Acts 9:1-19

Acts 9: 1-19

Easter Means Changed Lives: Saul’s Story

Part 4 0f 2009 Hopewell Easter series: Easter Means Changed Lives

May 24, 2009

Easter 7

The Season of Easter is the most joyously celebrative season we have as Christians.  It is the season when we focus on the resurrection of Christ – and the joy – the hope – the new life – the changed life – Christ offers.

This year as we have worshipped during the Easter season we have looked  at several people who had experiences with the risen Christ – and had their lives changed. As have we looked at their stories, we’ve seen how the resurrection of Christ can change us – change our lives – change our Church – change our community – and change our world.

Easter means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is that our lives – our Church – our community – and the world can be changed – because Christ has risen.

One person who experienced the life – changing power of the risen Christ was Saul – who had his life – his purpose for living – his name – his identity – everything about him — changed by an experience with the risen Christ.

Listen to how Saul had a lfe -m changing relationship with Christ.

Read scripture

Here’s a question for you:

What will it take for God to get you attention – and for you to say to God:

“What do you want me to do”?

God has a plan for each of our lives – and has things He wants each of us to do – but too often we become so caught up in our own world and the things we think God wants us to do that we don’t pay attention to God.

Sometimes God has to do something drastic to get our attention.

Saul had to have a flash of lightning and a dramatic vision of the risen Christ before he would pay attention to God – and ask God:

“What do you want me to do”?

What about you?

What will it take for God to get you attention – and for you to say to God:

“What do you want me to do”?

You see — Saul was a man who hated the church. He hated Jesus. He hated Christians and he hated anything that had to do with Christianity.

Because of his hatred of Christianity, he did everything within his power to destroy it. And that was his intent as our passage for today begins.  Saul is going to Damascus with warrants to arrest any Christians he might find there.

Saul is moving against Christ Himself.

But God had a plan.
God was going to change Saul – get his attention – and let him know what God’s plan for his life was.

It was just going to take a bolt of lightning and a dramatic vision of the risen Christ to get his attention – but God was willing to use whatever it would take to get Saul to listen to Him and do His will.

God was willing to do whatever it would take to get Saul to say:

“What do you want me to do?”

What will God have to do to get your attention – and for you to say to God:

“What do you want me to do”?

Now – don’t misunderstand me here.

I did not say that Saul was not a believer in God – or that he did not know God – that was not the case at all.

Maybe he know God too well – or “knew enough about God to be dangerous”.

Anyway – he certainly knew about God!

He was a Pharisee – a leader of the Jewish people.

He had a deep love and appreciation for his Jewish faith.

He was educated as a rabbi by Gamaliel in Jerusalem.

That means that he could relate to educated people.
He spoke Aramaic and Greek. That meant that he could speak to people in their own language.
He was passionately serious about his belief in God.
He knew the Scriptures backwards and forwards.
He studied the Scriptures daily and applied them to his life.
But – you know what — Saul was a religiously active person who was dead wrong about his beliefs about God. Saul missed the point – he had a wonderful religion but did not have a wonderful relationship with God.

So, here is Saul with all of his knowledge and all of his commitment – going along the road to Damascus on what he thought was a mission from God — then, suddenly a bright light shines around him and he is struck down. Then a voice cries out,

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

Saul replies, “Who are you, Lord?”

And the voice replies: “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”
When Saul is knocked down by God, he does something that reveals a change in his life – and change that would last forever.

He asks two questions.

They are probably the two most important questions anyone can ever ask God.

They are;
Who are you?

What do you want me to do?

What will it take for God to get you attention – and for you to say to God:

“What do you want me to do”?

The first question Saul asks is, “Who are you?”
This is a personal question.

Please, God, who are you?

Suddenly, Saul realized that this was not the God he thought he knew.

This was not the God that he had been serving.

So he cries out, “who are you?”

All of his years of training and in one brilliant second, Saul realizes that he doesn’t know God at all.

For Saul – serving God was keeping up with a list of do’s and don’ts.

On the road to Damascus, Saul met a God he never dreamed existed and so he asked, “Who are you?”

Saul’s question is not only a personal question — it’s also a relational question.

It’s not just a “who are you?” – but it’s  “who are you to me?”

Saul wasn’t seeking just information when he asked Jesus that question. He wanted to know what this meant for his life.

Jesus’ response was,

“I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.”

I believe that it was at this time that Saul surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.      Why do I say that?

Because of the next question he asks Jesus.
What do you want me to do?

You see, Saul goes from a Pharisee to being  a disciple

Saul goes from being a persecutor to being a proclaimer of Jesus Christ.

When Saul asks

What do you want me to do?

He has surrendered his will to the will of Jesus Christ.

Lord, What do you want me to do?
That’s a question of Lordship.
It’s as if Saul is saying, “I have been leading my own life, doing my own thing. I thought I was doing your business, but I was wrong, now I only want to do your will,.”

Tell me Lord, What do you want me to do?
Really, it is a faith question.

Later, in writing to the Corinthians, Paul would say, “for we walk by faith,  not by sight.” Whenever I read that, I wonder if that isn’t something that he learned immediately on the road to Damascus. The Lord took away his sight for three days. In those three days, all Saul could do was walk by faith. And he would be walking by faith for the rest of his life.

He begins immediately.

Jesus tells him, “Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.”

At this point, Saul didn’t make any excuses.

He could have said:

Lord – I can’t see.

I’m confused,

I don’t know all the answers

No — even though he must be led by the hand, he goes into Damascus, where he would begin a ministry that would lead him all over the known world.
Saul had thought that he was zealous for God – but he was only zealous for himself.

God had to find a dramatic way to get Saul’s attention.
Saul could not hear God speak to him as he read the Scriptures.
Saul could not hear God speak to him in church each week.
Saul could not hear God speak to him because he had his own system of beliefs that were preventing him from hearing and understanding the truth about Christ.
Christ had to flash a bright light from heaven to get Saul’s attention.
God was unable to get Saul to listen to him any other way, and God had to do something drastic in Saul’s life to get him to turn around understand the truth.
Saul was blinded by Christ.
Christ physically blinded Saul to tell him that he was Spiritually blind as well — that he wasn’t seeing the truth — that he wasn’t seeing God — that he wasn’t seeing Scriptures correctly — that he wasn’t seeing the Way to God. Christ blinded Saul to let him know that he wasn’t seeing what God really wanted him to do with his life.

What will God have to do to you to let you know that He has something He wants you to be doing – and to bring you to the point of saying:

Lord – what do you want me to do?

