Committed to Christ
Notes
Transcript
Standing Firm in the Faith
Standing Firm in the Faith
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people!
If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,
then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.
So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together.
“What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.
But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.”
Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.
But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened.
For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
3 questions this morning.
1.) What do YOU have to offer others, that will benefit those around you?
2.) Will you do what is right before God, even if it means being judged here on earth?
3.) When people meet you, will they say it is clear that you have BEEN WITH JESUS?
Last week we wrapped up our series on the Church mission statement to help people Believe in Christ, Behave like Christ and Become Like Christ. I wrapped up the series by challenging some of us to move past the behaving category, into the becoming category. To move from watching and learning, to actively participating in the ministry of the Jesus. I also challenged some of us to be intentional about empowering the next generation, sharing your wisdom and expertise, but letting the next generation get some hands on experience.
This is what Jesus did with his disciples. As we read last week he gave them practice in actively doing what he was doing, traveling around speaking, healing and inviting everyone into a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ. We ended with the reminder that this is what the Great commission is all about. Jesus one final time empowers the Disciples to go out in his name and continue to teach and make disciples.
We will get to the story of Pentecost in 2 weeks, but starting at that spot and moving through our story this morning, the Disciples are actually doing this very thing. They begin to teach, to help those in need, to invite people to follow Jesus and things are going incredibly well at first. There is tons of excitement, and energy and growth. The season of hardship and uncertainty is over. They weathered the storm so to speak and now they are actively doing the work of Jesus and things are going really well!
There is something really special and exciting about being in this spot in ministry. When you are full of optimism, and excitement and you can feel that things are going well, and you know you are doing the good work of Jesus Christ. I think this is what the disciples are feeling as we head into this story.
And so it is in this context, that Peter and John were going to the Temple for their afternoon prayers. The Bible says it was about 3PM. As they are walking to the Temple they get to the temple Gate and this is a common place for beggars to gather to seek charity from those who headed into the Temple. There, Peter and John come across a man who is unable to walk and this man has been brought here by his friends and family everyday to beg. Much of society is subsistence living meaning you are just trying to have enough money for food and basic necessities and so this man is placed here everyday to beg as his way of contributing to his family. His hope is that he will receive some form of charitable gift from others. Gold, silver, perhaps food, something that he can bring back to his family to contribute since he can’t work.
When he sees Peter and John he asks them for money. I love that the text says that Peter and John both looked directly at this man and asked for him to look back. The disciples didn’t look away, but instead sought to make a connection with this person who others would have repeatedly ignored. I think this is a small but often overlooked element of life. Truly seeing other people. One of my first jobs in youth ministry was working for a church whose average age of attenders was in the 70’s and we also were blessed enough to have a really thriving and active community outreach youth group with lots of kids from the neighborhood attending. I was looking for ways to get this older congregation and these community teenagers connected and I will never forget a few of the ladies saying to me. I just want them to look me in the eye, smile at me and acknowledge that I am still here. Most kids won’t even look at me, and they just avoid me like I am already dead. Which I was heartbroken to hear, so I made it a significant point of emphasis for our youth and we talked about this and worked on it. I challenged them to look people in the eye, smile at them and just say Hi. After a few months one of those same older ladies pulled me aside and told me how much it has meant to her, to have all of these youth smiling at her and greeting her. I often used to challenge older folks to be intentional about connecting with students, but I didn’t realize that we ALL want to be acknowledged, we all want to feel like we are seen, and valued and noticed. That is super important, and I love that this little detail is included in the story. That they SEE, Look in the eyes and make a connection with someone who so many others would intentionally walk right past and try NOT to make eye contact with! May this be a simple reminder to be intentional about how we interact with the world around us in our day to day lives.
The man looks back at Peter and John hoping to get some Gold or silver, perhaps some food, some form of charity, and I love what Peter says.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”
I don’t have Gold, or Silver, they aren’t equipped for that, but here is what I CAN give you, In the name of Jesus get up and walk. and the man is healed! I love this part of the story. Two weeks ago I challenged us to start thinking about, and praying about where God is leading us as a congregation and where God is leading you as individuals. I said we should listen for God to Invite us to step out of the boat and follow him. I hope we are continuing to pray about that, and as we do, it can be easy to look at other churches, and other people and see the awesome thing they are doing and say…. Hey We should do THAT! Or here is a need, we should solve this need, but I think that isn’t always the best way to start. I think we should start like Peter and John. With what we DO have! Which is my first big question for you this morning. What do YOU have that you can offer to the church, the town and those around you to make the world a better place? It doesn't need to be Gold, or Silver, I can’t heal anyone like Peter and John, but I do believe that God has given me unique gifts and abilities and that is what iI need to offer the world in the name of Jesus. What does this church have to offer the town, our community that can help make the town better. When we give from what we have, especially when we give in the name of Jesus, others are blessed and so are we!
