Easter 6
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook - SERIES C
The Lessons
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 (C, RC)
The church decided not to require circumcision to be a Christian. Here is the first possible division in the church. The issue was whether it was necessary for a Gentile to become a Jew before becoming a Christian. The problem is given in verses 1-2 and the solution is in verses 22-29. The basic issue was, is a person saved by keeping the Law (circumcision) or by grace? A conference was called at Jerusalem where Peter and James took the position that it was not necessary to be circumcised and thus become a Jew in order to be a Christian. Unanimously the church agreed and sent the decision by letter carried by two prominent leaders to the church at Antioch. The issue was settled and the church became an integrated society of Jews and Gentiles by grace alone.
Acts 14:8-18
At Lystra Paul and Barnabas, because of their miracle of healing, are considered as Gods.
Revelation 21:10, 22-27
A description of the New Jerusalem. Today's lection continues the description of the new Jerusalem, the city of God. It is located on a high mountain - v. 10. It will have a shekinah, the presence of God. Thus, there will be no temple in the city, for the entire city is God's temple where he lives - v. 22. Since God and the Lamb are present, the people will have no night, for the radiance of God's glory will be a continual light - v. 23. The inhabitants of the heavenly city will be God's people from all nations - v. 27. Best of all, the city will always be open to believers. This new Jerusalem is a picture of what the church is to be on earth and will be in heaven.
John 14:23-29
Jesus announces his departure and promises the Spirit. Though we are in the post-resurrection period, the pre-resurrection Jesus is speaking to us of his departure and of the promise of the Spirit. Nevertheless, Easter is still involved for the Spirit was given, according to John, on Easter and the Spirit is the risen Christ. In this discourse, Jesus says that love is the basis of union and fellowship with him and the Father. Though he is leaving, the fellowship will not be broken because the Spirit will teach and comfort them. They should rejoice that he is leaving them, because by the Spirit he will be with them always and everywhere.
Prayer of the Day
"O God, from whom all good things do come: Lead us by the inspiration of your Spirit to think those things which are right, and by your goodness help us to do them."
Hymn of the Day
"Son of God, Eternal Savior."
Theme of the Day: Departures and Arrivals
Gospel - Departure from earth and arrival in heaven.
Lesson 1 - Departure from Law and arrival in grace.
Lesson 2 - Departure from old Jerusalem and arrival at New Jerusalem.
Jesus announces his upcoming journey from earth to his Father in heaven. (Gospel) The early church decided to depart from the narrow legalistic demand that a Christian had to first become a Jew by circumcision before becoming a Christian to free grace and faith. (Lesson 1) At the end of time, the old city on earth will be destroyed and Christians will arrive in the New Jerusalem. (Lesson 2) The prayer looks forward to the Spirit's leadership.
Alternate Themes of the Day - Possible Sermons on the Three Lessons
1. Do You Want the Spirit to Come?
Gospel - The Spirit will teach you the truth - v. 26
Lesson 1 - The Spirit will guide you in your decisions - v. 28
Lesson 2 - The Spirit will give you vision - v. 10
2. Peace that Passes Understanding
Gospel
- Peace is a gift of Christ - v. 27
Lesson 1 - Peace follows a compromise - vv. 28, 29
Lesson 2 - Peace prevails in the city of God - 21:10, 22-27
Theological Reflections
Gospel:
John 14:23-29
1. Home (v. 23). Jesus assured the Disciples that he and the Father would make their home with them. It is not a house nor living together in a house. A house is not a home, but a home can be in a house. The difference is that a home is based on love. (vv. 23, 24) Where loved ones are - in or out of a house - there is home. By love and faith we can be at home with God.
2. Remembrance (v. 26). The Spirit is to bring to our remembrance the things Jesus taught. The Spirit is not to give us new truth beyond what Jesus taught. The Spirit will help us recall and understand Jesus' teachings. The Spirit is necessarily involved in the Word. If the Spirit should tell us anything that does not correspond to the Word, we should doubt whether we have the Spirit.
3. Peace (v. 27). Peace is not an attainment but a divine gift. It is far different from the world's peace which is no peace, because peace may be only a truce, a compromise, or an enforced peace through arms. Christ's peace is a gift resulting from a oneness based on love. When two are one, there is no opportunity for friction or estrangement.
Lesson 1: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
1. Unless (v. 1). The Judaizers stirred up dissension in the Antioch congregation by claiming that certain conditions had to be met before people could be saved. "Unless" Gentiles were circumcised and obeyed the Mosaic laws, dietary and ceremonial, they could not be Christians. They were legalists who claimed the way into Christianity was by way of Judaism. True Christianity does not set moral or ceremonial conditions to be met for membership in the Kingdom. We are saved solely by grace received by faith.
2. Seemed good (vv. 22, 25, 28). Three times in the letter sent by the Jerusalem Conference to the church in Antioch is the phrase "seemed good." To write a letter, to send messengers, to confirm the Gospel seemed good to the leaders of the church. Why did it seem good? Because what was decided was in harmony with the Spirit and the teachings of Christ.
3. And (v. 28). It was a momentous decision involving the true nature of Christianity. The outcome decided whether Christianity would be a Jewish sect or a universal religion. Their decision seemed good to the Spirit "and" to the leaders. For a right decision, there needs to be a combination of the approval of the Spirit and Christians. When there is agreement, when Spirit and spirits are one, the decision is the correct one.
Lesson 2: Revelation 21:10, 22-27
1. No (v. 22). We can know what is by what is not. Since no one has entered the new Jerusalem and returned to tell us what it is like, John tells us what is not there. There is no temple, no need of the sun, and no night. Put this in a positive way and we learn the heavenly city will be a temple in itself, and God's constant presence will make it a city of light.
2. Temple (v. 22). A temple is a place where God resides and meets with his people. It is his home. In the New Jerusalem there will be no temple, because the city itself will be the temple. God will be in and with his people. Thus, the church is not a building but the people of God. He lives in his people by the Holy Spirit.
3. Book (v. 27). Who are the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem? Who is in heaven? John says the names are recorded in the Lamb's book of life. It is more than a book of the dead or a book of remembrance. It is a book of life. The names in the book have been delivered from the death of sin, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and have been adopted as God's children. As the name of the baptized is recorded in the Parish Register, the name is simultaneously recorded in heaven's book of life.
Preaching Possibilities
Preaching on Easter 6 and the Ascension
The new lectionary does not provide for an Ascension Sunday, only for an Ascension Thursday, the fortieth day after Easter. If a church has a service on Ascension Day to celebrate this major festival, there is no problem in the use of the lectionary for Easter 6 and 7. A number of options face each pastor at this Ascension time.
1. Observe the "Ascension of our Lord" on Thursday. This is the ideal, but few churches have this service because, they claim, people will not attend on a weekday in sufficient numbers to justify the service.
