WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.099 Father God, as we have just sung, there is no one who is holy, there is no one who is like you. 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:15.660 Help us to slow down in this time on Sunday morning here in this venue. 00:00:16.580 --> 00:00:24.160 Help by the power of your spirit to clear our minds of all of the things that have been happening in the week, 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.960 all of the things that are coming up next week as well. 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:35.579 Help us to just be present in this moment, to hear what you have to say to us. 00:00:35.660 --> 00:00:42.539 May I share faithfully and correctly, but may your spirit be at work revealing what you would have to show to us. 00:00:43.039 --> 00:00:44.859 For the praise and glory of your name. 00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:47.079 In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 00:00:47.740 --> 00:00:49.519 Betty, why don't you read for us? Thanks. 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:59.520 Today's scripture reading is taken from Acts chapter 11 verses 1 to 30. 00:00:59.900 --> 00:01:01.500 Please follow along your Bible. 00:01:01.820 --> 00:01:06.900 If you don't have a Bible, please do still grab them from the front of the stage or at the back near the door. 00:01:07.540 --> 00:01:09.780 Our passage is on page 865. 00:01:11.980 --> 00:01:14.320 Hear then God's word to us today. 00:01:14.319 --> 00:01:22.119 Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 00:01:22.619 --> 00:01:27.759 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision parties criticized him saying, 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:30.899 You went to the uncircumcised men and ate with them. 00:01:31.019 --> 00:01:33.699 But Peter began and explained it to them in order. 00:01:33.700 --> 00:01:38.540 I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:43.740 something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners. 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:45.480 And it came down to me. 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:51.439 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 00:01:52.060 --> 00:01:53.680 And I heard a voice saying to me, 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:55.659 Rise, Peter, kill and eat. 00:01:55.859 --> 00:01:56.500 But I said, 00:01:56.960 --> 00:02:01.300 By no means, Lord, for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth. 00:02:01.299 --> 00:02:04.420 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, 00:02:04.620 --> 00:02:07.759 What God has made clean do not call common. 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:11.879 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:17.479 And behold, at that very moment, three men arrived at the house in which we were, 00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:19.079 sent to me from Caesarea. 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:23.060 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:27.740 These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:31.939 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:35.140 Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter. 00:02:35.740 --> 00:02:38.920 He will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, 00:02:39.600 --> 00:02:41.320 you and all your household. 00:02:41.820 --> 00:02:46.180 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them, just as on us at the beginning. 00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:49.500 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 00:02:50.020 --> 00:02:53.520 John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. 00:02:53.520 --> 00:03:00.300 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:03:00.540 --> 00:03:03.140 who was I that I could stand in God's way? 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.040 When they heard these things, they fell silent. 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:08.260 And they glorified God, saying, 00:03:08.760 --> 00:03:12.980 Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life. 00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:18.140 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen 00:03:18.139 --> 00:03:24.639 traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:28.239 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, 00:03:28.739 --> 00:03:34.139 who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists, also preaching the Lord Jesus. 00:03:34.919 --> 00:03:39.219 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 00:03:40.019 --> 00:03:43.339 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, 00:03:43.340 --> 00:03:45.840 and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 00:03:46.280 --> 00:03:49.240 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, 00:03:49.379 --> 00:03:53.900 and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:57.719 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:00.640 And a great many people were added to the Lord. 00:04:01.500 --> 00:04:04.240 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:07.199 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:11.300 For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. 00:04:11.300 --> 00:04:14.920 And in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians. 00:04:15.880 --> 00:04:19.300 Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch, 00:04:19.900 --> 00:04:23.939 and one of them called Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit 00:04:23.939 --> 00:04:26.860 that there would be a great famine over all the world. 00:04:27.300 --> 00:04:29.220 This took place in the days of Claudius. 00:04:29.900 --> 00:04:33.740 So the disciples determined everyone according to his ability 00:04:33.740 --> 00:04:36.720 to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:41.440 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:45.420 Let us believe and respond to God's true and living word. 00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:50.640 Thanks, Betty. 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:53.760 Just a quick note before I start. 00:04:53.960 --> 00:04:55.140 That was a long passage. 00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:56.720 There's a lot of detail in there. 00:04:56.900 --> 00:04:58.680 I'm only speaking for 30 minutes, 00:04:58.840 --> 00:05:02.740 so for sure I'm not going to cover every single question you might have. 00:05:02.740 --> 00:05:06.480 I'm going to be outside at the welcome table after the service. 00:05:06.579 --> 00:05:08.420 So if you do have any questions that I don't cover, 00:05:08.840 --> 00:05:09.759 just write them down. 00:05:10.139 --> 00:05:11.900 Come and talk to me after the service. 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:15.360 Don't let it distract you from the rest of the sermon. 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:19.199 So every now and then in our lives, 00:05:19.199 --> 00:05:21.600 I think there are things that can happen 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:24.759 that we previously thought wouldn't or couldn't happen, 00:05:25.340 --> 00:05:26.420 but that do happen. 00:05:26.900 --> 00:05:29.519 And now they seem very possible moving forward. 00:05:29.519 --> 00:05:32.740 Maybe it's something small in your personal life. 00:05:32.819 --> 00:05:36.199 I sometimes have this experience where there's someone who I think 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:38.139 I probably won't get along with, 00:05:38.500 --> 00:05:40.419 but then I meet them and I realize, 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:43.959 wow, they're great and we get along really well. 00:05:45.399 --> 00:05:45.560 Yeah. 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:47.339 No comment. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:53.259 And then in the world of sports, for example, 00:05:53.259 --> 00:05:57.779 I'm often interested in people breaking the physical barriers 00:05:57.779 --> 00:05:59.759 of what we previously thought possible 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:03.079 and how that changes people's perceptions moving forward. 