| Redeemer Lutheran Church 1084 W. Bullard Ave. Fresno, CA 93711 Phone: (559) 439-8500 Fax: (559) 439-8585 office@redeemerfresno.com The Reverend Clarence Eisberg Phone: (209) 725-9082 Cell: (209) 631-3108 pastor@redeemerfresno.com Worship ~ 8:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Family Ministries ~ 10:00 a.m. Holy Communion ~ 2nd & 4th Sundays |
| Connecting People to Jesus and to One Another! www.lcms.org |
The Reverend Clarence Eisberg |
Ocyober 25, 2009 |
Paul” |
| The following ad once appeared in a London newspaper: “Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful.” the ad was signed by Sir Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer. Amazingly the ad drew thousands of respondents, eager to sacrifice everything for the prospect of a meaningful adventure.” Spirit set aside Barnabas and Paul for a missionary journey. God was simply doing what he always does. Today in Acts 13 we find God placing a similar call for travel and adventure. The Holy The central act of God in the O.T. is the Exodus, a divine intervention into human history to liberate his people from oppression and slavery. The decisive act of the N.T. is the divine intervention of God into human history to liberate his people from oppression and slavery. In the O.T. Moses takes on Pharaoh to liberate his fellow Israelites. In the N.T. Jesus takes on sin, death, and Satan to effect deliverance of captive kinsmen, you and I. In both cases the deliverance is not just from something but to something. The O.T. people of God were promised a land flowing with milk and honey. Jesus promised his followers forgiveness of sin, the life with a purpose. Included in the deal is heaven. Not so long ago I heard of a teacher who was asking her class this traditional, adult question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Most of the class gave the traditional answers. One wanted to be president; another wanted to be a fireman; another wanted to be a police officer. One by one they answered until it was Seth’s turn to say what he was going to be when he was older. Seth didn’t respond as quickly as was his normal habit. Finally the teacher asked him, “and Seth, what do you want to be when you grow up?” Seth replied in one word: “Possible” “Possible”? asked the teacher. “Yes, I want to be possible.” Seth said again. “My mom is always telling me “I’m impossible.” “When I grow up I want to be possible.” Are there things in your life that seem impossible? There are in mine. My eyes say I will never fly a commercial jetliner. Body aches and pains tell me my chance to be an Olympic medalist is over. There are a lot of impossible in my life… and maybe some in yours as well. I know one “impossible” which brings all of humanity together. We can not save ourselves. Yes, I know all the other religions of the world say you have to try…. You have to strive…. You have to work…. You have to struggle to obtain forgiveness and heaven. But the truth is, it can’t be done. Earning forgiveness, earning heaven is an impossibility, even for the best of us. This is why…. If we are to be saved… it will only be by grace, the mercy and the love of God that is shown in the Savior’s death on the cross and resurrection from the grave. It is this reason, and this reason alone that God sends Barnabas and Paul, you and me on a journey to tell others about His grace. The book of Acts is the story of the Christian Church. The Church was created to be the New People of God to join him in his redemptive mission in the world. The church was never intended to exist to be a club. I Peter 2:9-10 “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praise of him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” The church in Antioch was worshipping the Lord, giving praise and glory to God. God was ready to take his message of salvation to other parts in the Roman world and Barnabas and Paul were chosen to take the next step in God’s great adventure. They sailed from Seleucia, the port city of Antioch on the Orontes River. They sailed for Cyprus. Why Cyprus? Cyprus was the native home of Barnabas. He had owned property there before he went to Jerusalem. He would naturally have many friends and acquaintances there. Upon arrival they began to proclaiming the Word of God in synagogues, working their way across the island. Why did they begin in the synagogue? Those in the synagogue knew the O.T. stories and believed in God. What insight might this give us in our own ministry? First they began with people who were familiar to them, and to the scriptures. They began with people who would be more receptive to the message of salvation. The Jews knew their bible. They were waiting. In these synagogues were also non Jewish individuals, “God fearers” who had accepted the reality that there was only one God. People in the first century knew that the Greek and Roman Gods were human projections of human traits. People were on a personal spiritual search for God and Salvation. In our culture we have common ground with many “God fearers”, people who had some Sunday School experience, or some contact with the church grandma attended. They have attended weddings and funerals in churches… but really don’t know much about Jesus. God