2. Observe Easter 6 and 7 and ignore the Ascension festival. To do this means we deny our people the privilege of celebrating a major festival. The Ascension holds a vital and major part in the church year. It celebrates the ultimate exaltation of Christ. He is crowned with the glory of victory and is seated at the right hand of God. It is a time for banners to be fluttering in the wind, for the trumpets to blow, for the choirs of men and angels to sing, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." The story of Jesus is not complete without the Ascension. Not to celebrate it is a serious mistake.
3. Another option is to substitute the Ascension pericopes for either Easter 6 or 7. If this is done, the truth of the Sunday deleted would be lost to the people.
4. Combine Ascension with either Easter 6 or 7. Of the two Sundays, Easter 6 is preferable to Easter 7. Easter 6 is preferable because it is psychologically better to observe a festival before it occurs than after the event. A celebration after the event is usually an anti-climax. Moreover, the Lessons for Easter 7 deal with the post-Ascension while Easter 6 looks forward to Pentecost. To celebrate Ascension on Easter 7 would result in two major festivals occurring on two successive Sundays. This would not allow a period of waiting for Pentecost.
Easter 6 and Ascension lessons have a number of parallels, making it possible to combine the two
Sundays:
Easter 6
1. John 14:26 - "But the counselor, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name."
2. John 14:28 - "I go to the Father."
3. John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you."
4. John 14:28 - "I go away and I will come to you."
Ascension
1. Luke 24:44 - "I send the promise of my Father upon you."
2. Luke 24:51 - "He parted from them and was carried up into heaven."
3. Luke 24:50 - "And lifting up his hands, he blessed them."
4. Acts 1:11 - "This Jesus ... will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Sermons Combining Easter 6 and Ascension
1. Is Heaven In Your Future? John 14:28; Luke 24:51
Need: Today we have lost the concept of heaven as a future place for Christians. In a previous generation many of our hymns were about heaven and sermons invariably referred to the hope of heaven. Today we are occupied with either the past or the present. We give little thought to the future. We are the "Now" generation, we want pie on earth, not in the sky. We "eat, drink, and are merry," for there is no tomorrow. We build barns of affluence to the neglect of the soul. We exploit and waste natural resources not caring if tomorrow's generation will have adequate energy. Jesus shows us that the Christian's ultimate end is heaven to be with God and all the saints.
Sermon:
Life today is enriched by the hope of heaven:
a. We can live hopefully. Heaven gives us something to live for and a place to go.
b. We can live responsibly, accountable to God for our lives at the judgment.
c. We can live patiently, "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)
2. Preparation for Departure. John 14:25-29; Luke 24:51
Need: Jesus apparently felt it was necessary to prepare the disciples for his departure from earth for heaven. They were very close to each other. Each could say to Jesus, "I could not live without you." If he left, who would lead, guide, comfort, and encourage them? It was a distressing thought that their dear leader would abandon them in a hostile world. We are in the world without the physical presence of Jesus. We share with the disciples the need for coping with his absence. In the gospel, Jesus prepares the disciples for his departure.
Sermon:
"I go away."
a. Be at peace - John 14:27
b. Be comforted - John 14:26
c. Be glad - John 14:28
3. Glad You're Going. John 14:28; Luke 24:50-53
Need: The common reaction to a loved one's leaving is sorrow and despair. This was not the case with the disciples. Before Jesus ascended, he told them they ought to be glad he was leaving. After the Ascension, they returned to Jerusalem "with great joy." Ascension for today's Christian should be a happy day - full of celebration and festivity.
Sermon:
We can be glad for Jesus' ascension because:
a. He is exalted as king of kings. Now he is more than king of the Jews.
b. He is with the Father as our intercessor. We offer our prayers to God through Christ.
c. He is to send power through the Spirit, power to be and do.
d. He gives us the responsibility to continue and extend his work in the world.
"Jesus departed our sight, that he might return to our hearts and there find him. For he departed, and behold, he is here."
- St. Augustine
Gospel:
John 14:23-29
"Before the Spirit Can Come"
Need: Pentecost is only two Sundays distant. Unlike Christmas and Easter, there is no period of preparation for Pentecost. This may explain why Pentecost is often an empty and unfulfilling occasion in the life of the church. This sermon is designed to help people get ready for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit.
Sermon:
Before the Spirit can come to you this Pentecost -
a. Christ must be loved - v. 24
b. Christ must be obeyed - v. 23
c. Christ must ascend - v. 28
Lesson 1: Acts 14:8-18
1. When the Gods Come Down! Acts 14:8-18
Need: When the non-Christian population of Lystra saw the miracle of healing in a man who was a cripple from birth, they concluded, "the gods have come down to us." Vehemently Paul and Barnabas denied their compliment. They insisted on their humanity and gave the glory to God. On this sixth Sunday of Easter, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit. The Father and the Son would come down upon believers when the Holy Spirit arrived. We are looking forward to Pentecost and a renewal of the Holy Spirit. What will happen when God comes to us in the Spirit?
Outline: When God the Spirit comes down -
a. Miracles will happen - vv. 8-10
b. We will acknowledge our humanity - v. 15
c. We will witness to the truth of God - vv. 15-17
2. We Are Only Human! Acts 14:8-18
Need: "Only human?" The emphasis today is upon being human. We are urged to be human and to glory in our humanness. There is a temptation and a danger for us to make gods out of humans. A person can make him/herself into a god. It is the peril of narcissism. In Lystra the people consider Paul and Barnabas as gods, renamed them with the names of gods, and made preparations to worship them. Horrified, Paul and Barnabas cried, "We are men!" It takes grace to keep us humble, to be what we are - only humans.
Outline: We are only humans.
a. Only instruments of God's power - vv. 8-10
b. Only representatives of God - v. 11
c. Only witnesses of God's truth - vv. 15-17
Lesson 2: Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
1. A city Without a Church. Revelation 21:22
Need: Who would dare to live in a city without a church? Without a church a city would become godless and utterly corrupt, a place unsafe for decent people. It is the mission of the church to plant churches wherever they are needed that people might know, love, and obey God. Through the work of the church, sin is curbed and righteous living is fostered. In the text, John sees the time when a church (temple) is not needed. This is the city of God - heaven. This is the goal of Christian work: to build a society where a church is unnecessary. Until such time comes, the church must keep planting churches.
Sermon:
The holy city, the new Jerusalem, has no church:
a. None is needed: all know God
b. None is needed: all live godly lives
c. None is needed: God lives with his people. "And the name of the city henceforth shall be. The Lord is there." Ezekiel 48:35
2. The Perfect City. Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
Need: Cities in America are in trouble. Some are almost bankrupt. The inner city is often blighted with decay. Violence is on the streets. Pornography and prostitution flourish. People have fled to the suburbs. The old cities are ghettos of poverty, racism, and degradation. In the text John is given a vision of a perfect city, the kind of city God wants for all people. It is this kind of city Christian people should be working to bring into gradual reality.