Unfortunately, there are many people like Saul still today.
There are people who are spiritually blind who lash out and attack those who aren’t.
There are people who are spiritually blind who think they are doing God a favor by throwing a fit when others do things they don’t like.
There are people who are spiritually blind who will not stray from the old ways the way things used to be done — tradition — this is the way we have always done it – and never bothering to ask if this is what God wants.
There are people that — before they accept change or are willing to do something a different way — God may have to strike blind or do some other drastic thing – just to get their attention.

And then – there are some who will not ask God what He wants them to do – and will have to have a dramatic experience before they come to their sense and see that God has a plan for their lives – and that they need to seek it out and put it into action.

Are you one of these?

Is God going to have to do something drastic – something dramatic – to bring you to the point that you are willing to say to Him:

“What do you want me to do?”

Paul was spiritually blind and Christ had to physically blind him in order to get his attention.

What more does Christ have to do to get your attention?

You may not have the kind of experience that Saul had, but I believe that God is continuing to work in your lives and make you into the person God would have you be.

Christ just has to get you attention – and bring you to the point where you are willing to ask Him:

What do you want me to do?

Maybe the reason this may be hard for you is because you may wonder:

Can I change?
You might have some destructive things in your life — and not know how to shake them – even when you want to.

But the message of the gospel is that we can change.

The message of Easter is that God is in the life changing business.
It may not come all at once, but little by little as you open yourself up to God’s work in your life, you can change.

Paul wrote in Galatians 2:19-20:

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is     Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
God can change you.

Just like God changed Saul into Paul, God can change you into who God wants you to be.

But – you have to overcome whatever it is that is keeping you from asking God what His will is for your life –  and you have to ask God:

What do you want me to do?

And then you have to do it!

I praise God that Saul saw the light
I praise God that you and I can be brought to the point where we ask God:

What do you want me to do?

And then we do it!

If God can take someone like Saul and change him into someone like Paul – God can surely take you – and make you the person God wants you to be.  But it may take drastic measures on God’s part to get your attention.

Sometimes it seems that we are too complacent – too sure of ourselves – and too sure of our ideas and too sure what we are doing – to ask God what He wants us to do. But, believe me, God has a plan for your life – and God will do whatever it takes to bring you to the point that you say:

“What do you want me to do?”

Paul went from persecuting Christians to preaching to Christians.
Paul went from bringing death to sharing life.
Paul certainly knew that of which he spoke when he wrote
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are       passed  away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians   5:17)
When Christ gets a hold of you, He will change your life!
When Christ works in your life to save you, He will change you!
Christ will make you into a new person, just like He did Paul.
When Christ works in a person’s life, he works powerfully, just like He did in Paul.
All Christ asks you to do is ask His will – and then follow.

Pray for God to show you His will.

Don’t wait for God to do something drastic or dramatic in your life – pray that God will show you His will – now.

Pray for God to show you His will for your life – then be brave – don’t make excuses – but act on it.

The same Christ that made such a dramatic change in Saul can do the same in your life!
What more does the Lord have to do to bring you to the point where – like Saul – you ask Him:

What do you want me to do?
There was a shepherd who lived in Ireland– and his granddaughter went to visit him. While visiting with him, she walked into a barn and saw a young lamb with its leg in a splint. “She asked her grandfather what had happened – and he responded:

“ Oh — he had a bad habit of running off, so the other day, I broke his leg.”

The girl began to cry.

“Why on earth would you do that”, she asked.

“Well”, he said, “the little guy had a bad habit of running off. Every time he would do that, he would be in danger. He could fall off the edge of a cliff and kill himself, or a wolf or some other predator could find him, kill him and eat him. Every time he ran off, I would have to go find him. Then, I would set him with the rest of the flock only to have him run off again. So, I broke his leg. But, that’s not the end of it. After I broke his leg, I also mended it. I put a splint on it, all the while, I was talking to him, comforting him, consoling him. Now, I have to carry water in to him every day. Not only that, I have to feed him by hand. As I do, I continue to talk to him and comfort him. By the time his leg heals, he will know my voice. He will know that it is I who takes care of him. He will come when I call him. He will stay with me, no matter what. Now, I will be able to lead him, and the rest of the sheep will follow him. This lamb will one day be the best sheep of the flock – why, because the other day, I broke his leg. In order to break its will, I had to break its leg.”

Often, for God to be able to use us, He must do something to get our attention – and He is more than ready to do that. That’s what God did to Saul – He got his attention in a dramatic way – and then He restored him. In that process, Saul discovered the true and living God who is Jesus Christ.
What more does the Lord have to do in your life for you to recognize who He is and ask the question:

Lord – what do you want me to do for you!? Amen.

John 21:1-19

John 21:1-19

Easter Means Changed Lives: Peter’s Story

Part 4 0f 2009 Hopewell Easter series: Easter Means Changed Lives

May 17, 2009

Easter 6

Read Scripture

The Season of Easter is the most joyously celebrative season we have as Christians.  It is the season when we focus on the resurrection of Christ – and the joy – the hope – the new life – the changed life – Christ offers.

This year as we worship during the Easter season we are looking at several people who had experiences with the risen Christ – and had their lives changed. As we look at their stories, we’re see how the resurrection of Christ can change us – change our lives – change our Church – change our community – and change our world.

Easter means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

God is changing our lives – our Church – our community – and can change our world.

God is making our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is a message of hope – a message of joy – and a message of change — especially when it is least expected.

The message of Easter is that our lives – our Church – our community – and the world can be changed – because Christ has risen.

One person who experienced the life – changing power of the risen Christ was Peter.

When you think about it – you realize that Peter went from being failure prone, impulsive, and brash to ministering with power, preaching with boldness, and leading with authority.

How did this happen?

I believe that Peter’s life turned around because he chose to “stay in the game” – so to speak.

Peter did not give up when he failed – he didn’t quit – but he let the risen Christ touch his life – forgive him — use him – and do more powerful things than he ever dreamed possible through him.

You know — Judas failed, too, but he didn’t seek God’s forgiveness. He gave in to despair and hung himself.

Peter dealt with his downfall differently.

He “stayed in the game”.

Easter means that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that we never expected we were able to do!

Now — Peter must have felt defeated after the crucifixion of Christ.

Surely he felt that Christ could never use him again.

Imagine that you are Peter.

You have followed Jesus for 3 years — listening, watching, and learning.

You have given your life to following Jesus — and at times have been extremely committed to following Him.  You have even made a dramatic confession of Jesus being the Son of God.

But — all that has changed.

Jesus has been arrested — and you are scared.

