Why and How We Witness Sermon Reflections

(Combination Reflection from the last two Sunday Sermons. Passages are from Acts 1:1-11 and Mark 3:13-15)

John Stott: "We should not ask, "What is wrong with the world?" for that diagnosis has already been given. Rather, we should ask, "What has happened to the salt and light?"

Discovery: In Acts 1:8 its says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." There is a difference between being a "witness" and "evangelizing." A witness is a noun while evangelizing is a verb. Jesus calls us to "be" something rather and "do" something.

This concept is echoes in Mark 3:14-15 when he calls and appoints the 12 apostles. It says, "He appointed twelve - designating them apostles - that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and have authority to drive out demons" The first thing that Jesus calls us to when we choose to follow after Him is to learn to "be with him" before we go and "do" anything for Him.

Application: Our "doing" flows out of our "being" with Him.

This is a spiritual principle that I need to come back to time and time again. Am I connected to the vine as stated in John 15? Is my life marked by spiritual deprivation or by spiritual nourishment each and every day? The holidays have always been an interesting time throughout my Christian life. Whether in school or now in adulthood, it is easy to take a "vacation" from God during the busyness of the holidays. The problem is that this actually a time in which I need to be even more closely connected to Jesus. Otherwise there is a clear lack of patience and grace in my life, especially towards family members.

I am also challenged by the fact that Jesus's call is more than just to "be" with Him. In fact, He wants us to become "like" Him. His call for us is to be His "witnesses." The word "witness" comes from the word "martos" which we where we get our modern word "martyr." What does it mean to lay our lives down by testifying to what Jesus has done in our lives? If the life of faith is just about receiving from God, it leads to a warped sense of reality. Take for example James and John in Mark 10. They are so self-absorbed and self-centered in their "being" with Jesus that all they are only concerned about is whether they can sit at the right and left or Jesus when He sits in glory. I really hope this isn't my mindset! I don't want to be preparing my accommodations in heaven while neglecting my calling here on earth. I want to go deep in my life with God but I ultimately want that knowledge and love to spill over in far reaching ways. I don't want to just be a "nice" pastor but I want also want to be courageous in seeking and saving the lost.

The highlight of the weekend had to be on Saturday. Our church went to deliver gifts with the Angel Tree program through Prison Ministries. One of the young women from the Chinese congregation came and joined us. One of our Chinese deacons shared with her the Good News in the car and I got to pray for her and lead her to Christ. It was a beautiful picture of our witness flowing out of our being. In addition to blessing children with parents who are in prison with simple Christmas gifts, we were also able to naturally share with a young women in our own church who Jesus was first through our actions and then through words.

Prayer: Lord, let my life reflect what is says in John 12:24: "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

"Who Do We Witness to?" Sermon Reflection

Luke 15:25-32

(This is a combination reflection from my large group talk to the AACF Davis group as well as the Sunday sermon).

Discovery: In Luke 15, Jesus tells a trio of stories that essentially tell the same thing. Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg summarize it best in their book "Becoming a Contagious Christian."

1. Something of value was lost.

2. An all out search was called to find this lost object.

3. When this lost object was found, there was a joyful celebration.

Jesus is also addressing three groups of people as he tells these stories. To each group He is challenging them to understand God's heart.

1. Pharisees: In vv. 1-2, we see them looking down their noses and judging Jesus for His behavior. By telling them these stories, Jesus is wanting them to change their hearts and attitudes.

2. The sinners and tax collectors: Jesus is telling these people (in the presence of the religious leaders) that God has been eagerly seeking after them and desires for them to be found.

3. The disciples: They are learning to follow after God. Jesus makes it clear that they should be associating with the least, the last, and the lost with the intention of sharing the Good News of Jesus.

Jesus wants to find and welcome the lost and He wants those who follow after God to do the same. In addition, he warns us to not be like the Pharisees who want nothing to do with this.

Application: The character of the older son is based on the Pharisees. They are smug in their self-righteousness and have a lack of compassion towards "sinners." Ultimately, the Pharisees miss the whole point of God's grace. Similar to the older son in the parable, they are so self-absorbed and spiritual twisted that they can't see the miracle of their lost brother being alive and safe.

This is my challenge as well. Am I so self-absorbed that I can't see the true nature of God's grace? I love how God's grace is unconditional and how it is always accessible to me. I love the fact that even though I fall short of God's glory, His love reaches and extends to me no matter what I do or where I am. I love how God's grace is so precious to me.

The problem however is that I am called to extend this same grace to others. In particular, I am called to extend this grace to people who sin against me. This same grace that is unconditional and without limits is the same grace that I am called to exhibit to everyone. This grace isn't always as precious to me.

The challenge of this passage is that the story of the older son is left unresolved at the end of the parable. How does he respond to the father's heart? Does he go back in and celebrate with his "lost" brother or does he stubbornly stay outside and refuse to participate in the celebration. The bigger question is, "How will we respond?"

Prayer: Help me not only appreciate Your grace but to live it out. Teach me during this Christmas season to extend grace to members of my family that I have a hard time extending grace to. Deliver me from my Pharisaical heart and attitude!