Preaching the Good News In An Age Of Skepticism

                                FIVE VITAL SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN PART V

Preaching The Good News In An Age of Skepticism

We have been studying five vital signs of a healthy Christian and a Church by looking into Acts 2:42-47. They are:1. Worship (Vs. 46-47) 2. Fellowship Vs.46. 3. Service (Ministry) Vs. 44-45. 4. Discipleship, Vs.42. 5. Evangelism (Preaching the Good News)Vs. 47.

We learned that a healthy Christian grows in worshipping God, maintaining his vertical and horizontal fellowship with God and others. A healthy Christian serves others as Jesus did. A healthy Christian grows in discipleship by living a life of self-denial by identifying with Christ’s sufferings. Today we will look at the fifth vital sign, which is Evangelism. Acts 2:47

One of our Core values at Hope Church is that we are Outreach-Focused “We believe all people are made in God’s image and are precious to God. Members of Hope Church seek to build bridges through creative and intentional efforts to share the Good News with others. We recognize that much of the Scripture portrays God’s passion for the poor and needy and endeavor to have our desires in line with His.” In other words, “We align ourselves with God’s will.”

In the last two weeks, we have examined how God’s will manifested in Christ’s followers’ lives and the cost they had to pay. In his sermon on the mount, Jesus explained what that cost looked like. Matthew 5:11-12, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.”

After warning them about the impending persecution, Jesus made two outstanding pronouncements of his disciples: “You are the Salt of the earth and the Light of the world. Then commissioned them to let their good deeds shine among the people. The early Church tried to live out that Mission. I title this sermon Preaching The Good News In An Age of Skepticism.

 

I. What is Evangelism?

If you have attended any Church long enough, you may have heard the words Evangelism, evangelist, and evangelize. But what do these words mean? Evangelism is the term we use to refer to the preaching of the Gospel. It comes from the Greek word for Gospel (euangelion) and literally means “gospeling.” When we evangelize, we are spreading the Gospel.

What is the Gospel? The word Gospel means “good news,” so the Gospel of Christ is the good news of His coming to provide forgiveness of sins for all who will believe. The Apostle Paul told his spiritual son, Timothy, to do the work of an Evangelist (II Timothy 4:5).

What does an evangelist do? The Greek Word “euaggelistes” means the one who proclaims the glad tidings or the good news. In that sense, anyone who brings good news to another is an evangelist. Romans 10:13-15, For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him?

And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” The work of an evangelist is to take the Good News to those who have been waiting to hear someone tell them so that they can respond. How will our neighbors and friends hear the good news unless we tell them? Let’s heed Paul’s words and do the work of an evangelist.

 

 

 

 

II. Why must Christians preach the Good News?

We established what Evangelism is and who is an evangelist. Let me now clear up some misunderstandings about Evangelism. We often think of Evangelism as a planned event of our Church. It is done and completed when the event ends, and we wait for another occasion. Evangelism is not an organized event but a lifestyle, a part of who we are as Christ’s followers.

Another misnomer is that I must be an eloquent speaker like Billy Graham or dramatic as Benny Hinn to be an evangelist. You don’t need all that. Just be yourself and tell others how God changed you, forgave your sins, and how they, too, can receive forgiveness and hope in Jesus.

Some think being an evangelist is a special calling from God and is not meant for everyone. Yes, God sets aside some like Billy Graham and others with such calling and anointing where they reach thousands for Christ, but all of us are called to do the work of an Evangelist.

Let me give a few reasons why all Christians must preach the good news. First, Preaching the Good News is not an option but a directive issued to all believers from the Lord Himself. Mark 16:14-15, “Still later, he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead. And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” I hope none of us have a stubborn and unbelieving heart.

Secondly, when we preach the Good News, we do the will of God. II Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.”

Thirdly, we hasten the Lord’s return when we preach the Gospel. Matthew 24:14, “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” Jesus’ return depends on all Christians doing the work of an Evangelist, that is, preaching the Good News to all people in the world.

   

III. Preaching the Good News In An Age of Skepticism.

The disciples were initially stubborn and unbelieving when Christ gave the commission to Go and preach the Good News to the world. But when the Holy Spirit came upon them, everything changed. As a result of Peter’s preaching, a church community was formed.

