4.2.28 6.9.2019 Lame Beggar Acts 3

Entice: We don't like poor people….Wait let me rephrase. We don't like poverty and we are indifferent to poor people…wait! That's not quite right either. We shouldn't generalize.

Every mob is made up of misses.

Every mob is made up of misses. Every crowd is filled with individuals. Some of them have been hurt by this world. Jesus sends us to offer them hope.

Every crowd is filled with individuals.

Some of them have been hurt by this world. Jesus sends us to offer them hope.

Engage: You might know this Sunday School Song. (Peter & John Went to Pray…)

A Miracle is followed by a majestic message

A Miracle cure is followed by a majestic message

Peter and John had no physical means to help but they served a risen Savior.

We serve the same Savior.

We serve the same Savior. He is still able to intervene miraculously.

Beyond that…more often than not we do have the means to intervene in the lives of those who are the least of these in our society; which is rich beyond compare and often cold and indifferent.

Beyond that…more often than not we do have the means to intervene in the lives of those who are the least of these in our society; which is rich beyond compare and often cold

He is still able to intervene miraculously. Beyond that…more often than not we do have the means to intervene in the lives of those who are the least of these in our society; which is rich beyond compare and often cold and indifferent.

and indifferent.

Expand:Jesus subverts the religious, social, and economic bondage of individuals. In the Church continues His grace-driven attack on the human bondage which ultimately

Expand:Jesus subverts the religious, social, and economic bondage of individuals. In the Church continues His grace-driven attack on the human bondage which ultimately derives from our fallen condition. In Jesus name is not a magical formula or a mantra. It is not wishful thinking.

Jesus subverts the religious, social, and economic bondage of individuals. In the Church continues His grace-driven attack on the human bondage which ultimately

When we touch People

in Jesus name we are saying,

derives from our fallen condition. In Jesus name is not a magical formula or a mantra. It is not wishful thinking. When we touch individuals in Jesus name we are saying, "Jesus

"Jesus rules here."

rules here."

Excite: Jesus loves me, and Jesus loves you. He died for us. He died for those who are just like us and for those who are completely unlike us. We live in a culture which is, in a sense, full of lame beggars. It may be a big problem but we learn a big love from the Master.

sense, full of lame beggars. It may be a big problem but we learn a big love from the Master.

Explore:

Jesus expects us to love and touch the marginalized people that the world misses, misuses, or misplaces.

Explain:

Like Peter & John we can respond with love to the damaged souls around us.

Our first response:

1 Promise Restoration.

Start:

Entice: We don't like poor people….Wait let me rephrase. We don't like poverty and we are indifferent to poor people…wait! That's not quite right either. We shouldn't generalize.

Every mob is made up of misses. Every crowd is filled with individuals. Some of them have been hurt by this world. Jesus sends us to offer them hope.

Engage: You might know this Sunday School Song. (Peter & John Went to Pray…)

A Miracle cure is followed by a majestic message

Peter and John had no physical means to help but they served a risen Savior.

We serve the same Savior. He is still able to intervene miraculously.

Beyond that…more often than not we do have the means to intervene in the lives of those who are the least of these in our society; which is rich beyond compare and often cold

and indifferent.

Expand:

Jesus subverts the religious, social, and economic bondage of individuals. In the Church continues His grace-driven attack on the human bondage which ultimately

derives from our fallen condition. In Jesus name is not a magical formula or a mantra. It is not wishful thinking. When we touch individuals in Jesus name we are saying, "Jesus

rules here."

Excite: Jesus loves me, and Jesus loves you. He died for us. He died for those who are just like us and for those who are completely unlike us. We live in a culture which is, in a

sense, full of lame beggars. It may be a big problem but we learn a big love from the Master.

Explore: Jesus expects us to love and touch every marginalized person that the world misses, misuses, or misplaces.

Explain: Like Peter & John we can respond with love to the damaged souls around us.

Body of Sermon: Our first response:

1 Promise Restoration. 3.1-11

1.1 When you love Jesus you must minister to wrong sort of people. The unclean, the Poor. the Excluded. Often we deal with an avalanche of needs.

