Every year new video games hit the shelves. For decades, gaming has played a major role in influencing our culture. However, one major realm of influence which has been very intentional by the gaming industry has been overlooked by the Christian community: video gaming's influence upon worldview development (both adults and children).
This week, a new game hits the shelves that takes a major strike at influencing worldview development and even religion itself. The game is called "Spore" and is the next product by the creative team that developed games like Sim-City and Civilization.
To learn more about this game and it's influence, feel free to read at my new blog site: http://myanchorbaptist.org/wordpress/
I will eventually be blogging on Anchor Baptist's web page only, but until then, I'll keep little snippits here.
I would like to take this moment to thank all of you for reading my plethora of blog entries. I will be getting back to posting entries like a mad-man briefly...but on a new site. The site will be the anchor baptist church's official website, with the blogs located at http://myanchorbaptist.org/wordpress/.
I would like to at least let you all know that I will be posting abbreviated versions of the blogs here so that you will know the topics being discussed...then you can go to http://myanchorbaptist.org/wordpress/ and get more info. :) Eventually, I will only do the church site for blogging...and hopefully you will join me there for some fun discussions :) Talk to y'all soon...especailly after my wedding (which is in about 2 weeks...YAY!)...
What is a "Friend?" Since people we allow into our lives play a vital role of influence, is there any guidance in Scripture as to which friends are beneficial and which are not and should be avoided?
Exactly at what point has a relationship developed to where a person is no longer an "acquaintance," but has developed into a friend?
Some Famous Musings regarding "Friendship Wisdom:"
- "a true friend stabs you in the front."~ Oscar Wilde - "friends:people who borrow my books and set wet glasses on them."~ Edwin Arlington Robinson - "Love is blind.Friendship closes its eyes."~ Anonymous - "A good friend will bail you out of jail.A great friend is beside you saying, "boy that was fun!" ~ Anonymous - "A true friend is someone who thinks you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked."~ Bernard Meltzer - "Friends are God's way of apologizing for our families."~ Anonymous - "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, 'What!You too?I thought I was the only one."~ C.S. Lewis - "Friendship is a pretty full-time occupation if you really are friendly with somebody.You can't have too many friends because then you're just not really friends."~Truman Capote
*What these quotes seem to indicate and/or have in common… - friendship takes time, hard work, overlooks failings … and though they may be a pain in the rear, they are mostly a blessing.
*however, I am curious to see what Scripture has to say about friendship.Of all the peoplethat I run across in my life, how do I choose between those I should be friends with and those friendships I should avoid? - this is an issue that every parent struggles with, as every parent has run across (or will) afriend of their child that they wish were not a friend. - same goes for their own friendships…we've all had good and bad friends in our lives.
*Does Scripture give any guidance to help/assist us in our quest for friendships?
Meaning of the word "Friend."
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for friend is "ahava" and can either mean love or friend.
In the New Testament, there are two meanings/uses…a) special or trusted companion; and b) "friend of…"(for example, "friend of Caesar" in John 19:12 or "Friend of God" in James 2:23).In the NT Roman times, if someone were a "friend of" someone (for example, friend of the emporer), that statement had several implications: 1) the friend knew the emperor intimately, 2) the friend was willing to go wherever the emperor sent him, 3) the "friend of…" retained the title even after the emperor died, and 4) if the friend betrayed the emperor, he would lose his privileged status and this would mean his political doom.
*now onto "friendship" wisdom from one of the infamous wisdom literature writings of the Old Testament as we continue this quest...
The "Friend" Chapter of Proverbs (Proverbs 27).
Verses 5-6 ~ better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. 1) A friend is Confrontive. 2) Characteristics:challenging, giving of time, gives effort into the friendship. a) so many relationships today go from day to day with unresolved conflicts. b) conflicts do not destroy a relationship…it's how the conflicts are handled that becomes damaging (via avoidance, dominance, unrealistic expectations, etc.). c) a real friend will confront, and do so with the goal of benefitting the other person.