            How did the early Christians preach the good news? Acts 2:47, “all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day, the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” This verse sounds contrary to the persecution we have been discussing. Initially, the early Christians may have enjoyed the goodwill of all the people until the intense persecution broke out against them in Chapter 8.

            We don’t see early Christians verbally proclaiming the Gospel in this verse. But it was demonstrated by how they loved one another in the Church family and cared for the needs of the poor in the larger community. In other words, they let their good deeds shine among the people.

            Like the early Christians, we are living in an age of skepticism. For many, there is no absolute truth. They say truth is relative. Many skeptics doubt and even challenge the claims of Christians based on their personal experience of change and God’s word.

The Apostle Peter, one of the early Church’s pillars, gives us clues on how to preach the Good News in An Age of Skepticism in II Peter 3:1-14. Here are a few truths: First, in the last days, skeptics scoff at the truth about the promise of Jesus’ second coming because of its delay. Jesus’ return is delayed not because he forgot his promise but because he is patient for our sake.

   Second, no one could predict when Jesus would return, and no one could protect the current earth from destruction. Vs. 10, But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.”

Third, as we wait for these things to happen, we will make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in God’s sight. One of the better ways to preach the Gospel in an age of skepticism is to live the Gospel through good deeds and attitudes than mere words. People must see that we love them before they can hear the Gospel’s truth. Amen!

 

 

 

Christian Response To Persecution

                                 CHRISTIAN RESPONSE TO PERSECUTION

“Just like shaving a tiger’s hair doesn’t do away with its stripes, so I am still a Christian.” These are the words of Mrs.Vo Thi Manh, a Vietnamese grandmother imprisoned for her faith. “I will not run away. I am ready to take a stand.” Saratu Turundu was a 35-year-old unmarried woman who loved the children she taught in Sunday school. A fanatical Muslim mob in Nigeria killed her for her faith in Christ.

These are just two of the millions of voices of persecuted Christians that are often ignored by the news media but are worth listening to and paying attention to. Over 70 million Christians have been martyred over the last two millennia, more than half of which died in the 20th century under fascist and communist regimes. Approximately 1 million Christians were killed between 2001 and 2010, and about 900,000 were killed from 2011 to 2020.”[1]

When Christians worldwide are being persecuted for their faith, Christians in the West, particularly in the USA, are not touched by Persecution. What if our freedom to worship Jesus and attend Church is taken away? Could Christians in the USA be martyred for their faith?

Those of us who live in our bubble of security brush these questions away and think that these things will never happen to us but only happen to people living in third-world countries. I have news for you this morning. Martyrdom has always been a part of Church history. I wish I could tell you that Persecution is waning and our brothers and sisters are treated fairly and justly. Instead, statistics suggest that the Persecution of Christians is more common in our generation.

 The prophecies of Daniel on the Persecution of God’s people are coming true. Whether ready or not, Persecution is coming to the USA. How will we handle Persecution? How did Jesus prepare his disciples for it? How should Christians respond to Persecution? John 15:9-27

I. Jesus said, “Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.”

There is a direct connection between love and obedience. We see that connection in how Jesus lived His life and expects His disciples to live the same way. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” (John 14:15). In the passage, we read the word, love appears eight times, signifying that love and obedience are interconnected; they both go hand in hand.

Jesus loved the Father, so He obeyed his commandments, which led him to lay down His life on the cross so that many would be saved. Similarly, if we say we love Jesus, we will obey His commandments, which means to love others through words and deeds. To be salt and light in our communities and when we can share the Good News with others.

Jesus said, since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. So, it shouldn’t surprise us when we are persecuted for our faith. The apostle Paul who endured much Persecution for the gospel’s sake charges Timothy saying, “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

If you are a true disciple of Christ and decide to live a godly life, you will be persecuted. Persecution means: “Hostility and ill-treatment, primarily based on ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or political beliefs.” These acts of hostility may include violence and even killing.

