Third Sunday in Lent (A)

March 3, 2002

The Justified Life Revealed

Romans 5:1-11

The teachings of the Keswick Christian Life Convention have played a significant role in my spiritual formation. From the outset of my Christian pilgrimage, I have been taught that the Christian life is the "Christ Life." In the words of Hudson Taylor, it is "The Exchanged Life."

The Christian life is more than deliverance from hell and assurance of heaven -- as glorious as that is. Paul's burden here is to take his reader beyond the fundamentals of salvation to the riches found in Christ.

In central Vermont, when a farmer sees a breaking out from the ledges of rock in his pasture with white or whitish veins, he at once thinks marble. It may be that his farm is but the covering of quarries that will make him rich. So he bores or blasts down into the earth to discover whether his conjectures are well founded. Some have found fortunes there lying in wait for the man who would discover them.

With the word "therefore" in 5:1, Paul begins introducing his reader to the deeper truths of the Christian life.

I. It Is a Life of Peace with God (v. 1)

The thought of peace is on every heart today. We live in a world filled with trouble and conflict. Christians everywhere are praying for peace. However, as important as it is for men to be at peace with each other, the greater concern is for men to be at peace with God.

Peace means cessation of conflict. The war is over. We have laid our weapons down. We can only experience peace of God after we are at peace with God.

II. It Is a Life of Access to God (v. 2a)

Think of it! We who were once strangers and foreigners (Eph. 2:19), now have access to God. We can freely enter His presence. The following story told by John Phillips, illustrates the life of access:

"A little boy once stood outside the gates of Buckingham palace in London. He wanted to talk to the king but was sternly repulsed by the guard at the gate. He rubbed a grimy hand to his cheek to wipe away a tear. Just then along came a well-dressed man who asked the little fellow to explain his trouble. When he heard the story, the man smiled and said, 'Here, hold my hand, sonny. I'll get you in. Just you never mind those soldiers.' The little boy took the proffered hand and, to his surprise, saw the soldiers leap to attention and present arms as his new-found friend approached. Past the guard he was led, along carpeted halls, through wide-flung doors and on through a glittering throng right up to the throne of the king. He had taken the hand of the Prince of Wales, the king's son! Through him he had gained access."2

III. It Is a Life of Hope (v. 2b)

Our hope, our anticipation is that the glory of God which once characterized man before the Fall will once again be fully restored. One day His radiant splendor will be displayed in the lives of His redeemed and justified people.

IV. It Is a Life of Tribulation (vv. 3-4)

The justified life is not a life free of troubles and tribulation. Rather, it may be a life characterized by trials and tribulations.

A non-Christian faces life's trials and tribulations with feelings of despair, anger, and resentment. The Christian faces his trials and troubles trusting that God is teaching him and conforming him more and more into the image of Christ. The Christian seeks benefit and gain from them. Paul say: that tribulation in the life of a Christian produces perseverance and character and hope.

V. It Is a Life of Love (vv. 5-8)

In times of hurt, sorrow, disappointment and loss, human nature tends to doubt the love of God. In similar circumstances the Christian finds solace and strength in the unchanging, unshakable love of God.

One of the greatest sources of security in the life of a child is an assurance that he is unconditionally loved by his parent. The same is true of a Christian's relationship to his heavenly Father.

VI. It Is a Life of Complete Salvation (vv. 9-10)

Salvation includes more than deliverance from hell and assurance of heaven. We are in the process of being saved day by day and moment by moment by His Life.

VII. It Is a Reconciled Life (v. 11)

Here we have the picture of the Father receiving the prodigal son (Lk. 15:21-24). On the ground of the atoning work of the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:9) we who were once enemies of God have now been made friends with God! (Roger D. Wilmore)

1A.S. Hobart, Transplanted Truths From Romans (Philadelphia: Judson Press, 1919) p. 45.

2John Phillips, Exploring Romans (Chicago: Moody Press, 1969) p. 89.

Fourth Sunday in Lent (A)

March 10, 2002

Walking in Light

Ephesians 5:8-14

One of the most dramatic statements made by our Lord is found in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

The fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden brought about a moral and spiritual darkness that characterizes our world to this day. Jesus said, "This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (Jh. 3:19).