Verse 9 ~ Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. 1) A friend is Comforting. 2) Characteristics:encouraging, listens, allows you to be known and heard. a) few things are worse than speaking with someone and ending with the feeling of not being heard/understood.Talking with someone special to you, and in the end feeling like you talked to a stranger. b) A friend will hear you, listen to you, and participate with you in your struggles.
Verse 10 ~ Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. 1) A friend is Caring 2) Characteristics:loving, self-sacrificing, loyal, available (or makes oneself avail). a) a friend will make themselves available in your times of need…even if it isinconvenient for them to do so.
Verse 14 ~ He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him.
- Wait, a blessing reckoned as a curse? Yes. Consider some key parts of this verse: blesses "loudly" and also "early in the morning." If I were to go to your house, and at 4:45am walk into your room and clang a metal trash can with a wooden spoon while yelling, "you're a wonderful person!," I imagine you would take that "blessing" as a curse...and would then (in your own loving and unique way), reckon a curse to me
1) A friend is Considerate 2) Characteristics:thoughtful and selfless. a) a friend will be considerate of another's feelings, desires, and circumstances. *if a man is watching the superbowl, and it's in the final 2 minutes of the game with the score tied…and his wife goes up to the TV and turns it off saying, "I think it's time to discuss our issues…" the husband will not view his wife with happy thoughts.;) - is the TV more important than her?No…of course not.More important than the marriage?No…of course not.However, it is still important…and there is a time and place for things.Same with problems in a relationship…there is a time and place to deal with those problems…and during the end of a special game is not one of those times.
Verse 17 ~ Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. 1) A friends is Constructive. 2) Characteristics:stimulating (intellectually, emotionally, & spiritually), shares deeply. a) this ends up being one of the biggest areas where marriages today lack friendship:the lack of intellectual, emotional, and spiritual interaction. b) when this style of interaction decreases, the couple likely ends up taking each other for granted, and end up being more roommates than mates.
Though Scripture has a lot to say about friendships (just look at thge stories of Jonathan and David in 1 Samuel 18-23)...hopefully some of the musings from Proverbs at least gets you started on the journey of choosing friends that are beneficial and constructive rather than tearing and destructive...
II. Acquainting A) Can One Be Saved Apart from Christ?What if one never heard…what about theirsalvation? B) Forms of Universalism 1) Straight Universalism a) all roads lead to the same place. b) everyone is saved regardless of how they behave or what they believed. *Karl Barth in the 1950's said, "God's YES trumps our squeaky little NO." 2) Postmodern Innovators(Emergent Church Doctrines). a) an "opt out" type scenario.Able to get a second chance in hell…(hell = purgatory?) 1) although, who would possibly "opt out" once in hell? 2) even Satan could one day opt in to heaven… b) alot of weight on Creation & Common Grace, not enough on sin and Special Grace. 1) We are made good…and God gives common grace to all. a) God is doing good things in Muslim people, therefore, because of that grace (goodness), God has accepted them. - problem:that's common grace, not special grace. 2) the problem is a broken relationship, God can/will reach you any way He can. a) no mention of a sin/being problem.No mention of what breaks the relationship.Or as Rob Bell wrote:the church must stop thinking about everybody in categories of…saved or not, believer or nonbeliever.Besides the fact that these terms are offensive…they work against Jesus' teachings about how to treat one another.Jesus commanded we love one another (167) 3) Inclusivism a) everyone who obeys general revelation is saved through Jesus. 1) you can be saved without the knowledge of Jesus. b) God accepts the faith you have…whatever it is. 1) we are all born "in." c) accountability is based on knowledge.You don't know, you're not responsible. 1) Vatican 2 of the Catholic Church:as long as you respond to the light you have, you have hope of salvation.
