Sermon for May 12th

Acts 13:1-3; 14:8-18

13:1 Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the ruler, and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

14:8 In Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet and had never walked, for he had been crippled from birth. 9 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. And Paul, looking at him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, 10 said in a loud voice, "Stand upright on your feet." And the man sprang up and began to walk. 11 When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" 12Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates; he and the crowds wanted to offer sacrifice. 14 When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting, 15 "Friends, why are you doing this? We are mortals just like you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways;17 yet he has not left himself without a witness in doing good—giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filling you with food and your hearts with joy." 18 Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

The message

This is our second and last week with the Book of Acts.  This Biblical book tells the story of the very early church, the faith actions of Jesus first followers.  The main characters include the disciples like Peter and James as well as new converts like Paul, Barnabas and Lydia. It is the story of people trying to follow the words of the risen Christ, the invitation to come and see the tomb is empty and the instructions to go and tell the others, to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to teach what Jesus taught in words and actions.

Last week, we saw how the early church settled the first big church fight, one that pitted St Peter against St Paul. The question was “do you need to become Jewish before you can become a Christian”.  This was decided after a series of events. First there is Peter’s vision from God of unclean animals and the instruction to break the law, “to kill and eat”.   This does not settle it.  Peter wakes from this vision “extremely confused”.  Days later, Peter witnesses another Pentecost as the Holy Spirit descends on a group of non-Jewish people in Macedonia.  If the Holy Spirt could welcome them , how could the church not welcome them too.

Everything in Acts points away from people and towards God, active through the Holy Spirit. That is the main point in the book of acts. The Holy Spirit is the force behind and in the church. God is always present with these first followers, for guidance, strength, reassurance and correction.  The heros of our faith, the people who walked with Jesus, who have churches named after them, who raised the dead, restored the blind and heal the sick, do nothing by their own strengths or gifts alone.  Today, as Paul is sent on his first missionary journey, he is set apart by the decision of the Holy Spirit. There is no debate over who speaks the best, who is most well suited for that community, who has friends or connections in Lystra, who has free time or a busy schedule, who is needed there in Antioch, who went last time,  there is fasting to focus on God and there is community prayer.

The followers of Jesus will need this help.  They will be pushed to their limits, enter places that are difficult, be rejected, misunderstood, shipwrecked, imprisoned, laughed at and killed. They also. face their own internal, spiritual struggles. Peter’s vison pushes him to change lifelong sacred beliefs and practices. When faced with the unclean food, Peter talks back to God three times, insisting “I have never eaten anything unclean”. Paul starts off as a persecutor of the church, a Pharisee committed to ending this dangerous cult before it grows.  He hated these people and they hated him.  

The book of Acts tells us about events that happened almost 2000 years ago in far off areas of the world but it is not history. This is not an explanation of how the early church started out.  It is an example of what people can do when the listen for God and trust God. The members of our church and community, the people who pray here, who work everyday to further the gospel in their lives, we do nothing by our own strengths or gifts alone. either. 

The book of acts is a guide for how we are supposed to be church so that is exactly what we are going to do. I invite everyone to listen for the Holy Spirit. We are going to wait for someone or someones to step forward, to talk about the work God has called them to, and pray over him or her.  No one was preselected and I didn’t make phone calls this week asking “if no one comes up, would you mind doing it”  This is not a show, if no one comes, that’s fine  As Paul and Barnabas were sent out, so will each of us be.

After a few minutes, one of our members did come up, talked about her call to teach so I invited whoever wants to come up and pray with her (5 or 6 people did) just as many had a look of “is he serious”  I never thought of / did anything like this in a sermon before,