Posted by Pastor on June 11, 2010
The “6Ws” are important to any church. Luke presents these qualities in the summary passage of Acts 2:42-47. Whenever Luke gives an extended summary like this, he describes the internal workings of the Spirit-filled church. While the cultural expressions may change, these summaries should reflect what a Spirit-filled church is like in any age.
In Acts 2:42-47, we see that the Spirit-filled church was devoted to four things and habitually practiced two ministries. Sometimes these are referred to as purposes or characteristics. I like to think of them as functions - this is what a Spirit-filled church does. The first church was devoted to discipleship, fellowship, worship, and prayer. They practiced public ministry and evangelism. Many churches further refine these six things down to three – Ministry to God, Ministry to One Another, Ministry to the World. I like this classification and group the functions accordingly, but since Acts describes them as more than 3, I teach them as six.
In this post, I’d like to give a quick overview of the 6Ws.
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Pastor on May 31, 2010
The sermons for yesterday and for next Sunday are inspired by Acts 2:42-47:
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
One of the challenges of interpreting the book of Acts is determining which events Luke reports as one-time events in redemption history and which he reports as both historical and normative for the church in every age. I belong to the interpretive school that sees Luke’s description of the church here as a snap-shot of what a healthy Spirit-filled church should look like.
We can see that the church was engaged in four devotions and two habits… WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Pastor on May 24, 2010
Due to some technical difficulties (we unplugged the microphone), the sermon did not get recorded this week. So, rather than a synopsis, I’ve posted a manuscript version of my sermon notes. This sermon begins a study through what the Scriptures tell us about the nature of a church.
Ekklesia
Today is the Christian celebration of Pentecost – the day when the Holy Spirit came in fullness upon the first disciples and established the church of Jesus Christ. So, it is only fitting that we begin a new sermon series dedicated to understanding the church the way God understands the church.
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Pastor on April 21, 2010
Read 1 Peter 4:12-19. This passage is really the whole point of Peter’s letter. Everything else has been preparing his readers to be able to accept this fact of faith: Your suffering is the evidence of what you believe.
Again, it is helpful to remember that the one who violates his faith to be accepted by the culture is not the one who is persecuted. Cultural suffering only comes to those who reject the culture. It is not judgment from God. Rather, it is the opportunity to demonstrate, as did Jesus, that your trust in God is complete and sufficient.
Do not be surprised at the firey trials when they come. Expect them, and be prepared to trust that God’s ways are always best, even when they run counter to worldly standards. Just be sure that, when you are suffering, you are suffering for trusting in Jesus Christ, not for actual wrong-doing. Yet, if the world’s condemnation falls upon you for your association in Jesus, continue to trust him, being a benevolent blessing to those around you, and God will not put you to shame.
You either trust God or you do not. How you handle your crisis will display the answer. Christian, true believer, Elect Exile – do not lose heart, do not be surprised by the firey trials – trust God, and love them anyway. Trust God, and serve them anyway. Trust God, and show them what saving faith really looks like. Trust God, endure to the end, and be saved.
Posted by Pastor on April 12, 2010
The Sunday after Resurrection Day should not be the first Sunday that we “move on” from Easter and get back to our regular thinking. Each year, focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ should transform us and our lives should reflect anew our encounter with him.
In this passage Peter reminds us that we have already been given a certain victory – a freedom from bondage to sin that empowers us to live as he has been describing – as Elect Exiles. It is not the one who sins in order to fit in that receives the mocking or scorn of the world. It is the one who stands for the word of Christ when the culture is counter to it.
Rather than engaging in any form of debauchery, live in a way that is sober-minded and self-controlled. This way of life gives power and focus to prayer. Above all – devote yourself in a giving agape-style love to your fellow believers. Help them in any way you can, in any way you have been enabled.
The world can see what we believe by how we behave. Do so with honor. Do all things for the glory of God in Christ, knowing that He will bring your reward.
Posted by Pastor on March 29, 2010
Bible Text: 1 Peter 3:13-22
As we enter Passion Week, it is appropriate that we return to 1 Peter 3. The word “passion” refers to suffering, originally the word meant to be affected by external forces, but came to have a negative connotation. In verse 13, Peter returns to discussing how Elect Exiles should relate to their society.
Peter makes a distinction between “doing good” and “being righteous.” In Roman culture, “doing good” meant something along the lines of being a benefactor for another person. In fact, Roman society was based on these benefactor relationships. A wealthy person would share his wealth, in the process earning honor and favors to be called in later. You may or may not like your benefactor, but you did not do anything to cause him shame. Peter reminds us that no one wants to harm a group of people who are benefactors of the community. This is one reason why churches should be involved in public ministries that improve the surrounding community life – doing so brings honor to the gospel way of life. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Pastor on March 15, 2010
Bible text: 1 Peter 3:8-12
This passage concludes Peter’s instruction section to the Elect Exiles. Though the previous instructions to slaves, wives, and husbands were meant to be read and understood by all, he now explicitly returns the attention to all of his readers.