is at work in the hearts of some of these individuals we just have to let the Holy Spirit led us to them. I was telling Don C. the other day that our “camping group” is a great fellowship event…when people can spend time together, creating meaningful relationships….but it also exists to be a place where we are to invite our “God fearing” friends but remain unattached to God’s People and His Church. Our small group bible studies exist for the same reason. Each year I am amazed at the number of people I encounter who have heard about Jesus….they’ve seen his picture on the cover of Time or Newsweek every year around Christmas or Easter. At the present time in Post Christian America people are still interested in searching for God. They don’t trust the “organized church” so they are off on their own search for God. The current spiritual awaking in America lacks the Christian content and stories….file systems. This is the scary part of it. Left to their own imagination people will devise all sorts of crazy stuff about God from New Age crystals to a blend of Jesus and reincarnation. The other problem in post modern America is that we and our children have been told that we can not be certain of anything….. America is swimming in the world view that there is no “one source for ultimate truth.” Every Christian should learn 3 questions today when meeting “God fearers”. 1) What do you mean by that? Can you explain a little more about the God you believe in. 2) How did you come to that conclusion? Question 1 & 2 will tell you their view of life. 3) How do you know its true? 4) How is that working for you? Barnabas & Paul utilized the very first rule in successful witnessing. … They began with people who were receptive. Learn those four questions and then listen before talking about what God has done in history by entering human history to die and rise from the grave. This is the same gospel message we still possess. V 14-16 They complimented the people V 17 they repeated the O.T. history (our approach would be different because most Americans are unaware of the bible stories… so our starting point would be the four questions. V 23 the promise of God was fulfilled…. John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah. V 26 Jesus was rejected, killed and raised from the dead V 38 one more point …now there is forgiveness with God in Jesus…. You no longer have to earn God’s mercy. Christianity is the only religion in all the world that proclaims that God’s love is free. God’s forgiveness is free. It’s called grace. Every other religion depends on your good deeds, your effort or you’re denial of hell…. Barnabas and Paul did run into opposition. V 8-10 Elymas opposed them. Is there opposition to Jesus and Christianity? Of course. Depend on the Holy Spirit, we are witnesses… God does the convicting. Maybe this would be a good time to share the story of a brick mason who went to work but it was one of those days when everything went wrong. “When I got to the building I found that the hurricane had knocked off some bricks around the top. So I rigged up a beam with a pulley at the top of the building and hoisted up a couple barrels of bricks. When I finished the damaged area at the top there were a lot of bricks left over. I went to the bottom and began releasing the line which was tied to the barrel. Unfortunately the barrel of bricks was much heavier than I was. Before I knew what was happening the barrel started coming down jerking me up… I decided to hang on since I was now too far of the ground to jump, and halfway up I met the barrel of bricks coming down…fast…. Received a hard blow on my shoulder. I continued to the top hitting my head on the beam and getting my fingers jammed into the pulley. When the barrel hit the ground…hard… it burst scattering all the bricks. I was now heavier than the barrel so I started down again at high speed. Half way down I met the barrel coming up fast. I received sever injuries to my shines. When I hit the ground I landed on the scattered bricks receiving several deep and painful bruises. At this point I must have lost presence of mind and let go of the rope and the barrel came down fast… giving me another blow on my should and head, putting me in the hospital. I respectfully request sick leave. Life can be like that. As a Christian you’re going to have days like that where you life will be marked by disappointment and opposition when you live your life and share your faith. I always remember the difficulty Miss California had holding on to her crown because of her faith statements. 1) We are part of the N. T. Church and God has made the “impossible” “possible.” He invites us to join Him in reaching those who are spiritually lost and plant seeds of the gospel. 2) Begin sharing your faith with those “God fearers” who are the most receptive…those seeking spiritual truth. Invite them to the music concert Saturday night…. Invite them to your small group…. Invite them on your camping trips… be a friend. 3) learn the four questions. A) What do you mean by that? Tell me more. B) How did you come to that conclusion? C) How do you know its true? D) Have you ever considered…. Tell your story. |
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