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How Will We Be Remembered?
Acts 10:34-48
In his book, Building a Contagious Church, author Mark
Mittleberg asks us to join him in downtown Grand Rapids,
Michigan. As you walk up to the large arena, you see a mass of
young people in line for a concert.
The headline act is shock-rocker Marilyn Manson (named
after Marilyn Monroe and mass murderer Charles Manson and
bills himself as the “Anti-Christ Superstar”).
The crowd is noisy and energetic, ready to see a show that
most, if not all of us would not even consider attending.
As you get closer, you notice a large group of people
engaging the concertgoers in lively discussion. The protesters
are Christians with signs expressing their disapproval of Marilyn
Manson and all those who would attend the concert. Messags
talking about “burning in hell” and “Repent before it’s too late.”
These zealous protesters are yelling at the crowd, and the
Manson fans are shouting back with equal intensity. It’s an all
out yelling match…
Though no physical blows are exchanged across the battle
lines… However, a steady barrage of verbal missiles and
assaults are launched back and forth. Obviously there is a
significant disconnect between the two groups… a definite
situation of opposition… It’s violent and chaotic…
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Soon another group of Christians enter the mix. It’s a band of
18-40 year olds from a ministry called “the gro-ups”, sponsored
by Corinth Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan.
These people unload bags of ice, coolers, and cases of
water and soda. They walk up to the pulsating crowd of anxious
rockers and begin giving away drinks…
No signs condemning anyone… no strings attached—just
free drinks, a smile and a sincere, “Have a good evening.”
Some of the people going to the concert simply accept the
free drink and move on. Others say thank you or ask “Why are
you doing this?” The answer was simple with no shame or guilt
attached, “We love God and we love you!”
Some snicker, make jokes and walk away... But others linger
and talk a bit…
One young man begins to interact more deeply and even
decides to throw away his ticket and help the members of “groups” hand out more drinks!
An odd way to open a sermon… but my point is this:
Out of this simple act of service, lives were touched and the
love of Jesus was communicated to people who might have no
other positive contact with Christians. There was an obvious
connection between the two groups.
As Christians, what will we be remembered for? As a Church,
what will we be known for?
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People usually connect great men and women with one
great ideal, one invention, or one achievement or cause…
Mention the name of Lincoln, and most people will say,
“freed the slaves”. Mention George Washington and you’ll
hear, “father of our country”. Mention Margaret Thatcher and
you’ll hear “Prime Minister of Great Britain” or Emila Earheart,
“Great woman aviator”.
Likewise, mention ministries like World Vision, Compassion
International, and Samaritan’s Purse and you’ll hear words like
love, compassion, and Jesus Christ.
What they did reflected who they were! As Christians, what
will we be remembered for? As a Church, what will we be
known for?
Imagine Jesus going into towns and villages during His public
ministry and proclaiming love and truth without accompanying
acts of healing and helping.
Do you think our Savior would have gained much of a
hearing or established the credibility of His message—without
display in some proof that this gospel was real?
So why would we ignore such a model? It is the example
Jesus lived out and the model He gave to His disciples:
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Luke 9:1-2: ”When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he
gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to
cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of
God and to heal the sick.”
The gospel means the combination of the good news with
good deeds. It is two-sided—it’s connecting truth and proof! It’s
connecting show and tell!
One of the great dangers of the church is that because of
fear, we have lost our desire to minister in concrete action as
we seek to share God’s Word.
Much of evangelism today is like guerilla warfare tactics that
venture in for a quick strike and then retreat back to the safety
of the church. Or in the case of the Marilyn Manson concert,
some just launch Gospel bombs over the picket line.
Now I know that some of these things can be a little scary,
But Jesus tells us:
Joshua 1:9: Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do
not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you
wherever you go."