00:06:03.699 --> 00:06:06.300 I'm not one of those people who breaks those barriers, 00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:10.699 but these two pictures up on the screen show two such moments. 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:14.680 Andy Bolton on the right, your left, 00:06:15.019 --> 00:06:18.039 was the first man to ever deadlift 1,000 pounds, 00:06:18.040 --> 00:06:22.840 or 453.5 kilos back in 2006. 00:06:23.460 --> 00:06:25.500 Slightly less than five times my body weight. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:26.720 I'll let you guys do the math. 00:06:27.580 --> 00:06:29.740 Simon Bannister, the other picture, 00:06:30.300 --> 00:06:32.620 was the first man to run a four-minute, 00:06:32.980 --> 00:06:36.060 a sub-four-minute mile back in 1954. 00:06:37.020 --> 00:06:38.759 These events opened the door 00:06:38.759 --> 00:06:41.439 past what was previously thought impossible. 00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:45.800 Since then, over 40 people have deadlifted over 1,000 pounds, 00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:50.680 and over 1,500 people have run a mile faster than four minutes. 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:52.900 So these things are more possible 00:06:52.900 --> 00:06:54.319 than what we previously thought. 00:06:55.520 --> 00:06:57.800 Sometimes these kind of events are much bigger 00:06:57.800 --> 00:07:00.480 and impact the entire world moving forward. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:03.060 Take our experience of COVID, for example, 00:07:03.259 --> 00:07:04.620 or the development of AI. 00:07:05.400 --> 00:07:07.319 Our lives are never going to be the same again. 00:07:08.780 --> 00:07:10.960 And today, in Acts 11, 00:07:10.959 --> 00:07:13.680 we are looking at a passage 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:16.839 that supersedes even all of those events 00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:18.000 by a country mile. 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:21.299 We see a powerful and loving God 00:07:21.299 --> 00:07:24.139 impacting the very course of history, 00:07:24.899 --> 00:07:27.599 breaking down the physical and spiritual barriers 00:07:27.599 --> 00:07:29.779 between His traditional people 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:31.799 and the whole world. 00:07:32.519 --> 00:07:34.539 What did that mean for the people back then? 00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:37.060 And whether you're Christian or not this morning, 00:07:37.060 --> 00:07:39.360 what does that mean for us today? 00:07:41.319 --> 00:07:43.620 I wouldn't usually do this, 00:07:44.240 --> 00:07:46.540 but in the middle of a book sermon series, 00:07:46.660 --> 00:07:48.339 I know we're kind of halfway through Acts, 00:07:48.980 --> 00:07:50.540 but given the big transition 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:52.560 that we're going to see in the chapter now, 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:55.100 I think it's worthwhile taking a step back 00:07:55.100 --> 00:07:57.740 and understanding the story up until this point 00:07:57.740 --> 00:08:00.000 and where we are and where we're heading. 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:03.100 Right at the start of Acts, 00:08:03.100 --> 00:08:04.639 in chapter 1, 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:06.740 after Jesus died, 00:08:06.979 --> 00:08:07.740 was resurrected, 00:08:08.819 --> 00:08:10.699 and spent some time with His disciples, 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:14.599 He went up to heaven. 00:08:15.259 --> 00:08:17.199 And His last words to His disciples, 00:08:17.459 --> 00:08:18.740 just before He went up to heaven, 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:19.919 we see in verse 8. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:22.939 But you will receive power 00:08:22.939 --> 00:08:32.360 when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:35.220 and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:36.919 Judea and Samaria, 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:38.840 and to the end of the earth. 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:40.500 At a high level, 00:08:40.580 --> 00:08:42.539 the book of Acts can be split up 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:43.960 into those three main sections 00:08:43.960 --> 00:08:47.120 that show how that command played out in reality 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:49.539 over the next generation or so. 00:08:50.060 --> 00:08:51.500 In chapters 1 to 7, 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:54.120 we read about the witness of Jesus 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:55.220 spreading in Jerusalem. 00:08:55.220 --> 00:08:57.500 In chapters 1 to 8, 00:08:57.899 --> 00:08:58.300 sorry, 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.440 in chapters 8 to kind of 11 slash 12, 00:09:02.040 --> 00:09:03.560 we read about the witness of Jesus 00:09:03.560 --> 00:09:04.779 spreading a little bit further, 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:06.899 but still within the traditional Holy Lands 00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:08.759 of Judea and Samaria. 00:09:09.639 --> 00:09:12.240 Then in chapters 13 to 28, 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:13.200 for the rest of the book, 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:15.200 we read about the witness of Jesus 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:17.320 exploding even further 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:20.000 away from these traditional Jewish areas 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:21.660 and to the Gentiles, 00:09:21.940 --> 00:09:23.060 to the end of the earth. 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:25.359 Just in case you were wondering, 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:27.939 the word Gentile essentially just means 00:09:27.939 --> 00:09:30.159 a person of non-Jewish heritage. 00:09:30.899 --> 00:09:32.439 So probably most of us here today, 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:33.219 I would imagine, 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:33.959 if not all. 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:36.259 And you know the author of Acts, Luke? 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:38.199 He is coincidentally actually 00:09:38.199 --> 00:09:40.819 the only Gentile writer 00:09:40.819 --> 00:09:42.379 of any book in the Bible. 00:09:42.739 --> 00:09:44.099 So I think it's no coincidence 00:09:44.099 --> 00:09:47.379 that he wrote the events 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:48.519 that we're reading about today. 00:09:50.059 --> 00:09:51.419 It may be... 00:09:51.419 --> 00:09:52.360 So chapter 11, 00:09:52.459 --> 00:09:54.360 that kind of arrow pointing up 00:09:54.360 --> 00:09:55.639 at the bottom of the screen there, 00:09:56.179 --> 00:09:57.620 it puts us right in the middle 00:09:57.620 --> 00:09:59.000 of this transition, 00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:01.360 where we were originally focusing 00:10:01.360 --> 00:10:03.319 on the ministry of Peter, 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:05.219 who was the head of the early church, 00:10:05.699 --> 00:10:06.819 to the Jewish people, 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:08.479 over to Paul, 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:10.240 the apostle to the Gentiles, 00:10:10.299 --> 00:10:12.339 and his ministry to the Gentiles 00:10:12.339 --> 00:10:13.459 and to the end of the earth. 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:15.599 It may be easy to gloss over 00:10:15.599 --> 00:10:17.539 these small details, 00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:20.319 but these are actually gigantic moments 00:10:20.319 --> 00:10:21.679 in human church history 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:23.759 and the history of the world. 