I'm finding myself really wrestling with this week's passage. This is a transitional passage between two major stories. Last week we looked at Saul's conversion, next week we will be looking at Peter and Cornelius. The stories here about Peter performing miracles with Aeneas and Dorcas are acting as a bridge between those two major events. Because of that at first glance there does not seem to be much here. The temptation is to go over this section briefly and then jump right into Acts 10.
But as I was reading through this I noticed something. It seems like Peter is the focus here but in reality it is the Holy Spirit. Verse 31 tells us that the church was "encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in fear of the Lord." The remaining verses of the chapter then show us how the Holy Spirit did it - in the lives of Aeneas and Dorcas - and then how those around them responded.
I think we are looking at a picture of what a Spirit Filled church looks like and what is interesting here is how the Holy Spirit is at work. We don't see a large event. We don't see miracles preformed before crowds or even in the church (Peter put everyone out of the room when Dorcas was raised from the dead). Instead we see the Holy Spirit working in the lives of two people by transforming them. Word spread, people got saved. No big event. No show. Just two people getting affected.
So what is here for us, today? That is what I'm wrestling with....
Showing posts with label Sermon Prep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sermon Prep. Show all posts
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Acts 9:1-31
I'm contemplating Acts 9 for this weeks sermon (Saul's conversion) and I have two interesting thoughts.
First, it's interesting what happens when someone encounters Jesus. Saul thinks he is honoring God but in reality is persecuting Him (Acts 9:5). After he encounters Jesus he does an immediate turn around. The same passion that he had originally now gets refocused by Jesus and is used the way that God intended it. What happens to us when we meet Jesus? I don't think we are surprised when the rough edges are sanded off of us or we loose our bad habits but are we willing to allow Jesus to completely transform our lives. For Paul, Jesus wasn't just an upgrade, it was a complete revision (from Saul 1.0 to Paul 2.0). His entire identity got changed. Who he was, what he did - everything. Shouldn't we expect the same when we encounter Jesus - the idea that everything that we thought we were Jesus might just revise.
Another observation is how the church responded to Saul. Ananias is not overly happy about it (Acts 9:13-14). The apostles are hesitant (Acts 9:26). It is so easy for us to preach about changed lives but sometimes we have a hard time accepting them. I don't believe that Saul was on anyone's "target list" for potential converts. He was the enemy who not only hated the church, but he did everything in his power to destroy it - even to the point murder. Yet Jesus had plans for him (isn't that just like Jesus!).
Sometimes I think we look at people and predetermine who is "saveable" and who is not. We are selective on who actually hears the gospel. And when they come to the church some people are given a pass and others are put under higher scrutiny. This has been a stumbling block for the church for centuries. Recently, a good friend of mine was explaining to me where the terms "soul food" and "soul music" came from. It seems that at one time, the church believed that those of African decent did not have souls (thus the justification for slavery). The use of the word "soul" in the African American culture was to counter the belief that they were soulless.
How many people do we believe are soulless? Who is beyond Jesus? We all know the answer is no one but how do our actions answer this question? Who are the Sauls, Samaritans, Barbarians or Slaves of our day? Who can't you ever imagine coming to Jesus?
I'm pretty sure Jesus can imagine them coming to Him. Perhaps we should ask Him how we can help.
First, it's interesting what happens when someone encounters Jesus. Saul thinks he is honoring God but in reality is persecuting Him (Acts 9:5). After he encounters Jesus he does an immediate turn around. The same passion that he had originally now gets refocused by Jesus and is used the way that God intended it. What happens to us when we meet Jesus? I don't think we are surprised when the rough edges are sanded off of us or we loose our bad habits but are we willing to allow Jesus to completely transform our lives. For Paul, Jesus wasn't just an upgrade, it was a complete revision (from Saul 1.0 to Paul 2.0). His entire identity got changed. Who he was, what he did - everything. Shouldn't we expect the same when we encounter Jesus - the idea that everything that we thought we were Jesus might just revise.
Another observation is how the church responded to Saul. Ananias is not overly happy about it (Acts 9:13-14). The apostles are hesitant (Acts 9:26). It is so easy for us to preach about changed lives but sometimes we have a hard time accepting them. I don't believe that Saul was on anyone's "target list" for potential converts. He was the enemy who not only hated the church, but he did everything in his power to destroy it - even to the point murder. Yet Jesus had plans for him (isn't that just like Jesus!).
Sometimes I think we look at people and predetermine who is "saveable" and who is not. We are selective on who actually hears the gospel. And when they come to the church some people are given a pass and others are put under higher scrutiny. This has been a stumbling block for the church for centuries. Recently, a good friend of mine was explaining to me where the terms "soul food" and "soul music" came from. It seems that at one time, the church believed that those of African decent did not have souls (thus the justification for slavery). The use of the word "soul" in the African American culture was to counter the belief that they were soulless.
How many people do we believe are soulless? Who is beyond Jesus? We all know the answer is no one but how do our actions answer this question? Who are the Sauls, Samaritans, Barbarians or Slaves of our day? Who can't you ever imagine coming to Jesus?
I'm pretty sure Jesus can imagine them coming to Him. Perhaps we should ask Him how we can help.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Acts 3
I've been studding Acts 3 for this Sunday's sermon and some interesting thoughts keep coming up. This is the story of the blind beggar at the temple gate and it's interesting how this story progresses. Peter and John are going to the temple like they usually do - there was nothing special on this day. This is what they always did (this is what many in their society did as well.) Day in, day out - same ole same ole. Yet God seems to have different plans and takes them on a wild ride. First the beggar gets healed, then Peter preaches, then they get arrested and another 2000 come to the church.
Here is the interesting part for me: this is completely unplanned by Peter and John. I wonder what their plans were for the day. Perhaps temple, then some dinner. Just a quiet evening....but God seemed to have other plans. This really got me thinking. Would we be willing to do something like this? Would we be willing to allow God to disturb our quiet evening?
I think we find a comfort in planning (I know I do). There is safety there. We like to make sure that all of our t's are crossed and out i's are dotted. And while there is nothing wrong in planning, do we unintentionally plan God out of the equation?
Thoughts?
Here is the interesting part for me: this is completely unplanned by Peter and John. I wonder what their plans were for the day. Perhaps temple, then some dinner. Just a quiet evening....but God seemed to have other plans. This really got me thinking. Would we be willing to do something like this? Would we be willing to allow God to disturb our quiet evening?
I think we find a comfort in planning (I know I do). There is safety there. We like to make sure that all of our t's are crossed and out i's are dotted. And while there is nothing wrong in planning, do we unintentionally plan God out of the equation?
Thoughts?
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