 Don’t think we are the only ones being persecuted when we go through such hostility. Since the creation, God’s people, prophets, Jesus, His disciples, and man of Christ’s followers in the Church’s history have endured and are continuing to endure Persecution.

Many of our brothers and sisters in Manipur, India, China, Sudan, Egypt, North Korea, Saudi Arabia,  Nigeria, Iran, Pakistan, Vietnam, and several other countries are being hated, excommunicated, driven out of their homes, harassed, and even being killed all because they said yes to following Jesus. Let me introduce you to the early apostles martyred for their faith.

II. The Early Martyrs and their response to Persecution

Jesus (AD 33) prayed for his persecutors on the cross, saying, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” (Lk 23:34). Stephen, (AD34) The first Martyr of the Church, while being stoned to death, “fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died. (Acts 7:60). Stephen’s death ushered in great Persecution.

James the Great (AD 44), the son of Zebedee, was the first apostolic martyr beheaded in Jerusalem by the order of King Herod. Acts 12:2. Philip (AD 54) was crucified and stoned by the establishment. Matthew (AD 60) was martyred by being staked and speared to the ground.

Andrew (AD 69) was martyred by being bound to an X-shaped cross for three days. Bartholomew was martyred by being skinned alive and crucified head downward. James the Lesser was martyred by being thrown from a pinnacle of the temple at Jerusalem, then stoned.

Jude was martyred by being beaten with a club and crucified in 72 AD. Simon Peter was crucified upside down as he requested because he did not consider himself worthy of being crucified like Jesus in 68 AD. Simon was martyred by crucifixion and sawn in half in Britain in 74 AD. Thomas was martyred, thrust through by a spear in India. John the Beloved died naturally after writing the Book of Revelation. Judas Iscariot hanged himself.

I mentioned only eleven disciples who were martyred. The Foxe Book of Martyrs has the names of many more followers of Christ who have died for their faith from 33 AD till today. In heaven, we will meet a vast crowd that is too great to count from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and the lamb clothed in white robes.

Several of them were martyred for the word of God, and others died during the great tribulation. Rev: 6:9, 7:9-14. They all had one thing in common they died willingly for what they had seen, heard, believed, and touched. How would we respond when we are persecuted?

III. Christian Response to Persecution.    

If the world hated and persecuted Jesus and his followers, don’t be naïve to think we will have lesser treatment than they had. I earnestly pray that I will not dishonor my savior by being a coward when I face Persecution for my faith. I found these following responses will equip and prepare every Christian to be ready to face when Persecution comes their way.

First, let’s face it Persecution is inevitable and more imminent than we care to think. Jesus said, “And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22. Secondly, don’t worry about how you might face Persecution and what you might say to your persecutors. The Holy Spirit will help us with what to say when the time comes and gives us the needed strength amid Persecution.

Third, remember you are not alone, but many of our brothers and sisters are being persecuted worldwide for the gospel’s sake. The apostle Peter who was crucified upside down, has this to say when we go through Persecution. I Peter 4:12-13, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.”

Fourth, As Christ prayed for his persecutors, we will pray for our persecutors. When we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, we act like true children of our Father in heaven. (Matt 5:43-45). Hear the words of our crucified and risen savior. “God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” Matt 5:10-12.

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.gordonconwell.edu/blog/christian-martyrdom-who-why-how/

Marks of a True Disciple

                                                         Five Vital Signs of a Healthy Christian- Part IV

Where would we be without Staupitz? In a thought-provoking article in Christianity Today, historian Bruce Shelley pointed out that we would not have some of our greatest heroes of church history had there not been mentors who loved and discipled them. Behind Martin Luther was Johann Von Staupitz, professor of the Bible at the University of Wittenberg. When Luther became an Augustinian monk, Staupitz became his spiritual director and counselor. If it had not been for Dr. Staupitz,” Luther later said, I would have sunk in hell.” It was Stauptiz who taught Luther about grace and who directed him into study theology.”[1] The rest is history.

Similarly, think of the men and women who have introduced you to Christ, taught you about Jesus, prayed, and stood with you in your early walk with Christ. Where would we be without them Today? We are grateful to those who mentored, loved, and discipled us.

