Let's Go
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
I Love Bacon
I Love Bacon
On my burgers, in my omelets, on my baked potatoes, wrapped around filets and jalapeños, on my pizzas, and w/ my breakfasts.
It was always better out when we were camping.
Pork chops.
Pulled pork sandwiches. Sara’s and Agee’s! Luau!
Have you had their pork belly?
When we have friends over for brunch there will be bacon. At our Super Bowl party, there will be bacon wrapped stuffed jalapeños.
You will smell it, see it, taste it, and enjoy it.
This is comfort food. And a comfort smell!
I don’t think I have any Jewish ancestry. I’m very European and Native American.
In the OT, Jews didn’t eat any part of a pig. God had his reasons to forbid it. One was, He wanted Israel to be different from every other culture.
There were things they couldn’t do that everyone else did.
Be different. Set apart. Holy.
There were no attempts t/b culturally relevant.
Today, churches strive t/b culturally relevant. We minimize the differences between church culture and outside culture.
We want people t/b able to relate easily. This effects music style, dress codes, and other things like this.
Some churches go too far in wanting the ppl to feel comfortable.
Comfort is important, but not at the expense of godly standards.
The Jewish culture was different. Not necessarily better. Just different.
God wanted it t/b different. There were things the people had to sacrifice. Like, bacon.
But, for all the sacrifices they made, there were benefits. God was present w/ them. He is life. If you’re close to God you’re living better than anyone else.
Protection, provision, eternal security.
But, to be close to God it cost them something. Worth the cost, but people had to consider the cost. Some rebelled.
During the OT, God resided in one place, the temple. As long as Israel was living faithfully and obediently.
The temple was built w/ a special room for God’s presence, the holy of holies. It was the holiest.
The priests could go in and worship and take care of business w/ God for themselves and on behalf of the people. But that was it. If you wanted to be close to God you had t/b close to the temple.
is the equivalent of the Great Commission of the OT:
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
Psalm 67:1-
The idea was that other nations around the world would see that God blessed Israel in the PL so the ppl of these nations would want to come and live in the PL and participate in God’s blessings, too.
God so blessed Israel and those who believed they would make the significant sacrifice of moving accepting the law as authority in their life, including, no bacon.
If they didn’t accept the dietary restrictions then they didn’t fully benefit from their proximity to God.
Belief first. Then obedience. So, they had to believe in the importance of obedience to the law.
But, offset by blessing.
If you wanted t/b close to God you had to come to Him. And, once you were close, you had to come all the way on His terms.
The temple was in Jerusalem. And, synagogues in Jewish communities around the PL. Outside, there were no opportunities to worship God.
At Christmas, that changed.
Emanuel: God w/ us. God came to us.
For the first time, God came to the ppl.
He had come to individuals before, but now he came to everyone.
In a form we could all relate to. Not as a cloud, pillar of fire, or burning bush; but a man.
33 years later, God went a step farther. Jesus came to us, died for us, was raised for us, then left us.
But, He sent the Holy Spirit to live IN us.
Never before had God taken up permanent residence in anyone. And, now, He does in everyone who has faith in Him.
God came to us. Then, God moved in us. And then He said, “Let’s go throughout the world.”
No longer does a person have to come to God to be saved. God came into the world to save us. Once we’re saved, He commanded us to take Him places and to people who need Him.
What about the law? What about all the dietary restrictions? You invite someone into your life or you get yourself invited into theirs, what about the rules that would have offended God if OT saints broke them?
Coming into my house, a Gentile’s house, and we’re serving bacon, would have been so offensive to God no believing Jew would have ever entered.
So, sinse we’ve now been commissioned to go into the world, God had to do something about the rules that kept us apart.
God would never command us to do the impossible or contradict Himself.
So, He would not commission us to go into friends and neighbors’ houses to take Him to them if He were going to be offended and get us in trouble if we’re served bacon.
Jesus fulfilled the law. And in so doing, made it possible for us get invited over by friends and neighbors and make everybody feel good about the occasion.
We might be the closest to God some of our closest neighbors ever get.
So, when we go over, God comes to them. No one has to be offended. Everyone can be comfortable and comforted by God.
is where these changes are established. 2 men have visions about the same time. God brings them together so that we can see how it works when come comes thru us to someone who does not know Him.
