Kingdom building and Resurrection power

Theme: We are converted resurrection people who become transformed disciples who take up the mission of Christ through good works, service and sharing our faith.

Goal: Love God, Love others, make disciples

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[a] She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[b] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

ME: ORIENTATION: FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE AUDIENCE

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praying

Simon the tanner

WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)

I believe that churches struggle to be the church.

I believe that we can loose sight of what the church should be about.

We can get caught up in all the activity around us which calls and pulls

Too busy can be an over whelming where we loose sight of what it means to be a believer, disciple.

With all that is going on in the world we become over run by life.

It has been stated that we are stagnant ( inactive, sluggish, slow moving) Church. I had three people talk with me about this. I have to wonder if this happens when we are hurt, unwilling or unable to see the reason for change.

We are converted resurrection people who become transformed disciples who take up the mission of Christ through good works, service and sharing our faith.

GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSION

Dorcas Restored to Life

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[a] She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[b] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

Theme: We are converted resurrection people who become transformed disciples who take up the mission of Christ through good works, service and sharing our faith.

We are converted to become transformed disciples who take up the mission of Christ through good works, service and sharing our faith.

Goal:

A. They are born again believers who have an active relation with Christ

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

a. saved by faith, gift not works

b. we are created for good works

B. Tabitha, Dorcas, gazelle

B. full of Good works and acts of charity

a disciple

C. Disciple

Disciple:

μαθήτρια (mathētria). n. fem. female disciple. Refers to a female follower of Christ in the early church.

Mathētria, occurring in the nt only in , appears to be a technical term developed in the early church as a description for women who joined the community and showed themselves to be followers of Christ equivalent to the other male disciples. The woman to whom the term is applied in , Tabitha (or Dorcas), is presented as particularly pious and charitable among her companions, thus establishing a high standard for attaining the title of mathētria1

b. good works

Lexham Theological Wordbook ἔργον

Paul encourages his readers to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work (ergon) of the Lord (1 Cor 15:58).

c. acts of charity

Charity: NT. “Acts of charity” (ἐλεημοσυνῶν, eleēmosynōn) refers to providing alms—acts of mercy through charitable giving. Almsgiving was highly regarded in Judaism (, ; ; ; ). The detail suggests that she is wealthy and generous. The alms may involve widows if verse 39 points in this direction. Her name means “gazelle” or “deer” in Aramaic. Translated into Greek, her name is Dorcas. “Gazelle” was the metaphor for “beloved” in and 8:14 (

A. resurrection power

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

a. people be in the resurrection of Christ, and live in it power.

b. we have power over sin, death, and the devil

c.

The main point of verses 3–5 is found in verse 4b: believers “should walk in newness of life.” The word ἵνα (hina, in order that) introduces a purpose clause (Cranfield 1975: 304; Wilckens 1980: 12), explaining why believers participated with Christ in his death and burial. Indeed, the purpose clause is almost equivalent to an imperatival clause, anticipating the imperatives in verses 11–14. The verb περιπατήσωμεν (peripatēsōmen, we should walk) indicates that the moral life of believers is contemplated; they are to live in a certain way as a result of dying and being buried with Christ

Schreiner, T. R. (1998). Romans (Vol. 6, p. 310). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

d. resurrection people are those in faith who live in this power of God to be totally devoted followers of Christ.

4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

B. a changing life that can make a difference

38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics[b] and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then, calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive

A. Peter takes up the mission of Christ

a. Again we have seen this as Peter stood up for Christ and went where Jesus sent him.

b. he was beaten and suffered.

B. called to raise the dead

a. How many would say I am glad I didn’t get called to that assignment.

b. The work that Christ did through the Holy Spirit we would do.

42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

c. I am not saying we will raise the dead, and I am not saying we won’t. What I am saying is that the church is to carry on the work of Christ.

A. we must take up this mission.

a. It has been stated that we are stagnant ( inactive, sluggish, slow moving) Church. I had three people talk with me about this. I have to wonder if this happens when we are hurt, unwilling or unable to see the reason for change.

b. we can do good works

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

c. we can serve others

We can do this for members of the body and also for others in the community.

The Great Commandment

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

d. we can share our faith

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have

37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[b] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have

Christianity is a Gospel of faith and surrender. (salvation)

Christianity is a gospel of resurrection. (victory over sin, death, devil)

Christianity is a Gospel where the Holy spirit leads us. (teach, remind, lead)

Christianity is a gospel of action and works. (serving and sharing)

YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)

God wants you

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Kingdom building and Resurrection power

I. We are converted resurrection people

II. resurrection people, transformed disciple

III. who take up the mission of Christ

IV. through good works, service and sharing our faith.

What makes the difference?