C) "Leaders" going these routes… 1) Joel Olsteen on Larry King Live *Larry asked, "what if Jew, Muslims don't accept Christ?"Joel replied, "I'm real careful about saying who goes to heaven and who doesn't…that's God's territory." *Larry followed with, "are the Muslims wrong?"Joel replied, "I don't really know if they're wrong…" 2) George Bush on Good Morning America *Christians and Muslims pray to the same god…we just take different routes to get there. 3) Billy Graham on Newsweek *Those are decisions only the Lord will make," Graham replied. "It would be foolish for me to speculate on who will be there [in heaven] and who won't. ... I don't want tospeculate about that.God loves everybody, regardless of what label they have. 4) Rob Bell in his book Velvet Elvis *When Jesus died, he died for everybody.Everywhere…this reality is already true.Hell is simply a state of life that is not consistent with godly living…hell is full of forgivenpeople (hell = a really bad time on earth) – page 145-147. 5) Tony Jones in his book The New Christians:Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier *it is possible for people to be saved and not know it.A man who loves his family and yet rejects God is still saved because he lived the love of God out.The actions are more important than beliefs.
D) Are People (non-big wigs) going this route? 1) Graph 1 interpretation (Lifeway research): http://blogs.lifeway.com/blog/edstetzer/2008/06/are-evangelicals-really-univer.html a) Those claiming to be born-again… 1) 52% rejected universalism totally. 2) 8% rejected it somewhat… 3) leaving over 40% agreeing with universalism to some degree. b) attending evangelical churches at least once per month… 1) 42% disagreed with universalism totally 2) leaving over 50% agreeing to some degree with salvation being available apart from Christ. c) those who hold strong evangelical beliefs… 1) 75% rejected universalism totally… 2) that means over 25% accepted universalism is some fashion… 2) Graph 2 interpretation http://religions.pewforum.org/reports a) basic assessment: 1) 57% in Evangelical churches agree that many religions can lead to eternal life 2) 83% in mainline churches agree with the same statement.
*this is HIGHLY disturbing…how then shall we respond?
III. Applying A) Lordship ~ authority over, rule over. 1) God has perfect Lordship…perfect and final authority over creation. B) The problem:we are fallen beings who have rejected that Lordship. C) Rom. 10:13-15 1) to be saved, to find forgiveness for sins…one needs to hear the Gospel. D) if one does not ever get to hear the Gospel…what happens to them? 1) All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 2) since we have a being problem (we are ALL sinners), we are under God's wrath. a) if that wrath is not satisfied…hell is the result. 3) yes, salvation is something that is in God's hands…yet we do have revelation from God that says that salvation is by grace through faith. a) that revelation does say that Jesus died for sins, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him.He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.(John 3:16-18). 4) yes, there is common grace…but that is not redemptive grace. a) redemptive grace is special grace…and only comes with faith in Christ. b) faith in Christ comes from the Gospel.Period.
IV. Assessing A) The Temptation. 1) to go the "politically correct" route. a) claim ignorance, leave an open door concerning the hereafter, and offer the possibility that all could go to heaven regardless of Christ. 2) to go the "emergent route." a) adopt the theology of Evangelical Universalism. b) it can be tempting for some to go the "God will empty hell" route…or the "there is not hell, hell is simply a present reality" path. B) The Goal… 1) God is God.We are in a broken relationship with God because of our sinfulness, and only Jesus Christ is the answer.Not politically correct…but God has never been one to worry about being PC…
*interesting…all throughout the Bible, there is the tension between God's love and His holy justice; between grace and judgment.This tension comes to a close with Jesus' work on the cross, where an act of grace satisfies justice as Jesus bore the penalty of divine judgment for sin…and many churches today are in extreme danger of missing it all…
Well, my little movie "Murder Most Unkind" will be shown at the Grand Rapids Arts Festival June 6th at 5:45pm. Due to its length (a little under an hour long), it will be only shown the one time. It also didn't win any awards, but hey, it's being shown and I'm please :)
As for a premiere party, it will be sometime this summer...but I am not sure when. I have to finish the DVD special features yet...and time keeps slipping away from me. I'll keep everyone posted. As for any current and upcoming projects, refer to my "Skyscrape entertainment" Myspace site for more info (in the blog section)...
