Raised Up

Introduction

Reminders Are Everywhere

Don’t forget

Remind kids to pickup, take up

Calendar reminders - don’t be late

Checklists

Email - sale ending soon

Siri reminders - do something at a certain time

What they’ve been taught/learned

Calendar notification - don’t be late

Texts

Every time we tell someone “I love you” or be careful, it’s a reminder

Remind someone of truth or who they are in moments of doubt or confusion

Reminders: Gentle correction

At work: Email a gentle reminder about a request that is late.

With kids: Rather than say, “You’re not wearing that to school today, are you?” you might say, “I love what you’re trying to do with that outfit. I think this shirt with those pants makes it work.”

Why We Need Reminders

Distractions

Slightly off track + time = way off the mark (a tweet)

Help us keep looking ahead

Focus/Refocus on what matters most - what we have chosen to build our lives on

What we’ve been taught

Ethos

Values

Beliefs

What we choose to build our lives on

Being a Radcliffe

Life lessons

What we allow to influenc for their good.

Reminding our kids of what we’ve taught them; what to base their lives on

Life lessons

Values

Values

Attitudes

Attitudes

Beliefs

Things that can’t be seen but in our conduct as they have influenced and shaped us.

Beliefs

Being a Radcliffe

[SLIDE] What Matters Most/What We Build Our Lives On

How do you and I determined the answer to this question?

I’ve spoken at a number of funerals with grief weighing on those gathered. What would it be like to walk out of the church or funeral home and see the person who was just laying in the casket smiling back at you?

Where do we go to gain access to the possibilities?

From what is out there, what process do we go through to determine reliability before we pull the trigger?

What we’ve been taught - passed down to you?

Ethos

Values

Beliefs

How much research?

How much trust in what others say?

Colin Powell - need 30% of the information to make a decision

[SLIDE] What Matters

Being a Radcliffe

Paul’s Gentle Correction

[SLIDE] What Matters

[SLIDE] Passing on Faith (The Foundation for Life

Faith in Paul’s day was something passed down from one generation to the next or one person or group to another. It is given and received.

The message he gave the Corinthian church is what he received himself and here is a summary of it which became the church’s teaching/creed.

It is the foundation of the Christian faith - without it, there is no Christianity, no church, no salvation, no hope.

It is of first importance. Nothing else matters.

Paul: this is what you can rely on - base your life on.

It was told of long before

Prophetic fulfillment - Claims of prophecy being fulfilled by an event or action.

- After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

on the third day he will raise us up,

that we may live before him.

What is this Message?

The Gospel - The Kingdom is here. The Kingdom message: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (OT), was buried and raised on the third day.

- After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

Resurrection of Jesus - historical event where he came back to life from physical death to newness of life never to die again.

Validated that he is Lord and God in the flesh

Validated his message of restoration of relationship with God by removing sin which caused the separation.

And there were witnesses.

But is it true?

There are doubts it really happened.

There are doubters of the resurrection of Jesus who have come up with a number of conspiracy theories to explain it away. None of them seem to hold water.

The only conspiracy was put in play by the authorities who had to deal with the embarrassment of an empty tomb. The resurrection was an act of civil disobedience as it involved breaking Pilate’s seal and striking down the guards.

Seal broken, body missing. Need an alibi.

All we have to do is create doubt.

There were Witnesses

12 appearances and more than 500 people.

I’ve spoken at a number of funerals with grief weighing on those gathered. What would it be like to walk out of the church or funeral home and see the person who was just laying in the casket smiling back at you?

12 appearances and more than 500 people.

The disciples grieved and then they walked out and saw Jesus.

Yancy, The Jesus I Never Knew.

For six weeks Jesus made about a dozen appearance with his friends [and others - more than 500].

What they believed to be irreversible was reversed.

What does it mean for the world that Christ had risen?

[SLIDE] Anyone who saw the resurrected Jesus was no longer free to believe or disbelieve.

Yancy, The Jesus I Never Knew.

Yancy, The Jesus I Never Knew.

[SLIDE]

Including Paul himself

One abnormally born. Word carries the meaning of being premature, born at the wrong time.

But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.

His call was abnormal, unexpected, didn’t follow the usual path of gradual instruction but by sudden power.