Sometimes we get all caught up in ourselves in church. We come to believe that we attend church to receive something – a blessing, encouragement, friendship, an experience. We become consumers rather than producers. But Peter tells us that every true believer is a producer. We do not attend church merely to learn how to experience God. Participation in the church community is an experience of God. When “the church” fails our expectations, we tend to withdraw and hope someone will fix it. Instead, the Elect Exile will become the change he seeks.
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Pastor on March 8, 2010
Bible text: 1 Peter 3:1-7
Sermon audio here.
Discussion of this text is usually dominated by the instruction for wives to submit to their husbands. While that is certainly something to be evaluated, 1 Peter 3 is not primarily a marriage manual or treatise on gender roles. This passage is part of a larger group of illustrations Peter uses to help his readers understand what living like an Elect Exile looks like. Missing the main cultural point of the passage will lead us to apply the text in all kinds of goofy ways.
The key is the word “Likewise” in verse 1 and in verse 7. The word refers back to a concept Peter has already discussed and sets the wives/husbands instructions firmly in that context. The most recent illustration was addressed to slaves at the end of chapter 2. There, the main thought was for slaves to “be submissive to their masters with all respect.” (The word translated “respect” is literally “fear”, but most translators understand the usage of “fear” conveying the sense of “respect” to be the best translation option here.) Since “be submissive” is repeated in the instruction to wives, it is not likely to be the clause to which the “likewise” refers. Therefore, it calls up the context of living with all respect in your given cultural context, in a way that glorifies Christ and demonstrates that the gospel is the path to the most honorable life. This “with all respect” governs both the instructions to wives and to husbands.
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Pastor on March 1, 2010
Bible Text: 1 Peter 2:11-25
After further identifying the true identity of the Elect Exiles as living stones in the honorable house of God, Peter enters a long series of passages describing how we should live in the world without being of the world.
One key to understanding these passages is to recognize that Peter is not simply saying, “Hey, I’m an apostle – so shut up and do what I tell you.” Rather, the apostle addresses his readers as beloved brothers, telling them, “Hey, remember who (and what) you really are – don’t act like someone you’re not.”
If it walks like a duck, and it talks like a duck...
Think about a duck. No one has to tell a duck to quack, or waddle, or swim. This is what a duck does because this is what a duck is. Have you ever heard the saying, “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck then it must be a duck!” Peter is saying, “This is how an Elect Exile walks. This is how an Elect Exile quacks. This is what an Elect Exile looks like.”
WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
Posted by Pastor on February 16, 2010
Bible Text: 1 Peter 2:4-10
The exiles to whom Peter writes were likely asking themselves questions about their own significance and place in the world. Cut off from their former lives and legacy, they were in danger of being absorbed into their new surrounding cultures. In this section of the letter, Peter reminds them who they really are – to give them hope.
Read Isaiah 28:16. This is part of a passage of judgment on the ancient rulers of Israel. Instead of practicing justice and righteousness, they were concerned for their own profits and made agreements with foreign powers (of which God did not approve). God is telling the leaders that he is finally carrying out the judgment upon them for violating the Covenant Law, and he is laying a new foundation – a new cornerstone.
The cornerstone was the most important stone in an ancient building. Its sides determined how close to square the rest of the building would be. Its height determined how large the other stones could be.
Isaiah is saying that God is implementing a new organizing principle for the new (restored) work of God. The people of the time probably thought that God was talking about laying the foundation for a new Temple, but Peter says that the stone is not a rock, but a living person. God’s new organizing principle for his work in the world is a person, Jesus Christ.
Peter goes on to say that the Elect Exiles are also living, being brought to Jesus to be organized into a new thing, a new work of God. Far from being forgotten by God in their exile, believers in Jesus are being actively shaped by God – perfectly accurate according to his own plans.
Which leads Peter to answer the question, “Who are you?” in verses 9-10.
1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This is the language of Exodus 19, where God addresses his chosen people prior to giving them the Law. Now Peter says that, according to the cornerstone (the new organizing principle of God’s work) it is the ones who believe in Jesus who have the honor of being “God’s Chosen People”. Like ancient Israel was called out of Egypt into a promised land to be a witness to the nations, now believers have been called out of slavery to sin and sent into all the nations to make the truth of God known.
All Christians are exiles, but Scripture reminds us that we are Elect Exiles, born again with a purpose, as part of the people and household of God. Whatever you are facing in life today – whatever the world is throwing at you in an attempt to bring you shame – remember who God says you really are, commit yourself to your true purpose, and hold your head high with honor. May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ bless you today.