You do not feel that you can risk being identified with Jesus — and try to hide.  At the house of the High Priest, three different people try to identify you as a follower of Jesus — and each time you vehemently deny it.

Let’s turn away from Peter for a moment and let me ask you – have you ever seen Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion Of The Christ”?

If so, I’m sure you remember the scene where Peter denied knowing Jesus.  It’s a mob scene – people pushing and shoving – people pushing Peter and yelling

“I know you are one of his followers!”

And Peter – scared that they might drag him before the authorities also – yelling back – “No!” “No!”

Most of us would have responded in the same way.

I probably would have.

Most of you probably would have, too.

Scared.

Not willing to stand up for Jesus when Jesus needs you.

Now – let’s imagine you are Peter again.

As soon as you deny Jesus  – you panic.

How could you have done such a thing?

Where is your commitment when Jesus needs you the most?

The next day Jesus is crucified — and you feel that you are an utter failure.  You feel that everything you have lived for — everything that you have given your life for — is gone — and it is somehow your fault.  All your claims of love seem to be nothing as you think of how you have denied Jesus.

If only you could hide.

And then the story begins to spread that Jesus has risen.

You see for yourself the empty tomb – - you even see Jesus — but you are still ashamed — and confused.  You are not sure what to do — so you return to Galilee to what you did before you began following Jesus — you return to the life of a fisherman.

Then — early one morning — Jesus appears.

You panic.

You don’t know what to say or do.

You want to apologize — but don’t know how.  You are mad — ashamed — embarrassed for having denied Jesus — and feel you just can’t face Him now.

The tension rises within you as Jesus speaks.

“Do you love me?”

Jesus asks.

“Lord — you know I love you!”

“Do you love me?”

Jesus again questions.

“Lord — you know I love you!”

“Do you love me?”

Jesus asks a third time.

“Lord — you know everything — you know that I love you!”

Jesus then looks at you — and in that look you know that all has been forgiven.  You realize that your three denials have been replaced by three affirmations of love.  You realize that Jesus loves you enough to forgive you and restore you to His work.

You have been forgiven – and you can start serving Christ again.

Peter did not give up when he failed – he didn’t quit – but he let the risen Christ touch his life – forgive him — use him – and do more powerful things than he ever dreamed possible through him.

Easter means that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that you never expected we were able to do!

Let’s look again at that conversation between Peter and Jesus that John gives us here.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:15-21)

In this story, Jesus is reinstating Peter, so to speak.

Peter had publicly failed, but Jesus still had plans for him.

As far as Jesus was concerned, Peter was still one of the twelve.

As far as Jesus was concerned, Peter was still “the rock.”

As far as Jesus was concerned, Peter was still the one to whom he said, “On this rock I will build my church.”

In this conversation, Jesus reinstates Peter, and he also explains to him what his life is going to be about from now on. Peter is about to make a comeback, and he is going to live the rest of his life differently than the part before this.

Friends — Easter means that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that you never expected you were able to do!

The fact is that all of us have failed Christ at one time or another.

The fact is that all of us done things we wish we hadn’t.

The fact is that – when pressured – all of us have responded much like Peter – denying having anything to with Christ – and then wondered why we did that.

The fact is that all of us can bravely stand up and say: “I love Jesus” when we are within the friendly confines of the Church – but when we get out in the not so friendly world we have problems – we get scared – we deny knowing Him – either by saying things – or more often than not by staying quiet when we should say things!

Can you identify with that?

I know I can!

So – what do we do?

Do we give up and quit trying to follow?

Do we wallow in our despair?

Or – do we “stay in the game” – continue serving Christ – and let Him forgive us and use in brand new ways that we never dreamed were possible?

Friends — what Jesus said to Peter – and did for Peter — applies to you and me as well. You see — Jesus gave Peter a “game plan” for the rest of his life, and it’s a game plan that can be used – or really must be used — by anyone who wants to turn things around in their lives.

So – let’s look at that “game plan” – and see how you can make a comeback for Christ – go from being failures to being victorious for Christ

There are 3 things that you must do.

1. Focus on loving Jesus.

Look again at verse 15 –

(v. 15) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love you.”

I believe that “more than these” refers to the other disciples.

Jesus is saying: “do you love me more than they do”?

This is an interesting question.

Why would Jesus ask, “do you love me more than the others love me?” Maybe it was because Peter was the one who said, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”  (Mark 14:29). So when Jesus asked Peter this question, he said, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus taught that love isn’t a feeling, it’s an action. Love is something you do.

Do you know what song really rubs me the wrong way?

It was a hit for Elvis and later a bigger hit for Willie Nelson — the ‘love’ ballad “You Were Always on My Mind.” The song says – in effect –

“Honey, maybe I didn’t treat you so well, I was never there for you, I never said or did the little things that would have showed you that you’re special … but, hey, at least I was always thinking about you.”

The problem is that many of us try to sing the same song to God. We try to say, “Well, God, I realize I never did anything, I never served you, I didn’t pray that often, I barely read the Bible, and I skipped church most weeks, but, hey, you were always on my mind. And I love you.”

That’s not good enough.

In John 14:15 Jesus said — “If you love me, obey me.”

The type of love Jesus is talking about here – and needs from us — is not a feeling, it’s an action.

Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and then He followed up with a command to take care of his people.

I’ll talk more about that in a minute – but the point at this point is that Jesus helped Peter refocus on his love for Jesus – and his willingness to act for Jesus.

This is job one for the Christian – our first priority.

More than anything else, the Christian life is a love relationship between you and Jesus – and that means showing your love for Jesus by focusing on Jesus and what Jesus wants you to do for Him.

In the book The Case For Faith,  Lee Strobel tells about a meeting with Charles Templeton. In the 1950’s Charles Templeton was a famous evangelist, often preaching to crowds of as many as 10,000 each night. He was good friends with Billy Graham. They even shared the pulpit in some revivals. But Templeton began to have some doubts about the Christian faith, about the reliability of Scripture, about evolution vs. creation, about heaven and hell, and on and on. Eventually he stopped preaching. In 1996 he wrote Farewell to God — My Reasons for Rejecting the Christian Faith. When Lee Strobel began writing his book, he decided to interview Templeton. He wanted to see if there was some deeper insight into his reasons for leaving Christianity. They debated some points back and forth, and then Strobel asked Templeton what he thought of Jesus personally. Templeton said:”He was the greatest human being who has ever lived. He was a moral genius…He was intrinsically the wisest person I’ve ever encountered in my life or in my reading.” Strobel responded: “It sounds like you care about him.” Templeton said:  ”Yes….everything good I know, everything decent I know, everything pure I know, I learned from Jesus.” Then Strobel said the old man’s voice cracked, tears came to his eyes, and he said, “I…miss…him.”

