Building and Repairing Relationships

(for our mental, physical and spiritual health)

Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” Acts 11:1-3

Intro: All the commotion in the second half of ths chapter reminds me of Jesus Movement

By 1970 Calvary Chapel could not build a sanctuary large enough to accommodate all the new Christians
– it was sprouting offshoots all around Orange County, then Riverside County and San Diego County
• and other vital communities were emerging at the same pace in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Berkeley
– initially, the branches from Calvary Chapel’s roots were not organized as conventional churches
• rather, they were communes collecting disenfranchised hippie converts – the churches came later
◦ that era seems to have exemplified what Greek scholar A. T. Robertson observed regarding Acts 11:
“God always has a man prepared for a great emergency in the kingdom.”
• that was true forty years ago
◦ and it was true of people we will meet in today’s text

But that is not what we’re going to track today
– instead, we are going to observe the way relationships are formed and strengthened
• it seems every time I turn around lately, this is what I’ve bumped into
◦ in my reading, in our Wednesday and Thursday evening meetings, and addressing the needs of our grandchildren

Daniel Siegel has written, “As relationships are the most important factor in studies of good health, longevity, happiness, and wisdom, finding a way to promote interpersonal integration may be an essential step in developing these positive aspects of having a full and rewarding life.”

• mental integration and relational integration are mutually dependent

Bessel van der Kolk explains, “Everything about us–our brains, our minds, and our bodies–is geared toward collaboration in social systems. . . . it is important not to ignore the foundations of our humanity: relationships and interactions that shape our minds and brains when we are young and that give substance and meaning to our entire lives.”

– our life in God is defined by relationships: love for God and love for others
• unfortunately, every relationship is always at risk

Vv. 1-17, News spread quickly of Peter’s encounter with Gentiles

The reason it did is because what he did was extremely controversial
– the complaint here is similar to the one raised against Jesus (Lk. 15:1)
• eating implied close contact, which forms a bond
◦ this sort of bond with Gentiles would transfer impurity to the observant Jew
• one of Israel’s core beliefs regarding God’s future intervention in world history
◦ Israel’s salvation would bring their total victory over Gentiles
– remember “circumcision” is a technical word
• the crew that believed Jewish conversion had to come before Christian conversion
◦ they did not begin their interview of Peter with a question, but had already come to a decision
◦ as A. T. Robertson observed, “Peter is at once set on the defensive as their contention went on.”
• of course, Peter had exactly the same attitude before God told him to go Continue reading →

The Lord of Breakthroughs

Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; he is stahing with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.”
When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa. Acts 10:1-8

Intro: I’ve been looking forward to arriving at this chapter with you

It begins an important section in Acts–at least for us
– supernatural events are recorded here that are God-led and exciting
• but the whole thing becomes a significant scandal when it reaches Jerusalem
• from this point up to chapter 15 we can feel the church’s inner turmoil
◦ leaders are forced to come to terms with what is raised here
◦ finally they reached a decision, but the tension was not resolved in their lifetime
– slowly, the first disciples eventually accept the possibility of Gentile believers
• this meant, they did not have to first become Jews to become Christians
• but even the idea of Gentile sharing their faith encountered intense resistance

The story of Cornelius and Peter has interesting parallels with chapter 9
– the conversion of Saul–the church’s worst enemy–entailed two visions:
• one vision came to Saul, who was about to be converted
• the other vision came to Ananias, who would assist Saul
– again we find two visions involving a prototypical outsider in chapter 11:
• one vision came to Cornelius, who was about to be converted
• the other vision came to Peter, who would assist Cornelius
– we might notice that each person who received a vision was addressed by name
• we see a God who is as near and as familiar with unbelievers as he is his servants

Vv. 1-8 The last place Peter would think to go fishing

Caesarea was a Roman outpost dedicated to Caesar Augustus
– centurions were as embedded as loyal to Rome as a soldier could be
• there is not a whole lot of information about Cornelius in verses 1-2
◦ but still enough that a first-century reader would know lot about him
• certainly enough that it would sharing their faith with him would not occur to the apostles