Sermon:
the perfect city.
a. Possesses the glory of God - v. 11
b. Is built on the foundation of the Apostles - v. 14
c. Is illuminated by the presence of Christ - v. 23
EASTER 7
The Lessons
Acts 16:16-34
The experience of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. Paul's exorcizing a demon from a slave girl leads to a riot formented by her owners because their business was threatened. Paul and Silas had their clothes torn from them, were beaten, and then thrown into solitary confinement with their feet in the stocks in the Philippian jail. While singing hymns at midnight, an earthquake occurred and the jailer, scared to death, asked how he could be saved. He and his family were baptized. Paul and Silas were comforted and fed by the jailor.
Acts 16:6-10 (L)
Acts 7:55-60
Paul receives a call to Macedonia.
Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr.
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
The ascended Christ promises to return soon. The exalted, risen, and ascended Christ is heard in this pericope. Christ promises to return to earth soon. When he comes he will judge every person according to one's deeds. They who have accepted Christ will enter heaven. Christ has authority to do this because he is the Son of David. The church responds with a prayer for him to come soon. This passage is a fitting close to the series we had from Revelation in the Easter season.
John 17:20-26
Jesus prays for those he leaves on earth. This passage, a part of the high priestly prayer offered at the Last Supper, concludes the Easter series from John. Knowing he will soon ascend to the Father, he prays for his Disciples and those to come in future generations. He prays that they may be one as he and the Father are one. Their oneness will show the world that God sent Jesus and that God loves them. Also, Jesus prays that his followers will be with him in heaven where they will see the glory God gave him. His final prayer is that his followers will know and love God as he did.
Prayer of the Day
"Almighty and eternal God, your Son our Savior is with you in eternal glory. Give us faith to see that, true to his promise, he is among us still and will be with us to the end of time."
Hymn of the Day
"Lord, Receive this Company"
Theme of the Day: When We All Get Together
Gospel - Christians are together in Christ.
Lesson 1 - Faith brings Christians together with God through Christ.
Lesson 2 - When Christ returns, Christians and Christ are together forever.
Easter 7 basks in the afterglow of the Ascension. Before leaving, Christ prays that his followers of all time will be one in him and with each other. (Gospel) This oneness with God is made possible by faith in Christ, for to be saved is to be one with God. (Lesson 1) Lesson 2 assures us that the ascended Christ is returning to gather his faithful and they will live together with him in the New Jerusalem forever. (Lesson 2) The prayer refers to the ascended Christ. The hymn deals with the oneness of Christians of Christ.
Theological Reflections
Gospel: John 17:20-26
1. Also (v. 20). In his farewell prayer, Jesus does not only pray for himself nor for his present Disciples, but for us living twenty centuries later. Jesus had the foreknowledge of the continuation of his church and he is concerned about future disciples and their welfare. And how will future disciples be made? Answer: "through their word." The continuation of the church depends upon the present generation's witness to the next generation. The future of the church depends on evangelism and missions.
2. World (v. 21). As united Christians witness to the Word, the world will know that Jesus is the Messiah, the one sent by God to reveal the truth of God and to redeem fallen humanity. When the world sees the followers of Christ united in love with each other and with Christ, the world will be convinced. No social service program no matter how helpful, no sound theology no matter how true, no nothing will ever convince the world that Jesus is the Christ except our oneness in him.
3. One (v. 21). The theme of this prayer is oneness. The idea is emphasized by repeating the word four times in these few verses. Above all, Christ wants us to be one in the Father, one in him, and one with each other. By his sacrificial death, he made it possible for us to be one in God. By love we can be one with one another. Our lack of unity is the result of not being one in love with Christ and one another.
Lesson 1: Acts 16:16-34
1. She (v. 17). She is a demon-possessed slave girl whose clairvoyance brought her owners a living. Referring to Paul and Silas, she kept pointing to them and saying, "These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaim to you the way to salvation." And this was the truth! It indicates that even out of the mouths of the deranged, God's truth can be proclaimed. God will use anyone to proclaim the truth even as some in Paul's day preached Christ out of jealousy.
2. Gain (v. 19). Religion can be profitable for some. The owners of the slave were making a living out of her pronouncements. When they saw their business collapse by Paul's healing of the slave, they took revenge by having Paul and Silas arrested and thrown in jail. Strike a person at his pocketbook and you make an enemy. Stop having flowers in church for weddings or funerals and what would the florists do? Begin the practice of having cheap funerals and see the feathers fly from the funeral directors!
3. Midnight (v. 25). It was the middle of the night when all should be quiet and the world asleep. Paul and Silas are in pain, for they are in the stocks in solitary confinement. Things could not be worse - innocent men suffering. When things get darkest and hopeless, God takes over. The prisoners at midnight sing hymns of praise. An earthquake takes place, and a man comes seeking peace with God!
Lesson 2: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
1. Soon (v. 12). For two thousand years now Christians have been hearing that Christ was soon coming back to earth for the wind-up of history. How long is "soon?" Now even Jesus knew the answer to that. "Soon" may be today or tomorrow or tomorrow ad infinitum. The "soon" may be like a flash flood or a volcanic eruption like Vesuvius. "Soon" keeps us ever on the alert, on tiptoe.
2. Tree (v. 14). The redeemed have the right to the tree of life which exists in heaven. Up to this time humanity has not been allowed to eat of this tree. Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden lest they eat of the tree of life in the middle of the garden. Now that God's Son dies on a tree, the way to the tree of life is open. It is a way of saying that by Jesus' death, humanity by accepting Christ in faith can enter into the life of God.
3. Come (v. 17). The church prays for Jesus to return to earth - "Maranatha." Do we really want the Parousia? It means the destruction of the earth, the judgment of the nations, and the division of sheep and goats. Only if we are in Christ would we want the King to come to earth. He comes not to judge nor condemn us but to gather his people and go with them to eternal life. "Come," Jesus, and deliver us from this world of poverty, strife, and death.
Preaching Possibilities
Preaching on Easter 7 and the Ascension
1. The lessons for Easter 7 may be seen through the Ascension which has taken place.
Lesson 1 - Salvation is by faith in the ascended Lord.
Lesson 2 - The ascended Christ promises to return to earth.
Gospel - Christ prays before his ascension that his followers may be with him in his ascended glory.
2. Easter 7 is a quiet, waiting day before the great event, Pentecost. It is like Saturday between Good Friday and Easter. This conforms to Jesus' order that the disciples should return to Jerusalem, wait, and pray for the coming of the Spirit. If the Spirit is to come anew to our congregations, people need to get conditioned and receptive that the Spirit may enter their lives. Easter 7 then is a quiet period of reflection on the present location of Jesus, on the future coming of Jesus to earth, and on the condition of his followers still on earth. It is a Sunday between the times: Ascension and Pentecost.
3. Since Ascension has taken place and was observed in connection with Easter 6, we do not celebrate the significance of the Ascension, but we preach about life now seen in the light of the fact of the Ascension.