We have been looking at five vital signs of a healthy Christian. Looking into Acts 2:42-47, we derive five vital signs of a healthy Christian and a Church. 1. Worship (Vs. 46-47) 2. Fellowship Vs.46. 3. Service (Ministry) Vs. 44-45. 4. Discipleship, Vs.42. 5. Evangelism. Vs. 47.

We learned that a healthy Christian grows in worshipping God, maintaining his vertical and horizontal fellowship with God and others. A healthy Christian knows the Joy of serving others as Jesus did. Today we will learn about another vital sign of a healthy Christian: Discipleship. Acts 2:42, “All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.” How do we understand Christian discipleship? We will look at who is a disciple of Christ, the call of discipleship, the seven marks of a true disciple, and the rewards of discipleship.

 

I. Understanding Christian Discipleship.

Can someone be a Christian and yet not a disciple? What is the difference between a Christin and a disciple of Christ? The terms disciple and Christian are related but not synonymous. The Greek term for “disciple” in the New Testament is mathetes, which means “student” or “learner.” But a disciple is also a “follower,” someone who adheres completely to the teachings of another, making them his rule of life and conduct.

Biblically speaking, a Christian has placed his Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A Christian has been born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. A Christian “belongs to Christ” and is daily being transformed into the likeness of Christ. A true Christian (not one in name only) must also be a disciple of Christ who has counted the cost and totally committed his life to follow Jesus.

We have a problem in America. It is not that we don’t have many Christians; we don’t have many disciples of Christ. The reason is this, as Bonhoeffer notes, we preach cheap grace. “It is preaching forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline—communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ. The emphasis is on the benefits of Christianity without the costs involved; hence, the adjective is cheap to describe it.”

The salvation of our souls is a gift from God, but discipleship is costly and takes discipline. When Christ forgives our sins and saves us, He is not turning bad people into good people but making them into true disciples. One of the reasons why the witness of the Church in the USA is weak is that many Christians are just satisfied with getting saved.

They attend Church and participate in church activities but never grow in their discipleship. The world needs not more churches or Christian programs but true disciples whose hearts are totally committed to Him. What are the marks of a True Disciple of Christ?

 

II. A Few Marks of a True Disciple of Christ

1. The Confession of Faith followed by baptism.

The pathway of Christian discipleship begins with a confession of Faith. Romans 10:9, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” After listening to Peter’s sermon, over three thousand people openly confessed their Faith in Christ, repented their sins, and were publicly baptized.

Open confession of our Faith is an essential characteristic of a disciple. In baptism, we openly declare to the world that we are paying our allegiances to Jesus Christ. The first sign of those who join the army is the uniform. Similarly, baptism is a public witness to the believer’s identification with Christ. It is a voluntary act of obedience of a believer.

No true Christian disciple lives a secret life. Even in certain countries where Christians are persecuted, many are not ashamed of Christ. It is a terrible thing to be ashamed of Christ. Mark 8:38, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” We have freedom in this country to practice our Faith publicly and boldly.

2. The continuation of Christ’s teachings in the life of a disciple.

Jesus called a group of disciples and taught them about the Kingdom. He urged them to remain in His word and let His words remain in them so they can bear much fruit indicating that they are his true disciples. John 15:7-8. After his resurrection, He gave them this command:

Matt 28:19-20, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.” His disciples went out and preached the gospel. A Church was formed as a result, and the early disciples were devoted to the apostle’s teachings and prayer.

Continuing in Christ’s teachings is another mark of a true Christian. To remain in His teachings, we need to know what they are. At Hope Church, we emphasize reading and studying the Bible individually and corporately in small groups. How is your Bible reading going on? 

3. A willingness to bear the cross.

The crowds followed Jesus for various reasons. He challenged their core motivation by saying, “If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple. And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.” The cost of discipleship is a willingness to give up everything, including our lives.

Bearing the cross is death to self! That’s what our Lord did on the cross. It is because of that sacrifice we have received salvation. The mark of a true disciple is a willingness to bear the cross. The Apostle Paul carried his cross by enduring persecution so that many people would be saved. Many true disciples of Christ worldwide are bearing the cross for the gospel’s sake.