I. Structural Note:Paul's Sermon is written in a parallel-type format (Chiasm) *A-B-C-B-A type pattern, where the beginning and end parallel 1) A:v22-23 is about the ignorance of pagan worship 2) B:v24-25 is about how the greatness of God deserves to be worshiped and the folly of idolatrous worship. 3) C:v26-27 deals with the true relationship with humans to their Creator 4) B:v28-29 deal with our relationship with God and the folly of idolatrous worship. 5) A:v30-31 deals again with the ignorance of pagan worship, and that the time of ignorance is over.
*Chiasms are designed to point to a center (the emphasis). Paul's emphasis here (the center of the sermon):verses 26-27...
II. A Providential God (God the Provider) A) Two Purposes/Goals of God 1) v26 - to inhabit the earth a) God made from one man every nation 1) one man - refers to Adam 2) in other words, every nation on the face of the earth (all humankind) are responsible to God.God is the One universal Sovereign Lord over all. *It's neat that Paul points to creation...especially since today society is strongly and vehementally trying to remove creation-doctrine. Without creation, there is no one man from whom all sin is inherited, no original Fall, and Paul here in Acts adds that without Adam, there would be no full responsibility to God. But since God (and ONLY God) made humankind through Adam, all people are subject to God.
b) to live on all the face of the earth 1) to live - means "to house permanently, inhabit." c) having determined their appointed times 1) determined - "to appoint, decree, ordain." 2) appointed (prearranged) 3) times - "season, time."It also implies "that which time gives the opportunity to do."
*ever feel like you "run out of time?" That basically means, "you've run out of the opportunity to do something." But to do what? Though there are many things to do, Paul has a specific "do" in mind:
2) v27 - to seek God. *in other words, God placed you where you are at.You are here, in this time, because God wanted you here. - God also knew that this time would be the best time for you, because this would be the place and time you would be most likely to seek Him.He has arranged your life in such a manner for you to best seek Him. - However, you will not find Him without His revelation through His Spirit.
*many times, people feel like a typewriter in a computerized world. - Either made in the wrong era, - made to be ineffective in today's world (bulky, slow, "inefficient"). - possible feelings: 1) not gifted enough to really be used by God (or to matter) 2) you may feel like you are placed in a "situation" where you cannot "amount to much." - family is poor - parents are cruel - any like "circumstance" where you feel like you are placed in a situation where you are trapped…unable to achieve anything. * "maybe if my family was nicer, in a different state, country, richer, etc., then I could be called to do something…" * "maybe if I was smarter, taller, faster, stronger, then I could do something for God…" **any of these sound familiar?Ever thought them? - Guess what?God planned it all.You are how you are supposed to be.It may seem weird, but it's true.In order to seek Him, in order to do what you are made to do, God placed you where and when He did, and formed you in the manner He did.Even if it seems goofy.
A fun, yet wierd, Woodpecker story - people think a woodpecker "evolved" from a "normal" bird.Here's the biology of a woodpecker:it has a strong beak, a reinforced skull, and a super long sticky tongue that wraps around its head, through the nasal cavity, and into the mouth.When a woodpecker is tapping into trees, it's looking for food.Muscles in its head pushes the tongue through the nose cavity and out the mouth.The tongue touches bugs, sticks to them, and brings them in the bird's mouth.Yum!