1.2 There are times we can do nothing more than pray for miracles. Other times, unlike Peter & John that day, we have the means to help, the capacity to change lives.More

importantly we can offer Jesus who promises the fullest, most complete restoration possible-freedom from sin and an eternal relationship with God.

1.3 The work of restoration can be exhausting. It can be thankless. To touch the untouchable, to reach the unreachable you must rely upon the resurrected One. He led the way.

His first disciples simply did what they saw Him do-and taught as He taught them to teach

1.4 \\\we respond when we

Acts 3:1–11 ESV

1 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him. 11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s.

2 Proclaim Redemption. 3.12-16

2.1 When we are dealing with society's outcasts we must not get so caught up in their most visible needs that we ignore their most desperate need. Ministry is not either/or. We

must both meet needs/and proclaim the redeeming power of Jesus.

2.2 It might seem like the wrong sort of message. How do we explain to someone that their crippled body is not their worst problem? Again, like Peter we look to Jesus-His

Lordship, His sacrifice, His resurrection. He does not compromise with evil nor does He ignore the real issue.

2.3 People are physically, emotionally, economically, and socially injured in their spiritual Fall. You cannot really fix what is broke with addressing sin. What is the point of being

physically whole and spiritually lost?

2.4 \\\when we respond with the gospel of Jesus we

3 Provide Refreshment. 3.17-21

3.1 From Sin…

3.2 Toward God.

A whole Gospel for people in pieces:ise Restoration.

3.1-11

1.1 When you serve Jesus you must minister to the “wrong sort of people.” The unclean, the poor. the excluded, the sick, the afflicted. Often we deal with an avalanche of needs.

wrong sort of people. The unclean, the Poor. the Excluded. Often we deal with an avalanche of needs.

1.2 There are times we can do nothing more than pray for miracles. Other times, unlike Peter & John that day,

we have the means to help,

importantly we can offer Jesus who promises the fullest, most complete restoration possible-freedom from sin and an eternal relationship with God.

the capacity to change lives.

More importantly we can offer Jesus who promises the fullest, most complete restoration possible-freedom from sin and an eternal relationship with God.

1.3 The work of restoration can be exhausting. It can be thankless. To touch the untouchable, to reach the unreachable you must rely upon the resurrected One. He led the way. His first disciples simply did what they saw Him do-and taught as He taught them to teach

His first disciples simply did what they saw Him do-and taught as He taught them to teach

\\\we respond when we

1.4 \\\we respond when we

2 Proclaim Redemption.

Acts 3:12–16 ESV

12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

3.12-16

2.1 When we are dealing with society's outcasts we must not get so caught up in their most visible needs that we ignore their most desperate need. Ministry is not either/or. We must both meet needs/and proclaim the redeeming power of Jesus.

must both meet needs/and proclaim the redeeming power of Jesus.

2.2 It might seem like the wrong sort of message. How do we explain to someone that their crippled body is not their worst problem? Again, like Peter we look to Jesus-His Lordship, His sacrifice, His resurrection. He does not compromise with evil nor does He ignore the real issue.

Lordship, His sacrifice, His resurrection. He does not compromise with evil nor does He ignore the real issue.

2.3 People are physically, emotionally, economically, and socially injured in their spiritual Fall. You cannot really fix what is broke with addressing sin.

What is the point of being physically whole and spiritually lost?

physically whole and spiritually lost?

\\\when we respond with the gospel of Jesus we

3 Provide Refreshment.

Acts 3:17–21 ESV

17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

3.1 From Sin…

3.2 Toward God.

A whole Gospel for people in pieces:

Peter and John were rich. Not in material goods but in the riches of the Gospel. God favored the lame man with a miracle. His life was changed. Not just because he could walk but because he met Jesus.

Our culture is full of people whose lives are nothing but broken pieces. Some need miracles. Some need us. Some need us to touch and love them. Some need us to tell the truth. Some need to experience real relationships that don’t denigrate and humiliate them for the first time in their lives. Our gospel treats people as whole people. Jesus died for our who being.

If you are one of those who have always waked with a spiritual limp maybe it is time to do something about it. Maybe it is time to walk and leap and praise God for restoration, redemption, and refreshment. Is today the day your life is changed?

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