Two things stand out to me in the passage.

I. Remember the Former Life (v. 8)

"You were once in darkness ...." Paul was reminding his reader that they once lived in sin and separation from God. They, too, had walked in moral and spiritual darkness.

Our reflection upon our lives before we came to Christ should not be a morbid experience, nor should it be one that entices desire to return to the former life. It should be a healthy recollection of the emptiness, loneliness, and fear produced by darkness.

Paul may have also wanted the Ephesian Christians to maintain some recollection of what it was like to live in darkness in order to create a greater compassion for those among them who were still in darkness.

One of the dangers which occurs in the lives of those of us who have been Christian for a long time is that we are surrounded by people just like us, and we lose touch with those who really need the gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The danger in our losing touch with the non-Christian is that they are not exposed to the Light. Remember, Jesus said, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a bucket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house" (Mat. 5:14-15).

II. The Results of the Present Life (vv. 9-13)

Just as walking in the darkness produces negative results, walking in the light produces positive results.

Notice the characteristics of walking in the light that Paul lists in the verses before us: A Christian who walks in the light will bear good fruit (vv. 9-10).

There will be the fruit of goodness. Goodness means moral excellence. This person will take the high road rather than the low road. He will seek to be morally good, right, and pure. There will also be the fruit of righteousness. Righteousness simply means a right relationship with God and with man. This righteousness is revealed in a persons character and integrity.

There will be the fruit of truth. Paul had already admonished the Ephesian Christians to put away lying and speak truth (4:25). Truth means that there is no deception in what we say. The day in which we live is crying out for people of truth and honesty. In this area of life alone we could be a great light in a dark world.

Lastly, there will be fruit of obedience. "Find out what is acceptable to the Lord" (v. 10). Walking in the light results in a life that seeks to please God. There will be a disciplined determination to know what pleases God followed by a prompt action in doing it.

There are certain things that those who walk in light will do, but there are also certain things that they will not do.

First, they will not fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness (v. 11a). Fellowship means to participate in the works of darkness. One of the downfalls in many Christian lives is their close association with the things of the world. When a Christian participates in the ways of the world his light of influence and testimony is extinguished.

However, fellowship with the Lord and His Word and His people will build up the Christian and make him stronger and brighter.

Secondly, the Christian who walks in the light will be a means by which sin and evil in others will be exposed. Does your Christian witness shine brightly enough to expose the evil where you live and work? As the people of God who have been delivered from darkness and given the Light of life, let us walk in the light that our lives will bring glory to Him. (Roger D. Wilmore)

Fifth Sunday in Lent (A)

March 17, 2002

God's Glory

John 11:1-45

A lazy young boy went with his mom and aunt on a blueberry-picking hike into the woods. The boy got the smallest pail possible to pick the blueberries. While his mom and aunt picked blueberries, he lolled around throughout the morning. Finally his mom called out that it was about time to leave for home. Panic stricken the boy hurriedly filled his pail with moss and topped it off with a thin layer of berries. When his mother and aunt saw the pail full with what they thought were all blueberries they commended him for his fine work.

The next morning mom baked pies, and she made a special "saucersized" pie just for her son. The boy was so excited for blueberry pie was his favorite! His mother could bake pies so well. She made little hearts in the crust and the pie mixture oozed out the holes. His mouth watered as he thought about eating that delicious pie.

It finally cooled enough for him to have some. He plunged his fork into flaky crust, but something wasn't right. Instead of a fork full of flaky crust and hot blueberry pie mix, he discovered the mixture was mostly moss! Moral: Most people want to experience the glory of God in their lives, but they are unwilling to work at glorifying Him.

The text's story is about Lazarus's death. His sisters, the disciples, and the mourning crowds all have something to say about poor Lazarus's death, but Jesus helps them to understand that God's glory will be poured out despite the situation.

I. God's Glory Will Occur Regardless of Our Problems (vv. 1-16)

Lazarus' close friendship with Jesus is evident from the words that his two sisters, Mary and Martha, communicate to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick" (v.3). This ailment was not inconsequential, but critical, even to the point of death.