When Jesus sent out His disciples, they were to trust God’s
care and become directly engaged with those whom they
were ministering. Instead of guerilla tactics or lobbing bombs,
they connected others with God’s love by combining Jesus’
Great Commandment with His Great Commission, of showing
and telling!
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But why does Jesus use this model truth and proof? Why does
Jesus apply this elementary model of show and tell?
It’s actually quite simple…
It is our actions toward others that separate real Christianity
from mere philosophy. It’s walking the walk that makes the
difference…
I heard this week of a bumper sticker that said, “I like Jesus,
but I don’t like His followers” Another bumper sticker said, “Do
something really radical—practice your religion”.
The reality is that people really are watching and they really
do expect us to live out our faith.
But so much of what the world sees as Christianity is “holier
than thou” and finger pointing out what’s wrong with everyone
else! The world is watching us… what are we saying and what
are we doing?
The unsaved world really expects that there is a connection
between what we say and what we do. And when there isn’t,
they pick up on in a heartbeat.
When Christianity is reduced to a mere philosophy that is
believed and defended, but not necessarily practiced, it loses
credibility, integrity, reliability, sincerity and any authority.
We must model our Lord when dealing with the unsaved
world (Jessica Wycliffe, Mason Dean Weaver, etc.
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This morning, I want to lay out for us a simple theme from our
text, that combining good deeds with the good news of
Scripture is Jesus’ model of connecting people with God.
How do I know that, because that’s what Jesus did! Good
deeds and good news summed up Jesus’ ministry. In Acts 10:3638, Peter said, God (told) the good news... through Jesus Christ,
who... went around doing good and healing all who were
under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Good News and good deeds make good sense! At least
Jesus thought so!
Jesus’ ministry connected good deeds with the good news
and He sent out His disciples to do the same by preaching the
kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Jesus modeled what He wanted His disciples to do. But why?
What would the combination of good deeds and good news
accomplish?
1. Good deeds benefit others.
Let’s be clear, good deeds are not just the wrapping for the
Gospel. Acts of love, compassion, and kindness in a broken
world is something the Lord requires of us.
Micah 6:8 says, He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to
love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
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Giving a cup of cool water, food to the hungry and clothing
to the shivering is something the Lord wants us to do regardless
of whether that person comes to faith or ever attends our
church.
We love and serve because we are followers of Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:17-18 says “If anyone has material possessions and
sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the
love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words
or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
We are helping people who are disconnected to become
connected with God’s people and with God Himself.
2. Good deeds glorify God.
Matt. 5:16 tells us to “let your light shine before men, that they
may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Let me ask you, how do people who don’t know the Lord
ever get to see Him and meet Him?
The Bible says, we are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as
though God were making his appeal through us. Do you think
of yourself in that way?
An ambassador is a delegate and spokesperson who
represents God. The Bible says in 1 John 4:12 that No one has
ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and
His love is made complete in us.
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People are often led to the Lord by the love and kindness of
God’s people. They are loved into the Kingdom… not shamed
away from the cross… that is not to say that we are to tolerate
sin… we are to acknowledge the sin and show the unsaved the
remedy for their problem.
Through God’s people, they get a glimpse of who God is; His
character, His love, His compassion and His desire to have a
personal relationship with Him.
Q: So how are we doing?
Are people glorifying God because of us?... Are people
connecting to the Lord because of us and our church’s
ministries?... How are we doing?
We have been talking about wanting to make a difference
in our community… get out there and proclaim Christ to our
neighbors… How are we doing with that plan? How’s our
vision?
Folks, we don’t have to come up with a vision for our ministry,
because God has already given us a vision.
Combine the Great Commandment of “loving God and
loving others” with the Great Commission of “making disciples.”
That’s our mission statement…
Reaching out to others with the love of God and connecting
them with the love of Jesus… that’s the vision… that’s the goal
and the objective… it’s all about making connections.
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3. Good deeds move people toward Jesus
In his book, The Externally Focused Church, Rick Rusaw shares
the story of Tom Maharius, the least likely person to make an
impact on any community, let alone New York City.