I know this scenario I am about to present my seem far fetched – but  what if something happened that prevented you from practicing Christianity — you couldn’t pray, you couldn’t read the Bible, you couldn’t go to church, you could read Christian books or listen to Christian radio.  What would you miss the most? The music? The potluck dinners? Max Lucado’s books? What would it be?

I’ll tell you what the answer should be. It should be “Jesus.”

The Christian life is, first and foremost, a love relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s what He wants. He wants you to love him. When Jesus reinstated Peter, He didn’t ask him, “Are you sorry? Are you ashamed of yourself? Do you promise never to do it again?” He said, “Do you love me?”

That’s the question He’s asking you.

Peter answered by saying, “Lord you know that I love you…you know that I love you…You know all things, you know that I love you.” Right now, if you want to experience a turn around in your life, focus on loving Jesus Christ.

Easter means that – regardless of how hard we may have fallen – no matter what we may have done – we can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive us – use us – and we can do things for Him that we never expected we were able to do!

The first step is to focus on loving Jesus.

The second step is

2. Focus on serving others.

Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, and Peter said “yes,” and each time Jesus followed up with ,”Feed my lambs…Take care of my sheep…Feed me sheep.”

If you want to “make a comeback” for Jesus, your life needs to be about   serving others.

Regardless of what your life  was about yesterday – maybe making money, having fun, being successful, hunting, fishing, football, music, and on and on — regardless of what you lived for yesterday – if you want to “make a comeback for Jesus” you need to let Jesus change the focus of your life.

The focus of your life now needs to be about serving others.

Jesus said in Matthew 20:26-28:

Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.

Your role – the focus of your life – has to become being a servant – and your attitude must be: “What can I do for you?”

Go on – - give it a try.

When you come to church on Sunday, look for someone to serve.

When you go to work on Monday morning, look for someone to serve.

Here’s an ever bigger challenge: when you go somewhere that you would normally be served — such as a store or a restaurant — look for ways to be a servant. In a busy restaurant, for example, you can serve by the waiter by being patient and kind- hearted, and maybe leaving a bigger tip than usual. This may seem insignificant, but I’ve talked to folks who worked in restaurants – and they say that not very many people want to work on Sunday afternoon because “church people” are rude and don’t tip well. Maybe that’s fair, maybe it isn’t, but this afternoon you can do something to help change the perception.

If you want to “make a comeback for Jesus” – if you want God to use you in a new and greater way – even though you’ve failed many times before –  your life is going to have to be about being a servant.

Albert Schweitzer said, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”

Look for ways to serve.

Look for ways to take care of people.

With every person you meet, ask this question- – if not with your words then with your attitude:

What can I do for you?

So — Easter means that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that you never expected you were able to do!

To “turn things around for God” you need to focus on loving Jesus – and you need to focus on serving others.

Then – you need to:

3. Focus on staying focused.

Jesus told Peter that he would live a hard life, and then he said bluntly, “Follow me!”

In the very next verse – verse 20 –

(v. 20) Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved [i.e. John] was following them…When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

Isn’t this classic?

Isn’t Peter just like one of us?

He says, “What about him? Is he going to have a hard life, too?”

If we’re not careful, we can lose focus of what we should be doing by becoming too focused on what everyone else is doing.

There’s a Seinfeld episode where Jerry and George are writing a pilot for NBC. They’re negotiating pay, and George wants more than NBC is offering, because after all, he says, Ted Danson gets $800,000 an episode. George says, “I can’t stand knowing Ted Danson makes that much more money than me!”

Ever worked with someone who’s the same way?

They can’t do their job effectively because they’re too worried about everyone else. But I have never known a successful person who kept tabs on anyone other their own employees. Successful people know how to focus on staying focused. Successful people know how to focus on getting their own job done, and they’re not prone to petty jealousies and office gossip.

If you want to experience “a comeback for Christ “ – if you want God to use you in a new way even after you’ve failed — then you need to focus on staying focused.

That’s a nice way of saying don’t be a busybody.

Don’t stick your nose in other people’s responsibilities.

Just do your job.

Life is far too difficult to spend it meddling.

If we are all trying to focus on Jesus and focus on serving others, we all have enough of our own responsibilities to focus on – and don’t need to focus on other people’s responsibilities also.

Jesus said to Peter,

(v. 18-19) I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

God has great things in store for you. The message of Easter is that – regardless of how hard you may have fallen – no matter what you may have done – you can “stay in the game” for God – and God can forgive you – use you – and you can do things for Him that you never expected you were able to do!

Friends — we are all like Peter.  We’ve all made mistakes – we’ve all failed – we all can say that there have been times we have not done what we needed to do for Jesus – for the Church – for others – but – like Peter – we can all “stay in the game” and be forgiven – and even do greater things for Christ than we ever imagined. We can let Christ forgive us – and “stay in the game” — so to speak – for Christ. If you’re serious about “staying in the game”, you need to experience God’s power to help you “make a comeback”: the power of focusing on loving Jesus – serving others – and staying focused.  If you’re ready to make a comeback, you need to get focused—on Jesus, on serving others, and on staying focused.

You can’t do it without God — and He won’t do it without you … but, if you will give yourself to Him, and trust him to work His power through you, He will give you the comeback of a lifetime. Amen.

2 Timothy 1:1-7

2 Timothy 1:1-7

“Thank God For Godly Women”

May 10, 2009 (Mother’s Day)

Happy Mother’s Day to all of you.

It is a tradition to honor Mothers on this day, and we want to extend special honor to you today, though I hope we don’t make the same mistakes some pastors I know have made.

For example, I heard of a pastor who ordered roses to hand out to all the Moms in the congregation. He asked the church secretary to pick them up on Friday and bring them to church on Sunday. Well, apparently her husband did not send her flowers very often — because she didn’t put them in water or place them in the refrigerator when she picked them up on Friday — she just left them on her kitchen counter. She dutifully brought them to church on Sunday morning — all wrapped in their paper — and placed them on the altar. As the Pastor began passing out the roses he unwrapped them — and there were the pitiful looking, lifeless roses. As he handed each mother a wilted flower he could not help but wonder about the message that was being conveyed to the mothers by giving them dead roses on their special day!

And then there’s the story of the young associate pastor who was called upon to read the Scripture on Mother’s Day. He was to read from 2 Timothy 1:5 — the passage we are looking at today —  which says:

I have been reminded of your sincere faith which first lived in your grandmother Lois, and in your mother Eunice, and, I am now persuaded, lives in you also.