Lazarus had a problem! His sisters had a problem! One would think that Jesus would rush to the aid of one of His closest friends, but that was not the case. The scripture tells us rather than hurrying to Bethany Jesus, "stayed where He was two more days" (v. 6). What a surprising, aggravating, and disillusioning response it must have been for Mary and Martha. The same for us when Jesus "fails" to do as we "think He should at the appropriate moment."

The Bible describes Jesus' delayed response; "... it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it" (v. 4). There are times that my problems seem insurmountable to me ... almost to the point that I feel like I'm dying. I cannot see any benefit for the precarious predicament I find myself in, and I tell God so. However, often at these times my predicament is the vehicle through which God will perform a miracle and glorify His Son!

II. God's Glory Will Occur through Our Compassion, (vv. 17-37)

It's about a thirty-five minute walk from the outer border of Jerusalem to the little town of Bethany. The family trio of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus had made many friends over the years. When a friend dies the natural compassionate outer expression is to come along side the one(s) that are left. In this case Mary and Martha were the center of attention as a great group of their Jewish friends gather at their home to give comfort and support in their time of grieving (vv 18-19).

Their closest friend, Jesus, arrived on the scene to bring a deeper sense of comfort and compassion to the sisters. There was a sense of relief, a bit of aggravation and at the same time a grasping faith permeating Martha's response to Jesus' visit in verses 21-22. The sense that Jesus had let both Mary and Martha down was a bit more intense in Mary's response in verse 32, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." She was saying, "Jesus, if You really had cared about Lazarus as much as You say You did, You would have been here when we sent for You."

Jesus' response to Martha and Mary was interesting. To Martha He responded with an immediate and eternal comforting thought, "Your brother will rise again" (v. 23). To Mary His response was emotional..."When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews ... He was deeply moved in spirit... Jesus wept" (vv.33, 35).

A great need for the world that we live in is our Christian compassion. L. B. Hicks is credited with saying, "The best exercise for strengthening the heart is reaching down and helping someone up." That's what Jesus did on a continual basis, and that's what He expects His followers to do daily.

III. God's Glory Will Occur through our Action (vv. 38-45)

Jesus didn't just talk about the sorrow He felt; He did something about it. Christ stepped to the entrance of the cave and said, "Lazarus, come out! The dead man came out..." (vv.43-44). No longer was Lazarus dead!

People feel helpless and God has given us the ability to help. Our example is Jesus. He takes action. Who needs your help today? Don't just cry about it. . . do something about it. The world is waiting for Christian action -- your action! (Derl G. Keefer)

Palm Sunday (A)

March 24, 2002

Silly Sentimental Love

Matthew 21:1-11

The March, 1984 issue of Focus on the Family carried an article by Chuck Swindoll entitled, "What the World Needs Now Is Authentic Love."

His article reminded us that Hal David and Burt Bacharach were familiar names to music lovers all over America in the 60s and 70s. He mentioned several of their pieces, but he said that the single tune that captured the heart of the country was "What the World Needs Now." The song writer claimed that "Love, sweet love" is "the only thing that there's just too little of." He writes, "Do you believe that? Probably so. But the world doesn't need phony love; or mushy, fickle, wimpy love; or conditional love that says 'if you ______, then I'll love you;' or swap-meet love that says 'Because you gave me this, I'll swap you love in return.' No. What the world needs now is authentic love."1

As one reads the story of the Triumphant Entry, you have the feeling that the crowds who were shouting, "Hosanna to the son of David" (v. 9) had little love for Jesus. Rather, their love was the mushy, fickle, wimpy love that had the conditional sign that said, "If you______, then we will love you!"

Christ demands an authentic love from us as He has displayed and distributed His authentic love to us.

I. Authentic Love Is Expressed Love

When my son, Jeff, was 10 and my daughter, Julie, was 6 back in the early 1980's, my wife and I were having our devotions together early in the morning. Our son was at the table with us, but his sister was still asleep.