Life in the Light of the Ascension. Text: 3 Lessons
Need: As a church we have celebrated the Ascension. We have accepted the fact that Jesus is now in glory with the Father. So what? What does the Ascension mean for daily life here and now? Like the disciples, are we content to gaze into heaven? As the two men brought the disciples back to reality, we need to get to the business of living. In this sermon, we want people to see life in the light of the Ascension.
Sermon:
The Ascension gives us -
a. Courage to witness, love and die for Christ - L 1
b. Hope for Christ's return to earth - L 2. The church prays for his coming soon that through his coming there may be a new heaven and a new earth.
c. Comfort for life on earth - G. It is comforting to know that Christ continues to pray for his people that they might be one in love and that some day in the future they may be with him in his glory in heaven.
Gospel: John 17:20-26
1. Will Christians Ever Be One?
Need: Christians seem to be divided more than ever. The ecumenical movement seems to have lost its forward thrust. COCU is almost a dead issue. Churches are actually separating: new denominations have resulted from dissension within the ranks: interpretation of the Bible, ordination of women, and revision of worship. There is today an urgent need, as always, for the church to be one:
... It is the will of Christ for his disciples to be one.
... The Spirit cannot come this Pentecost unless all are one (Acts 2:1).
... The world will not know nor believe in Christ unless it sees unity in the church - 17:21, 23.
Sermon:
The text gives us a model for unity.
a. A unity of relationship - love. vv. 21, 23. As Christ is one in God, and a Christian is one in Christ, so Christians are to be one with each other in love which draws, cements, and unites.
b. A unity of togetherness - v. 24. By the Ascension, Jesus is now with the Father. Jesus prays that his people also may be with him in heaven. Unity is expressed in being together.
c. A unity of a common cause - vv. 21, 23. When people have a common cause, they unite and work together to achieve the goal. The goal of the church is to be a witness to the world which is to come to know and believe in God.
2. Why Jesus Prays for Us Today. John 17:20-26
Need: If Jesus prays for us as the text says he does, there must be reason for it. Consider the situation: the church is deserted by her leader; the disciples are on their own in a hostile world with an impossible task to win the world. Jesus apparently realizes the disciples' need for help. What Jesus prays for indicates what Christians today need. It is important to note that in verse 20, Jesus says he prays for the Christians of the future, for us today. What do we Christians need: better church programs? more money to finance our programs? more wisdom? more members?
Sermon:
Why Jesus prays for us today.
a. For us to be one in God - v. 21
b. For us to be one with each other - v. 22
c. For us to be one with Christ in heaven - v. 24
Lesson 1: Acts 16:16-34
1. Belief has its Surprises! 16:16-34
Need: It seems that "believe ... and you will be saved" is too easy and glib. To believe in Jesus means more than a passive acceptance that Jesus is the Christ. Our people need to understand further dimensions of belief.
Outline: Believe in the Lord Jesus -
a. Believe in Jesus and suffer for him! vv. 19-24
b. Believe in Jesus and sing in your suffering! v. 25
c. Believe in Jesus and be saved from eternal suffering! vv. 25-34
2. Saved - What is it? 16:25-36
Need: To be saved is not usually understood. There are implications to being and remaining saved. To be saved is to be in a right relationship with God. This is the most important and tremendous event in a person's life. It deserves an analysis and application.
Outline: To be saved calls for us to -
a. Trust - "Believe in the Lord Jesus - v. 31
b. Obey - "He was baptized." v. 33
c. Serve - "He brought them into his house." v. 34
Lesson 1: Acts 16:6-10 (L)
1. The Blessing of Closed Doors. Acts 16:6-10
Need: In this passage God through the Holy Spirit said "No" twice to Paul. As far as he was concerned, he could just as well have gone to Asia Minor or Bythinia as to Macedonia. For unknown reasons, God did not want Paul there. If he had gone contrary to the Spirit, the results would probably have been tragic. God says "no" as well as "yes." His "no" is as much a blessing as his "yes." His "no" keeps us from trouble and failure. After closing doors, the Spirit opens a door to service. The point is that the Holy Spirit guides us away from certain ventures and opens up the way we should go.
Outline: The coming Spirit will guide us -
a. Through closed doors - vv. 6, 7
b. Through an open door to service - vv. 9-10
2. Where Do You Go for Guidance? Acts 16:6-10
Need: In a world of perplexity, complexity, and confusion, we feel the need of guidance. What shall we do? Where shall we go? What decision shall we make? Are we doing the right and wise thing? Peoplc are going to various sources of supposed guidance: astrology, horoscope, zodiac, Jeanne Dixon, a palm reader, etc. The Bible promises that the Spirit will guide us. In the text we have a case of Spirit-guidance. But, we ask how this guidance is given to us. We look to the text for guidance and answers.
Outline: How God guides us.
a. God guides us through the Spirit - vv. 6, 7
b. God guides us through a human being - v. 9
c. God guides us through a need - "help us" - v. 9
Lesson 1: Acts 7:55-60
The Ugly Side of Easter
Need: This season can be glorified to the point of unreality. Easter brings new life and new begin-nings, but living in the promises of Easter can also bring the sort of tragedy which befell Stephen, one intoxicated with the empty tomb's meaning for life. We need to balance euphoria with realism as we face a hostile world with God's good news.
1. Easter can turn everything around
a. Stephen was launched onto a stunning preaching career.
b. Our lives abound with resurrection miracles - Christians are changed when the empty tomb takes a hold.
2. We need to count the potential cost
a. Stephan lost his life because he preached the Easter message
b. Being "Easter People" isn't all rose petals and good feeling
1. Some people misunderstand the good news
2. Some people understand it all too well - and fight it off
3. The resurrection overcomes even the ugly side of Easter
a. Stephen wasn't destroyed merely because people killed him
b. Nothing can stop the resurrection - nor our partnership in it
Lesson 2: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
1. A Promise and a Prayer. 22:12-14
Need: Jesus has ascended to heaven. Is that the end of the story? At the Ascension two men promised, "This Jesus ... will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." In this Lesson Jesus promises to come, "Surely I am coming soon." The church responded, "Maranatha - Come, Lord Jesus." Why are we not content to leave Jesus in heaven in all his glory? Why do we want him back on earth? Do we really mean it when we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus?"
Sermon:
Why do we want Jesus back on earth?
a. To bring judgment upon evil - v. 12
b. To give us life - v. 14
2. It's Your Move! 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
Need: The Bible ends with an invitation. It tells us how God through the ages did all he could to reconcile people to himself. He has done everything a God could do, even the sacrifice of his only Son. Rightfully the Bible closes by telling us that it now is our move in the cosmic chess game. That move is for us to come to Christ in response to God's grace. Forty percent of America has yet to come to Christ. More than two-thirds of the world need to come to Christ.
Sermon:
Will you come now?
a. Not to come means judgment - v. 12
b. To come means life - vv. 14, 17
c. Come prepared - v. 14: "Blessed are those who wash their robes."
Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 (C, RC)
The church decided not to require circumcision to be a Christian. Here is the first possible division in the church. The issue was whether it was necessary for a Gentile to become a Jew before becoming a Christian. The problem is given in verses 1-2 and the solution is in verses 22-29. The basic issue was, is a person saved by keeping the Law (circumcision) or by grace? A conference was called at Jerusalem where Peter and James took the position that it was not necessary to be circumcised and thus become a Jew in order to be a Christian. Unanimously the church agreed and sent the decision by letter carried by two prominent leaders to the church at Antioch. The issue was settled and the church became an integrated society of Jews and Gentiles by grace alone.
Acts 14:8-18
At Lystra Paul and Barnabas, because of their miracle of healing, are considered as Gods.
Revelation 21:10, 22-27
A description of the New Jerusalem. Today's lection continues the description of the new Jerusalem, the city of God. It is located on a high mountain - v. 10. It will have a shekinah, the presence of God. Thus, there will be no temple in the city, for the entire city is God's temple where he lives - v. 22. Since God and the Lamb are present, the people will have no night, for the radiance of God's glory will be a continual light - v. 23. The inhabitants of the heavenly city will be God's people from all nations - v. 27. Best of all, the city will always be open to believers. This new Jerusalem is a picture of what the church is to be on earth and will be in heaven.
John 14:23-29
Jesus announces his departure and promises the Spirit. Though we are in the post-resurrection period, the pre-resurrection Jesus is speaking to us of his departure and of the promise of the Spirit. Nevertheless, Easter is still involved for the Spirit was given, according to John, on Easter and the Spirit is the risen Christ. In this discourse, Jesus says that love is the basis of union and fellowship with him and the Father. Though he is leaving, the fellowship will not be broken because the Spirit will teach and comfort them. They should rejoice that he is leaving them, because by the Spirit he will be with them always and everywhere.
Prayer of the Day
"O God, from whom all good things do come: Lead us by the inspiration of your Spirit to think those things which are right, and by your goodness help us to do them."
Hymn of the Day
"Son of God, Eternal Savior."
Theme of the Day: Departures and Arrivals
Gospel - Departure from earth and arrival in heaven.
Lesson 1 - Departure from Law and arrival in grace.
Lesson 2 - Departure from old Jerusalem and arrival at New Jerusalem.
Jesus announces his upcoming journey from earth to his Father in heaven. (Gospel) The early church decided to depart from the narrow legalistic demand that a Christian had to first become a Jew by circumcision before becoming a Christian to free grace and faith. (Lesson 1) At the end of time, the old city on earth will be destroyed and Christians will arrive in the New Jerusalem. (Lesson 2) The prayer looks forward to the Spirit's leadership.
Alternate Themes of the Day - Possible Sermons on the Three Lessons
1. Do You Want the Spirit to Come?
Gospel - The Spirit will teach you the truth - v. 26
Lesson 1 - The Spirit will guide you in your decisions - v. 28
Lesson 2 - The Spirit will give you vision - v. 10
2. Peace that Passes Understanding
Gospel
- Peace is a gift of Christ - v. 27
Lesson 1 - Peace follows a compromise - vv. 28, 29
Lesson 2 - Peace prevails in the city of God - 21:10, 22-27
Theological Reflections
Gospel:
John 14:23-29
1. Home (v. 23). Jesus assured the Disciples that he and the Father would make their home with them. It is not a house nor living together in a house. A house is not a home, but a home can be in a house. The difference is that a home is based on love. (vv. 23, 24) Where loved ones are - in or out of a house - there is home. By love and faith we can be at home with God.
2. Remembrance (v. 26). The Spirit is to bring to our remembrance the things Jesus taught. The Spirit is not to give us new truth beyond what Jesus taught. The Spirit will help us recall and understand Jesus' teachings. The Spirit is necessarily involved in the Word. If the Spirit should tell us anything that does not correspond to the Word, we should doubt whether we have the Spirit.
3. Peace (v. 27). Peace is not an attainment but a divine gift. It is far different from the world's peace which is no peace, because peace may be only a truce, a compromise, or an enforced peace through arms. Christ's peace is a gift resulting from a oneness based on love. When two are one, there is no opportunity for friction or estrangement.
Lesson 1: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29
1. Unless (v. 1). The Judaizers stirred up dissension in the Antioch congregation by claiming that certain conditions had to be met before people could be saved. "Unless" Gentiles were circumcised and obeyed the Mosaic laws, dietary and ceremonial, they could not be Christians. They were legalists who claimed the way into Christianity was by way of Judaism. True Christianity does not set moral or ceremonial conditions to be met for membership in the Kingdom. We are saved solely by grace received by faith.
2. Seemed good (vv. 22, 25, 28). Three times in the letter sent by the Jerusalem Conference to the church in Antioch is the phrase "seemed good." To write a letter, to send messengers, to confirm the Gospel seemed good to the leaders of the church. Why did it seem good? Because what was decided was in harmony with the Spirit and the teachings of Christ.
3. And (v. 28). It was a momentous decision involving the true nature of Christianity. The outcome decided whether Christianity would be a Jewish sect or a universal religion. Their decision seemed good to the Spirit "and" to the leaders. For a right decision, there needs to be a combination of the approval of the Spirit and Christians. When there is agreement, when Spirit and spirits are one, the decision is the correct one.
Lesson 2: Revelation 21:10, 22-27
1. No (v. 22). We can know what is by what is not. Since no one has entered the new Jerusalem and returned to tell us what it is like, John tells us what is not there. There is no temple, no need of the sun, and no night. Put this in a positive way and we learn the heavenly city will be a temple in itself, and God's constant presence will make it a city of light.
2. Temple (v. 22). A temple is a place where God resides and meets with his people. It is his home. In the New Jerusalem there will be no temple, because the city itself will be the temple. God will be in and with his people. Thus, the church is not a building but the people of God. He lives in his people by the Holy Spirit.
3. Book (v. 27). Who are the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem? Who is in heaven? John says the names are recorded in the Lamb's book of life. It is more than a book of the dead or a book of remembrance. It is a book of life. The names in the book have been delivered from the death of sin, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, and have been adopted as God's children. As the name of the baptized is recorded in the Parish Register, the name is simultaneously recorded in heaven's book of life.
Preaching Possibilities
Preaching on Easter 6 and the Ascension
The new lectionary does not provide for an Ascension Sunday, only for an Ascension Thursday, the fortieth day after Easter. If a church has a service on Ascension Day to celebrate this major festival, there is no problem in the use of the lectionary for Easter 6 and 7. A number of options face each pastor at this Ascension time.
1. Observe the "Ascension of our Lord" on Thursday. This is the ideal, but few churches have this service because, they claim, people will not attend on a weekday in sufficient numbers to justify the service.