Do you see how Luke defines “devout”?
– it is one who

• feared God — held God in reverence
• gave many alms — the Greek word for alms is translated charity in 9:36
• prayed to God continually
• (and in v. 22) a righteous man — he did what was right in his relations with others

– devout is not pious, definitely not self-righteous, and not even innocent
• devout is an internal and external integration of life in its dedication to God
• Cornelius got God’s attention and God wanted him

A vision is a special kind of seeing – not through one’s physical eyes
– the vision makes invisible things visible
• this is why Cornelius saw the angel who right then had entered
• I know several Christians who, like myself, would love to experience a vision like this
◦ an experience big enough to knock us down and then tell us what to do
◦ but visions do not guarantee human cooperation or produce transformation
◦ and even without a vision of angels, the same spiritual forces are at work around us
– when the angel spoke his name, Cornelius asked, What is it, Lord?
• the Greek for Lord could also be translated “Sir”
◦ I think of the way men and women in military service habituate respectful address
◦ more than once, in conversations with marines I have been addressed as sir
• however, in this instance I imagine Cornelius filling this word with awe and reverence

The centurion is given an order to dispatch messengers to Joppa
– from Caesarea, a magnificent port city on the Mediterranean coast
• to the port town of Joppa, a more rural and Jewish port town
• we can hardly imagine a more beautiful setting (as we who have been there can vouch) Continue reading →

The Best Bible Study Ever!

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. Luke 24:13-17

Intro: We find only a few post-resurrection stories in the Gospels

These are brief narratives that leave out many details
– yet the depth within these short stories is profound
– it seems that each one addresses a lingering concern or need:
• Thomas: the need to resolve doubt and disbelief (Jn. 20:25-29)
• Peter: the need to experience forgiveness and reconciliation (Jn. 21:15-19)
• the disciples: the need to know how the Scriptures comes together in Jesus (Lk. 24:27, 44)
◦ and whether it was even possible to go on without Jesus’ physical presence
• the women: the need for building hope and trust that death is not the end (Mt. 28:1-10)

Today’s story, stretching from Jerusalem to Emmaus is one of our favorites
– two disciples receive private tutoring from Jesus on this seven mile walk
– but even more important is the fact that this is our–Reflexion’s–defining story
• this is who we are and the path we’re on
• as we take this Easter walk with the Lord and two disciples, look for Reflexion’s reflection

They were traveling

Yesterday, Jim took a group of us through an art show at Trinity Epicopal Church in Orange
– the artist is a Russian woman, Ludmila Pawlowska, who came to faith in the Soviet era
• she found inspiration for her work in Russian Orthdox icons
• her paintings and collages invite viewers to look through them
◦ her works do what good sermons should do; awaken us to God’s presence
– at end of the tour, Jim invited us to sit down and Lectio our experience
• that is, to bring awareness to what the art stirred within us and reflect on those responses
• one person’s favorite piece was titled “On My Way Home”
◦ she said, “Looking at it, I could see the path, but were are lots of obstacles”
◦ this was the road the disciples were on and it is our road too

After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:21-22)

All the way through life we encounter both good and bad situations, smooth times and hard times
– God’s purpose is that the good times refesh us and the difficult times strengthen and purify us
– the metaphor we use for this ongoing progress in Christ is spiritual journey
• it is sometimes a solemn quest and other times it is a grueling hike up a steep trail
• in seasons of grace it is more like a reflective walk at the beach or in the hills
• every morning begins a new “starting place” (cf. Num. 33:2)
And this is Reflexion

They were traveling together

The walk to Emmaus was difficult, but not lonely Continue reading →

Jesus’ Grand Entrance

Our Scripture reading is based on Mark 11:1-10, but combines details from all four Gospels.