00:10:24.779 --> 00:10:26.259 This is an inflection point 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:28.240 where what was originally thought 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:29.159 not possible 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:31.039 was made possible. 00:10:32.319 --> 00:10:33.759 Gentiles, us, 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:36.699 are brought into the people... 00:10:36.699 --> 00:10:38.480 are brought in as the people of God 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:39.719 through Jesus 00:10:39.719 --> 00:10:42.039 and by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:44.539 So now that's helped 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:46.159 to contextualize things a little bit, 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:48.199 let's actually get into the passage. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.699 And we'll spend time in two sections. 00:10:49.839 --> 00:10:51.259 There's essentially two stories here. 00:10:51.699 --> 00:10:52.799 Verses 1 to 18 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:55.339 and then verses 19 to 30. 00:10:55.480 --> 00:10:56.839 So we'll look at both of those today. 00:10:57.860 --> 00:10:58.939 Verses 1 to 18 00:10:58.939 --> 00:11:01.179 are essentially just a summary, 00:11:01.779 --> 00:11:03.539 a summarized version of events 00:11:03.539 --> 00:11:05.199 of what Kevin preached on last week, 00:11:05.259 --> 00:11:06.539 which was the whole of chapter 10. 00:11:06.539 --> 00:11:09.360 We've heard and read earlier 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:11.899 that Luke is very careful 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:14.599 about what he includes 00:11:14.599 --> 00:11:15.559 in his writings. 00:11:16.419 --> 00:11:18.099 So why the repetition here? 00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.959 We don't see that much from Luke. 00:11:20.500 --> 00:11:23.579 Why now and why this particular story? 00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:25.500 It should actually make us 00:11:25.500 --> 00:11:26.639 sit up and take notice. 00:11:27.419 --> 00:11:28.159 Well, it goes back 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:29.360 to what we were talking about earlier. 00:11:30.099 --> 00:11:31.079 To a good Jew, 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:32.939 this story would have been 00:11:32.939 --> 00:11:34.099 absolutely unprecedented, 00:11:34.860 --> 00:11:35.799 absolutely shocking. 00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:37.539 Peter the Jew 00:11:37.539 --> 00:11:41.179 and Cornelius the Roman soldier. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.000 For the first time maybe ever, 00:11:44.459 --> 00:11:47.299 for the first time maybe ever, 00:11:47.679 --> 00:11:49.000 a devout Jewish man 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.179 of some significance 00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:52.099 and a Roman soldier, 00:11:52.579 --> 00:11:54.419 a leader in the occupying force, 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.159 no less, 00:11:56.860 --> 00:11:58.139 stay with each other. 00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:59.259 Sorry, 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:01.419 Peter comes to stay with Cornelius 00:12:01.419 --> 00:12:02.219 and eat with him. 00:12:03.039 --> 00:12:04.339 For the Jewish people, 00:12:04.579 --> 00:12:06.179 when Peter goes back to Jerusalem, 00:12:06.539 --> 00:12:07.879 when they hear about it, 00:12:08.039 --> 00:12:09.620 they're understandably upset. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:11.439 They criticize him. 00:12:12.099 --> 00:12:13.699 So in verse 2, 00:12:13.799 --> 00:12:14.860 the circumcision party, 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:16.059 so that's just the Jewish people 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:16.539 at the time. 00:12:17.199 --> 00:12:18.019 In verse 3, 00:12:18.120 --> 00:12:18.559 they say, 00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:20.740 you went to uncircumcised men 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:21.719 and ate with them. 00:12:22.819 --> 00:12:23.299 Essentially, 00:12:23.819 --> 00:12:24.099 Peter, 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:24.980 come on, 00:12:25.459 --> 00:12:26.539 you should know better than that. 00:12:27.139 --> 00:12:28.419 We've been God's people 00:12:28.419 --> 00:12:29.719 for hundreds of years. 00:12:29.919 --> 00:12:32.059 We've got rules and regulations. 00:12:32.059 --> 00:12:33.860 We're the holy people of God, 00:12:34.019 --> 00:12:34.399 clean, 00:12:34.699 --> 00:12:35.219 set apart, 00:12:35.659 --> 00:12:37.120 just as God is holy, 00:12:37.379 --> 00:12:37.679 clean, 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:38.519 and set apart. 00:12:39.539 --> 00:12:41.419 We've got all these rules 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:42.059 and regulations 00:12:42.059 --> 00:12:42.819 from Scripture, 00:12:42.959 --> 00:12:43.319 no less. 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:43.919 This is what, 00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.740 this is the way God wants it, 00:12:45.980 --> 00:12:47.480 to show us how to maintain 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.279 that separation. 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:50.720 What are you doing 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:51.500 eating with them? 00:12:52.199 --> 00:12:53.419 You've defiled yourself, 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:54.679 tainted yourself, 00:12:55.279 --> 00:12:56.399 contaminated yourself. 00:12:57.459 --> 00:12:58.339 You see, 00:12:58.419 --> 00:12:59.179 the Jewish community 00:12:59.179 --> 00:13:00.600 was generally okay 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:02.360 with non-Jews reading 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.559 and accepting the Scripture, 00:13:04.199 --> 00:13:05.379 acknowledging God 00:13:05.379 --> 00:13:06.199 for who He was, 00:13:06.319 --> 00:13:07.339 perhaps even converting 00:13:07.339 --> 00:13:08.059 to Judaism. 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.740 That wasn't the issue. 00:13:10.199 --> 00:13:12.439 The issue was the jump 00:13:12.439 --> 00:13:14.279 to say that Gentiles 00:13:14.279 --> 00:13:15.399 were now equal 00:13:15.399 --> 00:13:17.699 in status with God. 00:13:18.279 --> 00:13:19.919 As He set apart people, 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:22.159 and therefore, 00:13:22.299 --> 00:13:23.480 it was okay to eat with them. 00:13:23.919 --> 00:13:25.179 The issue was actually 00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:26.679 how it impacted their lives, 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:28.379 what it actually meant 00:13:28.379 --> 00:13:29.579 for their identity 00:13:29.579 --> 00:13:31.079 and their lives moving forward. 00:13:32.199 --> 00:13:33.459 But here in this story, 00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:35.860 we see no ceremonial 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:36.779 cleansing rituals, 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.419 no conversion of Cornelius 00:13:38.419 --> 00:13:39.220 to become Jewish, 00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:40.259 as we would have expected. 00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:41.819 These religious, 00:13:42.019 --> 00:13:42.299 racial, 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:43.319 cultural barriers 00:13:43.319 --> 00:13:45.079 have all come crashing down. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:47.319 For centuries earlier, 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:48.440 having kept them apart. 