2. Observe Easter 6 and 7 and ignore the Ascension festival. To do this means we deny our people the privilege of celebrating a major festival. The Ascension holds a vital and major part in the church year. It celebrates the ultimate exaltation of Christ. He is crowned with the glory of victory and is seated at the right hand of God. It is a time for banners to be fluttering in the wind, for the trumpets to blow, for the choirs of men and angels to sing, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." The story of Jesus is not complete without the Ascension. Not to celebrate it is a serious mistake.
3. Another option is to substitute the Ascension pericopes for either Easter 6 or 7. If this is done, the truth of the Sunday deleted would be lost to the people.
4. Combine Ascension with either Easter 6 or 7. Of the two Sundays, Easter 6 is preferable to Easter 7. Easter 6 is preferable because it is psychologically better to observe a festival before it occurs than after the event. A celebration after the event is usually an anti-climax. Moreover, the Lessons for Easter 7 deal with the post-Ascension while Easter 6 looks forward to Pentecost. To celebrate Ascension on Easter 7 would result in two major festivals occurring on two successive Sundays. This would not allow a period of waiting for Pentecost.
Easter 6 and Ascension lessons have a number of parallels, making it possible to combine the two
Sundays:
Easter 6
1. John 14:26 - "But the counselor, The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name."
2. John 14:28 - "I go to the Father."
3. John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you."
4. John 14:28 - "I go away and I will come to you."
Ascension
1. Luke 24:44 - "I send the promise of my Father upon you."
2. Luke 24:51 - "He parted from them and was carried up into heaven."
3. Luke 24:50 - "And lifting up his hands, he blessed them."
4. Acts 1:11 - "This Jesus ... will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Sermons Combining Easter 6 and Ascension
1. Is Heaven In Your Future? John 14:28; Luke 24:51
Need: Today we have lost the concept of heaven as a future place for Christians. In a previous generation many of our hymns were about heaven and sermons invariably referred to the hope of heaven. Today we are occupied with either the past or the present. We give little thought to the future. We are the "Now" generation, we want pie on earth, not in the sky. We "eat, drink, and are merry," for there is no tomorrow. We build barns of affluence to the neglect of the soul. We exploit and waste natural resources not caring if tomorrow's generation will have adequate energy. Jesus shows us that the Christian's ultimate end is heaven to be with God and all the saints.
Sermon:
Life today is enriched by the hope of heaven:
a. We can live hopefully. Heaven gives us something to live for and a place to go.
b. We can live responsibly, accountable to God for our lives at the judgment.
c. We can live patiently, "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18)
2. Preparation for Departure. John 14:25-29; Luke 24:51
Need: Jesus apparently felt it was necessary to prepare the disciples for his departure from earth for heaven. They were very close to each other. Each could say to Jesus, "I could not live without you." If he left, who would lead, guide, comfort, and encourage them? It was a distressing thought that their dear leader would abandon them in a hostile world. We are in the world without the physical presence of Jesus. We share with the disciples the need for coping with his absence. In the gospel, Jesus prepares the disciples for his departure.
Sermon:
"I go away."
a. Be at peace - John 14:27
b. Be comforted - John 14:26
c. Be glad - John 14:28
3. Glad You're Going. John 14:28; Luke 24:50-53
Need: The common reaction to a loved one's leaving is sorrow and despair. This was not the case with the disciples. Before Jesus ascended, he told them they ought to be glad he was leaving. After the Ascension, they returned to Jerusalem "with great joy." Ascension for today's Christian should be a happy day - full of celebration and festivity.
Sermon:
We can be glad for Jesus' ascension because:
a. He is exalted as king of kings. Now he is more than king of the Jews.
b. He is with the Father as our intercessor. We offer our prayers to God through Christ.
c. He is to send power through the Spirit, power to be and do.
d. He gives us the responsibility to continue and extend his work in the world.
"Jesus departed our sight, that he might return to our hearts and there find him. For he departed, and behold, he is here."
- St. Augustine
Gospel:
John 14:23-29
"Before the Spirit Can Come"
Need: Pentecost is only two Sundays distant. Unlike Christmas and Easter, there is no period of preparation for Pentecost. This may explain why Pentecost is often an empty and unfulfilling occasion in the life of the church. This sermon is designed to help people get ready for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit.
Sermon:
Before the Spirit can come to you this Pentecost -
a. Christ must be loved - v. 24
b. Christ must be obeyed - v. 23
c. Christ must ascend - v. 28
Lesson 1: Acts 14:8-18
1. When the Gods Come Down! Acts 14:8-18
Need: When the non-Christian population of Lystra saw the miracle of healing in a man who was a cripple from birth, they concluded, "the gods have come down to us." Vehemently Paul and Barnabas denied their compliment. They insisted on their humanity and gave the glory to God. On this sixth Sunday of Easter, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit. The Father and the Son would come down upon believers when the Holy Spirit arrived. We are looking forward to Pentecost and a renewal of the Holy Spirit. What will happen when God comes to us in the Spirit?
Outline: When God the Spirit comes down -
a. Miracles will happen - vv. 8-10
b. We will acknowledge our humanity - v. 15
c. We will witness to the truth of God - vv. 15-17
2. We Are Only Human! Acts 14:8-18
Need: "Only human?" The emphasis today is upon being human. We are urged to be human and to glory in our humanness. There is a temptation and a danger for us to make gods out of humans. A person can make him/herself into a god. It is the peril of narcissism. In Lystra the people consider Paul and Barnabas as gods, renamed them with the names of gods, and made preparations to worship them. Horrified, Paul and Barnabas cried, "We are men!" It takes grace to keep us humble, to be what we are - only humans.
Outline: We are only humans.
a. Only instruments of God's power - vv. 8-10
b. Only representatives of God - v. 11
c. Only witnesses of God's truth - vv. 15-17
Lesson 2: Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
1. A city Without a Church. Revelation 21:22
Need: Who would dare to live in a city without a church? Without a church a city would become godless and utterly corrupt, a place unsafe for decent people. It is the mission of the church to plant churches wherever they are needed that people might know, love, and obey God. Through the work of the church, sin is curbed and righteous living is fostered. In the text, John sees the time when a church (temple) is not needed. This is the city of God - heaven. This is the goal of Christian work: to build a society where a church is unnecessary. Until such time comes, the church must keep planting churches.
Sermon:
The holy city, the new Jerusalem, has no church:
a. None is needed: all know God
b. None is needed: all live godly lives
c. None is needed: God lives with his people. "And the name of the city henceforth shall be. The Lord is there." Ezekiel 48:35
2. The Perfect City. Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23
Need: Cities in America are in trouble. Some are almost bankrupt. The inner city is often blighted with decay. Violence is on the streets. Pornography and prostitution flourish. People have fled to the suburbs. The old cities are ghettos of poverty, racism, and degradation. In the text John is given a vision of a perfect city, the kind of city God wants for all people. It is this kind of city Christian people should be working to bring into gradual reality.
