Together We Can Change The Story

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Slide #1

We each have a story.

Luke

Slide #2-11

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Same power that raised Christ from the grave is in us. And we each have a story to tell.

There is a pattern that shows us how you and I are to engage people with the story of Jesus.

Same power that raised Christ from the grave is in us. And we each have a story to tell.

Pattern for how you and I are to engage people with the story of Jesus.

Slide #12

You must acknowledge that God puts people in your life so that you can win the right through your life to share with them how Jesus has changed your life

It is simple, it has not changed. This is the pattern Jesus has set for us and it has been for the last 2000 years.

You must see everyone as God’s gift to you, that you cannot return, and that God has given them to you to walk along the road with them and introduce them to Jesus.

Most of you are here today because someone in your Oikos loved you enough to tell you about Jesus.

The challenge is for you and me to be that same agent and tell others in our Oikos about Jesus.

The Gospel that comes to us must flow through us.

Slide #13

Jesus walked along with these men to share in their life and their experiences.

Notice the questions Jesus asks of these men. What are they talking about? What are these things? What do they think? He lets them do the talking before he starts talking.

The discussion they had burned in their hearts. And people today if they do not know Jesus, it is burning inside of them.

The Holy Spirit is working on them and they may try to deny it, or medicate it, or use something to stuff it down, but people are searching whether they admit it or not.

In verse 27 the time was right, and Jesus was ready with answers. The questions and the relationship came first before the answers.

Jesus is acting like he is moving on and the men invite him to stay with them. He agrees and they share a common every day experience, eating, and Jesus blesses and breaks the bread and the eyes of these men are open.

The people in your Oikos need to see you communing with the Father and likewise their eyes will be open as they see the power of the resurrection working in your life.

Then Jesus left them. Then what did they do? They had to go and find someone to tell.

The immediately left everything they were doing and returned to Jerusalem.

Slide #14

This is our life pattern. That is how we are to organize our relationships. This is how we are to look at people. Not as targets. We are not to dehumanize or manipulate them. We are to love them because we are called into a relationship with them and we must honor them by telling them the story of Jesus.

You and I are called to walk on this road called life with people who do not know Jesus and we are to be ready for the question, ready for the response, ready to break bread with them, and ready to reveal Christ to them at the right time.

This is Christian Living.

This strategy works at all times, in all places, with all people, in all cultures.

This is God’s method for expanding His church and building His Kingdom

It worked 2,000 years ago and it works today.

Slide #15

The answer is complex, but at the core, it means that people do not believe in absolutes.

People who do not believe in absolutes, believe there are absolutely no absolutes.

They are searching for truth, they believe there might be truth, but they look inside themselves for their truth instead of looking for the author of Truth.

They do not understand how God can be known, if they even believe He exists.

They do not look for evidence like an attorney uses in the court of law, they are looking for proof in how you live your transformed life.

This is one reason why traditional methods of evangelism are not effective today. Stopping someone on the street with an evangelistic message about how they need Jesus, which is true, or how they are going to Hell if they don’t accept Jesus, which is true, is not effective.

Slide #16

This is personally demanding. It cannot be fake. People today will figure out what you say is not how you live. And sooner or later our two lives will conflict and they will see the truth and we will lose the opportunity to show them Jesus.

The true believer shows and explains the Gospel with their life as they do life with those who do not know Jesus.

We don’t pass out tracks, we are the track.

Your priorities, your decisions, your actions, and your words explain to those around you what it means to follow Jesus.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Just living a good, Christian life is not enough. When the time was right Jesus was able to articulate the Gospel with these men. And just as it says in “the reason for the hope that is within you.”

Slide #17

Just living a good, Christian life is not enough. When the time was right Jesus was able to articulate the Gospel with these men.

Just living a good, Christian life is not enough. When the time was right Jesus was able to articulate the Gospel with these men. And just as it says in “the reason for the hope that is within you.”

And we are to do the same as it says in “the reason for the hope that is within you.”

The Hope we have within us demands an explanation.

Why would we live out the hope we have and not be able to tell people what it means?

To live without fear in a fearful world is not normal by the standards of the world. It demands a reason.

It is revolutionary to be able to forgive and have it affect your behavior, and that demands that you be able to articulate the why.

When we make our decisions based upon something other than self-interest the world wonders how and why we can do this. It demands an answer.

Your life must be a beautiful combination of deeds and words.

Slide #18

Words that explain the fact that you have been created by God to worship him, Creation

But instead we decided to enthrone ourselves, Sin

So we deserve God’s punishment, Judgement

But despite our sin, God extended His love and mercy through Jesus Christ, Grace

How, by bearing our sins upon the cross, Atonement

But Jesus rose from the grave, Resurrection

To give us new life so that we can live by the Spirit, Discipleship

If only we believe that it is true, Repentance and Faith

Penn Jillete Quote:

Slide #19

“If you believe that there's a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward, and atheists who think that people shouldn't proselytize -- 'Just leave me alone, keep your religion to yourself.'"How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?" Jillette asked. "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? If I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it, and that truck was bearing down on you, there's a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."

Slide #20

Are you able to say today that as a follower of Jesus you have a burdened heart?

One of the marks of a maturing Christian is to walk in the joy of knowing Jesus and yet to see the world as God’s sees it and have a burdened heart.

Slide #21

Story of wearing glasses

We need to put on some spiritual glasses. There are a lot of us that go around with some fuzzy vision.

We see our Christian lives as something that God helps us on, where God keeps us happy and then one day we go to heaven.

But the only reason that God leaves us here on the earth is for us to walk the Emmaus road with people in our Oikos.

If God wanted your worship, fellowship, your discipleship, He would just take you to Heaven right now to be with Him where your worship, fellowship, and discipleship would be perfect.

Why does He leave you here?

Slide #22

Slide #23

He is risen, now we walk with people, you listen to them, you love them, you demonstrate what it means to know Jesus, and when the time is right you tell them why you live the way you do.

Does your life reflect what you claim to believe? Have you listed your Oikos on your card? Are you praying daily for those in your Oikos?

Together you and I can change the story of those in our Oikos. We do this by walking with them and showing them Jesus.

Together We Can Change The Story

We each have a story.

Oikos – household, your relational network.

Oikos is something you live.

Let’s look how Jesus did it.

Hospitality is extended

Today we are confronted with skepticism. We live in a post-modern society.

What is post-modernism?

But Oikos living shares the Gospel message in a relationship. People are watching you and how you live your life.

Oikos is not just one of the reasons, it is THE reason.

So I challenge you today to pray that God would give you a joy-filled burdened heart.

One of the greatest acts of love is to tell someone about Jesus. Why would your not want to do that?

Do you trust God that the very resurrection power that saved you can create in you a heart that looks and wants to do this?

Praying for those who do not know God makes history.

God promises that every time you pray for someone, He acts and responds.

Whether or not they know or care that you prayed for them they will be blessed.

There is no better way to live your life than to pray with the power of Jesus Christ for those who do not know Him and then to prove the power of that prayer by walking alongside them as you live your life.

This is the what next of the Easter story.