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EASTER 6
YEAR
A ACTS
17:22-31 1 PETER
3:13-22 JOHN
14:15-21 APRIL 26, 27,
2008 Acts 17:22,
23 Then Paul
stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely
religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked
carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with
the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as
unknown, this I proclaim to you. Where is the
right place to share the gospel of Jesus Christ? We have come to expect
that when we come to worship services we will hear God’s Word. We gather
in church sanctuaries and we know there is a certain behavior that is
expected and a certain way to talk. People come for worship and they know
we will pray, sing and hear a sermon. Most of us are comfortable hearing
the word of God in church because we know everyone else is expecting the
same thing. Everyone else is praying and singing and listening to a
sermon. We are all gathered with a common purpose and with a common
goal. The question
implies that there is a wrong place to proclaim God’s word. Are there
places the word of God should not be proclaimed? Are there places you go
that you would rather not hear God’s word? Do you get uncomfortable when
you hear someone talking about the Lord Jesus at places you do not expect
to hear about him? Are the places prayer and singing are not to be done?
Is it OK to hear Christian music when you go to the doctor’s office? It is
refreshing to walk into the Linn Mar Chiropractic office and hear a
Christian radio station. Why is it refreshing and comforting? Healing is
of God and healing comes from God. When I walk into an office dedicated to
healing and hear Christian music I know I am among Christian people. When
I hear doctors giving glory to God I know I will get complete
care. The apostle Paul
went to many places where the word of God was not well received. Most
places he went he was met with opposition of one kind or another. When he
proclaimed the gospel message many Jews went behind him trying to destroy
his message. He was stoned, imprisoned and whipped because he proclaimed
the gospel of Jesus Christ. In this lesson today from Acts 17, Paul was in
The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord
of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is
he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself
gives to all mortals life and breath and all
things. Part of our
candidacy process for becoming an ordained minister is to submit an essay
to the synod. This essay answers four or five questions about ministry. It
also requires the candidates to write a sermon. The essay is used in the
approval process and before a seminarian can be considered for placement
in one of the synods in the ELCA. I received my essay assignment in
October. It needed to be completed and submitted to the seminary faculty
in November and then forwarded to the candidacy committee. The final step
of this process was a meeting with members of the committee who asked
questions about the essay. Students are asked to defend their words on
this essay. My meeting with the committee was in January. I was nervous as
can be but I was determined to share my faith no matter what questions
were asked or by whom. The members of
my committee were people I had come to know and respect in Paul did not
have the luxury of knowing the people standing before him in the
Aereopagus. They were not necessarily friends that wanted to accept him
and his teaching. They did not care whether Paul succeeded of failed. Some
listening to Paul genuinely wanted to learn about this teaching presented
by Paul. They may not come to believe in this “unknown god” but the
teaching would give them another philosophy to learn about. They would
even invite Paul to speak to them a second time because they wanted to
know more. Some listening to Paul were ready to ridicule him because his
teaching was so ridiculous. They would not even try to learn from this man
of God. John 14:15-17 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. Paul did not
worry about the people listening or how they might react to the message.
Paul saw his chance to proclaim the gospel to another group of people. He
saw people in need of hearing and he proclaimed the message of salvation
to them. How could Paul be so bold? He is bold because he knows the Father
and he knows the Son. He believes that the Holy Spirit has come to empower
him and to give him adequate words to speak. Paul is bold because he
allowed the Lord Jesus to touch his life. He knows where his salvation and
life come from. Because Paul received the spirit of truth he also
proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wants others to know what he
knows. He wants the religious folks in Jesus told his
disciples that they already know the Father. They know him because he
lives in them. If the Father lives in them the Father will also remain
with them. They will know the Father because they know the Son. You also
know the Father because you know the Son. The Father lives in you. Because
you know the Father and the Son you are directed by God’s word to go and
proclaim this gospel message. Where will you share the message? Wherever
God tells you to share it. You certainly
share it in church. You might think church is the logical place to share
this gospel but it is amazing how many are uncomfortable even speaking the
Lord’s name in church. I am so pleased that lay members of the
congregation lead our Wednesday morning study of the gospel. They even
allow me to sit in on their study. It tells me they have a genuine love
for sharing this message. They want others to know the teachings of our
Lord. Those that lead the Bible study want others to know their Savior in
a much closer way. The idea is that those that have been studying will
also go out and teach others. It also tells me those leading the study are
not afraid to lead even when the “expert” is around. The truth is there is
only one expert and it is not I. I am not the expert but many will not
offer an idea about God’s word when I am
present. Many are afraid
to pray even in church where prayer is accepted. We are afraid we will
sound ridiculous. Maybe we will do it wrong and so we do not do it at all.
Our Lord wants to hear from each of us. God does not care if we do it
wrong. We must not get caught up with what everyone else thinks when it
comes to our prayer life. Thursday of this
week is the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord. It is 40 days
following resurrection. In that 40-day period Jesus appeared to his
followers. He showed them that he is Risen but he also taught them and
encouraged them. He promised to not leave orphaned but would be with them
through another Advocate or Helper or Counselor. The Holy Spirit would
come to empower them. Paul received the Holy Spirit and was empowered for
the work of the gospel. The Lord has not
left us orphaned. You and I have another counselor, Advocate and Helper.
The Holy Spirit gives you power to serve the Lord and the boldness to
proclaim his truth. You have heard the commandment to love one another as
the Lord loved you. That love means reaching out even to those that would
rather not hear it. It means making difficult decisions in the church like
accepting a leadership role when it is given to you. It means standing in
the Aereopagus with the elders of the city talking about this unknown god.
Sharing the love of God means revealing to others that this “unknown god”
is the creator of the heavens and the earth. It means making this God
known to others. Be bold and
strong in the Lord. AMEN |