4. Loving one another as Christ has loved us.

Our love for our fellow believers indicates that we are true disciples. John 13:34-35, “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” Loving others in God’s family is a command. How is this love expressed?

 We go beyond just maintaining superficial relationships. We are vulnerable to each other when we struggle with a specific sin. We ask people to pray for us, and we pray for them. We give and receive forgiveness when others hurt us, or we hurt others. We serve and support one another with Joy. We share in the sorrows and joys of our brothers and sisters. Let’s excel in our love for one another and let the world know that we are indeed true disciples of Christ.

 

 

 

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[1] Bruce L. Shelley, “Where Would We Be Without Staupitz?” Christianity Today, 16, December 1991, 29-31

Serving One Another With Joy

                                 FIVE VITAL SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN PART III

Serving One Another With Joy

We have been looking at five vital signs of a healthy Christian. We defined a healthy Christian as a follower of Christ who grows in the knowledge of God and aspires to be more like Jesus by following his teachings. We learned that Church is not a building or a denomination.

The word "church" is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as "an assembly" or "called-out ones." The root meaning of the Church is not that of a building but of people who believe in Christ. We belong to the family of God, the universal Church, but locally we are Hope Church which gathers in this building at 152 South Main Street Sharon.

We recognized that healthy Christians make up healthy churches. Looking into Acts 2:42-47, we derive five vital signs of a healthy Christian and a Church. 1. Worship (Vs. 46-47) 2. Fellowship Vs.46. 3. Service (Ministry) Vs. 44-45. 4. Discipleship, Vs.42. 5. Evangelism. Vs. 47.

We learned that a healthy Christian grows in worshipping God, maintaining his vertical and horizontal fellowship with God and others. Today we will learn that a healthy Christian knows the Joy of serving others as Jesus did. Vs. 44-45, "And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need." Let me unpack these verses.

To give us the background, the early Church was birthed when the Holy Spirit came upon and filled a group of 120 disciples. As Peter spoke to the onlookers, the Holy Spirit convicted 3000 people, who later were baptized and joined the rest of the believers, forming a community.

As the Holy Spirit led them, this small but vibrant community grew in their worship of God, in the vertical and horizontal fellowship with God and one another. Whatever they did, whether gathering in the temple, sharing their meals in their homes, or selling their properties to meet each other's needs, they did it with exuberant Joy, which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

 

II God calls His people to serve Him only.

Before we learn how the early Church served one another, let's look at what motivated them in their servanthood. It was their call to serve God. We are familiar with God calling us to love, follow, praise, and worship Him, but how about a call to serve Him? Is this call for only a few chosen ones or to all Christ's followers? What does it mean to serve God? 

Serving God means doing his will and what pleases Him. To a newly liberated nation of Israel after living in 400 years of slavery, God gave several commandments, one of which was to serve Him. Exodus 23:25, "You must serve only the Lord your God. If you do, I will bless you with food and water and protect you from illness. There will be no miscarriages or infertility in your land, and I will give you long, full lives."

This tells us serving God is not optional, but a command, and it is for our good. After reaching the promised land, God reinstated this call to serve Him through Joshua to a young generation born during the wilderness who had no idea of serving God. Joshua urged them to put away the idols their ancestors worshiped and to wholeheartedly fear and serve the Lord alone. He challenged them to choose whom they would serve. Whether people served God or not, he and his family resolved to serve the Lord alone. Joshua 24:14-15,

The same call to serve God is coming to us today. Who will you serve, God or Satan? The choice you will make determines your future. Very early in my life, I decided to serve Christ all the days of my life. Though at times it was difficult and challenging to serve Him with Joy, as I pressed on to keep that commitment, I found it fulfilling and rewarding.

 

II. A healthy Christian knows the Joy of serving others as Christ did.

The early Church modeled servanthood as they followed Jesus, who talked about the importance of serving God and demonstrated it by getting his hands dirty in serving others.

If we are followers of Christ, then we are servants of Christ. John 12:26, "Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor Anyone who serves me." When we serve Christ, we are honored by our Father in heaven. No one better understood and practiced what it is to serve than the Catholic Church.