00:13:49.760 --> 00:13:50.960 Even more significant 00:13:50.960 --> 00:13:51.460 than that, 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:52.600 the spiritual barriers 00:13:52.600 --> 00:13:53.500 have come down too. 00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:54.940 The passage ends 00:13:54.940 --> 00:13:55.740 with Peter sharing 00:13:55.740 --> 00:13:56.920 the Gospel to Cornelius 00:13:56.920 --> 00:13:57.640 and his household, 00:13:58.200 --> 00:13:59.500 seeing the Holy Spirit 00:13:59.500 --> 00:14:02.000 descending on his household, 00:14:02.520 --> 00:14:03.320 and realizing, 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:04.300 not easily, 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:04.780 mind you, 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.879 it says God had to repeat 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:08.020 this thing three times 00:14:08.020 --> 00:14:08.420 to Peter 00:14:08.420 --> 00:14:09.660 before he got the point, 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:11.000 that the Gospel 00:14:11.000 --> 00:14:12.280 is for all people. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:13.880 Everyone was welcome 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:15.240 into the community of God. 00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:17.860 What was not thought possible 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.960 just a few days back, 00:14:20.840 --> 00:14:22.000 for hundreds of years 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:22.600 before that, 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:24.360 was now playing out 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.259 in real life 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:26.720 before their very eyes. 00:14:27.399 --> 00:14:28.379 And this was initially 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:29.439 too much for the Jews. 00:14:29.559 --> 00:14:30.519 They criticized them. 00:14:30.519 --> 00:14:31.240 But, 00:14:31.500 --> 00:14:35.480 just a few verses later, 00:14:36.179 --> 00:14:38.460 in spite of their initial protests, 00:14:39.240 --> 00:14:40.699 something astonishing happens. 00:14:41.939 --> 00:14:42.879 In verse 18, 00:14:43.019 --> 00:14:43.500 we read, 00:14:43.799 --> 00:14:44.879 if you look at your Bibles, 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:45.600 in verse 18, 00:14:45.720 --> 00:14:46.079 it says, 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:58.980 How and why 00:14:58.980 --> 00:15:00.060 this dramatic turnaround 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:01.580 in such a short period of time? 00:15:02.520 --> 00:15:03.420 Well, partly, 00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.920 it was because Peter 00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:06.820 took eyewitnesses with him 00:15:06.820 --> 00:15:08.040 and he was actually there 00:15:08.040 --> 00:15:09.040 and those eyewitnesses 00:15:09.040 --> 00:15:09.580 were brothers. 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:10.580 Partly, 00:15:10.680 --> 00:15:11.780 it was because Peter 00:15:11.780 --> 00:15:13.580 was a leader of the church. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:14.600 He was well respected. 00:15:14.780 --> 00:15:16.000 His words would have carried weight 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:16.480 for sure. 00:15:17.500 --> 00:15:18.179 But really, 00:15:18.580 --> 00:15:19.679 it was the work, 00:15:20.039 --> 00:15:21.220 the undeniable work, 00:15:21.279 --> 00:15:22.259 of the Holy Spirit, 00:15:22.659 --> 00:15:24.120 as we read in verse 15. 00:15:25.259 --> 00:15:26.139 In verse 15, 00:15:26.259 --> 00:15:26.600 it says, 00:15:27.059 --> 00:15:28.139 As I began to speak, 00:15:28.179 --> 00:15:29.440 this is Peter saying, 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:30.600 As I began to speak, 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:32.460 the Holy Spirit fell on them, 00:15:32.700 --> 00:15:33.879 just as on us 00:15:33.879 --> 00:15:34.419 at the beginning. 00:15:34.679 --> 00:15:36.120 That's the first verse 00:15:36.120 --> 00:15:37.059 at the top of the screen. 00:15:38.659 --> 00:15:40.799 Peter is actually taken back 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:41.879 in that moment 00:15:41.879 --> 00:15:43.539 to the day of Pentecost. 00:15:43.860 --> 00:15:44.960 In the upper room 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:46.060 in Acts chapter 2 00:15:46.060 --> 00:15:48.780 with Jesus' Jewish disciples 00:15:48.780 --> 00:15:50.300 where the Holy Spirit 00:15:50.300 --> 00:15:52.379 descended on the disciples 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:55.360 and themselves. 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:57.120 So that's the second verse there 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:57.720 on the slide. 00:15:58.300 --> 00:15:59.680 And then even further back, 00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:01.420 he's also reminded 00:16:01.420 --> 00:16:02.820 of John the Baptist's words 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:03.700 in Matthew 3. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:05.259 That's what he repeats 00:16:05.259 --> 00:16:06.120 in his account. 00:16:07.900 --> 00:16:08.759 To Peter, 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:11.399 the decisive mark 00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.319 of God's people 00:16:12.319 --> 00:16:14.559 was God giving the gift 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:16.080 of the Holy Spirit to them. 00:16:16.860 --> 00:16:17.960 And Peter was directly 00:16:17.960 --> 00:16:19.179 comparing his experiences 00:16:19.179 --> 00:16:20.179 with the Jews 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:21.600 in that upper room 00:16:21.600 --> 00:16:22.500 on Pentecost 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:25.200 with Cornelius 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:26.799 and his household, 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:29.120 this Roman Gentile soldier 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.019 in this house 00:16:30.019 --> 00:16:30.700 in Caesarea. 00:16:31.179 --> 00:16:32.919 And he sees no difference. 00:16:33.340 --> 00:16:34.319 He sees no difference. 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.220 There's no difference 00:16:35.220 --> 00:16:36.200 in his experience. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:37.379 So who is he 00:16:37.379 --> 00:16:38.360 to stand in God's way? 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:39.600 You see, 00:16:39.680 --> 00:16:40.640 Luke here has repeated 00:16:40.640 --> 00:16:41.220 this story 00:16:41.220 --> 00:16:42.780 because it's so huge. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:45.020 He's doing what he can 00:16:45.020 --> 00:16:46.640 to make it crystal clear 00:16:46.640 --> 00:16:47.200 for everyone 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:48.420 that the gospel 00:16:48.420 --> 00:16:49.460 is for all. 00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:51.860 The gospel is for all. 00:16:52.140 --> 00:16:53.480 It's quite an easy thing 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:53.840 to say. 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:54.960 We say it all the time 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:55.480 at church. 00:16:56.020 --> 00:16:57.400 It becomes very familiar, 00:16:57.980 --> 00:16:58.740 especially if you've been 00:16:58.740 --> 00:16:59.980 a Christian for a long time. 00:17:00.180 --> 00:17:00.400 You know, 00:17:00.420 --> 00:17:01.420 it's quite basic, 00:17:01.520 --> 00:17:01.780 right? 00:17:01.779 --> 00:17:03.539 But the gospel 00:17:03.539 --> 00:17:04.319 is powerful 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:05.619 and amazing, guys. 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.680 It's amazing. 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:09.779 As we've just read here, 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.180 to those who hear it 00:17:11.180 --> 00:17:12.099 for the first time, 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:13.279 it can literally 00:17:13.279 --> 00:17:14.379 change their life 00:17:14.379 --> 00:17:15.720 as it changed the life 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:16.500 of Cornelius 00:17:16.500 --> 00:17:17.200 and his household. 00:17:17.940 --> 00:17:18.680 Think back 00:17:18.680 --> 00:17:19.440 to the first time 00:17:19.440 --> 00:17:20.099 you believed 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:21.680 or you really understood 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.599 the beauty of Jesus. 