The devotion for that day was taken from John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are My disciples if you love one another." Jeff was going through that stage in life when he was constantly picking on his sister. My wife asked Jeff to read the passage and expressed to him that the Bible meant for him to love his sister. He obediently read the scripture, but as he did he left the word "love" out each time he came to it. After a mother-son dialogue he reread the verse and inserted the word "love" each time!

Strange as it may seem, many adults have a hard time leaving the word "love" in the scripture as well. How is love expressed? By being the first to move to reconciliation in a disagreement. By attempting to understand the other side in a conflict. By giving attention to the needs of others. By communicating with one another. By forgiving when it isn't easy to forgive. By being open to differences of opinion.

II. Authentic Love Is Tough Love

Dr. James Dobson wrote a book many years ago entitled Tough Love. The volume deals with obstinate children and the adult response to them. His premise states that tough love is not mushy, fickle, or wimpy love, but deals with obstinate behavior even if it means difficult decisions and discipline. There is nothing shallow about authentic love.

Swindoll in the Focus on the Family article says that tough love refuses to look for ways to run away, but works things through. "It doesn't cop out because the sea gets stormy and rough. It's fibrous and resilient. Who knows how many of us would've walked away from our commitment many long years ago if it hadn't been for this powerful and essential ingredient deep down inside saying, 'Put away that white flag. Do not quit. Don't even tolerate the thought.' While the world around us gives the opposite counsel, love stands firm."

If the triumphant entry crowd would have stood firm on their love for Jesus on Good Friday, the outcome might have been different. God knew their fickle hearts, and the crucifixion went on as scheduled. How much love do you have for Jesus?

III. Authentic Love Is Heart Love

As Jesus rode down the hill from the Mount of Olives He was riding not into the kingship of the throne of the people of Israel, but into the kingship of their hearts. He came riding upon a donkey -- a symbol of peace. When Jesus claimed to be a king His claim was that of peace. As someone wrote, "He showed that He came, not to destroy, but to love; not to condemn, but to help; not in the might of arms, but in the strength of love."

Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door (of their heart), I will come in ..." (Rev. 3:20, emphasis added).

Today, it is not some silly sentimental love that Jesus demonstrates to you. No, it is authentic love that He shows by standing outside your heart's door knocking and waiting for you to let Him inside to lovingly change your life! Will you let Him? (Derl G. Keefer)

1Charles Swindoll, Focus on the Family Magazine, Colorado Springs, Colo. March,1984, p.5.

Easter Sunday (A)

March 31, 2002

Jesus Defeated the Enemy!

John 20:1-18

Wellington's victory over Napoleon signified a momentous triumph for the British people. Word of that victory traveled overland toward London by a system of flag signals called semaphore. The semaphore on top of Winchester Cathedral began spelling out "W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n-D-e-f-e-a-t-e-d ...." Before he could finish, a fog rolled in on London and the citizens thought that Wellington had lost the battle. Their hearts were crushed. Finally the fog lifted and the semaphore continued his message: "W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n-D-e-f-e-a-t-e-d-t-h-e-E-n-e-m-y!" The preceding gloom changed to glorious hope! Like a prairie fire in Kansas, the joyful news spread across the city, and every Londoner was filled with gratitude and praise.

Our text today reveals a similar event only on a more cosmic spectrum and with eternal victory. Mary of Magdala comes to the tomb with her mind fogged over with the idea that Jesus is dead. The enemy has won. As she approaches the tomb she discovers that the stone has been removed and Jesus is no longer there! Mary becomes the human semaphore and spreads the news to Peter and John and then to the other disciples (v.18). J-e-s-u-s-D-e-f-e-a-t-e-d-t-h-e-E-n-e-m-y!

I. Jesus Defeated the Enemy and Opens the Doorway of Life (vv.1-2)

A large stone weighing approximately 2,000 pounds obstructed the entrance to the tomb. Matthew and Luke tell us that more ladies than just Mary arrived at the tomb that dark morning, but John focuses on Mary Magdalene and her response to the obstacle. Realizing that the stone had been removed from the entrance, astonishment and a sense of fogginess shrouded her mind. She rushed to the Peter and John to tell them that someone had taken the Lord, "and we don't know where they have put Him!" At that moment the unthinkable had occurred. Mary supposed the enemies of Jesus had taken and hidden His body so that the disciples couldn't get to Him and announce a resurrection had happened. First the stone and now a stolen body. There were too many obstacles for her to grasp the truth of the situation.