According to the Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership, "The church is a servant community in which those who hunger are to be filled; the ignorant are to be taught; the homeless to receive shelter; the sick cared for; the distressed consoled; the oppressed set free."[1] 

One of their highly regarded daughters, Mother Teresa, who knew what it was to serve the dying destitute, had this to say, "Being happy with [God] now means: Loving as he loves, Helping as he helps, Giving as he gives, Serving as he serves, Rescuing as he rescues, Being with him 24 hours, Touching him in his distressing disguise."[2]

How is serving people equates to serving God? Hebrews 13:2, "Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!" Perhaps this was borrowed by Hindus, who believe in "Atithi Devo Bhava" in Sanskrit, meaning "Guest is God."

Our love for God and people is better expressed when we are kind to the poor and the needy, especially to those in the family of God. We see this vital sign of service in the early Church. In chapter 4:32-37, we read how they worked this out. They were united in heart and mind. They felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. They sold their lands and houses, brought money, gave to the Apostles, and they distributed to those in need. There were no needy people among them. All this was done organically and voluntarily. As the Holy Spirit enabled them, they joyfully served God and one another.

III Serving One Another With Joy

God commands us not only to serve Him but serve Him with gladness. That is how He wants us to serve one another, with Joy. Serving God is not a chore or duty but a joyful privilege. Consider these scriptures: We must determine to serve God wholeheartedly. Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money."

Second, the wholehearted service of God brings Joy to our hearts. Psalm 119:1-2, "Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts." Thirdly, we serve God with jubilation. Psalm 100:1-2, "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with jubilation."

How can we serve God and one another with Joy? Romans 1-2, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him." Our service to others flows from our love, service, and worship of God.

The apostle Peter gives us a clue about how to show our love for God and one another. It is by using our God-given gifts to serve others. I Peter 4:10-11, "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another."

We all are given a unique gift, and some are given more than one. We are called to serve one another in love. We are blessed at Hope Church by many of us exercising our God-given gifts in serving one another with Joy. What is our reward for serving God? Col 3:23-24, "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward and that the Master you serve is Christ." Let us continue to use our God-given gifts to serve one another with Joy.

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] The Institute for Catholic Educational Leadership, "Christian Service," February 23, 1999.

[2] Mother Teresa in Teachings of the Christian Mystics, cited in Christianity Today, February 8, 1999, 72.

WE NEED ONE ANOTHER

                              FIVE VITAL SIGNS OF A HEALTHY CHRISTIAN PART II

WE NEED ONE ANOTHER

The week after Pentecost, we started a series exploring the "Five Vital Signs of a Healthy Christian, based on the lives of the believers in the early Church. What do I mean by a healthy Christian? A healthy Christian is a follower of Christ who grows in the knowledge of God and aspires to be more like Jesus by following his teachings. What is a healthy Church?

One pastor defines it: "A healthy church is not perfect without sin. It has not figured everything out. Instead, it continually strives to take God's side in the battle against the ungodly desires and deceits of the world, our flesh, and the devil. It's a church that continually seeks to conform itself to God's Word. In short, "A healthy church is a congregation that increasingly reflects God's character as his character has been revealed in his Word." [1]

Looking into Acts 2:42-47, we derive five vital signs of a healthy Christian and a Church. 1. Worship (Vs. 46-47) 2. Fellowship (46) 3. Ministry (Vs. 45) 4. Evangelism (Vs. 47)  5. Discipleship (Vs.42). Acts 2:42-47. We learned that a healthy Christian is a worshipping Christian. Today we will look into another vital sign of spiritual health: Fellowship.

Vs. 42, "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. Vs. 46, "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity." The early Church was a fellowshipping community.

What is biblical fellowship? The word fellowship is derived from the Greek word Koinonia, which means "holding or sharing something in common" or participation in something or with someone. Let's explore how biblical fellowship was manifested in the early Church.

As Christians, we have been reconciled to God in Christ and one another in God's family. The Church is not only a family but also a fellowship. I Cor 1:9, "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are also called into fellowship with the whole family of God. Fellowship Refers to "Our Common Life Together" It is a relationship between individuals that involves active participation in shared values and in one another. Let's see how the early Church believers maintained vertical and horizontal fellowship and how it impacts our lives today.

