How?
When we see magicians perform, we wonder how they do what they do. There is a trick to it, but we wonder where actual magical power will show up. Like the movie “The Prestige” says, “You want to be fooled.” We want to see supernatural power, as a reason to believe.
Samaria
Acts 8:4-13
Philip shows up and things are good. He is one of the seven chosen in Acts 6, and he is one of the few who does miracles. They amaze the people of Samaria, who receive the gospel, believe and are baptized. The city becomes filled with joy. It is good.
Simon is someone who had been seen as spiritually powerful and respected. Even he was amazed by Philip, believed and was baptized. If the others were saved in that way, he probably was too. His belief would have encouraged others.
Spirit
Acts 8:14-24
The apostles heard that Samaritans were hearing the gospel and being saved. Had to check that out. It is the first time that people not completely Jewish were included. Peter and John found their faith to be real, but something was missing – the Holy Spirit. Really? How could that be? Is there a “second blessing” in which the Spirit is imparted after salvation. Not in Acts 10. The Lord can do it differently here if He chooses. Why might He? For the benefit of the apostles seeing it, participating in it, spreading the gospel to other regions, like Jesus said they would.
Simon tried to buy in on the franchise. No good. Peter said he would have no part in that, and saw bitterness in him. So was he really saved? I think so. Have you ever seen a Christian who did not live like one? (ever been that person?) Simon slid. Peter told him that could be reversed.
Solitary
Acts 8:25-40
In the middle of a great move of God, Philip is told to leave all the action and go stand by a road in the desert. He would probably not be excited by that direction but he went. There was one man he was sent to: an Ethiopian who worshiped God as a Jewish proselyte. God had things set up perfectly, and Philip filled in the blanks. The man was saved, and baptized. Then (poof) Philip disappeared, and re-appeared about 30 miles away. Apparently, this guy did well in his faith, leading a community of Ethiopians to belief.
Sudden or slow?
Contrast the experiences of Simon and the Ethiopian. Simon came to faith, surrounded by other believers and miraculous events. But he slid. The Ethiopian had no other believer around him, but left a legacy of believers. Why? He read the scriptures. That is about all we know about him, but it is huge. In my own experience, deciding to do that for myself became an unexpected life changing event. It made my faith my own, and no longer just part of what my family did.
It is not about how spectacularly you become a believer. It is more important what you do with it after that, yourself. It is not automatic or guaranteed that you will become a Christian whose life matters. Maintain a good, strong connection with your Father, and make a difference.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Hibernation
OK, so I slept through the whole winter. First day of Spring was Sunday. Time to wake up.
Someone asked if I could post class lessons online, so they could catch up on what they missed. (makes me feel good - kind of like there might be some value in some of this) Here is the last one, from Sunday, the first day of Spring.
Speaking of Spring, I am looking forward to camping. Elkmont sounds good. See you there.
Lesson summary -
Non-Apostles
Care giving
Need to know that the church started with a practice of checking on widows often, to be sure they had food and were OK. That is not too bad when there are 120 people in the church and 12 apostles to take care of things. Then 3,000 more added to the church the first day, and probably more than 20,000 by the time of Acts 6. Then it’s a problem.
The people in the church were Jews, but not all from Hebrew backgrounds. Others were called Greeks, or Hellenists, wherever they came from. These felt that their widows were not being kept up with as well as the Hebrew Christians.
Seven
Acts 6:1-7
Problem and process. Note that the Lord could have told them this problem was coming, but did not. They had to rely on the Word and follow the Holy Spirit to solve it, like we do with our problems. They found a solution in the story of Moses and Jethro – divide the tasks. The process they used to implement the change is instructive: leaders lead, with congregational consent. The apostles addressed the issue, but the people acted on it. The tasks of ministry were divided, with the apostles serving the Word, and the seven serving the food. The result was greater growth of the church and even the priests coming to faith.
Stephen
Acts 6:8-15
One of the seven stands out. Stephen was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. That is what was inside him. It came out in being filled with grace and power as he dealt with people. He is one of the few people, other than the apostles, who did miracles. His wisdom and spirit overwhelmed his detractors. They resorted to false accusations, which were that he speaks against 1) Moses and 2) the Temple.
Sermon
Acts 7:1-53
Moses is dealt with in vv.20-43. Stephen presents him as a leader who was rejected by the people and who predicted a prophet that must be followed. He makes the case that the people listening to him are about the make the mistake of rejecting the one Moses said they must not reject.
