VBS - Dorcas

Introduction

I’ve Got a Series of Slides with 2 Pictures on Each Slide

With Each Slide, You Have to Tell Me Which Picture is “Greater”

Flattened Fast-Food Cheeseburger - Or - Nice Juicy Steak

Empty Wallet - Or - Big Fat Wallet

British 3-Wheeled Car - Or - 2017 Hyundai Sante Fe

Cruddy Old Mansion - Or - My House

Okay, Last One

Master - Or - Servant

That’s a Tricky One There

The World Says the Master is Greater Than the Servant

And Jesus Implies the Same

After Washing His Disciples Feet, He Tells Them:

John 13:16 (NASB95)

“Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him.

But When it Comes to His Kingdom…

Jesus Tells Us Something Different

Jesus’ Apostles Often Wanted to Know Who Would Be the Greatest…

When Jesus Took His Throne and Began His Rule Over Heaven and Earth

They Wanted to Know Which One of Them Would Get to Sit at His Right Hand

Which One Would Be the Vice to His President?

Which One Would Be Given the Higher/Greater Position?

Listen to Jesus’ Answer:

Mark 10:42–45 (NASB95)

Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them.

The Greatest in the World are Those Who…

Rule Over and are Served By Others

“But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.

The Greatest in the Kingdom Aren’t the Rulers…

The Greatest are the Servants

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Jesus Didn’t Just Tell Us this…

He Lived it Himself

Our King, the Greatest Among Us…

Was a Servant

The Theme of this VBS is “Women of the Bible”

And I Get the Privilege to Talk About One of the Greatest of the Kingdom of God:

Dorcas

She is Found at the End of Acts Chapter 9

In the Immediate Context, Luke is Catching Us Up On the Apostle Peter

In Verses 32-35, Peter Travels to a Town Called Lydda (Lod in OT)

While There, He Heals a Paralyzed Man and Leads Lots People to Faith in Jesus

And Then, Starting in Verse 36, We Meet Dorcas

We’re Going to Go at Studying this Text the Way I Typically Do with the Church at Livingston

We’ll Read the Entire Passage in a Translation that is Easier to Digest and Understand Upon One Reading

And Then We’ll Study it Verse By Verse in a More Technical, Word for Word Translation

Let’s Read the Text Using the NLT

Acts 9:36–42 (NLT)

There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, “Please come as soon as possible!”

So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them.

But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive. The news spread through the whole town, and many believed in the Lord.

Now Let’s Study the Passage in the NASB

Acts 9:36 (NASB95)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

Joppa was the Main Port City of Judea (Modern Day Joppa - 2 Pictures)

It was About 11-12 Miles From Lydda (Where Peter was)

Acts 9:36 (NASB95)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

In Aramaic Her Name was Tabitha

And in Greek Her Name was Dorcas

My Wife and I Have 2 Daughters

Dorcas was Never On Our Baby-Name List

Both Names Mean “Gazelle”

Acts 9:36 (NASB95)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

Here’s an Interesting Fact About Dorcas

She’s the Only Woman in the Entire NT Who is Referred to By the Feminine Version of the Greek Word for “Disciple”

I Think that Speaks Something Very Significant About this Woman

Luke Considered Her to Be a True Learner/Follower of Jesus

And We Immediately See Why

Acts 9:36 (NASB95)

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.

Let’s Dive Deeper into this for a Minute

What Does it Mean to Be “Abounding with Deeds of Kindness”?

The Word “Abounding” = Something that is Completely Full to the Extent that it Can’t Hold Anything Else

It’s Almost as if Luke was Saying:

“This Woman Couldn’t Have Done More Deeds of Kindness if She Tried!”

What Exactly Does “Deeds of Kindness” Refer to?

It Simply Means “Good Works”

According to the Context, it Seems Like These Good Works Were Directed at Her Siblings in Christ

One Specific Aspect of Her Good Works was Her “Charity”

“Charity” Refers to Giving Money, Food, or Possessions to Someone in Need Out of a Heart of Compassion

This Indicates that She was Likely Financially Blessed

But Instead of Greedily Hoarding Her Wealth…

She Shared it with Her Christian Family

If You Start in Acts 1 and Read Up to Acts 9…

You Will Have Run Across Numerous Passages that Show How Important Generosity was to the Early Church

They Shared Everything with Each Other

They Considered Each Other Family in the Truest Sense

When One is in Need, the Others Do Whatever They Can to Meet that Need

And Dorcas was a Prime Example of Such Discipleship

“Which She Continually Did”

This is Just Overkill at this Point

Luke’s Already Told Us that She is Completely Full of Good Works and Generosity…

She Couldn’t Do More Good or Be More Generous if She Tried!