As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.” They went away and found a colt tied at the door, outside in the street; and they untied it. Some of the bystanders were saying to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They spoke to them just as Jesus had told them, and they gave them permission.
This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
“Say, ‘Fear not’ to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold your King is coming to you,
Gentle, seated on a donkey,
Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to him.

Intro: Most of us have read or heard this story many times

But have you ever asked, What purpose does it serve?
– how does this fit into entire ministry of Jesus?
• what value is there in this quasi-political rally around Jesus?
• what does the makeshift parade accomplish with all its shouting and flag-waving?
◦ only they did not have flags or imperial banners so they gathered leafy branches from nearby fields
◦ and there was no red carpet, so thrift-store clothing was tossed on the ground for him to ride over
– Jesus had never allowed the crowds to do this before (cf. Jn. 6:15), so why now?
• what does it change? What does it prove? By the end of the week he was dead

Later on, the disciples were asking the same question
– as John said, they did not understand these things at the time
• but with reflection it came to them
• they saw in it the fulfillment of scripture written long ago, in Zechariah and Psalm 118
– with uncharacteristic public display, Jesus arrived at the very gates of Jerusalem
• he assumed the role that was uniquely his, confirming what Peter had confessed
◦ that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16)
◦ although, at that time, Jesus ordered his disciples to “tell no one about Him” (Mk. 8:30)

This morning we will observe Jesus through the lens of these Palm Sunday events

Jesus had been making preparations for this day

I don’t mean, he made “arrangements”
– William Barclay thought Jesus had made a previous arrangement with the owner to use his donkey

William Barclay, “‘The Master needs them,’ was a password by which their owner would know that the hour which Jesus had arranged had come.”

• I’m doubtful that was the case – the essence of this story is not its careful planning, but its spontaneity
• not everything had been worked out
◦ still, Jesus was certain it would come together — note how well he perceived how things would unfold:

Go into the village and this will happen
Untie the colt and this may happen
If that happens, say these words and this will happen

– this is what I mean by “making preparations”
• Jesus had been preparing, not the big event, but himself
• preparing himself for this moment of recognition, for this final week of conflict with rigid religion
◦ preparing himself for Gethsemane, rejection and crucifixion
◦ he tried to prepare the disciples, but they could not fathom what he said — so he just prepared himself

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. . . . Now My soul is troubled; and what shall I say, “Father, save Me from ths hour”? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name. (Jn. 12:23, 27)

It’s always a little surprising to see that, like us, Jesus had needs Continue reading →

What Have We Been Missing?

Now as Peter was traveling through all those regions he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years, for he was paralyzed. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; get up and make your bed.” Immediately he got up. And all who lived at Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord. Acts 9:32-43

INTRO: I know some of us still don’t get contemplative prayer

Or why we begin Sunday mornings in silence, seeking God or waiting on him
– it is difficult to sit a few minutes in openness, responsiveness and receptivity, so why bother?
– I hope that the answers becomes clear for you today

When we catch up with Peter, he is on the road

Maybe he was following leads to locate pockets of believers
– or perhaps he was looking for such communities to encourage them
• or he was simply drifting, allowing the Spirit to direct him
– Lydda is modern day Lod, the location of Ben Gurion Airport
• it was there that Peter “found” Aeneas – as though he was on the alert for opportunities
• Luke is skimpy on the details
◦ it seems he just wants to keep the story moving — we would like a lot more information
◦ like how did Peter know that Jesus was healing Aeneas?
– “Sharon” refers to the coastal plain that ran from Joppa to Mt. Carmel
• Aeneas’ physical healing resulted in people making a turn to the Lord
• I once heard an evangelist quoted as saying, “People change, but not that much”
◦ but Luke has been showing us that it is possible to change that much

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, the laid it in an upper room. Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, “Do not delay in coming to us.” Acts 9:36-38