1. A Vertical Fellowship with God

Vs.42 "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. The early believers got their priorities right. They recognized that their first and foremost priority was to maintain their vertical Fellowship with God daily. The verse reads, "All the believers devoted themselves," which means without any exceptions, and no one is excluded.

They realized the power of learning together from the apostles' teachings, celebrating the Lord's supper, and praying. It was not done once a week or whenever it felt good for them, but it was a daily occurrence. Daily fellowshipping with God through studying the scripture, worship, and prayer sets you on the right path for spiritual health and growth.

Therefore, we encourage all those attending Hope Church to join our Sunday morning Bible studies, worship service, and mid-week connect groups. We see this devotion among several practicing Jews, Muslims, and Hindus. Unfortunately, this sort of devotion is becoming rare among Western Christians. Our priorities are getting mixed up. We get distracted by many pursuits other than maintaining our Fellowship with God. Here are some examples of those who fellowshipped with God. Enoch walked in close Fellowship with God for 365 years Gen 5:23-24.

We live in a world without fear of God. Wickedness is increasing rapidly, yet we can maintain our Fellowship with God as Noah did. Gen 6:9, "Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God."

It is not only us who want to live in close fellowship with God, but God himself is delighted to live among His people. John 14:23, Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them."

Can you imagine the implication of having God the Father, Jesus the Son, and God the Holy Spirit come and make their home within our hearts? That makes us live in a community with our Triune God. How do we know we are in fellowship with God? Our love for Him and one another and our active participation in His work indicate our fellowship with Him.

II. A Horizontal Fellowship with One another

            God restored our broken relationship so that we might continue to fellowship with Him and one another, especially the members of God's family. Vs. 46, "They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity." The early church believers fellowshipped with God daily in the temple.

But they didn't stop there; they took their fellowship to each other's homes. They met in homes for the Lord's Supper and shared their meals with joy and generosity. The fellowship, oneness, and sharing enjoyed in the early Church are fruits of the Holy Spirit. These are just a few ways we encourage fellowship at Hope Church, third Sunday Luncheons, Missions' Potlucks, Picnics, and BBQs. If you have any creative ideas to bring people together, please share them with us. We believe when we come together, it fosters fellowship, which is necessary for Christians and Churches to remain healthy. Besides enjoying good meals and partaking in communion, why did the early Church strongly emphasize fellowship?

III. We Need One Another

Many early Church believers were from a Jewish background. Though they believed in Jesus as the Messiah, they did not separate themselves from the rest of the community. They still went to the temple and synagogues for worship and instruction in the Scriptures.

Their belief in Jesus created friction with Jews who didn't believe that Jesus was the Messiah—in addition to that, persecution by the Roman government forced the believers to meet in homes. The early Church believers were small in numbers compared to the majority of Romans, needing one another to practice their newfound relationship with Jesus. They did it not in isolation but by living in small home-based communities.

The writer of the Hebrews urges the believers to persevere under persecution by doing the following as the Lord's return was drawing near. They were to go right into God's presence with sincere hearts, fully trusting him to maintain their verticle fellowship with God. They were to motivate one another to acts of love and good works and not to neglect meeting together but encourage one another. That was to maintain their horizontal fellowship with one another.

We are living in the latter part of the last days. Many signs indicate that the day of our Lord's return is imminent. The previous three years have been challenging for Christians and Churches. COVID-19 has caused many churches to shut down their in-person worship services, small group meetings, and fellowship times, sending believers to isolation and resulting in depression and discouragement. Thank God now COVID-19 seems to be behind us.

Therefore, I encourage us to keep attending Church, where we can maintain our fellowship with God and one another. Like the early Church believers, let us devote ourselves to biblical teachings, prayer, worship, and fellowship. When we come together, let us encourage, love, and spur one another to good works; by doing so, we will become a healthy Church.     

 

 

 

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[1] Mark Dever, What is a Healthy Church? ( Crossway Books, Wheaton, Illinois, 2005) 40.