Today we have perspective on the textual events. We know the outcome of the story, but at that moment Mary did not. Many obstacles fog our perspective to life. They deter our progress and stand in the way of spiritual success. These obstacles have stolen our happiness and joy. The greatest obstacle, sin, has even robbed us of our place in heaven where eternal life exists. The good news is that God has given humankind an open doorway to life ... the resurrection of Jesus.

II. Jesus Defeated the Enemy and Gives a New Perspective (vv.3-9)

Mary ran as fast as she could to inform Peter and John of the situation at the tomb. As they listened to her description of the circumstances both looked at each other and then began a footrace to the tomb. The younger John outran the older Peter and arrived at the place sooner, but startled by the sight he remained outside. The always brash and take-charge Peter rushed inside only to find "strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen" (vv.6-7). John cautiously enters. He assesses the situation, and according to verse eight, "He saw and believed." Viewing the scene from the outside there was fear and doubt. Not until John got inside the tomb did belief and faith become reality!

Some people do not believe that the Bible personally means for them to come inside the empty tomb. They are filled with doubt, fears, and disbelief. Once we catch a glimpse of the empty tomb and have faith that Jesus is the resurrected Lord, we will receive salvation. The stone and the grave clothes of our lives will be shed, and meaningful life occurs. But it must be viewed from the inside looking out.

III. Jesus Defeated the Enemy and Gives Us a Time to Dance (vv.10-18)

Weeping Mary has made her way back to the tomb after telling Peter and John about the empty tomb. Her mind, still fogged by the events, believes that someone has taken the body of Jesus and hidden it. This time when she peers into the tomb something amazing happens: "... (she) saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been ... and they asked her, 'Woman, why are you crying?"'(v.13). But the next event is even more amazing, for the risen Jesus asked her the same question and enters into intimate dialogue with her. As the conversation ends Mary literally dances back to the disciples and states, "I have seen the Lord!"

Gary Sivewright, chaplain and vice president for campus ministries at Mount Vernon Nazarene College in Ohio wrote an article entitled, "I'd Rather Dance" in Holiness Today. He wrote that several years ago he preached a revival at Nashville First Church of the Nazarene. During the song service, an elderly lady began to dance around the sanctuary with an imaginary partner. He wrote, "An outsider might have thought she was crazy, but those who knew her knew exactly what she was doing. Now, I've seen runners, and I've seen jumpers. I've seen yellers, and I've heard screamers. But that dear woman illustrated for me the best possible relationship with Almighty God: swaying in the rhythm of His love and mercy. For her, the Partner wasn't imaginary at all."

He continues by making his point, "I hope you understand by now that this is not a treatise on the two-step. It's about a way to live in relationship with our Creator, who, through Christ, brings intimacy into our beings."

What Mary found that Sunday morning was a new way to live. She discovered that Jesus brought spiritual intimacy with the living God into her very soul. After all, Jesus defeated the enemy! Is it any wonder that Mary danced her way back instead of crying her way back home that day? (Derl G. Keefer)

Second Sunday of Easter (A)

April 7, 2002

The Journey from Doubt to Faith

John 20:24-29

The New Testament writers make one thing perfectly clear: faith is essential for a person's relationship with God. Without faith, there is no salvation (Eph. 2:8), nor is it possible to please God (Heb. 11:6). Richard Dawkins, an Oxford biology professor and an apologist of atheism, paints a different picture of faith. He writes, "It is fashionable to wax apocalyptic about the threat to humanity posed by the AIDS virus, 'mad cow' disease, and many others, but I think a case can be made that faith is one of the world's great evils, comparable to the smallpox virus but harder to eradicate."

