Listen to Glisten: Peter's Travels Part I

Listen to Glisten; Easter!

Opening of Worship: HE HAS RISEN!

(he has risen indeed)

Try again...

Read Luke 24.1-11

Introduction: “RESURRECTION LIFE”

Easter is a big deal for us!

Adoption

vv. 17, 30: “Brother”

“Brother Saul”

“And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.”

Adoption is one of the Great concepts of the Gospel!

Other ways in which the early church was identified:

You’re lit

You’re a Container

You’re a Voice

You’re a Student Teacher

1. You’re Lit

v. 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.

You are a saint who sins, not a sinner who tries to be really, really good

You are given sainthood!

Saint= “One who shrinks back”

NOT people on pedestals, but on their knees!

I Corinthians 1:2: To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ...

One who shrinks back AND SURVIVES!

Burning Paper vs. Candle

Paper disappears...

Candle stays lit and the Holy Spirit provides the wick and wax!

Christians are holy because we’re lit!

Think of yourselves as lit!!

2. You’re a Container

v.15: “[Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.”

Chosen instrument= a jar, a container

Part I: A Container Carries Stuff

Paul’s body will carry God’s name to the Greco-Roman world

Luke 8:16: “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.

The Container doesn’t conceal the light, it carries it!

You are a container, called to carry God’s name as well. Big responsibility!

Part II: Cracky Container!

16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

II Corinthians 4:7-10:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.

Treasure=Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus

Carry the Knowledge of God, FAITH, God’s Name

Carry this Treasurer in Containers like Clay

But that doesn’t mean that carrying this container is going to be easy!

Weak bodies

Gymnast: invincible

Stand here as a cracked vessel...

‘Suffering, then, is the badge of true discipleship’, wrote Bonhoeffer

Best Friend: Mike Fennema

Basketball: “I’ll beat you 10-0”

Mike Fennema’s Confession after 69 Days in Rehab:

I stood up today. But more importantly, this was my cry throughout the day: “May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "God is great!" But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!”Psalm 70:4-5

If you were faced with the possibility of never being able to walk again, would you be able to confess your faith like this?

We have treasures in Jars of Clay…

You’re lit by God

You’re a Container Holding God’s Name

You’re a Voice!

3. You’re a Voice

In Damascus:

20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

In Jerusalem:

28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.

29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.

Jesus is the Son of God!Prove that Jesus existsPreach boldly in the name of the LordSpoke and debated with the Hellenists (Greek speaking Jews)

Seminary=find your voice

I know that I’m not the greatest preacher in the world, but I tell you what, I was certainly worse when I was younger… Granted, when I first started ministry in Canada, I didn’t get ripped on as much for my Canadian accent. I didn’t see people chuckle at the use of certain words…But you know, God used it, and I’m still trying to find my voice!

Not about me, about the message!

What is your voice??

DISC?

Dominant

Decisive, efficient, intense, results-oriented, argumentation is fun!

Influencer

Outgoing, enthusiastic, persuasive, charming

Steady

Cooperative, patient, listener, friendly, argumentation is fighting!

Conscientious

Logical, reserved, process-oriented, risk-averse

How can you use whatever style of communication you prefer within the friendship your have, to use your voice box for Jesus!

4. You’re a Student Teacher

25: “His disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket.”

26 And when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples. And they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.

Didn’t make friends in Arabia

Galatians 1: Spent three years in Arabia

But he already had disciples!

II Cor 11:32-33: At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

A TEAM coming together

Paul was a Student Teacher, constantly learning as a disciple who was at the same time making disciples!

2  What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

How many generations??

Disciples disciple=We are Student Teachers

Generation #1: Me

Generation #2: Presence of many witnesses

Generation #3: Entrust to faithful men

Generation #4: Be able to teach others

If you’ve been a Christian for more than 5 years, are you discipling someone?

If you’ve been a Christian for more than 7 years, are you discipling someone who is discipling someone?

Resurrection: You are made into something new!

Identities like dominos…

You’re lit… To carry God’s name… By sharing your faith… to be a student teacher of God’s Family!

Conclude: Why focus on Easter Sunday??

Visitors. Why is this so important to hear??

Your identity in Christ is the most important way to understand yourself…

Back to the future: you can do whatever you put your mind to.

Today: you can be whatever you put your mind to...

Self-discovery

Self-autonomy

Discover your own identity or make up your own.

Playing God

Jesus says, “No, I define you.”

Remember you defines whom...