00:17:23.500 --> 00:17:25.000 I think of moments 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:25.759 in my life 00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:27.319 that are once-in-a-lifetime 00:17:27.319 --> 00:17:27.759 moments 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.440 that just show me 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.379 the amazingness 00:17:29.380 --> 00:17:30.120 of God 00:17:30.120 --> 00:17:31.580 and the world. 00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:32.340 I think of 00:17:32.340 --> 00:17:33.720 holding my daughter 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.100 Isla, 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:34.860 my oldest daughter, 00:17:34.940 --> 00:17:36.260 for the first ever time 00:17:36.260 --> 00:17:37.440 in my arm, 00:17:37.800 --> 00:17:38.540 on my arm. 00:17:38.700 --> 00:17:39.900 It wasn't even in my arm. 00:17:39.960 --> 00:17:40.500 She was premature. 00:17:40.720 --> 00:17:41.300 She was tiny. 00:17:41.420 --> 00:17:43.560 She just fit on my forearm there. 00:17:43.620 --> 00:17:43.880 I thought, 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:44.260 wow, 00:17:44.380 --> 00:17:45.160 this is amazing. 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:47.360 The gospel is infinitely 00:17:47.360 --> 00:17:48.860 more amazing than that, 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:49.220 guys. 00:17:51.240 --> 00:17:52.220 For us today, 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.260 it can also 00:17:53.260 --> 00:17:54.480 be easy 00:17:54.480 --> 00:17:55.400 to look down 00:17:55.400 --> 00:17:57.360 at those Jewish people 00:17:57.360 --> 00:17:58.480 and point the finger 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.620 at how judgmental 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:00.000 they were. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.700 But the Jewish people 00:18:01.700 --> 00:18:02.360 had actually been 00:18:02.360 --> 00:18:03.559 conditioned to think 00:18:03.559 --> 00:18:04.120 that way 00:18:04.120 --> 00:18:05.720 for hundreds of years. 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.500 And if we're honest, 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:08.799 it kind of serves 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:09.519 as an example 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.860 and points a mirror 00:18:10.860 --> 00:18:12.180 into our own hearts. 00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:14.680 Think of one person 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:16.000 in your life right now 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.680 that you think 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:18.440 could never 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:19.920 become a Christian 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:21.779 for whatever reason. 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.240 It could be religious, 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:24.660 it could be political, 00:18:24.880 --> 00:18:25.680 it could be family, 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:27.279 whatever reason it is. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:29.200 Have we lost sight 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:29.920 of the power 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:30.519 of the gospel 00:18:30.519 --> 00:18:31.779 to change their lives? 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:33.579 What is stopping us 00:18:33.579 --> 00:18:34.139 from believing 00:18:34.139 --> 00:18:35.399 that they can come to faith? 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:36.879 Are we willing 00:18:36.879 --> 00:18:37.700 to share the gospel 00:18:37.700 --> 00:18:38.480 with that person 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:39.920 at cost to ourselves 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:41.160 or continue 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.039 to keep sharing 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:42.460 the gospel 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.139 with that person 00:18:43.139 --> 00:18:43.960 at cost to ourselves? 00:18:45.160 --> 00:18:46.000 These questions 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:46.480 are not meant 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:47.200 to condemn us. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:47.980 Let me be clear 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:48.500 about that. 00:18:48.720 --> 00:18:49.879 The tone of this passage 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:50.460 is actually 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.559 an encouraging one. 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:52.500 It's a celebration. 00:18:52.720 --> 00:18:54.019 It's an encouraging passage. 00:18:54.019 --> 00:18:55.980 We can take heart 00:18:55.980 --> 00:18:56.619 from the fact 00:18:56.619 --> 00:18:57.019 that God 00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.900 has broken down 00:18:57.900 --> 00:18:58.859 all barriers 00:18:58.859 --> 00:19:00.440 that could ever 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:01.279 keep us from Him. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.259 But it's through Jesus 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:04.519 and by the work 00:19:04.519 --> 00:19:05.379 of the Holy Spirit. 00:19:07.779 --> 00:19:09.000 Which brings us 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.200 to the second story, 00:19:10.579 --> 00:19:11.660 the Gentile church 00:19:11.660 --> 00:19:13.299 in verses 19 to 30. 00:19:14.639 --> 00:19:16.220 Verse 19 we read, 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.900 Now those who were scattered 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:19.359 because of the persecution 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:20.779 that arose over Stephen 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.559 traveled as far as Phoenicia 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.279 and Cyprus 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:24.180 and Antioch. 00:19:25.420 --> 00:19:26.440 So what does it look like 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:26.899 when someone 00:19:26.899 --> 00:19:28.259 is radically changed? 00:19:28.559 --> 00:19:29.279 The persecution 00:19:29.279 --> 00:19:29.879 of Stephen, 00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:30.599 firstly. 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:31.379 What was that? 00:19:32.119 --> 00:19:33.039 Well if we go back 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:34.279 to Acts, 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.619 that's in Acts as well, 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.559 chapter 7 and 8. 00:19:36.639 --> 00:19:36.799 Sorry, 00:19:36.879 --> 00:19:37.859 there's a lot of words there. 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:39.399 Let me just say it, 00:19:39.539 --> 00:19:41.680 give you a high level summary. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:42.660 So there was a guy 00:19:42.660 --> 00:19:43.259 called Stephen. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:45.019 He was one of the leaders 00:19:45.019 --> 00:19:46.399 of the church 00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:47.460 in Jerusalem 00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:50.259 and because of his ministry 00:19:50.259 --> 00:19:51.160 he would go around 00:19:51.160 --> 00:19:52.180 preaching about Jesus. 00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.539 He was arrested 00:19:53.539 --> 00:19:54.500 and he was brought 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:56.119 before the Jewish authorities 00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:57.039 in Jerusalem. 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.220 They were accusing him 00:19:59.220 --> 00:19:59.819 of blasphemy. