Sunday, April 20, 2008: Grander Vision Living

This sermon is the fourth and final in a series of sermons based on a book by Bill Hybels, Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006). During these four weeks, our church members are meeting in Sunday night small groups in the homes of church members. We are using the Just Walk Across the Room small group curriculum produced by Willow Creek. The small group format includes four components: (1) food / fellowship time; (2) watching the Just Walk Across the Room teaching DVD; (3) group discussion; and (4) each person prays for three specific people they know who are "far from God." The four weeks will conclude with an event to invite the people we have been praying for to come to the church for an informal meeting to receive more information about our church and a brief presentation of the Gospel.

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Grander Vision Living

Acts 4: 23 – 31.

I. Introduction.

I don’t know what your Sunday School class chose to study this week, but I hope you did the lesson from Matthew 9. It is the story of one of Jesus’ disciples named Matthew. We have reasons to believe that Matthew and Levi are the same person. At least their stories are exactly the same in Matthew, Mark and Luke.

In Matthew, Mark and Luke, the call of the first five disciples sounds something like this: One day Jesus was walking along the shore of the Lake of Galilee. As he was walking, Jesus saw two brothers repairing their fishing nets. The brothers’ names were Simon and Andrew. Jesus made eye contact with Simon and Andrew and issued a very simple call, “Come. Follow me.” The brothers dropped their nets, stopped what they were doing and devoted their lives to following Jesus.

The same day, walking along the same shore line, Jesus encountered two different brothers—James and John, the sons of Zebedee. James and John were sitting in their father’s boat. Perhaps they were planning to cast off the shore and begin a day of fishing. Perhaps they were in the boat sorting the fish they had caught earlier. Again, Jesus got their attention and issued the same, simple call, “Come. Follow me.” James and John got out of their father’s boat and committed themselves to a life of following Jesus as his disciples. The Gospels never tell us what might have happened to Zebedee. We know that James and John never went back to work in their father’s boat. Perhaps he took early retirement. Perhaps he went bankrupt. Or perhaps he had to hire two new fishermen to replace his sons in the business. All we know is that James and John never went back to the life of fishing for fish.

Matthew, Mark and Luke all agree that Simon, Andrew, James and John were the first four disciples to follow Jesus. These Gospels also agree that the first teaching Jesus gave these four fishermen-turned-disciples was something like this: “Stop fishing for fish. Come with me and we will fish for people.”

In terms of a fisherman who has devoted his entire life to the skill, craft or even luck of making his living pulling fish out of the water, Jesus’ words to these first disciples describe a “Grander Vision” for living life. Jesus gave them a greater purpose for their lives. They had spent years pursuing fish. Now, Jesus wants them to pursue people.

According to Matthew, Mark and Luke, the next disciple Jesus called was a tax collector. Mark and Luke tell us this tax collector’s name was Levi, but the Gospel of Matthew tells us his name was Matthew. We believe this was the same man, because it is the same story. Jesus found Matthew sitting at his toll booth, collecting taxes. He was sitting by the Lake of Galilee, so we can infer that he was doing one of two things. Either he was collecting a toll from the people who traveled along the road, or he was counting the fish caught out of the lake and charging taxes to the fishermen. Either way, Matthew was hard at work when Jesus walked up. Jesus did the same thing when he encountered Matthew: He made eye contact and issued the simple call—“Come. Follow me.”

On one hand, Matthew responded to Jesus in the same way Simon, Andrew, James and John responded: he stopped what he was doing and committed himself to a life of following Jesus as a disciple. On the other hand, Matthew did something different. Matthew threw a party for all of his tax collector friends.

Tax collectors in the ancient world did not have a good reputation. They were regarded as traitors who showed more allegiance to the Roman Empire than they did to their fellow Jews. They were also known to be unethical in the fees they charged the tax paying citizens. In short, tax collectors were known as “sinners.” So, when we say that Matthew threw a party for his friends, we are saying that Matthew threw a party for sinners. This was just too much for the Pharisees to handle. Jesus—the newest Rabbi / Teacher on the scene—was attending a party with sinners.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. There are some modern day Pharisees who do not believe Christians should attend parties with sinners. They focus all their attention on the verses of Scripture that teach us to “keep ourselves separate and unblemished from worldly pursuits.” They completely ignore the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus, who actually preferred to spend his time with people who did not know God.

On Saturday night we are going to have our own “Matthew Party” here at the church. I want you to bring your friends. We are taking extra precautions to ensure that our “Matthew Party” lasts one hour or less. We are going to eat hamburgers; Shauna and our musicians will play some music; we will show a video highlighting the activities of our church; and I will close with a brief presentation of the Gospel. The only way this will work is if you bring guests. This will NOT be a church fellowship! This is an opportunity for church people and non-church people to spend time together in order to introduce people to Jesus.

Approximately 120 adults and youth have been meeting in small groups. I have encouraged each person to pray for three of their friends. Now, it is time to invite your friends. I think you should be honest and tell people, “We are having hamburgers in the Family Life Center. You will learn more about what our church does. And, my pastor is going to tell you what we believe.”
Simple. Anyone can come. But, please remember…This is not a church fellowship. It is an opportunity to introduce your friends to Jesus.