2 Visions
2 Visions
Cornelius’
Cornelius’
At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!”
Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.
Acts 10:
Nothing Jewish about Cornelius other than his religious practices. He bel’d the Jews had something the Romans didn’t.
Romans worshiped Caesar.
He knew there was wrong w/ this that the Jews were closer to getting right.
Not a believer. But a man who is looking for God.
He believe that there is a God. But He did not know what he needed to believe to be saved.
He sought God and wanted to make sure he knew God.
God-fearing. He respected God.
He was devout. That is, devoted to religious practices.
Religion is how you practice what you believe.
He led his family in his religious practices.
He prayed to the God he didn’t fully know, yet.
And, he gave generously to the poor.
He knew enough to be gracious with his money.
A centurion is a commander of 100 men.
He was a good leader.
He had a vision. An angel showed up to talk to him.
God doesn’t limit His communication to only believers.
Anyone who is genuinely seeking God, God will show up and make Himself available.
In this case, he sent an angel to tell Cornelius to send for Peter.
Peter could tell him what he needed to know.
Reports out of the middle east of muslims coming to Jesus.
Missionaries used to think they needed to settle in these communities and build relationships w/ the muslim citizens.
Relationships first, right?
That wasn’t working.
What’s happening is muslims are having visions, dreams. Christians are coming into their lives telling them the story of Jesus..
It happens to line up exactly w/ the vision they had.
This process is leading 10s of thousands of muslims in the ME to Jesus.
At the same time, God was preparing Peter for Cornelius’ call.
Peter had a vision, too. That w/out it and what God was communicating to him, he wouldn’t have gone.
Peter’s
Peter’s
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
Acts 10:
He’s hungry and praying.
God gives him a vision about food.
Like going to the grocery store while your hungry. You can see yourself eating all the food on all the shelves.
In the vision, heaven opens up and a sheet comes down w/ all these animals that God had told OT Jews they couldn’t eat.
Everyone else had been eating them. But, not Jews.
They were instructed t/b different, holy.
So, they sac’d by not eating what everyone else was eating.
In the vision, God spoke to him and said it’s okay to eat these animals now.
It had been drilled into Peter that to eat pigs and these others would break God’s law. Don’t do it.
He knew he shouldn’t even be in a house where pork was being prepared and served. It had been highly offensive to God.
It was offensive and illegal.
He immediately said ‘no’. He thought it was a test from God at first. It took 3 times for God to convince him He was changing the law.
Food restrictions underscored Israel’s separation from the rest of the world but now God was removing the barrier.
The social implications are huge and important.
Jesus came to us. Then, the Holy Spirit moved in. And, then, Jesus commanded that we go and get involved in the lives of people who don’t know Him.
How could we do that effectively if we couldn’t eat w/ them whatever they served us..
This is what makes our luau possible. Pulled pork sandwiches w/ members of our community who don’t know Jesus but at some point in their lives they will realize they desperately need Him.
If we had pushed them away over what they eat would they come to us when they need Jesus?
This barrier is removed completely giving us great opportunities to connect w/ people over meals so maybe we can help connect them w/ God.
Once Peter got the message he knew he was free to go to Cornelius’ house and make this connection.
The Connection
The Connection
The journey
The journey
While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.
The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.
Inviting them into his house was a huge step for Peter.
He was less likely to offend God by having them in his home than by entering theirs, or Cornelius’. But, still, generally this was not acceptable behavior.
And, Peter is still trying to sort out what God meant in his vision. He hasn’t connected the two events, yet.
He just knows he need to be hospitable to these men when just a few house ago he would not have done this.
All he knows at this point is he needs to welcome them into his home, he needs to go w/ them to their home, and it’s a days journey so they shouldn’t start until morning.
He’s not sure exactly where this will end up, he just knows what the next step is he needs to take.
Like Abraham. He just knew he needed to go. And God would show him what to do when he arrived wherever he was headed.
The next day, he’ll start the journey and arrive in Cornelius’ home.
What will happen when he gets there?
The welcome
The welcome
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
Upon his arrival, Cornelius fell at his feet as if to honor him or even worship him.
Peter made him get up.
They were equals.