Now, what if the bird was formed through chance, mutation, and selection?The scientific belief is "one step at a time."So which of the three elements of the woodpecker that varies from "normal" birds was first?The beak?A bird was born with a super beak, so it goes to a tree when hungry and SMACK!The skull caves in and you have one dead little bird.End of the evolutionary process. :)Maybe the skull was first.So, a hungry bird with a strong head goes to a tree and SMACK!The bill folds up like an accordion, the bird then dies of starvation.Maybe the tongue was first.Now the bird is flying along…with its tongue hanging out (not having the nasal cavity).It catches a low lying branch…and sticks.The bird wraps around and hangs from the tree and dies :)
Okay, a silly story.Yet very true!God created the woodpecker like He did so that the bird can live and function like it is supposed to.Ready for this?Here's a paraphrase of one of Jesus' analogies:If God cares for a bird…how much more then, will He care…for you?
Like the animals, God designed you unique and specific, placing you in the appropriate time to seek His face...to grope for Him...to deal with the problems of today...and to shine His light for others to do the same. Paul's sermon ends with the attitude of, "the ball's in your court...what will you do? Will you seek God, or reject Him?"
Many of you may not know, but the church I pastor has a special ministry called "Celiac ministry." Celiac Disease is a digestive issue where those who have it cannot eat wheat gluten. This makes it very hard to find food to eat since the average flour is wheat, the average thickening agent consists of wheat, and even the infamous Cadbury Eggs have wheat. Sooo...what can a person eat? What about eating with some sort of taste?
Last year, Anchor Baptist Church put on West Michigan's first Gluten Free Food Fair. It was a place where vendors from all over the country came to one spot and put their food and recipes on display. People could come, taste, and if they liked it they could buy some (or go to their local health food store...or Meijer). What's more, those who attended realized they were not alone with this issue.
In 2007, about 500 people attended the event. On May 17...1012 registered people were at the event. This number does not count all the vendors, all the workers/volunteers, and the walk-ins that did not register. Who knows how many will arrive next year. You can go to www.myanchorbaptist.com for more information about both the ministry and Celiac Disease itself.
Below is a simple little video I quickly put together to capture some of what the fair was like:
Coming soon is a special 8-part sermon series called "The Ships of Faith." The series will run from June 22 until August 10. Though the sermons will have a "pirate/island" theme to them, in honor of Indiana Jones coming to theaters, I made a special trailer called "Indiana John and the Ships of Faith." It's silly, quickly made, but a lot of fun...enjoy and I hope to see y'all June-Aug:
Here is a list of my anticipated films of this summer. Feel free to share yours (whether similar or different). I'll try to put them "in order" from most anticipated to least...but the least is still highly anticipated ;)
1) The Happening - Shyamalan's newest thriller.
2) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
3) Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
4) Wall-E ~ Go Pixar!
5) The Drark Knight - Go Batman!
6) Hancock - Will Smith's anti-hero movie
7) 88 Minutes
8) Ironman
9) Get Smart - Steve Carell's latest comedy
10) Speed Racer - the "Matrix Twins" are at it again...who knows...
Well, there you have it...my top 10 for the summer of 2008. I must congratulate Hollywood on trying to put stress on my budget by releasing all ten in a 12 week period. That's almost a movie per week. Grrr and YAY at the same time. Grrr on the cost, yay on lots of good movies on the horizon :)
*there is something about the idea of miracles that effects everyone. - some look for it everywhere...others fear it, find it threatening, and excuse it. - before moving on let me ask you...where do you find yourself and why? 1) do you look for miracles? Why do you need one? 2) do you fear them (or get angry when people claim one)? Why? a) does it mean God hates you for not letting you have one? *just as important to this question are these two other questions: - why does it seem that the Holy Spirit works differently today than He did in the New Testament? Everyone can admit there is a difference... **a sub-question is: is there something different between "Spritual gifts" and talents? - are they the same? Can non-Christians possess "spiritual gifts?" *to get a grip on this very difficult and complicated issue, we need to begin where it does: Acts 2:1-4
Getting Acquainted with Acts 2 A) What is Pentecost? 1) Greek word for pentacost is pronounced "pent-ay-cost-ay" a) penta (penta-gram, penta-teuch) means five. b) Pentecost means "50" as in "50 days after Passover." - "Pentacost" was an annual festival/celebration/event.