You Believed But...

You believed in the message I gave you

That Jesus died, was buried, and was raised to life

[SLIDE] But you haven’t thought about what it means:

[SLIDE] What is wrong is made right

We don’t have to play a hand that we’re dealt. We can change, become whole, recover from devastating things that have happened to us.

[SLIDE] Death is NOT the end

Resurrection ushers the believer into the new world and the kingdom promised to them by God.

Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

The resurrection is an event within history rather than at its end so we can be transformed. This experience makes real the future resurrection of the dead.

It is an event within history rather than at its end for the sake of the transformation of the people in it.

Resurrection is no longer the end, it is the beginning .

J.C. Beker in Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

[SLIDE] This world matters

The four main chapters in the story of salvation:

Eternal covenant with Abraham on the basis of Faith. God will bless all the nations and which Christ comes and brings to fulfillment

The death and resurrection of Christ making possible the realization of all of God’s promises.

The new creation, newness of life, forgiveness and restored relationship with God as a result of Christ’s resurrection - we are resurrected and will be resurrected.

The conclusion of the story of salvation is the ingathering of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, which culminates in the future resurrection /transformation of believers and the close of human history when Christ returns to defeat the powers that have unleashed darkness, disease, decay and death on the world.

Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

There will be a new heaven and new earth - the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our God and of His Christ where Jesus will live with believers he has raised to physical life and reign forever and ever.

[SLIDE] You haven’t thought about what it requires

The Invitation to follow Jesus/new life isn’t:

Self improvement

Easier life

Prosperity

[SLIDE] It is an invitation to come and die

Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

The coming reign of God’s kingdom in Jesus and his resurrection makes real the future resurrection of the dead. It is an event within history rather than at its end for the sake of the transformation of the people in it. Resurrection is no longer the end, it is the beginning .

J.C. Beker in Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

Eternal covenant with Abraham on the basis of Faith. God will bless all the nations and which Christ comes and brings to fulfillment

The death and resurrection of Christ making possible the realization of all of God’s promises.

The death and resurrection of Christ making possible the realization of all of God’s promises

The new creation, newness of life, forgiveness and restored relationship with God as a result of Christ’s resurrection - we are resurrected and will be resurrected.

The new creation, newness of life, forgiveness and restored relationship with God as a result of Christ’s resurrection

The conclusion of the story of salvation is the ingathering of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, which culminates in the future resurrection /transformation of believers and the close of human history when Christ returns to defeat the powers that have unleashed darkness, disease, decay and death on the world.

The conclusion of the story of salvation is the ingathering of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, which culminates in the future resurrection /transformation of believers and the close of human history when Christ returns to defeat the powers that have unleashed darkness, disease, decay and death on the world.

Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

The kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ and he will reign forever and ever.

And he will reign forever and ever.

It is an event within history rather than at its end for the sake of the transformation of the people in it.

J.C. Beker in Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

Resurrection is no longer the end, it is the beginning.

J.C. Beker in Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

The implication of affirming resurrection as the pinnacle of eternal life is that the drama of redemption must have an earthly conclusion or else salvation is not complete.

Without this conclusion there can be no renewal of the earth or believers; no inheriting of the kingdom of God on earth or fulfilling of the earthly promises of God to Israel; no point to the idea of the return of Christ to raise the dead and be with his people forever in the universal rule and reign of God.

Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

to walk away from anything that would be self-serving…

and be raised to new and forever life.

Come and die. Find life.

Eternal covenant with Abraham on the basis of Faith. God will bless all the nations and which Christ comes and brings to fulfillment

God will bless all the nations and which Christ comes and brings to fulfillment

The death and resurrection of Christ making possible the realization of all of God’s promises

The new creation, newness of life, forgiveness and restored relationship with God as a result of Christ’s resurrection

The conclusion of the story of salvation is the ingathering of Jews and Gentiles in Christ, which culminates in the future resurrection /transformation of believers and the close of human history when Christ returns to defeat the powers that have unleashed darkness, disease, decay and death on the world.

Witherington, Paul’s Narrative Thought World

There will be a new heaven and new earth. Then the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our God and of his Christ.

And he will reign forever and ever.