That’s one thing he got from his vision.
This is new.
There had never been a Jewish man in Cornelius’ house before. They wouldn’t have gone.
Do you remember the first time you, your parents or grandparents had an African-American in their home as an equal, not as a hired hand?
It was a big deal in my house.
One of Sara’s best friends from college is black and was in our wedding.
Her grandparents had to have a conversation w/ her parents when they found out.
Racism runs deep in East Texas.
This was a big deal for Peter, a Jew, to be welcomed into Cornelius’ house, a Gentile, as equals.
Peter straight up tells them, yesterday this was wrong. Today it’s right.
No one and no food that God has created should be kept from each other on religious grounds.
So, why did Cornelius send for Peter?
The reason
The reason
So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
He believed, but he wanted to believe in.
He didn’t know what he didn’t know. But he knew what he didn’t know was what he needed to believe in.
And, Peter could tell him.
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Jesus is Lord of all. He’d always said that about Himself. But, now w/ equal application and ethnic impartiality.
There is a new depth to this truth. Lord of all.
And, Peter has been w/ Jesus the entire time for the evolution of his understanding.
He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
He witnessed the events of the gospel, personally. He heard Jesus teach. Saw him perform miracles. And, now understands that everyone, Jew or Gentile, man or woman, who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins thru His name.
That is, Lord, Master, Savior, Messiah, and all that each job descriptions entails.
God now makes no distinction in how He reacts to people.
The only think lacking in Cornelius is faith.
And, almost mid-sentence, Peter is interrupted, when at the moment of faith the Holy Spirit shows up in the same way He did w/ the Jews in the upper room.
The same God, the same way, with the same response.
Confirmation
Confirmation
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Just like Pentecost.
Peter preached, the Holy Spirit came into the believers as they believed the message, and all of a sudden an international language convention broke out.
It was awe-inspiring.
A new era has begun. Everyone, anyone, alike can come to faith, receive the HS and His power, and enjoy fellowship w/ each other and God equally.
Never before, but for eternity future, all are equal in God’s eyes and how He responds to people of faith.
And, immediately they were baptized w/ water. They had just been baptized by the Holy Spirit and changed on the inside. Now, they needed to go thru the water as an act of faith and confirmation that they believed in Jesus and their sins were forgiven.
We’re baptizing Tristan today. And the water will be ready if anyone else is being called by God to be baptized.
We might be the closest to God some of our closest neighbors ever get.
So, when we go over, God comes to them.
When they respond in faith we can celebrate w/ them.
Every barrier between people has been torn down by Jesus.
He came to us, the HS moved in and has told us to go and take Him w/ us to the people closest to us who need Him the most.
Applications
Applications
God speaks
God speaks
If God speaks to someone who does not believe in Him but is seeking Him then He surely speaks to those of us who believe.
He’ll tell you the next steps to take.
He knows us. Knows the situation. Knows the future. And, knows everyone involved.
Listen well and obey like Cornelius, the unbeliever.
Next step
Next step
God may only give you the next step, not the destination.
Don’t wait for the destination to take the next step. Just do what God calls you to do next.
What is it?
Invite
Invite
says, “As you go...”
Live your life, taking the steps God directs you to take.
We don’t have to go anywhere. Just, as we go, invite the people around you to go w/ you.
And, get invited into their homes.
We work at giving you opportunities to get to know people well enough to get more involved in their life.
Luau, RoughRiders, Mystery Dinner Theatre, Movie night, Oktoberfest, Souper Bowl, Thanksgiving, etc.
The people you meet and get to know at these events work at getting to know them better.
Don’t force Jesus on anyone. But, there will be times in everyone’s life when they don’t know what they don’t know but they may know you well enough for you to tell them.
Put yourself in that position and be ready.
Is there someone around you that God is leading you to invite into your home?
Make bacon! It will make them more comfortable.
Every barrier between people has been torn down by Jesus.
He came to us, the HS moved in and has told us to go and take Him w/ us to the people closest to us who need Him the most.
Communion:
Remember:
God came to you. You didn’t have to go looking for Him or move to find Him.
He died for you even while your life was messed up.
Now, He gives us the opportunity to participate in what he’s doing in the lives of those around us.
It’s great to be a part.