B) What is a "Gift?" 1) Greek word is pronoucned "char-is-mah" a) charis means "grace" b) "ma" indicates a product of some process or activity. c) simply defined, charisma is what is produced in us when God pours out His grace upon us. 2) we tend to think of "tongues, healing, etc." with this word. a) know what else is called a charisma? Marriage and singleness (1 Cor. 7:7). 1) does this mean marriage is a spiritual gift only for the saved? Or have we misunderstood the word "gift" all these years?
C) the event of Pentecost 1) v1 - the day of Pentecost came a) it is 50 days after Passover 2) v2 - God breaks wind. :) There was a sound from Heaven like a windstorm... 3) v3 - they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire...rest on each of them a) this is the fulfillment of a prophecy of John the Baptist (Luke 3:16) b) that means this event is the Baptism of the Spirit Jesus was to do (w/fire) c) that also means this was a one time event (like Jesus' incarnation, etc.).
Application Time A) Question 1: why do the actions of the Spirit appear different today than in the NT? 1) the workings of power in the NT a) throughout the NT, esp. at Pentecost, miracles abounded. 1) people were healed, the dead were raised, disabilities changed, etc. b) today that rarely happens, and there is no more authority in it. 1) in the NT, an Apostle would never say the words, "if it is God's will..." a) they would never talk that way b) they simply said, "your healed." And it was done. No if, no maybe, no "if God wills it," & it always happened to everyone (no mistakes) c) even if people lacked faith, miracles still happened... 2) today this type of authority does not exist...why? 2) the purpose of wonders in the NT a) They did not have a Bible in the NT, so signs and wonders were done to prove that what was happening was of God. 1) Eph. 2:20 - having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone. a) God used the Apostles to be the foundation of the Church 1) without a solid foundation, the building will never stand 2) without a solid cornerstone, the building will never be straight 3) God gave miraculous gifts to the Apostles so that they will be able to be the appropriate foundation of the church. 3) the Agency of Power a) in the NT, Jesus gave the Apostles the power (they became agents of power) 1) once the Apostles died, there were no more agents of power 2) Eph. 3:5 - ...it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit 3) 2 Cor. 12:12 - signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles a) this was something given to the Apostles and the Prophets of old b) given for the sake of authenticating their message b) today, God is the only agent of power 1) therefore, if God wants to do it He can. But we cannot. a) Apostles of the NT could by themselves. Today, only God. 2) in James 5, it is God who heals...not the elders who are praying... c) the fact is the gifts have not ceased (stopped), people are simply not agents of power anymore. God is the Agent of Power, and will do as He sees fit. *sub-question: how does one reply to the attack, "you are limiting God?" - a pastor that says this deserves a black-belt in compassion and pastor care :) - my reply: no, this is not limiting God. God can do what ever He pleases. 1) God could heal, and I am comfortable with it if He chooses not to. 2) we all have to die of something some day, does this mean we lack faith? No.
