2.  Repent is a change of mind and action.

b. The church will be the gathering of those who have turned away from the world and are looking for something different.

           1.  The church ought to feel different than other groups to which we belong.

           2.  not different because of a dress code or because the church has some superiority complex, but different because new offer something that the world does not – a worldview that begins with the belief that God has the power to resurrect and God is still at work in world.

Move 3: Importance of Community 

a. fellowship

    1.  being together;

     2.  actually, the Greek word koinonia means sharing in common (Willimon, 40)

      3.  Literally sharing in the case of the early church that looked something like what we might call a commune.

       4. Outgrew that, but still held things in common.

b. have in common their humanity.

           1.  Face similar struggles and similar reasons to to celebrate.

           2.  One of the great things about listening to your stories are the ones I hear about how important the church was to you in the raising of your kids;

            3.  Or how this community of faith helped you through a crisis. Prayers of the people today we will share the prayer request of a woman who has moved away from here, but on the anniversary of a horrible tragedy in her life remembers this community of faith.

           4.  Sharing life together..

c.  Of course, lots of groups can support each other; but in the church we not only share out common humanity, but our common faith.

         1. For the early Christians, their belief in the resurrection becomes a separation point from the rest of the world, but also their common ground.

           2.   The hope we have gives us a different perspective on life and the world.

          3.  The community of faith becomes the place where those who have chosen to have follow Christ gather to share in their hope and their common commitment to serving Christ.

           4.  If we find ourselves approaching the world's issues and understanding what we are called to do in ways that are not different than how the rest of the world sees it, then we might want to rethink what we are doing.

           5. We share a common faith.

d.  the early church bonded together, literally, at the Table.

            1. both Lord's Supper

           2.  sharing a meal together.

           3.  4th of July picnics – telling stories; connecting with one another; being community.

            4.  We share our humanity and our faith with each other.

Conclusion: They were filled with awe.

From that awesome beginning grew the church.