Dig Deeper - Sunday 27th September

Sermon Reflection: Go’s Unstoppable Gospel Movement

Acts 6 - 12

Link to service

Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 27th September service -           

We’re digging deeper into our theme for the Church Weekend Away; God’s Unstoppable Gospel Movement. This looked at the growth of the early church through four people.

Stephen (Acts 6&7)

He was commissioned along with 6 others to solve an admin problem in the early church and help with the distribution of support to the elderly and widows. Take a look at Stephen’s description in Chapter 6. Wouldn’t you expect him to have a more high profile role?  After some time he gets into a disagreement with the Jewish Authorities over Jesus Christ being the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. The Jews consider what he is saying is blasphemy and in a frenzy of hatred, take him out and stone him to death.  After this the Christians in Jerusalem are persecuted and scatter throughout the area around the Mediterranean Sea.

Philip (Acts 8)

As part of this scattering, Philip went to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.  He simply witnessed about his faith, probably just explaining how he came to be there. And suddenly Samaria erupts with gospel life. Surely Philip has found his ministry but then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” Completely unexpected, but God says go and Philip goes. What God knows and Philip cannot yet see is that God has an appointment waiting for him on a dusty desert road in the middle of nowhere. That appointment is with none other than a top official – Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Queen of Ethiopia who is in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah.  He invites Philip into his chariot to explain what he is reading.

 As he explains the good news about Jesus from Isaiah 53 the official gives his life to Christ and is baptised. Philip then leaves this new Christian to continue his month-long journey back to Africa where almost certainly his faith sows the seed of Christianity in that part of Africa.

As far as Philip would have been concerned this man was going to the end of the known world at that time. So, Philip, starts in Jerusalem, he moves to Samaria and now he’s sent the gospel to the ends of the earth.  It’s just as Jesus said it would be in Acts 1:8 the disciples would be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. You see, God is not improvising, it’s all part of his plan.

Also do you see what looked like an interruption to Philip’s successful ministry was actually part of the unstoppable movement of God’s gospel towards the ends of the earth. 

Peter (Acts 10)

Peter is at a house in Joppa. While he is praying, he has a vision where he is encouraged to eat unclean animals.  The day before, an angel tells Cornelius a Roman Centurion to send men to fetch Peter to his house. This might have been really difficult because Jews were not allowed to associate or visit a gentile. But now we see God’s perfect planning and immaculate timing because Cornelius’ men from Caesarea arrive just after the penny drops with Peter about the meaning of his vision. Which is that following Christ death and resurrection, the old food laws and separation from the Gentiles is no longer required.

Without this crossing of boundaries and change of heart, Peter would never have spoken to Cornelius and his household would not have heard the gospel from him. 

What a privilege it is that people like Peter, people like you and people like me, still unfinished, still learning, still needing our hearts changed, are graciously invited to join Jesus in his unstoppable gospel movement.

Barnabas (Acts 4;9;11;13)

He’s a major player in the early church, but not a headliner. You don’t need to be a headliner to be effective in God’s service. In Acts 4 we see him sharing the proceeds of a field sale with the small early church which are holding everything in common. 

In Chapter 9, the converted Saul, with a background of persecuting and murdering Christians, wants to meet the church leaders in Jerusalem. They’re naturally scared and it’s Barnabas that loosens his grip on his reputation by facilitating a meeting between them.

By chapter 11, God’s unstoppable gospel movement has established a church in Antioch. The Church leaders in Jerusalem hear about this and are concerned because there is no Jewish context there.  hey send Barnabas to investigate who is overseeing it, is it genuine and how are they worshipping.  Acts 11:23 records that ‘when he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them’. Isn’t there something deeply attractive about a Christian who is genuinely pleased when God blesses somebody else?

Chapter 13 records the Antioch church commissioning Barnabas and Paul for a missionary journey.  As the account continues, Luke, the author of Acts, begins to refer to ‘Paul and Barnabas’ with Barnabas graciously allowing Paul to take on more of the leadership role.

Questions for discussion:

1.  Stephen. Bearing in mind Stephen’s qualities, should he have been given a more high-profile role? Are we prepared to do work behind the scenes some of which may be mundane? Notice how the gospel flourished when the support was put in place.

2.  Philip. How prepared are we to speak about our Christian faith when we go somewhere new – perhaps on our holidays? How interruptible are we to join in with God’s work?  Reflect on how Jesus last words in Acts 1:8 are now coming true and marvel at the way he organises things.

3.  Peter. Do we have any entrenched views that God may be asking us to reconsider? Are there people we might dismiss as never being interested in becoming a Christian? Reflect on how God uses unfinished and still learning people like Peter and us in his gospel movement.

4.  Barnabas. Do we recognise that all we have is God given? How good are we at loosening our grip on things including money, possessions and time? Are we joyful when other’s ministries thrive? How good are we at encouraging our fellow Christians?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you that, as we look at how the early church developed, we see your perfect planning and impeccable timing in the spreading of the gospel around the world.  We see in the lives of Stephen, Philip, Peter and Barnabas the way that Christians joining in your work makes a difference.  As that gospel movement continues, show us how we too can join in and play our part, not just here in Walmley, but further afield. In Jesus name we pray. Amen