Untitled Sermon

A Common Misunderstanding

Joe Brantley / General

Deep Community m.16 / Peter sees a vision about clean and unclean animals; Clean and Unclean Animals; Unclean /

We all share a common problem, but only God has the uncommon solution.

Welcome || Host Time || Student Pastor || Stephen Ellison

› 10:25 Stephen offers our guests to grab coffee and snack (if available—pointing to the lobby doors) announcing we will start worship in 5 min.

› 10:28 Concord Worship is in place before Host takes the stage

› 10:30 Music begins promptly at

› Host says...

Good Morning Church! Covenant Members, would you join me in welcoming all of our first time and returning guests? ( energetic applause) So good to see all of you and to be here. I hope you have been made to feel welcome today. This church is about walking out this life together in the RADICAL GRACE of JESUS CHRIST. It’s our heart that here a Concord, that you are made to feel “Know, Loved, and that you Belong.” Scripture tells us:‌

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but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That means you don’t have to get it all figured out before you come. You come and we figure it out together. Whatever season you are in, we know the struggles of this sinful world…but we also know that our God is bigger than our circumstances.

guest connection:

Keep it upbeat— Also, for our Guests we want to connect with you! With that said, I hope you received a program this morning you’ll notice in that program there’s more info about who we are and what we offer as a church. There you will find information about various ministries for the whole family.

Also inside the program, along with the insert, there is a connect envelope. Later on in our service we will worship through a time of offering together.

During this offering time we will give all of you a moment to fill out the connect envelopes (and they also serve as a place you can give any money or financial gift that you would offer to the Lord).

During that time you will have an opportunity to connect and give and it’s really simple. Joe, our lead pastor will walk you through the steps.

We desire to connect with you and help you get plugged in.

covenant connection:

Now Covenant Members, if you will grab the insert inside your program and take it out, it is promoting some awesome things that we want to highlight so please take a look at that and see how you can get plugged in the various ministry opportunities we have. .

Coming soon...

› Family Meeting/Potluck— NEXT SUNDAY, following service, July 15th—we have some exciting things to update you on…you’ll learn a little about that today...

› New Classes for Concord U will begin August 15th so be on the look out for classes, as well as, serving in KIDS or STUDENTS

› Also if you’re curious about what Covenant Membership looks like at Concord and would like to find out more…we want you to get ready and pre-register online for NEW BEGINNINGS.

› NEW BEGINNINGS will start Sunday, September 9th at 9am. taught by our lead pastor Joe Brantley and his wife Stephanee.

› There is also a place to check if you are interested on the connect envelope (the box at the very bottom).

› One of our staff will connect with you if you want more info about New Beginnings.

A CALL TO WORSHIP

› Read

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5 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

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1 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; 2 sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! 3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. 4 All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

› Close in prayer praying: For hearts to be prepared to give God “glorious praise” let our worship through song be one with Spirit, to properly adore all that He is...

› Stephen exits stage

FORGIVEN || worship leader: Cole Pevey ||

› Slide Team: Make sure Scriptures are ready to cue up as Cole says, * says*...” not before or too far after…please be alert.

› All slides must be changed when the reader moves to the next verse (no delay).

› Total focus! We don’t want the congregation distracted or reading the screen premature to the verse be read, nor waiting on the right verse to show up.

› Encourage your team to pursue this will excellence.

› Cole says: says this:

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1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Song of Pardon - Concord Worship

Song of Pardon:

› Cole prays: Thanking God for His presence through His Holy Spirit and how He reveals Himself through the person on Jesus who is “the Word.” Ask Him to anoint the service as we continue to worship through His Holy Spirit inspired Scripture and song.

› Band remains on stage to play at the end of Scripture.Band exits stage

› As Cole prays Covenant Member will make his way to the stage.

› Scripture Reader takes the Stage during Cole’s Prayer (uses White labelled Mic) and then reads the Script

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Scripture Reading || ESV

by Covenant Member || Rueben Ruiz

› Rueben says:

Good morning church, and guests. Welcome to Concord. My name is Rueben Ruiz, and my wife (Linda) and I love serving in the KIDS ministry on Wednesday nights or where ever needed. We have been covenant members here for months now. We have a daughter, Natalie, who loves Concord KIDS!

