FBC Lipan Sermons

Reclaim the Name

And in Antioch the disciples were first. . .

Called Christians

Acts 11:19-30 

Introduction:

·         The name Christian is losing its significance.

o    We water it down saying anyone who celebrates Christmas is a Christian.

o    “I am a Christian, I’m just not sure I believe in heaven and hell,” says one Politician

o    “I am a Christian, I just don’t go to church, read the Bible, share my faith.”  If you are a Christian doesn’t a love for Jesus lead you to do these things?

·         Overreacting and abandoning the name – for something else “Christ-follower”

·         Let’s reclaim the name, giving its rightful Biblical meaning.  A name we are proud to wear. 

Background of Acts 11

Christian name given by outsiders as a term of derision, despairingly. “Of the party of Christ, follower of Christ, like Christ – that’s what I am!” 

What distinguished this group of believers from the rest of Antioch?

 

        I.            They preached Jesus as Lord. 

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9–11, ESV)

·         Preached – lay people sharing their faith, no “official” church leader recognized by apostles

·         Lord – fully God, fully man, Jehovah, YHWH – radical!

 

      II.            The hand of the Lord was upon them. 

“And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.” (Nehemiah 2:18, ESV)

·         God’s power expressed in either blessing or judgment

·         Nehemiah – God was with Him bringing success despite obstacles – not easy

·         God was at work through these believers 

    III.            They led others to believe in and turn to Jesus. 

“For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,” (1 Thessalonians 1:9, ESV)

·         Believe and turn

·         True believing always leads to turning. – 13 inches from heaven

·         Repentance – man’s side, change of direction

·         Regeneration – God’ side – new heart (John 3:3) 

Have you believed and turned?  Are people believing and turning because of us? 

“Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” (John 3:3, ESV)

 

  IV.            The grace of God was with them.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8, ESV)

·         ” (Acts 2:42, ESV) ves on the Word of God.Experienced God’s saving grace

·         received the gift of salvationreceived the gift of salvation

·         genuiniely savgenuinely saved

·         CoulCoulCould give testimony of a personal relationship with Jesus 

Barnabas was glad

·         People were being saved

·         The power of the gospel to change lives was validated 

Personal Application: Do you know for certain that you have personally experienced God’s grace by receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?  Is your heart made glad when others experiences God’s grace and are saved? 

 

    V.            They were faithful and steadfast to the Lord.

“For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” (James 1:3, ESV)

‎‎23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, ESV

‎‎23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. KJV

‎‎23 When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. NIV

‎‎23 When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. NLT

‎‎23 As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. The Message

 

·         As Christians, we need to continue to mutually encourage one another to be faithful to God.  We need that exhorting of one another.

·         Faithfulness to Christ is evidence of our relationship with Christ.

·         Remember, as we cling to Him, he holds onto us.

 

  VI.            They built their lives on the Word of God.

“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,” (John 8:31, ESV)

 

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42, ESV)

 

·         For a year, Paul and Barnabas taught the Word of God

 

 VII.            They sacrificially helped others in times of need.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”” (John 13:35, ESV)

 

What distinguishes you from those that do not have a relationship with Jesus?

Would others look at you and say, “Christian”?

 

If we lived in a place where it was illegal to be a Christian and your accuser had to prove these seven things were true of your life to condemn you, would you be found guilty or innocent?

Sanctus was an early Christian Martyr.  His accusers would free him if he would deny being a follower of Jesus.  If he would not, they would torture and kill him.  Still, at every turn, his only response was, “I am a Christian!”

2 Timothy 3:14-17 

Introduction:  If you could have a personal conversation with anyone, who would it be?  Jesus invites you to have a conversation with Him!  You need the voice of God in a world of competing voices.

 

I.                    God speaks to us through Scripture. 

·         Don’t discredit the normal way God speaks.  The normal way God speaks is always trustworthy.  The unique ways may not be because they may not be from God.  If you think God is speaking to you but what is being said differs from the Bible, God is not speaking to you!

·         1 Kings 19 – The example of Elijah 

“The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.” Baptist Faith and Message 

·         All – all the Bible is the inspired, inerrant word of God!