Then He Adds On top of That:

She Did This All the Time!

She was All the Time Doing as Much Good for Others as She Could!

She was All the Time Being as Compassionate and Generous with Others as She Could!

The Greatest in the Kingdom is the One Who Serves the Rest

Dorcas Had Made it Her Personal Ministry to Serve the Rest

But Unfortunately, the Next Verse Says:

Acts 9:37 (NASB95)

And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room.

After Her Death, They Washed Her Body in Preparation for Her Burial

But What They Do Next is Odd

Instead of Continuing the Funeral Rituals and Burying Her Body…

They Lay it in an Upper Room

This is Reminiscent of an OT Story

There was a Godly Woman From Shunem (2 Kings 4)

She Didn’t Have Children, But God Through the Prophet Elisha Promised Her a Son

But One Day Her Little Boy Tragically Died in Her Arms

And What She Decided to Do Next was Really Odd

She Kept Her Son’s Death a Secret From Everyone, Even Her Husband

And She Hid His Body in the Upper Room

And Then She Proceeded to Tell Everyone that Everything was Okay

And She Went to Get Elisha, and He Brought the Boy Back to Life

This Shunammite Woman Refused to Accept the Death of Her Son

And So She Hid His Body and Told Everyone that Everything was Fine…

Because She Didn’t Want the Funeral Rituals and Burial to Begin

She Believed God’s Prophet Could Bring Her Son Back to Her

And in Our Text, Dorcas’ Body is Laid in the Upper Room and the Funeral Rituals are Halted

But Why?

Acts 9:38 (NASB95)

Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.”

Just Like in the Story of the Shunammite Woman…

I Believe They Delayed the Funeral Rituals and Laid Dorcas’ Body in the Upper Room…

Because They Refused to Accept the Death of Their Sister

They Knew the Apostle Peter was Nearby

And if Anyone Can Bring Our Sister Back, It’s an Apostle of King Jesus

So They Send for Him and Beg Him to Come ASAP

Acts 9:39 (NASB95)

So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

Peter Walks in to a Crowd of Mourning Widows

Widows Whom Dorcas Had Given Clothing that She Had Made By Hand

They Wanted Peter to Know the Kind of Woman Dorcas Was

She was “Abounding with Deeds of Kindness and Charity”

Acts 9:40–41 (NASB95)

But Peter sent them all out 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Peter Does a Couple Things Here that are Also Reminiscent of Another Story

He Sends All the Mourning Widows Out of the Room

And He Says, “Tabitha Arise”

There was a Synagogue Official Named Jairus Who Wanted Jesus to Heal His Daughter

But Before Jesus Could Get to Her, She Died

Notice What Happens Next:

Mark 5:37–41 (NASB95)

And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.”

They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).

Peter Got the Special Privilege of Accompanying Jesus in the House and Witnessing the Resurrection

And He Saw Jesus Tell the Mourners to Leave the Room

And Then He Said, “Talitha Kum”

He Spoke in Aramaic, Telling the Little Girl to Get Up

In Our Text…

Acts 9:40–41 (NASB95)

But Peter sent them all out 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. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Peter Made the Mourners Leave and Then Called Dorcas By Her Aramaic Name

And it Just So Happens, Tabitha is Only One Letter Away Form Talitha

Maybe That’s Just a Coincidence

But I Believe it’s More than a Coincidence

I Believe Peter Remembered in Vivid Detail What Jesus Did that Day in Jairus’ House

And He was Following His Lord’s Footsteps

But There is One Dissimilarity Between the 2 Resurrection Stories:

Peter Knelt Down and Prayed Before-Hand - Jesus Didn’t

Peter Knew the Power to Resurrect the Dead Had Nothing to Do with Him

Only God Can Bring Back the Dead

After Dorcas’ Spirit Returned to Her Body…

Peter Helped Her Up and Presented Her to Her Christian Siblings and the Widows

Can You Imagine the Celebration that Took Place?

Acts 9:42 (NASB95)

It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

This was a Wonderful Day for the Church in Joppa

Not Only Did They Get Their Sister Back From the Dead…

But They Also Gained Many More Brothers and Sisters

The People of Joppa Witnessed the Power of Jesus to Resurrect the Dead

And They Were Taught that He Will One Day Do the Same for All of His People

Application

There are 3 Things I Want Us to Take Away From this Text

1.) Be A Dorcas

What Does it Mean to Be a Dorcas?