We see the response from the crowd is overwhelming. Imagine how different the story would be, if they gave Gold or silver. If Peter and John had given what the man was looking for, or asking for, instead of giving from what they DO have. But instead they give what only they can uniquely give and they do it in the name of Jesus and everyone sees what happens. It gives them this awesome platform for spreading the good news about Jesus Christ. Which is ultimately our main goal! We want to find ways that we can give from what we have, not because it makes us look good, but because it will open up doors for us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those who are drawn in.
This is the sweet spot! This is where we want to be as a congregation. To be out in the community, sharing the gifts, talents and resources that God has given us, so that we can be disciples who make disciples.
If the story stopped here, it would be a really fun, all positive story, but we know it continues. We know life isnt always that easy, ministry is hardly ever that easy. There are those people who don’t like what the disciples are doing. It threatens their grip of power, it challenges the way they want to live and so they arrest Peter and John. This might not seem like such a big deal, but remember, it is this same group who just a few weeks earlier arrested Jesus, and we all KNOW how that turned out. The disciples too are KEENLY aware of what happened to Jesus when he got on the wrong side of this powerful group. They could very easily face the same fate as Jesus! It would be so incredibly easy for the disciples to back down in this moment. When the pharisees and the priests threaten them and tell them to stop, It would be understandable for them to be scared and want to back down. But I love the way the story ends, they say, who are we most accountable too, YOU or GOD? You can be the judges, but we can’t stop doing what is right.
But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
It might be easy to dismiss this idea, and say, who in 2024 would actually oppose a church doing good, but just earlier this year one of my former students shared with me about a church in Ohio that opened its doors up to its community as a warming center for some very cold nights they were having. The city found out about it, and rather than celebrating this church helping, they said they were not allowed to house people overnight because they didn't have a shower among other things which city code required them to have for overnight guests. They told the church to kick everyone out, or face a $750 dollar per day fine. This church faced the same type of situation that Peter and John did. Do we obey this city council and stop letting people stay here, or do we do what we feel called by God to do and keep serving people even knowing it could cost us thousands of dollars. What would you do? what would we do?
As I was getting ready for this morning, I wanted to remind myself about some of the details of this case, but I couldn't remember the name of the church, so I just googled church gets in trouble for serving as a warming center, and I was surprised at just HOW MANY churches had gotten in trouble for similar things. In fact I came across a USA Today article that talked about the rise of churches getting fined for this. The mentioned churches in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, Oregon who all had gotten in trouble for doing good. Some for providing food some shelter, community picnics, and other resources to those in need. In fact in Houston alone over 90 tickets have been issued to those providing free food to the hungry. One Pastor faced up to 6 months in Jail for his refusal to stop letting homeless people sleep in their church. Thankfully the case was dismissed but I was stunned to read about all of these examples right here in our own country. Now I understand the importance of city codes and public safety but common sense would say, people doing good and trying to make a difference for others in the name of Jesus should be celebrated, not punished, but the reality is these churches faced the same options that Peter and John did in our passage this morning. Do we continue to do what is right, despite the risk, or often the reality, of negative repercussions, or do we listen to man, back down and stop doing what is right?
The answer might sound easy, but lets make it personal. How often am I in a position to help, to share the good news of Jesus, or to do what is right, but I don’t because I am afraid of what others might say. afraid of How I might be judged. How I might be looked at differently, or treated differently or even looked down on for being one of THOSE types of Christians who actually believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. Which leads me to my second big question of the morning. Will you do what is RIGHT in the sight of God, even if it means being judged here on earth, and facing opposition?
I know its easier said then done. The disciples themselves even struggled with this, when Jesus was arrested and crucified. They were scared, Peter denied Jesus 3 times, and yet here he is now, just a few weeks later being FULLY COMMITTED TO CHRIST. Despite knowing he could face opposition and hardship. And the opposition and Hardship do indeed come as the story continues. Yet one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible is Acts 4:13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
The pharisees and priests were trying to do everything they could to intimidate and stop Peter and John from continuing to share the good news of Jesus Christ. They wanted them to run scared and back down in fear, but it was abundantly clear that these two men had the courage of thier conviction, that they were fully committed to Christ, because they had been with Jesus. Oh man, thats what I want people to say about me. That Its clear I have been with Jesus. People can say a lot about me, That Isaac, he didn’t get everything right, That Isaac he talks to fast, That Isaac, he made some mistake, but It was clear he had spent time with Jesus. I could live with that! Which leads me to my last question this morning. When people meet you, when they get to know you, when they see you in action. Will they say it was clear that YOU have been with Jesus? That clearly you are Committed to Christ, no matter the cost, no matter the opposition? I sure hope thats what people say about me, and I hope thats what people say about our church. That we clearly are a church that has spent time with Jesus and are fully committed to Christ. AMEN?