Peter’s next destination was Joppa, a seaport on the Mediterranean (modern Jaffa)
– in Luke 8:1-2 we are told the twelve disciples were with Jesus on the road
• but Luke also tells us there women were also present
◦ the women, however, are not specifically referred to as disciples
• but here, Tabitha is a disciple–the only New Testament use of the feminine form of “disciple”
– the little we know about Tabitha is what we read here
• nevertheless, there’s enough to reveal the impact made by the kindness of a good person
• that is why the believers in Joppa were not ready to let her go

So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him into the upper room; and all the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them. But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. Acts 9:39-42

At this point we may feel like we’re experiencing de ja vu
– it is as though we were watching a rerun of events reported in Luke 8

• Jairus had “implored” Jesus to come to his home (Lk. 8:41)
  ◦ the messengers “implored” Peter to come to Joppa
• In his home, Jairus’ daughter was dying (and died before Jesus arrived, Lk. 8:43, 49)
  ◦ Tabitha’s body lay dead in the upper room in Joppa
• Mourners were already present and weeping in Jairus’ home (Lk. 8:52)
  ◦ widows were weeping in the upper room when Peter arrived
• Jesus sent the mourners out
  (leaving only Jairus, his wife and Peter, James and John; Lk. 8:51 & cf. Mk. 5:40)
  ◦ Peter sent the mourners out
• Jesus took the girl’s hand and spoke two words to her (Lk. 8:54)
  ◦ Peter reversed order, first speaking two words to Tabitha, then taking her hand

Peter’s education and training had prepared him for this moment
– having been with Jesus, he followed the example that had been set for him
– in Joppa, the physical miracle resulted in people coming to faith in the Lord

And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon. Acts 9:43

Again, Simon Peter is associated with another “Simon”

What does it take to turn our lives toward God?

Or to come to a faith in God when you had never believed or trusted in him?
– we assume it takes exactly the sort of thing we see in this passage: a miracle
• but that is exactly what Jesus hoped we would transcend (Jn. 20:29)
◦ however, that is not my concern right now
• what I want us to consider is that two bodies were the focal points of the miracles
◦ one body was paralyzed and the other was dead

Psalm 139 is a psalm of wonder
– wonder is not the theme of the poem, but its tone

For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb.
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Your book were all written
The days that were ordained for me,
When as yet there was not one of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them.
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You. (Ps. 139:13-18)

• the psalmists frequently write this way: my heart, my bones, my kidneys, my lips
◦ all that is felt or done by these body parts are experiences, functions, and expressions of me
◦ nor was it only Israel’s poets who paid attention to external and internal stimuli
• visceral sensations were indicators of how a person was doing

When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
My life’s juices were turned into the drought of summer. (Ps. 32:3-4, literal)

◦ listening to our body, we can recognize even mild anxiety, fear, or upset
◦ the body also reveals the status of a person’s relationships — with God and others
– furthermore, God attempts to communicate with us through our bodies

“Knowledge of God somehow thrusts deeper roots within the human organism itself even beyond the mind’s ability to think and analyze.” Edwin McMahon & Peter Campbell

A model of the brain as a three-story building Continue reading →

Christ, the Ruler of All

Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belong to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem Acts 9:1-2

Intro: Do you remember the 1997 movie, Amistad?

African men and women were on a slave ship from Cuba to the U.S.
– they staged a revolt on board and took control of the ship
• misled, they sailed into U.S. waters and were apprehended by the American navy
• put on trial for mutiny, they were at a loss not knowing the English language
– one of the slaves began thumbing through a Bible, “reading” the drawings in it
• from those pictures alone he was able to decipher the story of Jesus
◦ in it he found comfort and hope

Perhaps you’ve seen children’s Bibles with illustrations of some of the stories
– these are meant to increase a child’s interest and his or her understanding
• God’s design for his sanctuary included sacred art (Ex. 25:18-20; 26:1)
• when serving in the Holy Place, the priests were surrounded by angels
– so we begin this morning with sacred art