Thomas's demand for proof of Christ's resurrection (v. 25) makes him, according to Dawkins, "the patron saint of scientists."1 Having faith in Christ in a world in which naturalism reigns is difficult, but that has been the case ever since the first Easter.

Doubters for centuries have been dubbed "Doubting Thomases." Yet, Thomas was not the only doubter. Matthew implies that there were other doubters (28:17), and even the other apostles at first thought that the resurrection was "nonsense." (Lk. 24:11) Even though Thomas has for centuries born the epithet of "Doubting Thomas," he can teach us several things.

I. We Can Cee Ourselves in Thomas

Thomas was called "Didymus," the Greek word for "twin." Though the New Testament never identifies his twin, many of us see ourselves in Thomas. We live in a society that has put a man on the moon, has extended peoples' lifespans by several years through medical technology, and is in the process of mapping and sequencing the human genome. Such technological marvels can create a crisis of faith because they often cause people to question not only the need for God but also God's existence.

We must be honest. Those people who express their doubts make us feel uncomfortable. Yet, even great persons of faith have had moments of doubt. Both John the Baptist (Lk. 7:18-19) and Martin Luther2 experienced moments of doubt just as Thomas did. Perhaps we are uncomfortable with Thomas because he is our spiritual twin and had the courage to express what we sometimes feel.

II. We Need Friends Who Will Come to Us to Help Us through Our Doubts

If we are to complete the journey from doubt to faith, we need friends who will accept us and help us through our doubts. Thomas separated himself from the other disciples when he needed them the most.

We need friends when we are discouraged and defeated. Thomas must have realized this because he eventually returned to his friends. When he returned, Thomas's friends stuck with him and accepted him. There is no evidence that the other apostles berated him for his faithlessness. Instead, they continually spoke of their experiences with the risen Christ, (v. 25)

Thomas' experience teaches us that we cannot conquer doubt by ourselves. We need others who will nurse us back to faith, not treat us like spiritual lepers.

III. We Need to Have a New, Personal Encounter with the Risen Christ

We need our friends, yet we also need to have a new, personal encounter with the risen Christ. The one who has been known for his doubting is also the one who gave the most powerful confession to Jesus.

Falling before Jesus, Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (v. 28). The personal pronouns are important. The apostles had encountered the risen Christ. Thomas, however, needed his own experience with Christ, and we, too, must encounter the living Christ.

Today, in the midst of our doubts, we can experience Christ again through the preaching of the gospel, by participating in the Lord's supper, by witnessing the baptism of new converts, through the studying of the Bible, by worshiping with the community of faith, and by the ministering of the Holy Spirit.

Thomas might be the "the patron saint of scientists." Unlike many scientists, however, this patron saint journeyed from doubt to faith and fell down and worshiped the One who "devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from Him" (2 Sam. 14:14). (Keith Durso)

1Richard Dawkins, "Is Science a Religion?" The Humanist vol. 57 issue 1 (Jan/Feb 97) [journal online], accessed 7 October 2001 on http://www.humanist.net.

2See Ronald H. Bainton, Here I Stand (Nashville: Abingdon, 1950) 285-86.

Third Sunday of Easter

April 14, 2002

The Journey from Despair to Hope

Luke 24:13-35

Perhaps one of the longest journeys people must make is when they leave a loved one behind at the cemetary. The reality of death finally sets in. The deceased will soon be placed in the grave and covered with dirt. All that is left to do now is to reminisce about the life that she lived, what she accomplished, and perhaps what she left undone.

Slowly and with heavy hearts, the disciples in today's text were reminiscing about Jesus' life and death. Yet with Jesus, what began as merely a somber journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus, ended as a journey from despair to hope.

I. Vanquished Hope

The disciples "had hoped that" Jesus "was the one to redeem Israel" (v. 21). We do not know exactly what Jesus' disciples expected Him to do, but some Jews hoped for a Rambo-type Messiah who would liberate them from Roman oppression. This Messiah would be a destroyer, not a savior, of sinners.

For these and the other disciples, the cross was a failure. Moses wrote that "anyone hung on a tree is under God's curse" (Deut. 21:23). The disciples had followed Jesus and made great sacrifices for Him, and now they lived in despair. Life had been robbed of its meaning, and hope had been vanquished. When the Romans nailed Jesus to the cross, they nailed the disciples' hope with Him.