·         Breathed out – inspiration, God-breathed – The word of God not man! 

If you want to hear God speak, get in His word! 

 

II.                  God speaks to us for the sake of our salvation. 

·         The Bible tells me of my need for salvation.

·         God’s provision for my salvation.

·         The means by which I can receive salvation through faith in Christ Jesus! 

 

III.                God speaks to us for the sake of our sanctification. 

·         Teaching – The Bible teaches us about God and ourselves.

·         Reproof - “to rebuke another with such effectual wielding of the victorious arms of the truth, as to bring him, if not always to a confession, yet at least to a conviction of his sin”

·         Correction - “restoration to an upright or right state, correction or improvement” of life or character. Vincent translates, “setting right.”

·         Training in righteousness – “the whole training and education of children which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, chastisement, chastening”^[1]

 

That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

 

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:11–12, ESV)

If my calling is to equip the saints for the Work of ministry and if the Bible is transfroms people into men and women of God who are equipped for every good work – my primary responsibility is to clearly and to the best of my ability teach the Bible and plead with you to make the Bible the foundation of your life through reading it, studying it, memorizing it, sharing it, and practicing it!

 

I challenge you to commit to read the entire Bible beginning with the New Testament in 2012.

 Read The New Testament in 2012

1.                  Plan: Use the bulletin insert or download the YouVersion App by Lifechurch.tv.

2.                  Place: Be consistent about the place and time you read the Bible

3.                  Pray: Talk to God about what He is teaching you through His Word.

4.                  Priority: Don’t let trivial time killers keep you from God’s Word.

5.                  Pen: Consider keeping a journal of what God is teaching you or underline key verses.

6.                  Persistence: Don’t get discouraged and give up.  Jump back in and keep going. (Gal. 6:9)

7.                  Practice: Don’t just read the Bible, live it out practically. (James 1:22)

8.                  People: Share with others what God is teaching you.

·         Divine Opportunities

·         Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting

·         Church Facebook Page

·         Family Devotionals 

 

Knowing that God speaks to me through His Word, I commit, with the Holy Spirit’s help, to read the New Testament with my church family in 2012.

 

Name ____________________     Partner ____________________     Date _____________

The Letter to Philemon 

Paul – Imprisoned in Rome, Acts 28:30-31 

Onesimus – A runaway slave, and probable thief, from Colossae who fled to Rome.  There he encountered Paul, and was led to faith in Christ. 

Philemon – Onesimus’s wealthy master in Colossae who was saved while Paul preached in Ephesus some 7-10 years before the writing of the letter.  He began to serve Christ faithfully including opening his home to the church at Colossae. 

 

I.                     Jesus transforms lives. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Ephesians 4:28 

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 

·         Verse 11 – “Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful.”

·         Onesimus means “useful”, before coming to Christ he was useless to Philemon because he was untrustworthy.  Possible thief – verse 18.  Now he is useful for God’s kingdom.

·         God takes a life that is useless and makes it useful, a life that seems to have no value and makes it valuable, a life that is not worth living and makes it worth living.

·         Onesimus was saved.  He heard the Gospel and receive Jesus as His Lord and Savior and committed his life to his service.

·         Though once bitter at the circumstances of his life, he was now grateful and was willing to risk to make right what he had done wrong.  Could there be punishment?  Yes.  Roman society expected brutal punishment of fugitive slaves.  But no matter, his life was no longer about escaping circumstances but honoring Jesus no matter the circumstances.  Formerly a bitter servant, Onesimus is now a joyful bond servant of Jesus.

·         Has your life been transformed by Jesus?  Do you feel useless?  Do you feel like your life has no value?

 

II.                  Jesus transforms relationships. 

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” Ephesians 2:14–16 

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23–24 

And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers. . . Malachi 4:6 

·         Verse 16 – “no longer a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother.”

·         A restored and renewed Relationship!

·         In Christ, relationships are transformed.  Jews and Gentiles are made one.  Slaves and free people are of equal worth and value.

·         Reconciliation is at the heart of God.  Reconciliation to God through Christ.  Reconciliation to others.