Being Someone Who is Full of Deeds of Kindness

Being Someone Who is Full of Deeds of Generosity

Being Someone Who Looks to the Needs of Others and Seeks to Help

Being Someone Who Uses Their Blessings to the Benefit of Others

Being Selfless, Kind, Compassionate, and Loving

Being Someone Whose Faith is Truly Alive

James 2:15–17 (NLT)

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

When One of Our Siblings is Struggling or Suffering…

It’s So Easy for Us to Feel Sorry for Them

It’s Easy for Us to Pat Them On the Back and Say, “I’ll Be Praying for You”

But Does it Ever Go Further than that?

Dorcas was a Christian with a Faith that was Alive and Thriving

When She Saw a Need, She Did Whatever She Could to Help

Do You Remember Who Jesus Said Would Inherit the Kingdom?

Matthew 25:34–36 (NASB95)

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

True Faith/Trust/Allegiance to Jesus…

Is Serving Our Brothers and Sisters

And I Hope that Our Men Aren’t Falling Asleep this Week

Being a Dorcas is for the Men Just as Much as it is for the Women

Don’t Forget that the Manliest Man to Ever Live…

Wrapped a Towel Around His Waist and Washed Feet

We are All Called to Have Faith Like Dorcas

And God Has Given Us All Unique Skill-Sets in Which to Practice Our Faith

We Just Have to Be Willing to Serve

The Greatest in the Kingdom are Those Who Serve

2.) Thank & Encourage A Dorcas

Being a Dorcas is Often Thankless and Discouraging

We All Know a Dorcas

Someone Who is Always Trying to Serve and Show Compassion to Others

Does that Person Know How Thankful You are to Have Them in Your Life?

Does that Person Know How Much You Appreciate All They Do?

Have You Ever Encouraged that Person…

Giving Them the Strength and Courage to Keep Up the Great Work for the Lord?

Today Would Be a Great Day to Do That

A Person’s Funeral Shouldn’t Be the Only Time We Speak Openly About How Awesome They Are

Talk About Them Now

And Tell Them to Their Face

That Might Be Just What They Need to Keep Going

3.) Hope In The Resurrection

I’m So Glad that My Topic Involved Resurrection

I’m a Firm Believer that Resurrection is Mostly Ignored…

Or Altogether Forgotten in the Churches of Christ

We Talk About Jesus’ Resurrection…

But We Rarely Ever Talk About Ours

We Talk More About Going to Heaven When We Die Than Resurrection

But That was Not the Hope of the Early Church

Salvation From Death was Their Hope…

Not Salvation In Death

Dorcas’ Resurrection (And All Resurrections in Scripture) are Mere Shadows…

Of the Resurrection that We Will Experience When Jesus Returns

The 1st Century Corinthian Church Were Being Led to Believe…

That We Will Not Resurrect From the Dead When Jesus Returns

Paul Took this False Teaching Very Seriously

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (NASB95)

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Resurrection From the Dead was the Primary Hope of the Early Church

Salvation and Eternal Life…

Find Their Ultimate Meaning in Resurrection

If Death is Not Defeated for All Creation…

Then Death is Not Truly Defeated

And if Death is Not Truly Defeated…

Then Christ Has Failed, Our Faith is Vain, and We Have No Hope

But We Know that Jesus Hasn’t Failed, Our Faith Isn’t Vain, and Therefore We Do Have Hope

And Paul Ends His Amazing Section On Resurrection By Saying This:

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NASB95)

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Let’s Bring this Full Circle

Dorcas Lived a Life of Faith

If Anyone was Steadfast, Immovable, and Always Abounding in the Work of the Lord…

It was Her

She Knew that the Good She Did in this Life Wasn’t for Nothing

She was Full of Good Works and Charitable Deeds for Many Reasons:

She Placed Her Faith in Jesus, Therefore She Served

She Loved Jesus and Her Family in Christ, Therefore She Served

She Hoped in Salvation Through Resurrection, Therefore She Served

She was Resurrected Once in this Present Age

But She Would Eventually Die Again

But When Jesus Returns, She and I and You All Will Be Resurrected

Our Spirits Will Enter Again into Our Bodies

Our Bodies Will Experience a Glorious Transformation

And Death Will Never Be Able to Touch Us Again