Early Christianity’s form of sacred art: Icons

In my religious upbringing, there was no place for icons
– what we were told, Roman Catholics worshiped idols
• we were never taught the difference between idols and icons
◦ or between worship and veneration
• nevertheless, we had pictures
◦ in our “Sunday school” classes we colored in pictures of Bible stories
◦ sappy paintings of Jesus decorated the front wall of the sanctuary
– when exposed to icons, I thought they looked weird – I didn’t get them
• but prior to my first trip to Russia, a friend had me to rethinking icons
◦ then, when visiting orthodox churches, I found myself deeply moved
◦ it was learning to read and art appreciation at the same time
• there is still a lot of junk art that that annoys me, but icons are–something else

Like books, icons communicate through visual symbols
– they deliver their message not only conceptually, but directly
• their purpose is facilitate an encounter — to give the viewer an opportunity to:
◦ experience the story they tell
◦ experience the truth they proclaim
– what could be done with the interior walls of churches?
• Nilus, a fifth century monk suggested the following:

“Let the hand of the artist fill the church on both sides with pictures from the Old and the New Testaments, in order that the illiterate, who cannot read the Divine Scriptures, should, by looking at the painted images, bring to mind the valiant deeds of those who served God with all sincerity and be themselves incited to rival the glorious and ever-memorable exploits, through which they exchanged earth for heaven, preferring the invisible to the visible.”

◦ in the seventh century, John of Damascus, the great defender of icons wrote:

“What the written word is to those who know letters, the icon is to the unlettered” (though “all of us,” he added “benefit from what is painted in the icons”)

• when you see an icon, think of it being like a book – a “devotional”
◦ it is something you read to warm the heart to God’s presence
◦ a tool that serves to inform and inspire

But why the funny looking art form? Continue reading →

The Word Goes On the Road

Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.
But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison. Therefore, those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Acts 8:1-4

Intro: In this chapter we are going to get lessons in evangelism

I rarely address this subject and for a number of reasons

1. Both “personal” and programmatic evangelism have been overemphasized
   • the term “Great Commission” never appears in the Bible
   ◦ the great commandment (and second) do appear–in Jesus’ teaching
   ◦ but they are often ignored or merely given lip service
   • John 3:16 is a foundation for thinking theologically about evangelism
   For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
2. Step-by-step methods of “soul-winning” miss the point
   • it is typical that in our western world we reduce evangelism to a “science”
3. Evangelism is less about what we do than who we are
   • the hypocrite’s preaching betrays rather than supports the gospel
   Klyne Snodgrass, in discussing the parable of the Good Samaritan said, “The parable, like most of Scripture, is concerned with identity. In effect, when people asked Jesus ‘What do I have to do?’ he asked in return ‘What kind of person are you?’ . . . what we are cannot be torn from what we do.”

To be clear: Evangelism is the communication of the evangel, with the intention to persuade people to receive the message, respond with faith and repentance, be forgiven their sins and become followers of Jesus Christ.

Evangel is “gospel” in the New Testament, meaning a good message or good news
– evangelizo is to evangelize – bring good news
• this word occurs five times in this chapter and is associated with four other words:
1.) the word, 2.) the Spirit, 3.) baptism and 4.) rejoicing (the effect of receiving it)
– to evangelize is to tell the story of Jesus
• but those who tell it must have a personal experience of salvation through Jesus
◦ they are witnesses of Jesus’ power to transform a human life
◦ this has been emphasized in Acts from the start (1:8, 22; 2:32, 40; 3:15; 5:32; etc.)

Verses 1-4, Incentive to take the word on the road

Here’s something you won’t find in any Guide to evangelism:

To Pastors: The way to motivate your congregation to get out of the church and preach the gospel, do something to bring such intense persecution that they are driven from the church. Or set the building on fire.