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:01.259 So essentially saying 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:02.839 offensive things about God 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:04.379 which was a huge deal 00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:05.000 back then. 00:20:06.039 --> 00:20:07.619 While Stephen gets up 00:20:07.619 --> 00:20:08.799 and instead of giving 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:09.500 a defense, 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:11.700 he goes on the attack again. 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:12.960 He makes another speech 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.960 again about Jesus being God 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:16.920 and salvation being found 00:20:16.920 --> 00:20:17.879 in Jesus alone. 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:20.280 And he then accuses 00:20:20.280 --> 00:20:21.280 the Jewish authorities 00:20:21.280 --> 00:20:22.980 of killing Jesus 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:24.200 and therefore 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:25.120 killing God. 00:20:25.600 --> 00:20:27.080 This is so offensive 00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:27.920 to the authorities 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:29.560 that they stone Stephen 00:20:29.560 --> 00:20:30.080 to death. 00:20:30.380 --> 00:20:31.160 Not only that, 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.380 they persecute 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:33.780 the remaining Jewish believers 00:20:33.780 --> 00:20:34.340 in Jerusalem 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:35.440 to the point 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:36.480 where they get scattered 00:20:36.480 --> 00:20:37.460 out of Jerusalem 00:20:37.460 --> 00:20:40.440 and into the surrounding regions. 00:20:41.560 --> 00:20:42.620 Guess who was there 00:20:42.620 --> 00:20:43.180 front and center? 00:20:43.280 --> 00:20:43.920 That's the second 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:45.720 highlighted verse there. 00:20:45.720 --> 00:20:49.180 No, it's not. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.620 Yeah, Saul was there. 00:20:50.700 --> 00:20:51.339 It's there somewhere. 00:20:52.339 --> 00:20:53.539 Guess who was there 00:20:53.539 --> 00:20:54.180 front and center? 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:54.819 Saul, 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.779 who was the same Paul 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.920 in this story. 00:20:59.120 --> 00:21:00.100 One of the places 00:21:00.100 --> 00:21:01.039 they scattered to 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:03.079 was the city of Antioch. 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:04.579 Not in Jerusalem, 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:06.559 not in Judea or Samaria, 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:09.019 but all the way outside 00:21:09.019 --> 00:21:11.400 in Antioch, in Syria. 00:21:11.400 --> 00:21:13.920 You see, Luke has started 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.519 to highlight 00:21:14.519 --> 00:21:15.680 this shifting context 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:16.880 that the gospel 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.420 is starting to move outside 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:19.220 its traditional 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:20.380 and historical boundaries. 00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:23.440 Antioch was a powerhouse city. 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:25.040 So Antioch's on the top 00:21:25.040 --> 00:21:26.600 right circle there 00:21:26.600 --> 00:21:27.280 and they were down 00:21:27.280 --> 00:21:27.780 in Jerusalem, 00:21:28.040 --> 00:21:28.700 but they're scattered 00:21:28.700 --> 00:21:29.519 up to Antioch. 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:31.700 Antioch was a powerhouse city, 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.040 actually. 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:33.420 It was referred to 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:34.440 as the third city 00:21:34.440 --> 00:21:35.240 of the Roman Empire 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:35.880 at that time. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.540 That just meant 00:21:36.540 --> 00:21:37.180 that it was the third 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.820 largest city 00:21:37.820 --> 00:21:39.580 behind Alexandria 00:21:39.580 --> 00:21:41.220 and Rome itself. 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.840 It was a strategic 00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:44.400 economic powerhouse 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:46.400 of trade and commerce. 00:21:47.019 --> 00:21:48.360 It was multiracial. 00:21:48.620 --> 00:21:49.580 It was multilingual. 00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:50.600 It was multinational. 00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:51.840 It was cosmopolitan. 00:21:52.300 --> 00:21:53.100 People would come 00:21:53.100 --> 00:21:54.320 from far and wide 00:21:54.320 --> 00:21:55.280 to make their fame 00:21:55.280 --> 00:21:56.320 and make their fortune 00:21:56.320 --> 00:21:57.900 in Antioch. 00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.540 Sound familiar? 00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:01.080 Like any place 00:22:01.080 --> 00:22:02.320 we might be living in right now? 00:22:03.400 --> 00:22:04.240 Well, as we'll see 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.519 in the coming chapters, 00:22:06.320 --> 00:22:07.240 Antioch becomes 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.259 the first venue 00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.840 for the international church. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:11.539 And it's the springboard 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.240 for the worldwide 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:13.240 Christian mission. 00:22:14.220 --> 00:22:15.839 So what was that church 00:22:15.839 --> 00:22:17.399 like in those 00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.599 very early days? 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:20.559 Given the parallels 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:22.099 between Antioch 00:22:22.099 --> 00:22:22.559 and us, 00:22:22.959 --> 00:22:23.319 sorry, 00:22:23.459 --> 00:22:24.899 Antioch and the Gentiles 00:22:24.899 --> 00:22:25.199 there, 00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:26.459 to Hong Kong 00:22:26.459 --> 00:22:27.319 and us 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.199 here today, 00:22:29.240 --> 00:22:29.980 I just want to look 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.379 at a couple, 00:22:30.379 --> 00:22:31.439 we could look 00:22:31.439 --> 00:22:32.159 at a lot of things, 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:33.019 but I just want to highlight 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:34.019 a couple that would 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:35.279 have been clear 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:35.879 to the church 00:22:35.879 --> 00:22:36.379 back then 00:22:36.380 --> 00:22:37.380 and therefore 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:38.560 relevant and important 00:22:38.560 --> 00:22:40.100 to us in our context. 00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:41.360 Two things. 00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:43.720 The first one 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.520 is how the church 00:22:44.520 --> 00:22:46.380 engaged in everyday evangelism, 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.280 which actually 00:22:47.280 --> 00:22:48.640 led to the changing 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.240 of lives 00:22:49.240 --> 00:22:50.580 and the movement 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:51.180 of the gospel, 00:22:51.820 --> 00:22:53.160 and how they responded 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:54.040 in generosity 00:22:54.040 --> 00:22:55.300 that was radical 00:22:55.300 --> 00:22:56.520 and transcended 00:22:56.520 --> 00:22:57.560 traditional boundaries. 