Joe of Arimathea

In: 1. The phrase “All-in” is popular these days

a. Started out as a phrase for being worn-out, tired, spent

b. Then it became popular through poker as betting everything you’ve got- win or lose

c. Today it means without restrictions, fully-committed or involved

d. The expression "pass the buck" which means passing the responsibility on to someone else. It is said to have originated with the game of poker, where a knife with a buckhorn handle was used to indicate the person whose turn it was to deal. If the player did not wish to deal he could pass the responsibility by passing the "buck," as the counter came to be called, to the next player

e. President Truman had sign on his desk that said, “The Buck Stops Here” and in his farewell address to the American people he said, "The President--whoever he is--has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That's his job”. He saw that sign on the desk of a Marshall in Missouri and wanted one like it. It was made at the Federal Prison in El Reno

2. The difference between involvement and commitment is like ham and eggs. The chicken is involved; the pig is committed

3. When confronted with a challenge, an undecided heart will search for an escape, but a committed heart will search for a solution - Andy Andrews

4. Average Joe’s- Guys named Joe in the Bible who made a difference

a. We live in a world that is obsessed with extra, but so many times God used the ordinary

5. Last week Joe the father of Jesus- willing to be part of the story even though he wasn’t the focus

6. Joe of Arimathea- overcame his fears and used his resources to advance the kingdom of God

a. Matthew 27:57-60 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

b. Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathea came, a prominent member of the Council, who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God; went boldlybefore Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

c. Luke 23:50-51 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders.

d. John 19:38 Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body.

7. Church Tradition and sources outside the Bible

a. Gospel of Nicodemus says the elders were angry at him for burying the body so they imprisoned him, and placed a seal on the door to his cell after first posting a guard. Joseph warned the elders, "The Son of God whom you hanged upon the cross, is able to deliver me out of your hands. All your wickedness will return upon you." Once the elders returned to the cell, the seal was still in place, but Joseph was gone.

b. Traditions say he was the first keeper of the Holy Grail and took it to Britain

c. He became the first Bishop of the British Isles

d. One of England’s best-known legends, when Joseph and his followers arrived, weary, resting on a hill outside Glastonbury, he set his walking staff on the ground and it miraculously took root and blossomed as the “Glastonbury Thorn”. Puritans cut it down, but still see them in the area today and they bloom twice each year around Easter and Christmas

8. What we do know about Joe from Arimathea from the Bible

a. He was spiritual

1) He was anticipating the Messiah (waiting for the Kingdom)

2) He was a good and righteous man

b. He was a disciple of Jesus

1) But a secret (hidden) one, because of fear of the Jewish leaders

2) Cancel Culture

a) John 7:13 no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders

b) John 9:21-22 Is this your son that was born blind. Ask him he’s old enough (afraid of being expelled from the synagogue)

c) If he was on the Sanhedrin’s bad side- no jobs, no work, no money, lose everything

d) Cultures around the world conversion can mean no jobs, no work, no housing

e) Salt Lake City missionaries- hard to get work, housing, opportunities, business

f) Four apartment complexes in North OKC filled with refugee’s from Afghanistan. So communal, If you upset one the whole group with switch stores, restaurants, housing

g) He had a lot to lose by following Jesus

3) He HAD BEEN- He overcame his fears. He gathered up the courage to go public and ask Pilate for the body of Jesus

a) Something about the crucifixion, changed him, gave him courage to stand up

c. He was wealthy

1) He was a prominent member of the Sanhedrin (respected, influential)

a) These guys were political- mix of religion and politics. They kept the peace and the Romans allowed their businesses to flourish

2) He used his money to give Jesus a decent burial- tomb, wrapping, security, 75 lbs spices

a) Isaiah 53:9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death

3) He gave something to Jesus now that would be valuable to him in the future- his tomb/plot- first air b&b

9. That’s the essence of generosity

a. To give up something that is or will be valuable to me in the future

1) It’s easy to give up clothes that don’t fit or things we don’t use anymore (treadmill)

2) If it doesn’t mean something to you, it doesn’t mean something to God

3) If you don't love it, God doesn't want it- Ricky Jimenez

b. The principle of first fruits- I’m giving it first and trusting the Lord to meet my needs

10. Jesus talked about money a lot

a. 11 of the 39 parables we about money or He used money to illustrate the point

b. Jesus believed that money was a heart issue

c. Money promises us things that only God can give—security, significance, identity, independence, power, and freedom

1) Proverbs 18:10-11 The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. The rich think of their wealth as a strong defense; they imagine it to be a high wall of safety