We are all excited to share the good news of Jesus and how our vision and mission, as a church, make Him known in this community.

This is our Mission here at Concord:

We exist to connect people through loving community as we introduce them to Jesus and help them follow Him.

This morning I have the honor of sharing God’s Word with you.

Would you please turn in your Bibles or on your device, to the New Testament where we will read from the Gospel of Mark. We will be reading from chapter 17, starting in verse 1.

› Only mention the first verse so people won’t read ahead

If you are joining us this morning and you do not have a Bible, you should see a White Paperback one lying around under your seats, feel free to use that one.

And if you don’t own a Bible, consider that our free gift to you.

We will even provide you with the page number on the screen to help you find our texts throughout our worship service.

› SLIDES: Put up first slide. Page number is already attached.

Mark chapter 7 can be found on page number 491 in the White Paperback Bible. As I read this over you, please read along with me (to yourself), starting in verse 1.

› take a moment and a nice slow breath — count to 3 in your head — then READ: Book, Chapter, Verse, then Scriptures.

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1 Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, 2 they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. 3 (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, 4 and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” 9 And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban” ’ (that is, given to God)— 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, 13 thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.” 14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

› Say:

This is the Word of the Lord.

› Exit the stage...

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Sermon || lead pastor || Joe Brantley

Introduction

Turn to

Last wk— Caught off guard” by a Roman centurion in it described him in v. 2 this way:

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2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.

I’m going to skip the recap of Cornelius’ vision up front because we deal with it in today’s text again as Cornelius meets the Apostle Peter.

But where we left off last week, Cornelius (after his encounter with the Angel of the Lord) obediently calls 2 servants and a trusted solider to go to Joppa, fetch Peter, and bring him to Caesarea.

As it turns out, Cornelius and Peter have more in common than their visions… (we all do) whether you are a Saint of a Skeptic.

We tend to have a preconceived notion about the common....

At the height of the California Gold Rush in 1854, the San Francisco Mint produced less than 300 special $5 coins. Only three were known to still survive, until recently, as there are now four.

While the owner of the fourth coin has chosen to remain anonymous, he was convinced the gold coin was fake. Upon taking the coin to show to few collectors and dealers at a coin show, everyone thought it was fake, insisting that there was no way he could have a rare 1854 piece like that…

Richard Montgomery, President of NGC wanted to make sure that this wasn’t the stolen coin, so they obtained images from when it was previously auctioned in 1962. Once they determined it wasn’t the stolen Du Pont coin, the company received quality images from the Smithsonian, where one of the coins is held, as well as from the Pogue Family, private collectors who own millions in coins…

Montgomery says that in authenticating the coin, he looked for common things. “You’ll see the four in the digit is slightly attenuated or not as high in relief as the regular part of the four…We noticed that was exactly the same as the Smithsonian piece.”

Similarities like that along with comprehensive methods to inspect the coin, helped them verify that this piece was indeed real. But where did the coin come from? Was it discovered at a garage sale?

As far as the exact value of the coin, Montgomery says that it’s not his job to determine that since they don’t deal in the sales of coins and they only provide authentication and quality assessments.

However, if he had to guess, Montgomery says, “It’s worth millions.” It is incredibly rare to find something like this, as rare as “finding a Picasso at a garage sale.”

Everyone thought it was a fake common coin until an expert, said it was real… listen to me church, that’s what we are about to learn about today. How God authenticates what is believed to be common to be quite unique.

The Big Idea:

WE ALL SHARE A COMMON PROBLEM, BUT ONLY GOD HAS THE UNCOMMON SOLUTION.

Exposition

I. Peter’s Vision

› read

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9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.

a. vv. 11-13 [the specifics of the vision]

i. Animals (v. 12) — what Jesus says’ (Angel of the Lord) in v.13

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12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

b. Peter’s Reaction (v.14)

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14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

i. Common (Unclean) as it’s used in the Greek as an adj. means: being ritually unclean (defiled)…understood esp. as the “ordinary”—not set-apart (holy).

ii. Unclean What makes one “unclean” or common is stated in the Old Testament book of the Law. And what Peter is faced with here specifically is what makes a person “unclean” by what they eat...