If you have not participated in a small group, you can still come. You can come, IF you bring someone with you. We need to know how many people are coming by Tuesday. Fill out the “Matthew Party” form. Give us your name and the total number of people in your party.

The “Matthew Party” is one way we can connect with the Grand Vision Jesus has given First Baptist Church. On one hand, some of us are very comfortable in our church. We know the songs. We have our own seats on Sunday mornings—seats that automatically form to shape our bodies. We are comfortable with the programs, activities and ministries this church provides.

But…something is wrong if we think church is all about us. Something is wrong with us if we think we are supposed to come to church only for the things that church provides us. Of course, we do provide ministries and activities so that you can get something out of church. But that is not why we are here. We are here to advance the Kingdom of God and push back the realm of Satan.

Read Acts 4: 23 – 31.

II. Verse 23: “On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.”

A. On their release…

These words connect the following descriptions and teachings to the narrative of Peter and John before the Sanhedrin. Peter’s preaching had stirred up the Jewish people and had led to 5,000 conversions. The Sanhedrin knew they had to put a stop to this Gospel preaching. However, they had no charges against the disciples, so they were forced to let them go.

B. Went back to their own people…

The Sanhedrin and the Jewish political / religious leaders had some things in common with Peter and John. After all, Peter and John were Jewish by birth. However, there was one significant difference between them. Peter and John were followers of Christ. When the Bible says, “they went back to their own people,” it is describing the common life of Christians.

I first moved to Texas in 1994. Very soon after I moved here, I read a newspaper article about the way Texans view themselves. There is no other state in the United States of America quite like Texas. Did you know that approximately 50% of Texans view themselves as Texans first and Americans second? This is not true about any other state. Only in Texas.

Christians ought to be the same way. We might find ourselves living in the United States of America—or even living in the great state of Texas—but our primary identity comes from our relationship with Christ. And when we find ourselves in trouble or hurting or under persecution, there is only one place we should want to come. To church, to be with “our own people.”

III. Verse 24: “When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”

I wish I didn’t have to tell you this. Of course, I have lots of options. I could lie to you, or I could preach like the TV preachers do. I wish I could tell you that Christians do not have the same kinds of pain and suffering found in the rest of humanity. I cannot say that and tell the truth.

Christians suffer two types of pain. First, we experience the pain of being human. Death, divorce, broken relationships, cancer…This is the pain of living in a fallen world. Second, we face persecution that comes as a direct result of our faith in Christ. Just as we recognize a difference between us and the world, so the world sees us as different from them. As a result, we are excluded and even discriminated against.

However, as Christians, we can face pain and disappointment with confidence and with power. We can walk through the “valley of the shadow of death” knowing that God is with us. We experience God’s presence through our prayers and through the times we gather in the church with “our own people.”

IV. Verses 24 – 30: The Prayer.

Notice that the Bible says “they raised their voices together in prayer.” I can find two explanations for this expression. It might mean that the entire church started praying the exact same words in unison. However, it is more likely that the church prayed together in antiphony. The leader would pray out loud one line at a time. The congregation would repeat the same words out loud.

A. "Sovereign Lord," they said, "you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.”

The God who comforts us in our time of need is the same God who created us. The God who created us has a plan and purpose for our lives.

B. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: "'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.'

The God who created us is the same God who has revealed himself to us in Scripture. This is significant because it shows us that God is the One pursuing us. God has not left us to our own devices. God loves each person individually and desires a relationship with each of us.

C. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

God’s pursuit of us did not end with the Jewish Scriptures of the Old Testament. God sent his Son Jesus into human history. By naming Herod and Pontius Pilate, we can place the life and death of Jesus into a historical timeline.

D. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

I do not believe this is a defense of a “predestinarian” view of God. This does not teach us that everything that happens is necessarily God’s will. It is a specific reference to the crucifixion of Jesus. The crucifixion was God’s plan from the very beginning. The crucifixion is not God’s plan
B. It was always God’s intention to pursue human beings and go to the great lengths of sending his only Son to die on the cross for our sins.

E. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

This is NOT what I would have prayed! I would have prayed for God to protect me and to prevent me from being arrested again. They prayed for BOLDNESS and for COURAGE to keep on preaching, no matter what they might encounter.

F. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

There are two sides to presenting the Gospel: miracles and preaching. It is God’s job to do the miracles. It is our job to do the preaching. We don’t get to decide what miracles God performs. The only decision we make is whether or not we will be faithful to describe God’s miracles in terms the world can understand.

God still performs miracles. He heals the sick. He quiets the storm. And most frequently, God changes lives. God takes a worldly, unashamed sinner and transforms him or her into a follower of Christ. This is a miracle. Our own stories of salvation are miracle stories to be shared with non-Christian people. Their lives can be changed too!

V. Verse 31: “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

When God’s people pray, God shows up. We know that God showed up, because the room was shaken. AND, because God’s people continued to preach with BOLDNESS, even in the face of certain persecution.

VI. Conclusion.

There is a pattern in Acts 4, that is consistent with everything that has happened so far in the book of Acts. The church gathered for worship. The church scattered to witness. This was the pattern for the earliest church, and it continues to be the pattern for our church in the Twenty-First Century. This is God’s Grand Vision for us. We are not supposed to gather for worship and scatter to complain or compare our church to other churches. We are to leave this place of worship encouraged and emboldened to tell non-church people about God’s plan of salvation.