B) Question 2: what's the difference between gifts and Talents? 1) the purpose of the gifts is for us to serve God and others...to edify (build up) the Church. a) this is why local church membership is so important: 1) local membership reflects universal membership 2) it gives a commitment (like marriage) to serve and build the body 3) and through this, the Spirit begins to develop gifts in people to assist with the building of the body. And these gifts can change from year to year. So don't get too caught up with "I must serve like this because that is how I am called." It just might change... 2) Are talents Spirit caused? a) Let me be honest here...I don't know. Why don't I know? 1) 1 Cor. 4:7 - all abilities come from God. 2) it appears that talents are given by God through... a) parents/genetics b) skills learned by life and/or studying. 3) whereas Spiritual gifts appear to come from the Spirit with the sole purpose of benefiting the Church. a) this seems to happen after salvation (which includes the dwelling of the Spirit). b) where's the confusion then? Heh...how to tell them apart. 1) I've seen God use talents to benefit the church...as well as gifts. 2) sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between a natrually talented teacher, a teacher who has been well trained, and one who has been given the spiritual gift of teaching. 3) what I do know is this: we are NOT to ask, "how am I gifted." a) that is a selfish question that is all about me...gifts are about others. b) the key question: what needs are there in the situation where God has placed me? What, in the particular circumstances that I find myself, are there opportunities to serve others? In what ways can I minister the gospel of Christ in word or deed? c) gifts are soemthing the local chuch is to recognize. d) we must not make the Christian life about self, about me: what makes me comfortable, what makes me valuable, what makes me special, how do I fit it, etc. - we must look around us and ask, what can I do to serve others? - how can I reflect Christ, sacrifice myself to help others flourish? - do so prayerfully, while meditating upon Scripture, allowing the Spirit to mold us, change us, developing within us a God-refelcting character. - and then act with love and compassion, serving one another and loving one another just as Christ did so for us...
National Lampoon’s Spring Break
Current mood: impressed
Category: Games
Well...occasionally I get to be part of strange and fun things. Once again, those moments I treasure was at church. we had a "young adult party" (meaning, for people aged 19ish to 35ish), and I just happened to have a video camera there. That night, I took the footage, grabbed a song, and did a little clipping to "capture the evening." If you feel so inclined...watch and enjoy. Oh, there is one minor incentive for those of you who did not attend - there are a couple of shots of yours truly in it doing...well...something ;)
Approaching Acts 1:6-11 *how much of one’s life is spent on a ladder? Heh...very little. Even people who work in construction are not on a ladder most of their lives. In fact, as one watches a home-improvement show on TV, very little is even discussed about ladders. Usually the focus is on the house, and the work done either from above or from below (on the ground). Much like that ladder, Luke spends very little time talking about Jesus’ ascension (Jesus going "up" into Heaven many weeks after His resurrection). Instead, Luke wants to focus our attention on the work being done - both above and below.
Getting Acquainting with Acts 1 A) Luke’s theological use... the word "ascend" is a Greek word meaning "to raise up or to take up (to exalt)." Thus, it is more about Jesus’ exaltation back to the riht hand of the Father than it is about anything else.
B) The Story 1) two direct accounts of the "taking up" (ascension) a) Luke 24:50-53 b) Acts 1:9-11 *notice both were written by Luke... 2) In Acts 1, Jesus speaks about the coming of the Spirit and the power He will bring with Him. a) it appears this discussion happens at the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12) 3) After Jesus finished speaking, He is taken up into Heaven and a cloud hid Him. a) How appropriate that a cloud would envelop Christ on a mountain top. 1) "cloud" was often the sign of the presence of God in the OT (eg Sinai). 4) Two angels appear and charge the apostles. a) "why are you still here? Why look into the sky?" - very similar to the charge at the tomb, "why look for the living among the dead?" b) they then talk of Jesus’ return being in a similar fashion.
Applying Acts 1 A) Stop Looking Up! *I saw a bumper sticker that read, "when you are down, try looking up." What theology is this? Sounds nice, but think of it like this: when is one to "look up?" When they are down...is this right? I know the sticker was about prayer, but many times people think about looking up and forget that Jesus’ vision wasn’t up. 1) How much is written on the ascension? Very little. Luke did not dwell on it. 2) this same type of thing happened a lot in the Bible: a) Think of the empty tomb (Luke 24:5) ~ where angels rebuked the visitors. b) if a person sat/stood on the ground merely watching the person on the roof, what use are they? None. Get to work! 3) moments of high spiritual experience are never ends in themselves. a) it was time to come down off the mountain and become a witness! b) too many times people have mountain moments and desire to stay there. c) then, when it’s done, they say, "pray for me, I’m off the mountain." d) where’s the witness? 1) ready for this: Acts 1:8 ~ you will be my witnesses...to the ends of the earth. Who was the witness to be to? Christians? The church? No...all people...all people who are in need of being witnessed to! 4) in our selfish society, our mountains are shared to ourselves...and the lost never hear of them...and then they yell out, "God is dead." a) God is dead to the world because God’s people have stopped showing the world that He’s alive! 5) we are in need of getting off of the mountain and looking up, and start looking around as witnesses...
