Acts-The Gospel in the City PART VI
13 January 2013
Rev. Leo Schuster
Acts 4:1-13
1The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. 3They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day. 4But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
5The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas the high priest was there, and so was Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
8Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
11He is
"the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the capstone.'
12Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we myst be saved."
13When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
PROVOCATIVE NATURE OF CHRISTIANITY
--v.12 suggests exclusivity.
--Yet it crosses cuts all socio-economic and cultural differences.
--The Biblical Jesus is meant to interfere with your daily life.
APPEAL OF CHRISTIANTY
--Resurection empowers the poverty stricken and an overthrow of the existing regime.
--Predicts the restoration of holiness and an end to suffering.
--Reinterprets and recalibrates everything in our lives.
--Provides a gateway to joy that is untethered to our specific circumstance.
CRUX OF CHRISTIANITY
--V.7
--We experience a dislocation of the soul when we ignore Jesus.
--Baptism is in the name of Jesus as our identity is changed.
--Being a Christian is being a radically different person.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The First Miracle
Acts--The Gospel in the City PART V
6 January 2013
Dr. Timothy Keller
Acts 3:2-8, 13-23
2Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about the enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you all can see.
17Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. 21He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22For Moses siad, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'
MIRACLES POINT UPWARDS
--Done in the name of Jesus and points to Him in heaven.
MIRACLES POINT FORWARD
--Miracles alleviate human suffering--not glorifying the miracle do-er.
--Miracles point to a future where Jesus restores everything.
--Originally, in Eden, there was no suffering.
--Joy form v.8 connects to Isaiah 35 in the restoration of Eden.
MIRACLES POINT INWARDS
--We are parlyzed with self-centeredness.
--Our main sins are not any physical defects.
--We need to repent and look inwards before anything else.
MIRACLES POINT DOWNWARDS
--Christ suffers unlike most "heroic" figures.
--People that perform miracles are thrown in jail.
--Power of God comes into the world through weakness as a mortal Jesus.
--Power of God comes into life through repentence and sacrificing control.
6 January 2013
Dr. Timothy Keller
Acts 3:2-8, 13-23
2Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3When he saw Peter and John about the enter, he asked them for money. 4Peter looked straight at him as did John. Then Peter said, "Look at us!" 5So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." 7Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. 8He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you all can see.
17Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. 19Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you--even Jesus. 21He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22For Moses siad, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. 23Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.'
MIRACLES POINT UPWARDS
--Done in the name of Jesus and points to Him in heaven.
MIRACLES POINT FORWARD
--Miracles alleviate human suffering--not glorifying the miracle do-er.
--Miracles point to a future where Jesus restores everything.
--Originally, in Eden, there was no suffering.
--Joy form v.8 connects to Isaiah 35 in the restoration of Eden.
MIRACLES POINT INWARDS
--We are parlyzed with self-centeredness.
--Our main sins are not any physical defects.
--We need to repent and look inwards before anything else.
MIRACLES POINT DOWNWARDS
--Christ suffers unlike most "heroic" figures.
--People that perform miracles are thrown in jail.
--Power of God comes into the world through weakness as a mortal Jesus.
--Power of God comes into life through repentence and sacrificing control.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Living the New Life
30 December 2012
Aaron Bjerke
Colossians 3:12-7
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ swell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Being a Christian is life transforming.
VISION OF A NEW LIFE (v.12-15)
--v.12: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
--Shift in identity - call to be something greater than we can achieve.
--"Our Father" puts us in Jesus's shoes.
--Spiritual experience can often be in the mundane.
REALITY OF A NEW LIFE
--Faith isn't separable from action.
--Inconsitent action requires a deeper Christianity.
--v.13: Forgiveness comes from acknowledging God's forgiveness of us which allows us to forgive.
--v.14: God's love isn't dependent on the object, but rather on Himself -- Love as you have been loved by God
POWER OF A NEW LIFE
--v.15: A peace found through Christ.
Aaron Bjerke
Colossians 3:12-7
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ swell in your richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Being a Christian is life transforming.
VISION OF A NEW LIFE (v.12-15)
--v.12: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
--Shift in identity - call to be something greater than we can achieve.
--"Our Father" puts us in Jesus's shoes.
--Spiritual experience can often be in the mundane.
REALITY OF A NEW LIFE
--Faith isn't separable from action.
--Inconsitent action requires a deeper Christianity.
--v.13: Forgiveness comes from acknowledging God's forgiveness of us which allows us to forgive.
--v.14: God's love isn't dependent on the object, but rather on Himself -- Love as you have been loved by God
POWER OF A NEW LIFE
--v.15: A peace found through Christ.
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