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25 You shall therefore separate the clean beast from the unclean, and the unclean bird from the clean. You shall not make yourselves detestable by beast or by bird or by anything with which the ground crawls, which I have set apart for you to hold unclean. 26 You shall be holy to me, for I the Lord am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.

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14 And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, that you might do them in the land that you are going over to possess.

iii. Peter says “I’ve never eaten…unclean.”

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14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”

As many Old Testament prophets said and even proved by doing so found favor with God… like Ezekiel and Daniel.

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8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs,

Big Idea: We all share a common problem, but only God has has the UNCOMMON solution.

II. Peter Perplexed

› read

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17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.

a. Peter “inwardly perplexed” about this vision…it goes against everything he was taught growing up… eating what is unclean? At this point in his life this is “muscle memory.” And bam! “BEHOLD” Cornelius’ men appear...

b. The Spirit reveals what Peter must do...

› read

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19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.” 21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

III. Peter’s Is Also A Man

› read

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23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. I ask then why you sent for me.”

a. v. 23a—Peter’s an invited guest of a Gentile…which means he will eat with him…(Unclean)

b. v.24b—Cornelius called together family and close friends to hear Peter’s teaching. (he cared about his family and friends eternal condition)

c. v.25—Cornelius “wrongly” worship Peter...

d. v.26—Peter rebukes him “Bro, I too am a man...”

Big Idea: We all share a common problem, but only God has an UNCOMMON solution.

e. v.27—it says many gathered to hear

f. v.28a—Peter then talks about this “unlawful association???”

i. Wait, what’s up with that…you just got through saying that you too are a man,… just like Cornelius....

ii. ahhhh, Yes, but Peter was a Jew and he had been taught that is was unlawful to assoc. with gentiles bc they were unclean. To be a Jew was to be “God’s chosen” people… but look how Peter rectifies this confusing, broken statement...

iii. (v.28b) “But God…has shown me that I should not call you Common or Unclean!!!!

Big Idea: We all share a common problem, but only God has an UNCOMMON solution.

iv. (v. 29) Peter asks, Why????

IV. Cornelius’ Obedience

› read vision recap of vv.1-8

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30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you at once, and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.”

a. (vv. 30-32) Recap of vision (vv.1-8)

i. (v.31) “REMEMBERED by God”

b. (v.33) The answer

i. “so I did…THEREFORE…we are all here (in the presence of God)”

ii. “to HEAR all the LORD has commanded you.”

• THE EAGER EXPECTATION OF THE GOSPEL!!!!

Conclusion

God is trying to teach us just what he has revealed to Peter…know matter what Laws where in place, no matter what traditions we’ve inserted and passed down—gen to gen. What God is teach Peter and us is this is a HEART ISSUE not a stomach issue… go back to . This is Jesus dealing with the religious of the day...

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14 And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing outside a person that by going into him can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him.” 17 And when he had entered the house and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

We all share a common problem, THE FILTHINESS OF SIN! BUT GOD, rich in His mercy, SOLVES OUR PROBLEM in the MOST UNCOMMON WAY EVER; He makes us CLEAN by the Blood of His Son Jesus Christ!

We all share a common problem, but only God has the uncommon solution! His name is Jesus! That is good news!

The world tells you “YOU ARE A FAKE, a common coin” yet the Gospel says you are a MINT COIN worth the very blood of His righteous Son. You are not a fake, you are not worth mere trillions…God said you are worth the cross, which means you are PRICELESS! ETERNAL!!!

The Gospel matter; Faith Matters; Following Christ matters; Belonging matters (local church); Prayer matters; Discipleship matters… why? Because Christ died for it! And God is telling you may share a common problem, but he’s got an uncommon solution…it’s following Jesus.

› Show Video

› worship team comes up during video...

› Joe introduces the Spence’s…prays over them

› Prays over the service...

Responsive Worship

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