II. An Unexpected Encounter

Amidst despair and the rubble of hope, Jesus approached the two disciples (v. 15). Jesus sought them out just as He sought the other disciples. As the disciples explained their sadness to their unknown companion, they were baffled because of His ignorance of the tragic events in Jerusalem (vv. 18-20). The irony of this conversation is that Jesus was painfully aware of what happened, and He alone knew the true meaning of what happened.

After allowing the disciples to articulate their grief, Jesus decided to continue His journey. At this point, the disciples made an important decision: they urged Jesus to stay with them. They made time for Him (vv. 28-29).

Had they not shown Him hospitality, Jesus would have left them in their despair. Even today He stands at the door of our lives and knocks (Rev. 3:20). We can invite Him into our lives or let Him go on His way. If we let Jesus go, however, we will continue the journey of despair.

III. Rekindled Hope

The two disciples could not rekindle their hope by themselves. God must always take the initiative. Notice that facts alone can never produce hope. The women's proclamation of the empty tomb produced amazement, not hope. (vv. 22-24) Hope cannot be born or rekindled in us without divine revelation (v. 16; see Lk. 10:22; Matt. 16:17; 1 Cor. 2:6-16). The initiative always belongs God.

Jesus rekindled their hope first by opening the scriptures and by explaining to them the truth about the Messiah (v. 27). Throughout His ministry, many people wanted Jesus to be their Caesar. He, however, always resisted this temptation, choosing instead to be their suffering Christ.

Next, He opened the disciples' eyes by blessing and breaking bread (v. 31). By that act the disciples experienced God's amazing grace. Like the blind in John 9, they could proclaim, "We were blind, but now we see." Like their savior, their hope had been resurrected.

As the two disciples traveled home on that first Easter evening, they never expected to be re-routed from the journey of despair to hope. An encounter with the risen Christ lit the fire of their hope once again. It is only by faith that our despair can be turned into "a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Pet. 1:3). (Keith Durso)

Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 21, 2002

A Healthy Church

Acts 2:42-47

Nearly two thousand years after its inception, the church continues to flourish. Throughout the centuries God, in His goodness and grace, has seen fit to pour out His blessings upon the Body of Christ. And though the church is constructed with the lives of imperfect people, we proceed in growth. How is it that we've come this far?

In his book on church history Bruce Shelley remarks that Christians "have insisted that the death of Jesus on the cross, His resurrection from the grave, and the empowering mission of the Holy Spirit are the foundational realities of Christianity."1 And we may observe in Acts, Luke's account of the cultivation of these foundational realities from the very beginning.

In our text today we see the fruits of Peter's Spirit-filled preaching at Pentecost and the foundations the apostles laid that would sustain the church to the present and throughout the ages. We see a local assembly full of life and proliferation. From this passage we can learn what a healthy church looks like?

I. A Healthy Church Is a Devoted Church (v. 42)

Occasionally Luke stops to give us a glimpse of the progress of the early church. Here is our first, and here we may observe the marks of a healthy church -- both then and now.

A healthy church is devoted to teaching. The early church "continually devot[ed] themselves to the apostles teaching." Their teaching was Christ-centered and biblically focused. There were thousands who placed there trust in Christ and desperately needed to understand more His nature and how their new relationship should affect their lives.

A healthy church is also devoted to fellowship. There was a real sense of community and shared values in this early gathering of believers. This wasn't just a pot luck dinner; these early Christians shared true intimacy and depended on their fellow saints.

A healthy church is devoted to celebrating the Lord's supper. A church that teaches Christ and lives Christ in community will long to remember His sacrifice.

A healthy church is devoted to prayer. This early assembly understood their dependance on God for all things. They knew the necessity of communing with the Giver and Sustainer of life.

II. A Healthy Church Is a Giving Church (vv. 43-45)

As the author goes on he mentions that these early believers were in awe of what was taking place. There were many miracles validating the message of the apostles. The greatest miracle was the changed lives of those who placed their trust in Christ.