·         Do you need to forgive someone who has harmed you? – Paul told Philemon to charge to his account whatever Onesimus has done wrong.  Isn’t that what Jesus tells us?

·         Do you need to initiate seeking forgiveness from another?  Maybe it will be hard and you do not know how the other person will respond.  I’m pretty sure it can’t be any harder than it was for Onesimus.

·         Do you need to be God’s instrument in helping those you love come to a point of reconciliation? 

 

III.                Jesus transforms societies. 

And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” Acts 17:6–7 

About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.” Acts 19:23–27 

·         Paul never demanded that Philemon set Onesimus free. But his words make it clear that Onesimus is no longer your servant, He is the slave of Jesus now and He is your brother!  How could anyone expect their brother to be their slave!

·         Verse 21 – I write to you knowing that you will do even more than I say

·         The New Testament does not demand the instant release of slaves – although it clearly speaks against the evil of slave trading – the gospel is a sword in the heart of slavery.  The gospel does not defeat slavery by demanding slaves bitterly rebel against ruthless slave owners.  It defeats slavery by calling slaves to joyfully serve Jesus in everything and calling slave owners to recognize that in Christ, we are all equal as creations of God, in Christ we are brothers and sister, and as far as ownership, no human being belongs to another for we all belong to God and God alone.

·         Sadly, Christians have used the Bible throughout generations, even in our own country to justify slavery.  The Bible does not justify slavery, it recognizes it exist in a fallen world, sets guidelines to limit its evil and then ultimately destroys it through the love and Good News of Jesus Christ.

·         That is what the Gospel of Jesus does.  It changes in a fallen society.  O, how are society needs to experiencing the transformer power of Jesus.  Societies throughout the book of Acts experienced. 

So what happened in response to this letter?  Did Philemon treat Onesimus as a brother in Christ?  Did Onesimus continue to serve the Lord faithfully?  We could say we don’t know because nothing else was ever written of these 2 men.  Then on the other hand, we could say we know exactly what happened. We know for a fact that the letter Paul wrote to Philemon, God supernaturally preserved to be part of His Holy Word.  For that to happen it would have to have been shared with the church.  For Philemon to have shared it with the church, Philemon would have recognized the truthfulness of the letter and the authority it had on his life and his willingness to obey it.  For the church to have held this letter in high regard they would also have had to personally witness the life transformation of the man whom it is written about, Onesimus and to, Philemon. 

Closing Illustration – In 1956, 5 missionaries, including Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, were killed by a war party of the Auca Indians of Ecuador, the very people to whom they were attempting to take the gospel.  Their name literally meant savages.  When news began to spread, it simply seemed like a pointless tragedy.  Until you hear the rest of the story to hear how God would transform a society through His Son Jesus.  Other missionaries, including Jim’s wife Elisabeth would soon bring the good news of Jesus to the Auca Indians and most of the tribe would be saved.  Nate’s son Steve would grow up and return to Ecuador to be a missionary to the very tribe who killed his dad.  Recently, Nate brought a member of the Auca tribe back to America with him.  The man went by the name Grandfather.  Grandfather was a member of the war party who killed Steve’s dad and the others.  Grandfather shared how a group of students came to do a story on the savages of Ecuador.  They were greeted by a kind & loving people.  They would ask what happened to all the savages.  Grandfather explained they were the savages but their life had been changed by Jesus. Grandfather was shocked that the students had a hard time understanding how such a transformation was possible.  Grandfather thought that since the students should have understood that Jesus changes things!  He shared how his tribe was broken when they heard of an American High School massacre where 2 boys killed 15 of their classmates and teachers.  We know the story as the Columbine Tragedy.  Grandfather tells of how his tribe was broken and began to pray for America.  He says “We use to be savages like that too before we came to know Jesus.  We too killed each other and had no regard for human life until we came to follow Jesus.”

 

The story of the Auca Indians, the missionaries who were killed, and their families who would follow them in reaching the Auca Indians for Christ, reminds us, that Jesus has the power to transform lives, the power to transform relationships, and the power to transforms society!

 

There are some here who need to experience the power of Jesus to transform… you must receive him today.