It’s a lovely homage to Christian motherhood and quite appropriate for Mothers’ Day. But the young associate was nervous, and when he stepped into the pulpit he read from  1 Timothy 1:6  instead of 2 Timothy 1:5.  – and to make matters worse, he began by saying:

“I would like to dedicate today’s reading to all of the wonderful Mothers in our congregation.”

He then began reading began reading1 Timothy 1:6  instead of 2 Timothy 1:5.

1 Timothy 1:6 says:

Some of you have wandered from the faith and have turned to meaningless talk. You want to be teachers of the law, but you do not know what you’re talking about…The law is not made for the righteous, but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, for those who kill their fathers and mothers…

Not surprisingly, shortly thereafter, that young associate pastor felt a call to another avenue of ministry.

So. today, when we honor the Mothers in our congregation, we hope to do it right!

There’s an old saying that:

“God couldn’t be everywhere at once, so he made moms.”

That statement may not be theologically accurate, but it does convey the right attitude towards motherhood — moms fill a place in our lives that no one else can fill.

I remember seeing a cartoon once in which a little boy was talking on the phone, saying something to the effect of, “That’s right, Grandma. Mom’s out of town, so me and Dad and Tommy and Sarah and Fido are here all alone.”

Maybe that’s the way it feels in your house when “Mom” is away.

I don’t think we do it on purpose … but we tend to place different expectations on moms than we do on dads … especially at meal time. For example, maybe this has happened in your house:

The husband says, “What’s for dinner?”

The wife says, “I’ll need to run to the store first…we don’t have any food in the house.”

The husband replies:  “Can’t you just ‘whip something up’?”

Sound familiar?

Why is it that we think our wives can go in the kitchen and create a meal out of nothing?

That scene may play out differently if mom isn’t around.

The kids might come in and say, “What’s for dinner?”

Dad might look  in the freezer, and if there’s nothing microwavable, he might say: “Who wants to go out for Pizza?”

No one ever says to Dad, “Can’t you just go in the kitchen and whip something up?”

Now, I’m not trying to perpetuate sexist stereotypes, and I’m certainly not saying that a woman’s place is in the kitchen. But – I am saying that in our society women are bombarded with many dual roles and mixed messages. It is typically expected of them to work outside the home, to consistently “whip something up” for meals on a limited budget, to get the kids off to school with matching socks and shoes on the correct feet, to maintain the family’s social calendar, and on and on. It’s not an easy job—which is why we need today – and every day – to say “Thank you!”

Every mom here is aware that her job involves much more than cooking and cleaning and carpooling. It involves nurture, it involves guidance, it involves building character. And, as I have learned with my own mom, the job doesn’t end when a child moves out of the house.

So — on Mother’s day preachers stand in pulpits and extol the virtues of motherhood. You, perhaps, came to Church today expecting to hear a typical Mother’s Day sermon – but maybe this will be more than typical.

You see – as much as I appreciate and have been blessed by my Mom – and as much as all of u s have been blessed by and nurtured by our mothers – I want to expand the typical “thanks Mom” of Mother’s Day to say:

“Thanks”

“Bless you!”

“Thanks for all you do!”

To all of the women of the Church who play such a vital role in shaping the lives of the children, youth, and indeed all of us in the Church.

“Thanks”

“Bless you!”

“Thanks for all you do!”

To all the women of the Church who do so much to help us accomplish what we accomplish as a Church.

The sign out front today – and indeed the sermon title in the bulletin for today – says:

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

Yes – thank God for Godly mothers – but – more than that –

Thank God For Godly Women

I am so thankful for the Godly mothers of Hopewell.

But – I am really thankful for all the Godly women of Hopewell – whether they are mothers or not – married or single – who play such a vital role in our Church.  The Godly women who play such a vital role in the Christian education and nurture of our young people – who play such a vital role in all aspects of our Church – serving in the kitchen as well as on the Session – busying themselves with the crafts as well as with the leadership – working behind the scenes and in the spotlight – wherever you look at Hopewell, you will find a Godly woman – whether they are mothers or not – blessing us all by their commitment to being the people God has called them to be and leading us as a Church to be the Church God is calling us to be.

So – yes – I say thank God for Godly mothers – but more than that I say:

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

In our lesson from 2 Timothy for today, Paul is giving praise to God for the faith of Timothy – a faith his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois passed on to him.

Passing on the faith.

Making sure that others know about God.

That’s the work of Godly mothers – but more than that – that’s the work of Godly women.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

When Paul wrote 2 Timothy he was in prison.  He had been arrested for preaching the Gospel of Christ in disobedience to Caesar’s order. Paul sent Timothy, the young man he led to the Lord, to Ephesus to tend to the Church there in his absence. Paul established the Ephesian Church when he returned from his second missionary journey. Ephesus was an important place to establish a Church, as it was the capital city of 230 independent communities in the Roman province of Asia. If the Gospel was preached in Ephesus, it would spread outward from there like spokes on a wagon wheel. The Church was just beginning in a land famous for it’s idolatry and sexual infidelity.  Before Roman rule people in Ephesus had engaged in child sacrifice while worshipping idols. When Roman rule established order such sacrifices were forbidden, yet people still worshipped at these pagan  temples. Ephesus was a battleground between Christianity and paganism, between Godliness and Satanism. Into this battleground Paul sent one young man to be a leader while he could not be there himself.  Many people would think this was foolish — what could one young man do? Yet Paul sent Timothy in large part because of the work that his mother and grandmother had begun in him when he was a child – and the faith that had been planted in him.

Paul knew that Timothy grew up in a Godly home. The NIV says Timothy had a sincere faith.  This faith began in his grandmother, was passed down to his mother, who in turn passed it down to him. Though neither directly led Timothy to salvation, Paul did – but  it was his grandmother’s and mother’s actions that planted a seed that would one day blossom into the flower of Christian faith.

All this is to say that Lois and Eunice were Godly women in a time when godliness was unfashionable.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

Thank God for women who are willing to be Godly – even when it may not be fashionable or popular or easy.   Godly women – women who are willing to step up to the plate and give of themselves – their time – their very souls to serve God and others in the Church and the community – are a blessing.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

In the aftermath of the tragic shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado, I had someone ask me what I thought had happened to the yojng men who committed the crime that they could do such a cold – blooded thing.