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:00.180 In verse 21, 00:23:00.720 --> 00:23:01.260 we see, 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.320 so we'll look 00:23:02.320 --> 00:23:03.100 at the first section, 00:23:03.380 --> 00:23:04.340 everyday evangelism. 00:23:04.339 --> 00:23:05.559 In verse 21, 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.079 we see, 00:23:06.659 --> 00:23:07.939 we read, 00:23:08.099 --> 00:23:08.619 and the hand 00:23:08.619 --> 00:23:09.039 of the Lord 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:09.639 was with them, 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.740 and a great number 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.359 who believed 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:12.379 turned to the Lord. 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:13.399 I don't know 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:14.119 if you guys remember 00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:15.059 a couple of weeks ago 00:23:15.059 --> 00:23:16.459 when Henry was preaching 00:23:16.459 --> 00:23:17.959 and we were looking 00:23:17.959 --> 00:23:19.039 at Saul's life 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.019 immediately after 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.859 he became a Christian. 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.939 Henry mentioned, 00:23:24.119 --> 00:23:25.439 and how his life 00:23:25.439 --> 00:23:26.019 had changed. 00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:27.220 Henry mentioned 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:27.879 that Saul 00:23:27.879 --> 00:23:29.359 and Christians as well 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.980 experience a change 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.879 in their belief, 00:23:32.399 --> 00:23:32.939 their belonging, 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.159 and their behavior. 00:23:34.339 --> 00:23:35.179 You see, 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.859 these people 00:23:35.859 --> 00:23:37.619 who were saved 00:23:37.619 --> 00:23:39.299 in verse 21 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:40.619 both believed 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:43.059 and then they turned 00:23:43.059 --> 00:23:43.619 to the Lord, 00:23:43.699 --> 00:23:44.819 so their behavior changed. 00:23:45.039 --> 00:23:46.639 The core of their worldview 00:23:46.639 --> 00:23:47.419 had changed, 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:49.039 and that necessarily 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.679 resulted 00:23:49.679 --> 00:23:50.819 in a visible 00:23:50.819 --> 00:23:52.139 and obvious change, 00:23:52.439 --> 00:23:53.319 turning to the Lord. 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:55.039 In verse 26, 00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.859 we actually read 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:56.819 that this is the first time 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.139 ever 00:23:57.139 --> 00:23:58.619 that people who believe 00:23:58.619 --> 00:23:59.019 in Jesus 00:23:59.019 --> 00:23:59.799 are called Christians. 00:23:59.799 --> 00:23:59.919 Christians. 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:01.480 Now, 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.299 there's some debate 00:24:02.299 --> 00:24:03.240 as to whether 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.919 this was actually 00:24:03.919 --> 00:24:04.919 a positive term 00:24:04.919 --> 00:24:05.659 of endearment 00:24:05.659 --> 00:24:07.359 or a negative term 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.079 of ridicule 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.220 for those early Christians, 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:11.259 but the point is 00:24:11.259 --> 00:24:12.480 that their turning 00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:13.200 to the Lord 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.619 was so distinct, 00:24:14.980 --> 00:24:15.379 unique, 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.819 full of Jesus 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:18.279 that it was obvious 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.879 to the outside observer. 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:22.400 We also see 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:24.460 the church itself 00:24:24.460 --> 00:24:25.540 was not started 00:24:25.540 --> 00:24:27.320 by the leaders. 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.780 It wasn't a church 00:24:29.780 --> 00:24:31.780 plant as such 00:24:31.780 --> 00:24:32.980 where a leader 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.440 is chosen 00:24:33.440 --> 00:24:34.220 to go and start 00:24:34.220 --> 00:24:34.740 a church, 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.820 but by ordinary 00:24:36.820 --> 00:24:37.860 Jewish men 00:24:37.860 --> 00:24:38.460 and women 00:24:38.460 --> 00:24:39.940 faithfully sharing 00:24:39.940 --> 00:24:40.400 the gospel. 00:24:40.660 --> 00:24:41.440 Look at verse 20. 00:24:41.840 --> 00:24:42.420 It says, 00:24:42.420 --> 00:24:42.840 but there were 00:24:42.840 --> 00:24:43.400 some of them, 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:44.039 these are some 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:44.539 of the people 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.259 who were scattered 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:46.380 from Jerusalem, 00:24:46.940 --> 00:24:48.779 men of Cyprus 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.440 and Cyrene 00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.720 who on coming 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.720 to Antioch 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:53.320 spoke to the Hellenists, 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:53.860 the Hellenists 00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:55.060 are the Greek-speaking 00:24:55.060 --> 00:24:55.680 Gentiles 00:24:55.680 --> 00:24:56.740 who lived in Antioch, 00:24:57.480 --> 00:24:58.460 preaching the Lord Jesus. 00:24:59.560 --> 00:25:00.560 I just want to pause 00:25:00.560 --> 00:25:01.000 here a minute. 00:25:01.140 --> 00:25:01.800 It's very easy 00:25:01.800 --> 00:25:03.300 to gloss over that verse, 00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:04.660 but think about 00:25:04.660 --> 00:25:05.460 these men and women. 00:25:06.120 --> 00:25:07.000 If you really 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.779 think about it, 00:25:08.180 --> 00:25:09.160 they were refugees. 00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:10.740 They were fleeing 00:25:10.740 --> 00:25:11.460 persecution. 00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.240 They've just seen 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.060 one of their leaders 00:25:14.060 --> 00:25:15.700 brutally stoned to death 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:17.240 and they're fleeing 00:25:17.240 --> 00:25:17.900 persecution 00:25:17.900 --> 00:25:18.880 from the authorities. 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:21.380 Most of their neighbors, 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:21.940 it says, 00:25:22.019 --> 00:25:22.480 were scared 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:23.300 to share the gospel 00:25:23.300 --> 00:25:24.720 and yet, 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.680 here we see 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.860 a small group of them 00:25:26.860 --> 00:25:27.860 still doing it. 00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:29.640 Why did they keep 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:30.340 sharing the gospel? 00:25:30.860 --> 00:25:31.800 How did they do it? 00:25:32.600 --> 00:25:33.660 What was their secret? 