2) Article on why people give or don’t’ give

a) Humans employ two things when they are assessing whether to be generous: logic and empathy

b) Logic introduces an assessment of benefit and loss for giver and receiver. If the giver sees they can make a difference to the receiver without any significant loss to themselves, we have a winner in the logical generosity department

c) The biggest issue with generosity is if you value security over all else. We align with our values. If we value security at the top of our list, we always struggle with generosity

d. Money says it can insulate us from life’s problems and that it’s the answer to every situation

e. Jesus never told anyone the answer was more money. Money is not the answer to our problems, God is

1) Money says to buy and sell; God says to sow and reap

2) Money says to cheat and steal; God says to give and receive

11. Money is usually the last frontier in commitment

a. Because if God has our money, He has our heart

1) Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also

2) 1 Timothy 6:10 The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows

12. Joe of Arimathea overcame his fear of losing what he had and emboldened him to use it to advance the Kingdom of God

I. WHY AREN’T WE MORE GENEROUS?

A. Fear- afraid we can’t afford to give

1. 42% list financial resources as their reason

2. 22% volunteer instead

3. People should solve their own problems

4. They don’t believe it actually helps anyone or that their contribution will actually make a difference

5. They don’t trust the charity they are donating to

a. Because of you video/pictures

B. Sacrifice- don’t want to give up what we have

1. We don’t want it to affect our lifestyle

a. Seriously? Government gets 25%, church gets 10-15%, living off 60%

2. We don’t mind giving if it doesn’t affect us, cost us

II. HOW DO WE GATHER THE COURAGE TO BE GENEROUS

A. See the sacrifice of Jesus

1. Something about what Jesus did made Joe go public

a. Matthew 10:8 Freely we have received, now freely give

1) Give as freely as you have received

2) Salvation was free, but it wasn’t cheap (cost Jesus)

b. The sacrifice of Jesus makes us willing to sacrifice

2. Not about equal giving, but about equal sacrifice

a. The principle of tithing is the same for everyone

b. Widow’s mite- Jesus measures by what we have left over

c. 2 Samuel 24 David takes a census- security in Himself (army)

1) God takes away some of his army

2) David makes a sacrifice at Araunah’s threshing floor- v24 I'm not going to offer God, sacrifices that are no sacrifice

a) A Sacrifice is not sacrifice unless it's sacrifice

d. Araunah was willing to give the most valuable piece of property on earth to the King

B. Take a step of faith

1. It’s addictive

a. 2 Corinthians 9:7 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully

1) Hilaros- hilarious, cheerful, joyous, prompt to do anything, spontaneous

b. Acts 20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive, MSG- You're far happier giving than getting

2. It become a habit

a. Study on giving- more nurture than nature

1) People who saw generosity in their parents were more apt to be generous

2) They saw the provision and didn’t fear losing something

3) Generous in everything- resources, time, effort

b. It doesn’t feel like it’s a sacrifice

1) A man one commented to David Livingstone about what a sacrifice he had made thinking of his time in Africa, his sorrow, how he had lost his wife, and his poor health. Livingstone replied to the man, "Sacrifices? I never made a sacrifice in all my life."

2) Chresten Tomlin- It will cost you everything, but it doesn’t feel like it

3) Sacrifice isn’t giving up, it’s giving for

a) Its an evaluation that something is so important it is worth the sacrifice/effort- weight, education for kids, souls

4) Halfway through the year, what we have done through Bridge builders- $418,000

a) Missionaries- over $100,000

1) New ones- 6 new missionaries

a) Uruguay- Steve & Jill McCarthy- planting 100 churches

b) Two Couples working with Afghanrefugees in OK

c) One detained and not allowed in the country Friday

b) Projects

1) Bethel, Alaska strategy- College Students marketplace, training, planting churches

2) Global University Pastors in Muslim countries- greatest revival in Iran

a) Man’s wife died- went home to get money for her funeral. Went to the hospital and she was waiting packed and ready to go home. Doctor with long hair told her she was well and could go home. Will you heal my paralyzed son also. Father heard someone in the house at night. It was their son up and walking around

3) Church in Madagascar

4) Georgian church in Brooklyn

c) Fire Bibles- 65 languages- Haitian Creole, Quechua, Mozambique- 2 pics Schultz

d) Tornadoes- Convoyof Hope, Barnsdall- 3pics$2,000

e) Rural Churches- Coylebathroom, Lexingtoncarpet, Guthriekids area, Dream Centercamp

e) Local- Easterinvites, homeless, fine linens, helping our schools

5) Because of you

6) You were there

Cn: 1. Can we overcome our fears and go all-in?

2. Stewardship- through our hands- talents, house, vehicle, finances

3. Bridge builders pledge- get involved, set a goal

4. What are we doing with our lives? Will it matter that we lived?

5. Is God calling you?

Al: 1. Willing to use your resources to advance the kingdom?

2. Freely you have received? salvation