I explained that — when I saw the faces of the young gunmen — I did not see two children who looked like they could be capable of such a thing. They did not look like monsters who could enter a schoolhouse and, after killing all they could, turned the guns on themselves. They looked more like two boys who were hurting and confused – and needed someone to tell them about God’s love. Somehow the message of God’s love and care for them didn’t get to them – as it did to Timothy when his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois raised him and taught him about God.  These were Godly women in a time when being Godly was not easy or popular – but they were Godly nonetheless.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

Recent studies show that the average child will spend 6 minutes a day talking to their parents, while spending hours of unsupervised time watching television or on the internet.

There is a battle going on around every person in today’s world. Everyone can choose and live their own lives either in evil ways or God’s ways. If the devil  can get us to ignore God while maintaining what is called a “politically correct” lifestyle, then the devil has won that battle- But if we follow God’s will for us, them we can win the battle for the Godliness in our homes – our Church – our communities – and our world.

To do that, we need to teach our young people God’s ways.

And to do that, we need more Godly adults – men and women who are willing to be Godly when being Godly is not easy or popular.

I hope you men haven’t tuned me out already – because this goes for you also – and on your day in June I’ll talk more about that – but today let’s look at Godly women.

I thank God for Godly women – the women of Hopewell willing to  step up to the plate and give of themselves – their time – their very souls to serve God and others in the Church and the community – are a blessing.  What you do makes a difference!

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

So – what does it take to be a Godly woman – a woman who is willing to step up to the plate and make a difference – who is willing to give of yourself  — your time – your very self to serve God?

First, it takes accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. You can’t be a Godly woman until you do that. You have to choose the way of God over the way of the world.

In Romans 12:2 Paul urges Christians:

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

The world offers many trinkets that look beautiful, yet turn out to be just trash.

My niece lived in England for some time and has told me about a tradition there of opening  a “popper” at the Christmas meal. A “popper”  is  a colorfully wrapped tube filled with prizes. When you pulled on it, it “popped” like a cap gun, tore in half, and the prizes came out.  A “popper” was very pretty, but the greatest part of opening them was the loud bang.  That’s because each “popper” was filled, not with wonderful prizes, but with trashy gifts that were even below the quality of a Cracker Jack prize. Outwardly the “poppers” were beautiful, but what was in them was useless.

A lot of times, the things the world wants you to follow are like these “poppers” — outwardly beautiful yet inwardly full of uselessness.

Mothers, your family needs you to be in Christ. You may be the most outwardly beautiful woman in this Church today, but if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Savior then that beauty is indeed only skin deep.

Women – the same holds true for you – you need to be beautiful – in Christ – a Godly woman – who loves God and is willing to step up and help tell others about Christ.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

So – accepting Christ is the first step to being a godly woman.

The second step is — seek internal godliness rather than dwell on external vanity. Paul wrote top Timothy is 1 Timothy 2:9-10

⁹I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, ¹⁰but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Now — Paul was not saying that women should not groom themselves. What Paul is saying is to not let let your outward grooming take the place of your inward godliness. The “good deeds” Paul is referring to here are deeds that reflect a Christ centered heart, deeds  that reflect godliness. You should be as well groomed on the inside as you are on the outside. Don’t spend all of your time grooming yourself and your household while neglecting prayer and time in the Word of God. You must see to your inner person. You must be concerned about your spiritual growth.

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

So – accepting Christ is the first step to being a godly woman.

Seeking internal godliness is the second.

The third is – be willing to spend time with and train your children if you are a mother – or any child who needs it – in the Church or not – whether you are a mother of not. Yes, we are a fallen people, and we produce fallen offspring. Yes, even children from good homes can rebel. Yet Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:14-15:

⁴But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

I imagine Timothy, as he was growing up, made all the same mistakes that our own children (and we ourselves) made. I believe that he went through his rebellious stage, that he spent time experimenting in the world, that he perhaps went out “with the boys” and did all the wrong things.

Yet his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice planted the seeds of the Gospel in his heart by teaching him from the time he was a child. They shared with him a love of the Scriptures. Later on in his life when Paul led him to Christ, this foundation laid by his godly mother and grandmother came into play.

That’s the influence of a Godly woman!

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

I read of a man who. as a young child, prayer a simple prayer his mother taught him.  Maybe you prayed it also – I know I did.  The prayer was:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I should die before I wake,
I pray, dear Lord, my soul to take.

He prayed this prayer as a small child, kneeling at the foot of his bed. His mother came in every night to kiss me goodnight, and she’d always ask, “Have you brushed your teeth and said your prayers?”. If he had forgotten, he’d get up from the bed and say his prayers.  As a teenager he, out of rebellion, ran away from home – but he prayed the same prayer he lay in his bunk – scared —  Juvenile Hall in California. Some time after that, he was knocked unconscious and left for dead by one of his “friends” while out partying late one night – and when he woke up in the hospital the next day he prayed the same prayer. Finally, he accepted Christ as his savior and – with tears in his eyes – prayed that same child’s prayer.   He says now that the prayer meant something to him as a child, but it meant so much more now.  That simple prayer his godly mother taught him finally brought him to Christ.

That’s the influence of a Godly woman!

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!

We need the godly women we have at Hopewell – and we need more of them! We need more women who — whether they are mothers or not – married or single – are willing to play a vital role in our Church.  We need more Godly women are willing to play a vital role in the Christian education and nurture of our young people – whoa re willing to  play a vital role in all aspects of our Church – willing to serve in the kitchen as well as on the Session – willing to busy themselves with crafts as well as with leadership – willing to work behind the scenes and in the spotlight – willing to work wherever and do whatever is needed – and bless us all by their commitment to being the people God has called them to be and leading us as a Church to be the Church God is calling us to be.

We need women who know Jesus as their savior – who are seeking internal Godliness – and who are committed to taking the time to train our young people in God’s ways – or do whatever they can – to make Hopewell the Church God would have us be! –

Certainly we need men with the same commitment – but today I want us to celebrate what the Godly women are doing – and call on others to do the same. We’ll focus on the men next month. But – for now – I – and I believe all of us – want to say:

“Thanks”

“Bless you!”

“Thanks for all you do!”

Yea –

Thank God For Godly Women
Thank God For Godly Women

We need more of you!   Amen.

Luke 24:13-35

Luke 24: 13-35

Easter Means Changed Lives: Cleopas’ Story

Part 3 0f 2009 Hopewell Easter series: Easter Means Changed Lives

May 3, 2009

Easter 4

Read Scripture

The Season of Easter is the most joyously celebrative season we have as Christians.  It is the season when we focus on the resurrection of Christ – and the joy – the hope – the new life – the changed life – Christ offers.

