Receiving Life
All Are In A Battle • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsPaul's ministry in Troas included not just encouragment, but bringing back the life of a young man, Eutychus. He then traveled on bringing life to many in the cities he would visit along the way back to Jerusalem.
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Introduction
Introduction
Colby. Good friend, eventual fraternity brother.
We studied together, played video games, I even spent several weeks sleeping on his couch one summer while I was homeless. Colby was a philosophy and literature major and wanted to eventually pursue a degree in law. But, something happened at the end of his sophomore year, he decided to leave our college. This wasn’t just losing a friend, this was losing a brother. This was before we all carried cell phones and pre-social media, so when you moved away for the summer, you really were disconnected. Three months later I load up my Ford Ranger and make the drive back to Shawnee, park outside the dorms, and go in to get my key to move into the room that the year prior had been across the hall from Colby. I was kind of moping as I began the process of carrying my belongings into my room when, of all people, Colby ran up to me. First of all, Colby had gotten skinny. He took up running over the summer. Second, Colby was back! I was excited, but confused. That’s when I discovered that over the summer, Colby and one of our mutual friends had started dating. This explained both why he had started running and why he was back at OBU!
Relationships influence decisions.
Paul spending a week in Troas, how he spent that week, and where he would go from there were all influenced by the relationships he had with the other missionaries he was traveling with. They also encouraged Paul during difficult times.
We, as the church, as we understand the truth that All Are In A Battle, we must emphasize the value of community that we receive as we gather to worship together.
The Church Gathered
The Church Gathered
Has a week to spend in Troas.
Sunday they gathered. Part of an ancient tradition when we gather on the Lord’s Day!
Gather to Remember Jesus.
Break Bread. A way to remember the sacrifice of Jesus. The Bread and the Wine as elements representing the broken body and spilled blood of Jesus.
Part of our worship is to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made and to think about the WHY.
Gather to Receive instruction.
Paul encouraged them through teaching.
Not self-help or telling stories. Not his own collection of words of wisdom, as good as it would be.
Paul understood the value of Scripture.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The beginning, middle, and end of Paul’s teachings was Scripture.
Too many churches are weak today because they haven’t been fed Scripture.
Paul knew he needed to point believers to a way to be fed.
Personally and Corporately. Both are important.
Pastor as Shepherd, providing not just food, but also instructing on how to access the food.
Gather to Rejoice in the Resurrection
Poor Eutychus. A young boy, 8 - 14 years old.
Hours of Paul teaching in a warm and stuffy room. Sitting by the window. It happens!
Do I get mad when I see people nodding off? Thinking I put them to sleep?
I don’t get mad…Paul did it, too.
But, Paul went on and on and on!
I don’t get mad…Paul did it, too.
This young boy falls three stories and it “taken up dead.”
Was he dead or not? Well, the physician Luke wouldn’t use this language if he was alive!
Paul stretches over him, like Elijah and Elisha both did in their prophetic ministries, performing miracles.
And the boy wakes us!
And to celebrate, they go eat some food!
The means of the Communion followed by the Agape Feast.
And then Paul continues on talking and teaching them for another six hours.
Reminds us of what is to come. When that trumpet blasts and the dead in Christ are raised first, then we, who are left, shall rise up to meet the Lord in the air and be with Him always.
Gather to Restore Comfort.
We are a bit like a sponge.
Soak up the comfort, the sabbath.
But, then life hits and squeezes that out of us.
Now we have to make a choice. Will I sit out and become a dry, hard, useless sponge??
Or will I return to the source of comfort and be restored?
Cool thing about a sponge, it could have sat out for years, but as soon as it soaks in that water, it is restored!
This is how we are as a Christian. We have hope in Jesus! Comfort in Community!
Yet, so many choose to reject this.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Christians who think they survive and grow and be useful for the Kingdom without being connected to the body of believers, without gathering, will find themselves useless.
The Church Scattered
The Church Scattered
Paul and some of his travel companions left at this time and headed out.
Most of them hopped on a ship, but Paul chose to go a different route. We don’t know why.
Assos to Mitylene to the area of Chios, to Samos to Miletus.
This connection from being in a church to being on mission is a natural one.
Gathering leads to Going.
As you have sat and received Scripture, you see the calling on the church!
Leads to mission. Again, not separation!
The model of a Christian is that one serves under the authority of a church.
Paul going out from Antioch.
Paul traveled with his band of missionaries, sailing in the morning with the wind, having afternoons and evenings to minister.
Yes, Paul had brought life to a single person.
But, he was also intent on bringing spiritual and eternal life to many.
Setting the model for us as a church.
Considering opportunities to serve, to go, to share.
Conclusion
Conclusion
When we most want to reject community is when we most need it.
There will be times where that voice of doubt will creep in and say, “Why do you go to church?”
The voice of the enemy seeking to divide a church, which is always stronger than the sum of its parts.
And if he can get you to disconnect, and I’ve seen this time and time again, it speeds up the process of you no longer following Jesus.
When we most want to reject community is when we most need it.
So, when that voice creeps up and asks you, “Why do you go to church?”
To Remember Jesus, to Receive Instruction, to Rejoice in the Resurrection, and to Restore Comfort.
When we most want to reject community is when we most need it.
I’ve yet to see anyone stop going to church and their faith get stronger.
So, when that voice creeps up and asks you, “Why do you go to church?”
To Remember Jesus, to Receive Instruction, to Rejoice in the Resurrection, and to Restore Comfort.