Can you imagine the scene? These people were giving away their possessions according to the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ. They were experiencing the blessings of a community of faith truly dependant on God. What they once considered theirs was now understood to be God's.

I know I'd do anything for my physical parents or siblings, but would I have the attitude of these early Christians towards my spiritual family?

III. A Healthy Church Is a Joyously United Church (v. 45)

"Day by Day continuing with one mind ...." We could learn much from the unity exemplified here. This wasn't grumbling submission to the majority; it was joyful fellowship with "gladness and sincerity of heart."

IV. A Healthy Church Is a Worshiping Church (v. 46)

This fellowship of believers was intent on praising God. Christ was the focus and desire of their hearts. The text says that they had favor with all people. Jesus said that we will know we're His disciples by our love for one another. And He taught that the greatest command is to love God with our whole being, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves.

This body worshiped God with their whole lives. They were devoted, giving, joyously united, and worshipers. By the grace of God we have a wonderful legacy. May we do our part to maintain that legacy by continuing to develop these qualities of a healthy church. (Jonathan Kever)

1Bruce L. Shelley, Church History in Plain Language, Updated 2nd Edition (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1995), p. 16.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

April 28, 2002

Vision of Glory

Acts 7:55-60

Having read of the horrible persecution that many believers in the early church endured, especially under the rule of Nero who used to light his garden in the evening with the torched bodies of Christians, I have often asked myself if I'd be willing to endure death for the sake of Christ. It's easy to say "yes" having endured little more persecution than that of a junior high bully. And I certainly hope and pray that my answer would remain "yes" if the coziness middle-class America affords were suddenly removed.

It seems somewhat difficult to understand the impact of our text today having not experienced a great deal of opposition to my faith. However, in light of the recent attacks of September 11th by those determined to destroy our freedom, perhaps we can understand a bit more the fear inherent in persecution and the faith necessary to endure it.

One who did suffer to the point of death was Stephen. He answered with a resounding "yes!" to the call to preach Christ, and he did so in spite of the persecution he would endure.

The context of this tragedy is Stephen's message to the Jews. Having been challenged by some of the religious leaders, he returned their arguments with this longest of messages in Acts. They were no match for the "wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking" (Acts 6:10).

Stephen not only defended the gospel, but he accused these leaders. He said of them: "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did" (v. 51). For this Stephen would become the first martyr.

I. Focus on Jesus' Glory (vv. 55-56)

Even in the heat of argument and in danger of persecution, Stephen's eyes remained fixed on Jesus. He saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at His right Hand. Usually in the scriptures Jesus is seated. His standing may be linked to Daniel's vision of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14) where He is standing before the Ancient of Days as a judge, or perhaps the Lord was standing to welcome Stephen. Whatever the reason, it's clear that Stephen's faith was in Christ and that God was providing for him.

We, too, can rely on God to provide us with strength and faith to endure any circumstance we're facing. Perhaps our persecution doesn't take this form, but the evil one is always prowling around like a lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We ought, as Stephen, to fix our eyes on Jesus in order that we might behold the greatness of the glory of God and ignore the temptation to give in.

II. Trust in Jesus' Promise (vv. 57-60)

The religious leaders couldn't even stand to listen to Stephen's explanation of his vision. In their ears they heard blasphemy. For if what he said was true, then they stood condemned. They rushed at Stephen, drove him out of the city, and stoned him. What was his response? "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Was this not the same response of our Lord on the cross?

Stephen new his destiny. He trusted in the promise of Jesus. We, too, can trust in Jesus' promise of eternal life when things fall apart around us. Our God is faithful, and in the midst of peril and distress He remains faithful. Let us focus on Him in good times and bad, and let us trust in His faithfulness always. (Jonathan Kever)

Sermon Briefs in this issue provided by: Roger D. Willmore, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Weaver, AL; Derl Keefer, Pastor, Three Rivers Church of the Nazarene, Three Rivers, MI; Keith Durso, Professor, Campbell University, Buies Creek, NC; Jonathan Kever, Managing Editor, Preaching.