This year as we worship during the Easter season we are looking at several people who had experiences with the risen Christ – and had their lives changed. As we look at their stories, we’ll see how the resurrection of Christ can change us – change our lives – change our Church – change our community – and change our world.

Easter means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means changed lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

God can change our lives – can change our Church – can change our community – and can change our world.

God can make our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

God is changing us – changing our lives – changing our Church – changing our community and changing our world — in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is a message of hope – a message of joy – and a message of change — especially when it is least expected.

The message of Easter is that our lives – our Church – our community – and the world can be changed – because Christ has risen.

Two of those who experienced the risen Christ – and had their lives changed – were Cleopas and a friend of his – whose name we don’t know.

We don’t know a lot about Cleopas – but we can look at his name – especially the Greek version of his name — other pieces of scripture — and some bits of ancient Church history and piece together some things about him. The name Cleopas appears in the passage from Luke we’re looking at today – and also in John 19:25 as he is listed as the husband of a Mary who was present at the crucifixion – not Mary the mother but “another Mary”. In the Latin language, which was common in Biblical times, the name in Cleopas in Aramaic would have been Alphaeus – the name given as the father of James “the lesser” (called that to distinguish him from the brother of John) in all four of  Gospels lists of the 12 disciples.  And here’s another interesting tidbit — Eusebius, the fourth century church historian, records that Cleopas was the brother of Joseph of Nazareth–Jesus’ earthly father.

So – if we are making correct assumptions with all these connections here – Cleopas was not only a follower of Jesus – but was his uncle – the father of one of the disciples – and the husband of one of the women at the crucifixion.  Very close connections indeed!

So – it’s understandable that Cleopas and his unnamed friend were confused and felt very “down” that first Easter evening as they made the 7 mile walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus.

They must have felt that everything they had hoped for in Jesus had died and been buried with Him.

Especially if you believe the inferences in the name Cleopas from scripture and from the historian Eusebius, you can understand how he must have felt that first Easter evening.

His nephew – one that he loved – had been crucified.

His nephew – whom his son James had given his life to follow and learn from – had been crucified.

His nephew – whom he may have followed himself – come to believe – as his son James believed – was the Christ – had been crucified.

His nephew – whom he may have believed was his hope for salvation – the Messiah – God’s “anointed one” who would make a difference in his life – his community – and the world – was dead.

He may have been at the cross on that Friday – and his wife may have stood with Mary – the mother of Jesus – as Jesus died.

He had hoped that Jesus was the one who would redeem Israel – bring God’s will for salvation and love and peace to their lives – their community – and their world.

But now those hopes seemed to be as dead and buried as Jesus was.

Even reports that the tomb was now empty seemed like empty hope.

As Cleopas and his friend made the 7 mile walk to Emmaus that first Easter evening they were very sad – depressed – and felt that there was no longer anything to hope for.

As a stranger came along beside them and began talking to them, all they could do was share their grief and sadness.

As the stranger explained scripture to them, they had a hard time hearing what He was saying – their grief and sadness was so strong.

As arrived in Emmaus they did remember their manners and extended hospitality to the stranger – inviting Him to stay with them that evening.

Then – it happened.

As they sat at the supper table with this stranger, He took the bread and broke it – and with that – as Luke puts it –

Their eyes were opened and they recognized Him.

Maybe Cleopas had been along at The Last Supper or some other time like the feeding of the 5,000 or the 4,000 or some other shared meal where Jesus had broken and shared bread –  or maybe his son James had told him stores – but somehow Cleopas and his friend recognized Jesus.

This was not a stranger – it was Jesus!

Jesus – Cleopas’ nephew (if we are believe the connection established by  Eusebius).

Jesus – whom Cleopas’ son James had given his life to following!

Jesus — whom Cleopas had come to hope was the one who would redeem Israel – bring God’s will for salvation and love and peace to their lives – their community – and their world!

Jesus – not dead – but alive!

Then – He vanished.

But – in that brief encounter – Cleopas and his friend had their lives changed.

No longer were they sad and depressed.

No longer did they feel that all was lost.

No longer did they feel that there was no hope.

No longer did they feel that there was no hope for their lives – their community – and their world.

Now – they knew that all was not lost.

Now – they knew that there was hope.

Now – they knew that things could be different.

Now – they knew there was hope for their lives – their community – and their world.

Now – they knew that there was indeed hope –

They knew things could be c hanged –

They knew God was doing something new and marvelous –

because now they knew that Jesus had risen!

The news that Jesus had risen – that Jesus was alive – that there was hope – and that God was indeed doing new things – thrilled them so much that it was like their hearts were set on fire – and they ran back to Jerusalem – probably setting a world record for a 7 mile run – with the great news that Jesus had risen!

Jesus has risen!

We saw Him!

Their hearts were set on fire —

Their lives were set on fire by the risen Christ – and they began spreading the news that Christ had risen – and the fire in their hearts began a conflagration that set their community and the world on fire for God!

They experienced the risen Christ – God put a spark in their hearts – and the fire continues to burn to this day!

Their lives were changed.

They went from hopeless and depressed to hope – filled and excited – because they experienced the risen Christ!

Friends – that’s what Easter is all about!

Easter means lives can be changed. .

The resurrection of Christ means lives can be changed.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God can change our lives – can change our Church – can change our community – and can change our world.

The resurrection of Christ means that God can make our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

God is changing us – changing our lives – changing our Church – changing our community and changing our world — in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means changed lives.

The message of Easter is a message of hope – a message of joy – and a message of change — especially when it is least expected.

The message of Easter is that our lives – our Church – our community – and the world can be changed – because Christ has risen.

That’s what happened to Cleopas – his friend – and so many others as they experienced the risen Christ – their lives were changed – their hearts were set on fire — and God changed the world as they shared their excitement.

That can happen to us.

That can happen to you.

You can experience the risen Lord – you can let Jesus touch your life and change you –  you can let Jesus put a spark of excitement in your heart – a spark that you can share and that can start a fire for God that can burn and change this Church – this community – and the world.

Like Cleopas — you can be “on fire” for God!

Friends – Easter means that God is doing something new and different – changing us – changing our Church – changing our community – and changing the world with His news of salvation – new relationships with Him —  and hope.

Easter means that we can be filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and that boldly do the work of Christ in the world.

Easter means that you can be “on fire”!

Easter means that you can be filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly do the work of Christ in the world.

Easter means that you can be “on fire”!

“On fire” for Christ!

“On fire” for God!

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with others here in the Church – and with the world.

I talked about the “domino effect” a few weeks ago – how when you line up dominoes and push one they all begin to fall – but that the first had to fall to start the process. I invited you to be that first domino – that first one to get excited about Christ and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with others – so that the Church and the community can become excited about God is doing among us.