Sermon:
the perfect city.
a. Possesses the glory of God - v. 11
b. Is built on the foundation of the Apostles - v. 14
c. Is illuminated by the presence of Christ - v. 23
EASTER 7
The Lessons
Acts 16:16-34
The experience of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. Paul's exorcizing a demon from a slave girl leads to a riot formented by her owners because their business was threatened. Paul and Silas had their clothes torn from them, were beaten, and then thrown into solitary confinement with their feet in the stocks in the Philippian jail. While singing hymns at midnight, an earthquake occurred and the jailer, scared to death, asked how he could be saved. He and his family were baptized. Paul and Silas were comforted and fed by the jailor.
Acts 16:6-10 (L)
Acts 7:55-60
Paul receives a call to Macedonia.
Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr.
Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
The ascended Christ promises to return soon. The exalted, risen, and ascended Christ is heard in this pericope. Christ promises to return to earth soon. When he comes he will judge every person according to one's deeds. They who have accepted Christ will enter heaven. Christ has authority to do this because he is the Son of David. The church responds with a prayer for him to come soon. This passage is a fitting close to the series we had from Revelation in the Easter season.
John 17:20-26
Jesus prays for those he leaves on earth. This passage, a part of the high priestly prayer offered at the Last Supper, concludes the Easter series from John. Knowing he will soon ascend to the Father, he prays for his Disciples and those to come in future generations. He prays that they may be one as he and the Father are one. Their oneness will show the world that God sent Jesus and that God loves them. Also, Jesus prays that his followers will be with him in heaven where they will see the glory God gave him. His final prayer is that his followers will know and love God as he did.
Prayer of the Day
"Almighty and eternal God, your Son our Savior is with you in eternal glory. Give us faith to see that, true to his promise, he is among us still and will be with us to the end of time."
Hymn of the Day
"Lord, Receive this Company"
Theme of the Day: When We All Get Together
Gospel - Christians are together in Christ.
Lesson 1 - Faith brings Christians together with God through Christ.
Lesson 2 - When Christ returns, Christians and Christ are together forever.
Easter 7 basks in the afterglow of the Ascension. Before leaving, Christ prays that his followers of all time will be one in him and with each other. (Gospel) This oneness with God is made possible by faith in Christ, for to be saved is to be one with God. (Lesson 1) Lesson 2 assures us that the ascended Christ is returning to gather his faithful and they will live together with him in the New Jerusalem forever. (Lesson 2) The prayer refers to the ascended Christ. The hymn deals with the oneness of Christians of Christ.
Theological Reflections
Gospel: John 17:20-26
1. Also (v. 20). In his farewell prayer, Jesus does not only pray for himself nor for his present Disciples, but for us living twenty centuries later. Jesus had the foreknowledge of the continuation of his church and he is concerned about future disciples and their welfare. And how will future disciples be made? Answer: "through their word." The continuation of the church depends upon the present generation's witness to the next generation. The future of the church depends on evangelism and missions.
2. World (v. 21). As united Christians witness to the Word, the world will know that Jesus is the Messiah, the one sent by God to reveal the truth of God and to redeem fallen humanity. When the world sees the followers of Christ united in love with each other and with Christ, the world will be convinced. No social service program no matter how helpful, no sound theology no matter how true, no nothing will ever convince the world that Jesus is the Christ except our oneness in him.
3. One (v. 21). The theme of this prayer is oneness. The idea is emphasized by repeating the word four times in these few verses. Above all, Christ wants us to be one in the Father, one in him, and one with each other. By his sacrificial death, he made it possible for us to be one in God. By love we can be one with one another. Our lack of unity is the result of not being one in love with Christ and one another.
Lesson 1: Acts 16:16-34
1. She (v. 17). She is a demon-possessed slave girl whose clairvoyance brought her owners a living. Referring to Paul and Silas, she kept pointing to them and saying, "These men are servants of the most high God, who proclaim to you the way to salvation." And this was the truth! It indicates that even out of the mouths of the deranged, God's truth can be proclaimed. God will use anyone to proclaim the truth even as some in Paul's day preached Christ out of jealousy.
2. Gain (v. 19). Religion can be profitable for some. The owners of the slave were making a living out of her pronouncements. When they saw their business collapse by Paul's healing of the slave, they took revenge by having Paul and Silas arrested and thrown in jail. Strike a person at his pocketbook and you make an enemy. Stop having flowers in church for weddings or funerals and what would the florists do? Begin the practice of having cheap funerals and see the feathers fly from the funeral directors!
3. Midnight (v. 25). It was the middle of the night when all should be quiet and the world asleep. Paul and Silas are in pain, for they are in the stocks in solitary confinement. Things could not be worse - innocent men suffering. When things get darkest and hopeless, God takes over. The prisoners at midnight sing hymns of praise. An earthquake takes place, and a man comes seeking peace with God!
Lesson 2: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
1. Soon (v. 12). For two thousand years now Christians have been hearing that Christ was soon coming back to earth for the wind-up of history. How long is "soon?" Now even Jesus knew the answer to that. "Soon" may be today or tomorrow or tomorrow ad infinitum. The "soon" may be like a flash flood or a volcanic eruption like Vesuvius. "Soon" keeps us ever on the alert, on tiptoe.
2. Tree (v. 14). The redeemed have the right to the tree of life which exists in heaven. Up to this time humanity has not been allowed to eat of this tree. Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden lest they eat of the tree of life in the middle of the garden. Now that God's Son dies on a tree, the way to the tree of life is open. It is a way of saying that by Jesus' death, humanity by accepting Christ in faith can enter into the life of God.
3. Come (v. 17). The church prays for Jesus to return to earth - "Maranatha." Do we really want the Parousia? It means the destruction of the earth, the judgment of the nations, and the division of sheep and goats. Only if we are in Christ would we want the King to come to earth. He comes not to judge nor condemn us but to gather his people and go with them to eternal life. "Come," Jesus, and deliver us from this world of poverty, strife, and death.
Preaching Possibilities
Preaching on Easter 7 and the Ascension
1. The lessons for Easter 7 may be seen through the Ascension which has taken place.
Lesson 1 - Salvation is by faith in the ascended Lord.
Lesson 2 - The ascended Christ promises to return to earth.
Gospel - Christ prays before his ascension that his followers may be with him in his ascended glory.
2. Easter 7 is a quiet, waiting day before the great event, Pentecost. It is like Saturday between Good Friday and Easter. This conforms to Jesus' order that the disciples should return to Jerusalem, wait, and pray for the coming of the Spirit. If the Spirit is to come anew to our congregations, people need to get conditioned and receptive that the Spirit may enter their lives. Easter 7 then is a quiet period of reflection on the present location of Jesus, on the future coming of Jesus to earth, and on the condition of his followers still on earth. It is a Sunday between the times: Ascension and Pentecost.
3. Since Ascension has taken place and was observed in connection with Easter 6, we do not celebrate the significance of the Ascension, but we preach about life now seen in the light of the fact of the Ascension.