B) Prepare for Kingdom Work 1) the focus was on the Kingdom of God. a) therefore, witness and serving is the focus...not the ending of the world. b) the ending was God’s realm. The end would come as a result of the witnessing and serving of His people. c) the resotration of the Kingdom involves a worldwide mission. 2) in order to fulfill the coming of Christ’s Kingdom, we will have to work to help build it. a) when building a house, a worker syanding around asking, "when will the house get done?" is not helpful. You want the house done...begin working to complete it. b) you want God’s kingdom to reign...begin working! He has entrusted us to be workers for His kingdom. 3) in order to achieve this mission, there needs to be a supernatural power given by the Spirit (Acts 1:8): a) this power is to help overcome the obstacles that they will face... - overcoming failures (Jerusalem- where the Discipes have failed before) - overcoming prejudisms (Samaria - where people were looked down upon) - overcoming feelings of inferiority (Judea - education center of the world) - overcoming fears of the unknown (ends of the earth - unexplored places)
C) Start Praising! 1) Luke shows the Apostles worshiping, praising, and having great joy. a) ever thought to ask why? Jesus, their master, teacher, and mentor has left. Yet they have great joy...I understand Peter being pleased...but the others? 2) Luke begins with praise (Zechariah’s wife becoming pregnant), and ends with praise (Jesus’ ascension). a) so, on a structural level, Luke did this on purpose. 3) The reason for the praise: Jesus, God, who has spent years being humbled, a servant, and also humiliated, has finally been exalted! a) the era of humiliation is over, and Jesus has been exalted as He deserves! b) remember the temptations of Jesus in the wilderness by Satan? 1) the last two were about Jesus deserving exaltation. "Come on Jesus, You deserve being exalted...so get what you deserve!" 2) the problem was the timing...it was not time for Jesus to be exalted. So, Jesus placed the Father’s desires over His own and said "no" to the temptation. 3) now the struggles and sacrifice has paid off. It is time for Jesus to take His place at God’s right hand. 4) A possible Hermeneutic for Revelation 5? a) John is having a vision, and he saw a scroll. Then a strong angel cried out, "who is worthy to open the scroll?" (v2). 1) alas, no one in heaven, or on earth, or under the earth was worthy (v3). Why not? Where was Jesus? Playing "hide-and-seek?" 2) John wept due to no one being worthy to open the scroll (v4). b) let me offer this: Revelation was not written in any sort of chronological order. As the angel was looking for one who is worthy, Jesus was not under the earth (in hell), was not o the earth, nor was He in heaven. 1) instead, He was in between earth and heaven...ascending. Then, when the ascension was complete...Jesus stood, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb that had been killed, Who is now the Conquerer! 2) This Lion...Lamb...Jesus...was worthy! Then all of Heaven rang out with new songs that were not sung before... a) read v9-14 1) in the end, they bowed and worshiped God and the Lamb (Jesus, in His new exalted state).
*what is your reason for joy(hope)? Why do you worship? What is the reason for your witness? Do you even see yourself as having a witness? I don’t mean a five-point "hand" evangelical tool...I mean...are you a witness of God’s grace and glory? Jesus is exalted... will one day return...He is very present in life...are you a witness that God is real, involved, cares, and is in control? Or has your life become all about you...and you standing on or near a ladder (living life), looking up and doing nothing?
**if God were to send an angel right now to you, would the angel have a charge of rebuke? Stop looking up, and start looking around...be a witness! Jesus is exalted, go in joy, praise and worship...lift His name on high and shout His name from the ends of the earth as a witness to all that He is alive! </
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