Not only do you need to be the first domino.

You need to be the first spark – the spark that God can use to create a fire in the Church and the community for Him and His will.

Easter means that you can be “on fire”!

Easter means that you can be filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly do the work of Christ in the world.

Easter means that you can be the one to start the fire for God and for Christ.

God is doing a new thing!

God wants you to be a part of that!

God wants you to be “on fire”.

“On fire” for Christ!

“On fire” for God!

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with others.

Friends — we are gathered here on this Fourth Sunday of Easter to celebrate something!

We are gathered here to celebrate the power of the resurrection of Christ – the new things God is doing in our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — the “fire” that the risen Christ can “spark” within our hearts and within our lives.

There can be a fire today!

A Holy Fire that God can start and that can’t be put out!

But – it has to start somewhere.

It has to start with someone.

Will it be you?

Will others look at how you are living – your excitement – your joy – your commitment to sharing Christ with others – and be alarmed at the fire that is within you?

Will they look at you — how you are living – your excitement – your joy – your commitment to sharing Christ with others – and want to pull the fire alarm because your excitement is so contagious?

Will your joy and excitement for the risen Christ start a conflagration  that will set the Church and the community on fire for Christ?

There can be a fire today!

A Holy Fire that God can start and that can’t be put out!

But – it has to start somewhere.

It has to start with someone.

Will it be you?

The fire that burned in the heart of Cleopas and his friend started a conflagration that changed the world. This was no “false alarm” – this was a fire that became a fire that consumed each of their hearts and lives and through them consumed the hearts and lives of thousands of others.

They experienced Christ – and became “on fire” for Christ!

“On fire” for God!

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world.

So –what about you?

Friends – I want to give you fair warning here — there is a report of a fire here at Hopewell.

Some have reported seeing smoke as some of us have become excited.

Some have sounded the alarm.

Some have become alarmed as over 13 members and friends of Hopewell gathered last weekend and scatted into the community – doing things for those who needed things done for them.

Some have become alarmed as there is talk that some of us just might take gather and scatter into the community with the message of Christ and the Church– going in teams to spread the word of what God is doing for us here at Hopewell.

Some have become alarmed and have begun to talk about us!

But – here is a question – is it a false alarm?

Or – is it a conflagration – the fire of excitement and enthusiasm that can touch us – consume us – and through us touch and consume our community and the world?

Are we really “on fire”?

Are you “on fire”?

“On fire” for Christ?

“On fire” for God?

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with each other and the world?

Easter means that you can be filled with the joy and power of the resurrection of Christ – and boldly do the work of Christ in the world.

Easter means that you can be the one to start the fire for God and for Christ.

God is doing a new thing!

God wants you to be a part of that!

God wants you to be “on fire”.

“On fire” for Christ!

“On fire” for God!

“On fire” for doing God’s work and sharing the joy of the risen Christ with others.

Like Cleopas and his friend after recognizing Christ — you can let the risen Christ touch your life — and you can be “on fire” — filled with the joy of the risen  Christ and sharing that joy with everyone you know and in everything you say and do.

You can let the risen Christ make a difference in how you live.

You can be “on fire” for the risen Christ – and doing His work with joy and enthusiasm – and your fire can set a spark in others – and the Church and the world can be changed for God’s glory.

Don’t let the “report of a fire” here be a false alarm!

Let it be the truth!

Let it truly be the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit and the risen Christ at work in you and in each of us – moving you and each of us us to greater commitment – and moving you and each of us to greater excitement for what God is calling us to do.

Can you see the spark?

Can you see the flame?

God is doing something new here.

There is a spark of excitement here at Hopewell – but we have to let it grow and burn even more brightly until it becomes that conflagration that can consume us – consume the Church – and through us consume our community and the world.

In camping you might start a fire with a small flame – or just a spark – but if you give it the right things — and keep it away from the wrong things — it can grow into a roaring fire.

One thing a spark needs is fuel – maybe some small twigs at first – then some bigger pieces of wood as it grows into a fire.

What is the fuel we need if we are going to let the spark of excitement here at Hopewell?

One thing we need is commitment to the things that can help us grow as Christians.

Things like a commitment from each of us to our devotional lives – our daily prayers – our daily reading of God’s word and growing in our lives as Christians.

Daily, personal study of God’s word is vital if we are going to be “Easter Christians” – “on fire” for God – “on fire” for Christ.

As you commit yourself to daily, personal study of God’s word – you will burn more brightly for Christ.

Then – you can add other types of fuel – like a commitment to the worship – the study – the fellowship –and the service times we have here at Hopewell.  As you become more and more committed to your personal faith and your involvement in the things of the Church you will see the flame – the fire of excitement and commitment to the things of Christ – grow into a consuming fire – a conflagration that can consume us and though us consume this community – and the world.

Fuel is one of the things that a spark needs if it is going to grow.

Sharing of ideas – acceptance of ideas – and Christian love and fellowship are some of the other “right things” that can help fan the flame of commitment here at Hopewell.

But – as I said – there are some things you want to keep a spark away from – because they can snuff it out quickly.

Water and dirt – anything to take away the oxygen – are some of the things that can put out a fire when you are camping. These are things you want to keep away from the flame.

There are some things we need to keep away from the spark of excitement here at Hopewell, also.

Things like not participating.

Things like not caring.

Things like not being willing to consider new ideas and new ways of doing things.

Things like not being willing to get involved in your own prayer life – or the  worship – the study – the fellowship –and the service times we have here at Hopewell.

These are the things that can put out that flame – that fire – quickly.

These are the things that can turn the report of a fire in the Church into a false alarm.

But – as you get more and more involved in the things that can fuel the fire of excitement – the Holy Fire God wants us to have in our lives and the Church – others will see the difference the risen Christ is making – and the spark will grow.

Friends — Easter means lives can be changed. .

The resurrection of Christ means lives can be changed.

The resurrection of Christ means that God is changing lives.

The resurrection of Christ means that God can change our lives – can change our Church – can change our community – and can change our world.

The resurrection of Christ means that God can make our lives – our Church – our community – and our world — new.

Easter means that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous.

God is changing us – changing our lives – changing our Church – changing our community and changing our world — in the resurrection of Christ.

Easter means changed lives.

Easter means that you can have your life set on fire for Christ – and your spark can spread to the Church – the community – and the world.

Because of the risen Christ, you can be on fire – for Christ.

Because of the risen Christ, we call can be on fire – and God can make a difference in our lives – our Church – our community – and the world.

Amen.