Life in the Light of the Ascension. Text: 3 Lessons
Need: As a church we have celebrated the Ascension. We have accepted the fact that Jesus is now in glory with the Father. So what? What does the Ascension mean for daily life here and now? Like the disciples, are we content to gaze into heaven? As the two men brought the disciples back to reality, we need to get to the business of living. In this sermon, we want people to see life in the light of the Ascension.
Sermon:
The Ascension gives us -
a. Courage to witness, love and die for Christ - L 1
b. Hope for Christ's return to earth - L 2. The church prays for his coming soon that through his coming there may be a new heaven and a new earth.
c. Comfort for life on earth - G. It is comforting to know that Christ continues to pray for his people that they might be one in love and that some day in the future they may be with him in his glory in heaven.
Gospel: John 17:20-26
1. Will Christians Ever Be One?
Need: Christians seem to be divided more than ever. The ecumenical movement seems to have lost its forward thrust. COCU is almost a dead issue. Churches are actually separating: new denominations have resulted from dissension within the ranks: interpretation of the Bible, ordination of women, and revision of worship. There is today an urgent need, as always, for the church to be one:
... It is the will of Christ for his disciples to be one.
... The Spirit cannot come this Pentecost unless all are one (Acts 2:1).
... The world will not know nor believe in Christ unless it sees unity in the church - 17:21, 23.
Sermon:
The text gives us a model for unity.
a. A unity of relationship - love. vv. 21, 23. As Christ is one in God, and a Christian is one in Christ, so Christians are to be one with each other in love which draws, cements, and unites.
b. A unity of togetherness - v. 24. By the Ascension, Jesus is now with the Father. Jesus prays that his people also may be with him in heaven. Unity is expressed in being together.
c. A unity of a common cause - vv. 21, 23. When people have a common cause, they unite and work together to achieve the goal. The goal of the church is to be a witness to the world which is to come to know and believe in God.
2. Why Jesus Prays for Us Today. John 17:20-26
Need: If Jesus prays for us as the text says he does, there must be reason for it. Consider the situation: the church is deserted by her leader; the disciples are on their own in a hostile world with an impossible task to win the world. Jesus apparently realizes the disciples' need for help. What Jesus prays for indicates what Christians today need. It is important to note that in verse 20, Jesus says he prays for the Christians of the future, for us today. What do we Christians need: better church programs? more money to finance our programs? more wisdom? more members?
Sermon:
Why Jesus prays for us today.
a. For us to be one in God - v. 21
b. For us to be one with each other - v. 22
c. For us to be one with Christ in heaven - v. 24
Lesson 1: Acts 16:16-34
1. Belief has its Surprises! 16:16-34
Need: It seems that "believe ... and you will be saved" is too easy and glib. To believe in Jesus means more than a passive acceptance that Jesus is the Christ. Our people need to understand further dimensions of belief.
Outline: Believe in the Lord Jesus -
a. Believe in Jesus and suffer for him! vv. 19-24
b. Believe in Jesus and sing in your suffering! v. 25
c. Believe in Jesus and be saved from eternal suffering! vv. 25-34
2. Saved - What is it? 16:25-36
Need: To be saved is not usually understood. There are implications to being and remaining saved. To be saved is to be in a right relationship with God. This is the most important and tremendous event in a person's life. It deserves an analysis and application.
Outline: To be saved calls for us to -
a. Trust - "Believe in the Lord Jesus - v. 31
b. Obey - "He was baptized." v. 33
c. Serve - "He brought them into his house." v. 34
Lesson 1: Acts 16:6-10 (L)
1. The Blessing of Closed Doors. Acts 16:6-10
Need: In this passage God through the Holy Spirit said "No" twice to Paul. As far as he was concerned, he could just as well have gone to Asia Minor or Bythinia as to Macedonia. For unknown reasons, God did not want Paul there. If he had gone contrary to the Spirit, the results would probably have been tragic. God says "no" as well as "yes." His "no" is as much a blessing as his "yes." His "no" keeps us from trouble and failure. After closing doors, the Spirit opens a door to service. The point is that the Holy Spirit guides us away from certain ventures and opens up the way we should go.
Outline: The coming Spirit will guide us -
a. Through closed doors - vv. 6, 7
b. Through an open door to service - vv. 9-10
2. Where Do You Go for Guidance? Acts 16:6-10
Need: In a world of perplexity, complexity, and confusion, we feel the need of guidance. What shall we do? Where shall we go? What decision shall we make? Are we doing the right and wise thing? Peoplc are going to various sources of supposed guidance: astrology, horoscope, zodiac, Jeanne Dixon, a palm reader, etc. The Bible promises that the Spirit will guide us. In the text we have a case of Spirit-guidance. But, we ask how this guidance is given to us. We look to the text for guidance and answers.
Outline: How God guides us.
a. God guides us through the Spirit - vv. 6, 7
b. God guides us through a human being - v. 9
c. God guides us through a need - "help us" - v. 9
Lesson 1: Acts 7:55-60
The Ugly Side of Easter
Need: This season can be glorified to the point of unreality. Easter brings new life and new begin-nings, but living in the promises of Easter can also bring the sort of tragedy which befell Stephen, one intoxicated with the empty tomb's meaning for life. We need to balance euphoria with realism as we face a hostile world with God's good news.
1. Easter can turn everything around
a. Stephen was launched onto a stunning preaching career.
b. Our lives abound with resurrection miracles - Christians are changed when the empty tomb takes a hold.
2. We need to count the potential cost
a. Stephan lost his life because he preached the Easter message
b. Being "Easter People" isn't all rose petals and good feeling
1. Some people misunderstand the good news
2. Some people understand it all too well - and fight it off
3. The resurrection overcomes even the ugly side of Easter
a. Stephen wasn't destroyed merely because people killed him
b. Nothing can stop the resurrection - nor our partnership in it
Lesson 2: Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
1. A Promise and a Prayer. 22:12-14
Need: Jesus has ascended to heaven. Is that the end of the story? At the Ascension two men promised, "This Jesus ... will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." In this Lesson Jesus promises to come, "Surely I am coming soon." The church responded, "Maranatha - Come, Lord Jesus." Why are we not content to leave Jesus in heaven in all his glory? Why do we want him back on earth? Do we really mean it when we pray, "Come, Lord Jesus?"
Sermon:
Why do we want Jesus back on earth?
a. To bring judgment upon evil - v. 12
b. To give us life - v. 14
2. It's Your Move! 22:12-14, 16-17, 20
Need: The Bible ends with an invitation. It tells us how God through the ages did all he could to reconcile people to himself. He has done everything a God could do, even the sacrifice of his only Son. Rightfully the Bible closes by telling us that it now is our move in the cosmic chess game. That move is for us to come to Christ in response to God's grace. Forty percent of America has yet to come to Christ. More than two-thirds of the world need to come to Christ.
Sermon:
Will you come now?
a. Not to come means judgment - v. 12
b. To come means life - vv. 14, 17
c. Come prepared - v. 14: "Blessed are those who wash their robes."