– verses 1-4 could have been a fitting conclusion if placed at end of chapter 7
• their purpose here is to provide a transition to the events of this chapter
• perhaps there is benefit in seeing the gospel thrive under the shadow of persecution

Stephen’s death unleashed a flood of pent up rage
– we do not know persecution
• at least not like believers at other times and in other places
• I grew up in a denomination that considered itself persecuted
◦ it wasn’t persecuted, but we were criticized and ridiculed for being weird
– there’s no need to go looking for persecution
• if we don’t live in a time of persecution, let’s not create it
◦ but neither is it right to avoid persecution at all costs
◦ and at the very least we are to:

Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. (Heb. 13:5)

• follow Jesus as authentically as you can and you will come under attack
◦ and most likely, the assault on you will come from other Christians

An odd effect that we will see repeated in Acts: Continue reading →

The Faith And Flaws of Our Fathers

The high priest said, “Are these things so?” And [Stephen] said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that He would give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him. But God spoke to this effect, that his descendants would be aliens in a foreign land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. And whatever nation to which they will be in bondage I Myself will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve Me in this place.'”  Acts 7:1-3

Intro: This chapter is obviously a continuation of last week’s episode

When the high priest asks, “Are these things so?” what “things” is he referring to?
– the charges leveled against Stephen; namely, that he spoke against:
• Moses, God, the temple and the Law (6:11, 13)
• and that he said Jesus would

destroy this place [the temple] and alter customs which Moses handed down to us. (Acts 6:11-14)

◦ Stephen had not said these things
◦ but they are what the prejudiced ears of  his accusers heard
– now Stephen is given opportunity to defend himself
• rather than begin by correcting them regarding what he actually said,
◦ he took them back to their ancient roots
• he will make his defence by weaving into an account of biblical history

Verses 1-8, Abraham was the father of their race and faith

Stephen said it was “the God of glory” who appeared to Abraham
– although this is merely an introductory statement, it makes a point
• one of the accusations against Stephen is immediately contradicted
◦ i.e., that he spoke against God — his reverence for God is clear
– he reminds the Council that Abraham moved at God’s call
• as early as Abraham, God had a plan
◦ Stephen will trace that plan through the rest of his speech
• he moves quickly through Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s sons (the twelve patriarchs)
◦ God’s plan was unfolding through their lives too

Verses 9-16, Stephen slows down when narrating Joseph’s story

Joseph suffered a lot at the hands of his brothers
– his first few years in Egypt were also difficult, Yet God was with him
– God carried his plan forward through his life

Verses 17-44, Moses takes up the longest section of Stephen’s speech

This is commensurate with the importance given to Moses Continue reading →

Turning the Next Corner

Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. Acts 6:1

Intro: There are insights in this chapter I do not want us to miss

So I am going to spend more time than usually in providing a perspective on it
– if we can see the key issues, it will help to clarify who we are at Reflexion

Paul Hiebert, a missionary in India, later became a renown cultural anthropologist
– his interest in folk religion led him to research in the process of institutionalization

Hiebert observed that “Institutions, like people, go through cycles of growth, maturation and ‘hardening of the categories.’ The result is often a loss of vitality and life they once had. We must balance stress on church growth with church renewal or we will plant many churches which in a few decades will be dead.” [italics added]

Hiebert also identified stages of institutionalization:

• “The founding parents of an institution often pay a high price to join it, and take personal risk. They join together in a fellowship of high intensity, personal in nature and caring. The result is a feeling of warmth and tremendous purpose and fellowship.”
• “The second generation is raised inside the organization, and this makes them radically different. . . . To stay is the easiest course with little sacrifice.”
• “The third generation is more removed from the founders and has less of their vision. Nominalism enters, and many stay in because it is the course of least resistance.”
• “The fourth generation and on are well entrenched and the institution for them is a way of life. They have much invested in it in terms of their own identity and so want to maintain it not for what it does in ministry for the world, but what it does for them as persons.”