The Temple was a replacement for the temporary tabernacle, and when it was built God said it was in no way adequate for His home. It would also be replaced by a later permanent arrangement. Stephen sets up the argument that the people listening to him were about to reject the permanent house of God defending the temporary one.
Finally, Stephen says that like the fathers killed the prophets, they were guilty of killing the One the prophets predicted.
Stoning
Acts 7:54-8:3
Stephen was run out of the city and stoned to death. He died. Before his died, he saw a vision of the glory of God, with Jesus there by the throne. Who else has seen that kind of thing? Moses maybe. God showed that this servant of His was one of the greats, like Moses. When the questioning of the counsel started, there was the comment that the face of Stephen was like that of an angel. He was not just cute. He probably had a glow about him, like Moses did after being on the mountain with God. God underlined the testimony of this man with miracles and other visual aids, but he was killed. Like Jesus.
Saul
What did things look like from Saul’s point of view? Probably that God was indeed on his side, and that he was winning because of it. That is just because we have not read far enough. You can see it change if you read just one more verse - 8:4. That will always be true. In the end God wins, and we win with Him.
This story contains Loud Voices, a Lovely Vision, and even a Loving Victim. It will end with a Lone Victor. God wins.
Someone asked if I could post class lessons online, so they could catch up on what they missed. (makes me feel good - kind of like there might be some value in some of this) Here is the last one, from Sunday, the first day of Spring.
Speaking of Spring, I am looking forward to camping. Elkmont sounds good. See you there.
Lesson summary -
Non-Apostles
Care giving
Need to know that the church started with a practice of checking on widows often, to be sure they had food and were OK. That is not too bad when there are 120 people in the church and 12 apostles to take care of things. Then 3,000 more added to the church the first day, and probably more than 20,000 by the time of Acts 6. Then it’s a problem.
The people in the church were Jews, but not all from Hebrew backgrounds. Others were called Greeks, or Hellenists, wherever they came from. These felt that their widows were not being kept up with as well as the Hebrew Christians.
Seven
Acts 6:1-7
Problem and process. Note that the Lord could have told them this problem was coming, but did not. They had to rely on the Word and follow the Holy Spirit to solve it, like we do with our problems. They found a solution in the story of Moses and Jethro – divide the tasks. The process they used to implement the change is instructive: leaders lead, with congregational consent. The apostles addressed the issue, but the people acted on it. The tasks of ministry were divided, with the apostles serving the Word, and the seven serving the food. The result was greater growth of the church and even the priests coming to faith.
Stephen
Acts 6:8-15
One of the seven stands out. Stephen was full of faith and the Holy Spirit. That is what was inside him. It came out in being filled with grace and power as he dealt with people. He is one of the few people, other than the apostles, who did miracles. His wisdom and spirit overwhelmed his detractors. They resorted to false accusations, which were that he speaks against 1) Moses and 2) the Temple.
Sermon
Acts 7:1-53
Moses is dealt with in vv.20-43. Stephen presents him as a leader who was rejected by the people and who predicted a prophet that must be followed. He makes the case that the people listening to him are about the make the mistake of rejecting the one Moses said they must not reject.
The Temple was a replacement for the temporary tabernacle, and when it was built God said it was in no way adequate for His home. It would also be replaced by a later permanent arrangement. Stephen sets up the argument that the people listening to him were about to reject the permanent house of God defending the temporary one.
Finally, Stephen says that like the fathers killed the prophets, they were guilty of killing the One the prophets predicted.
Stoning
Acts 7:54-8:3
Stephen was run out of the city and stoned to death. He died. Before his died, he saw a vision of the glory of God, with Jesus there by the throne. Who else has seen that kind of thing? Moses maybe. God showed that this servant of His was one of the greats, like Moses. When the questioning of the counsel started, there was the comment that the face of Stephen was like that of an angel. He was not just cute. He probably had a glow about him, like Moses did after being on the mountain with God. God underlined the testimony of this man with miracles and other visual aids, but he was killed. Like Jesus.
Saul
What did things look like from Saul’s point of view? Probably that God was indeed on his side, and that he was winning because of it. That is just because we have not read far enough. You can see it change if you read just one more verse - 8:4. That will always be true. In the end God wins, and we win with Him.
This story contains Loud Voices, a Lovely Vision, and even a Loving Victim. It will end with a Lone Victor. God wins.
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