A casualty of the 60’s hippie movement, and heavily
involved in drugs use, Maharias’s downward spiral came to an
abrupt end when he met Jesus in 1968.
Soon he and his wife Vicky started a Bible study in their small
apartment that grew at an amazing rate.
Today the Manhattan Bible Church is located in two
separate buildings in Washington Heights, one of the toughest
neighborhoods in Manhattan.
Maharias soon realized that if the church was to be a true
light in the community, they needed to reach out to their
Hispanic community.
What began as a teen center and safe haven for kids to
hang out in, quickly turned into an effective evangelism
outreach to parents which then grew into a fully accredited
grade school for neighborhood kids.
Seeing the devastation that drug abuse was having in the
community, Maharias started a one year rehabilitation and
discipleship program to bring people to Jesus and altar their out
of control lifestyles.
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Then came the homeless shelter and the Love Kitchen that
feeds hundreds every day…
Hundreds have been connected to Christ through this
ministry that understands that to win a hearing for the gospel;
the church must respond to the needs of people in real,
tangible and effective ways that community social services
alone cannot provide.
(Mongolia/Mali: You must earn your right to speak with
people about Jesus)
We must realize that we have to meet a need before we
can gain their interst or ear… Why? Because people are made
by God and in the image of God and He wants us to help them
get reconnected with Him in many ways.
4. Good deeds create good will.
I have been thinking about all the schools in our town
lately… I want to share a few truths with the school leadership
here in Sonoma…
I want to tell them that the relationship between the schools
and the evangelical churches is much like an iceberg, with 10%
of what you see being above the water line and 90% of what
you don’t see being beneath.
That the 10% represents the things we differ on and that
illusive separation of church and state.
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However, that 90% beneath the surface; kids, healthy homes,
a safe community, mutual respect as well as bonding in
struggles that we all share together.
I would like to propose that they allow us – the evangelical
churches - to help them… Every community is blessed with
people who care about its health and welfare… and want to
make a change.
Folks, the church can and should be a change agent. Jesus
came into the world and so should we. Though we may see
different causes to problems, identify different solutions and
have different perspectives on humanity, we can work with
community organizations to show the love of God.
Should churches assist community agencies with which they
don’t always agree? I think so…
If an organization is morally positive and spiritually neutral,
then we as a church can honor God through serving the needs
of the community by creating relationships with those leading
local agencies and serving alongside them.
And through these connecting points we may have the
opportunity to show and tell them of God’s great and amazing
grace… Let’s not limit the Lord.
Okay. So I’ve been talking about what we can and should be
doing for the Lord… Good deeds… and what a difference they
can make…
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5. What good deeds cannot do?
Though,
• Good deeds benefit people and help communities.
• Good deeds can glorify God.
• Good deeds can move people toward Jesus.
Good deeds alone are insufficient to lead a person to saving
faith in Jesus Christ. Good deeds can be a bridge or a road, but
they are not the saving message that crosses that bridge or
travels the road.
Good deeds provide numerous connecting points, but they
are never a substitute for connecting the dots between good
deeds and the Good News.
Remember, the Gospel means “Good News” and that it is
the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
Romans 10:17: And faith comes from hearing the message, and
the message is heard through the word of Christ.
By connecting with those we serve and those with whom we
serve, we are opening the doors of our hearts to share the hope
we have in Christ.
And people’s hearts are open when they see that we really
care about them and their needs.
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May our words be that of Peter who said; 1 Peter 3:13-16:
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But
even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do
not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts
set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a
clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against
your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
Let’s connect people to Jesus!
Let’s be a light to the community~
Let’s not hide it under a bushel basket, but let’s hold it high that
all might see that Jesus changes and gives meaning to life.
Let’s all come out for The Gathering concert this Saturday
evening and share the love of Jesus.
Let’s do some good!