We begin here, because in chapter 6 we find two organizations in conflict
– first, the community of disciples that is on the crest of a spiritual movement
• its leaders are discovering that growth does not come without a cost
– secondly, the established religious institution
• its leaders and some of its devoted followers feel threatened by the community
◦ the community is finding its way forward,
the institution has arrived
◦ the community is learning how to function
the institution’s functions are fixed in place

V. 1, The community’s growing pains

We learned of generous donations to the community
– now we see one of ways those donations were used to help the needy
• cultural tensions in the larger society surfaced within the community
• “Hellenists” were Jews who had absorbed Greek culture
◦ this gave locals the impression they had been compromised
– Hebrew widows knew the language and local customs
• they would be familiar with the system and who to contact for relief
• I doubt that those in charge were conscious of their bias and unfairness

Something good happening — while the disciples were increasing 
– but that was exactly the situation that created the internal problems
• new challenges surface with growth
◦ especially in a group made up of people from diverse backgrounds
• these challenges require the loosely formed communities to organize
◦ Israel’s complaints in the wilderness required organization
(that one book of the law is entitled “Numbers” indicates the need to count and order the twelve tribes)
◦ Jesus organized the multitude to avoid a chaotic situation when he fed them
(he told the disciples, Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each — Lk. 9:14)

There are certainly positive outcomes as a result of having organization and structure: Continue reading →

Problems, Progress and Persecution

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.
And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.
And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things. Acts 5:1-11

Intro: As we go through this chapter, keep asking yourself two questions:

“Who got it right?”– that is, who was doing God’s work in God’s way?
– the apostles, who knew Jesus and his teaching?
– the priests and religious Council that followed the law of Moses?

“How can this new community prevent itself from becoming the old institution?”
– the apostles did not consider their life in Christ as separate from Judaism
– but could they avoid pouring old wine into the new wineskins? (Lk. 5:37-39)
• could its unique form resist the influence of their roots in institutional religion?

An upsetting story with a subtle sub-theme

Beginning in the previous chapter (vv. 35 & 37), feet are referenced

1. Property was sold and its proceeds were laid “at the apostles’ feet”
   • donations made for those in need were placed at apostles’ disposal
   ◦ at their feet symbolizes control
   • the figure of speech is repeated in chapter 5
   ◦ only there was a serious malfunction in Ananias and Sapphira’s case
   ◦ Luke indicates their scheme with terms like
   kept back, for himself, and with his wife’s full knowledge 
2. “Feet” have a different connotation in v. 9 regarding Ananias’ pallbearers
   • in this instance, feet are used as a synecdoche
   ◦ that is, where something is referred to by one of its parts
   ◦ in this case, feet refer to those to whom they belong and their assigned mission
   How lovely on the mountains
   Are the feet of him who brings good news,
   Who announces peace
   And brings good news of happiness . . . . (Is. 52:7)
3. A third reference to feet brings us back to the apostles (v. 10)
   • but now it is not donations laid at their feet
   ◦ rather, Sapphira “fell at his feet” and died
   • the reference this time is to proximity
   ◦ Sapphira dropped dead at the scene of the crime, so to speak

“Truth” has been strangely warped in our culture

We are no longer surprised by deceit in business, politics or law courts
– for many people, truth doesn’t mean what is real, but what is believable
• advertisers “spin” products and campaign consultants “puff” a politician’s image
• Jesus addressed this issue in the Sermon On the Mount

Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with you Father who is in heaven. [Hypocrites] love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (Mt. 6:1 & 5)

◦ it is the difference between appearance and reality

For a long time, Calvary Chapel pastor’s mantra was, “Teach the Word”
– Bible studies were considered the foundation of a successful church ministry
• after awhile, the repetitions sounding of this single note began to concern me
• without a corresponding emphasis on character, it was flawed
◦ I ran into a lot of people who knew the Bible and could look seriously devout
◦ but they were also unloving, argumentative, hateful and abusive
– I don’t feel that I have it in me to deal with any more deceit
• I’m worn out with people who cannot be straight forward with me
◦ I am fine if a person will just tell me what he or she is after
◦ ask them a simple question and all you get a lot of double-talk
• it’s understandable why God would want to nip duplicity in the bud

There is another layer of potential sin and compromise in this episode Continue reading →