00:25:33.860 --> 00:25:34.580 Who were they? 00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.640 What were their names? 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.060 I mean, 00:25:37.100 --> 00:25:38.019 they literally started 00:25:38.019 --> 00:25:39.500 the first international church. 00:25:39.580 --> 00:25:40.180 This is literally 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:41.220 how we're here 00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.000 this morning, right? 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:44.120 But of course, 00:25:44.320 --> 00:25:45.000 we don't know. 00:25:45.820 --> 00:25:46.740 That's not the point. 00:25:47.800 --> 00:25:49.000 I think sometimes 00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:50.039 we here today 00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:51.320 can fall into a trap, 00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:53.080 whether consciously or not, 00:25:53.340 --> 00:25:54.720 that the human aspect 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.980 of evangelism 00:25:55.980 --> 00:25:58.000 is only the work 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:58.840 of the pastors, 00:25:59.300 --> 00:25:59.980 the leaders, 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.759 the people up the front. 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.420 We do believe 00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:04.700 that God can change lives. 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:05.500 It's not that we don't 00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.080 believe that. 00:26:06.079 --> 00:26:07.639 but actually, 00:26:07.899 --> 00:26:10.379 sharing our faith, 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.039 planting those seeds 00:26:12.039 --> 00:26:12.659 ourselves 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:14.759 is a step too far. 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.559 Surely someone 00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.339 more appropriate 00:26:16.339 --> 00:26:17.419 needs to do that. 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:19.139 We just need to get 00:26:19.139 --> 00:26:20.000 people to church 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.179 so they can hear 00:26:21.179 --> 00:26:21.919 the right sermon. 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.419 We just need to sign 00:26:23.419 --> 00:26:24.399 people up for the right 00:26:24.399 --> 00:26:25.139 alpha course 00:26:25.139 --> 00:26:26.179 so they can hear 00:26:26.179 --> 00:26:27.619 the alpha course material. 00:26:28.159 --> 00:26:29.259 We just need to introduce 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.500 them to the right leader 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.779 so they can have 00:26:31.779 --> 00:26:32.659 the right conversation 00:26:32.659 --> 00:26:33.139 with them. 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:35.180 I wonder why. 00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.820 That's not what we see 00:26:37.820 --> 00:26:38.420 here in the scripture 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.080 today, right? 00:26:40.360 --> 00:26:41.660 It is indeed hard 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:42.480 to find the time 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.860 in busy Hong Kong today. 00:26:44.600 --> 00:26:45.500 Maybe there's a fear 00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.660 of what other people 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.460 will think. 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:49.160 It can be intimidating 00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:49.840 for sure. 00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:51.920 But is part of it 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:53.360 that we are taking on 00:26:53.360 --> 00:26:54.600 the responsibility 00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.800 of saving people 00:26:55.800 --> 00:26:56.259 ourselves? 00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:58.400 We feel the need 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.440 to find the exact 00:26:59.440 --> 00:27:00.280 right words, 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.860 the exact right argument. 00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:03.699 sophistication 00:27:03.699 --> 00:27:05.859 in our engagement 00:27:05.859 --> 00:27:06.459 with people. 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:08.039 Well, God here 00:27:08.039 --> 00:27:10.000 both gives us 00:27:10.000 --> 00:27:10.539 an example 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:11.479 that evangelism 00:27:11.479 --> 00:27:12.740 is for all of us 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.939 to be engaging with, 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:14.579 for all members 00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.139 of the church, 00:27:15.259 --> 00:27:16.719 but also that it's 00:27:16.719 --> 00:27:17.279 not up to us 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:18.000 to save people. 00:27:18.179 --> 00:27:18.759 He's the one 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:19.319 who is doing 00:27:19.319 --> 00:27:20.079 the hard work. 00:27:20.919 --> 00:27:21.839 Verse 21 says, 00:27:21.939 --> 00:27:22.779 The hand of the Lord 00:27:22.779 --> 00:27:23.399 was with them, 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:24.759 and a great number 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.379 who believed 00:27:25.379 --> 00:27:26.319 turned to the Lord. 00:27:26.939 --> 00:27:27.899 God is the one 00:27:27.899 --> 00:27:28.579 who saves. 00:27:28.979 --> 00:27:29.799 He is the one 00:27:29.799 --> 00:27:31.000 doing this amazing work. 00:27:31.000 --> 00:27:32.039 He will take 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.700 your weak, 00:27:33.220 --> 00:27:33.680 muddled, 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:35.400 clumsy words, 00:27:35.759 --> 00:27:36.779 and He will grant 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:38.440 salvation to someone 00:27:38.440 --> 00:27:39.220 who's far away 00:27:39.220 --> 00:27:39.619 from Him. 00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:41.980 Now, of course, 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:42.839 this all above 00:27:42.839 --> 00:27:44.240 assumes that we 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:44.920 have someone to 00:27:44.920 --> 00:27:45.480 share the gospel 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.200 with in the first 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.579 place. 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.400 Most of us 00:27:48.400 --> 00:27:49.740 probably do have 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.519 friends who are 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:51.539 not Christians. 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:54.200 We should be 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.059 spending more time 00:27:55.059 --> 00:27:55.759 with these people. 00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:56.880 We should be 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:57.539 getting to know 00:27:57.539 --> 00:27:57.759 them. 00:27:58.220 --> 00:27:58.960 We should be 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:00.380 rearranging our lives 00:28:00.380 --> 00:28:01.680 so that we can 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.480 engage with them 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:02.760 more. 00:28:03.760 --> 00:28:04.540 Getting to know 00:28:04.540 --> 00:28:04.720 them, 00:28:04.820 --> 00:28:05.400 praying for them, 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.240 sharing our lives 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:06.520 with them, 00:28:06.620 --> 00:28:07.300 introducing them 00:28:07.300 --> 00:28:07.740 to our other 00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.780 friends who are 00:28:08.780 --> 00:28:09.160 Christian. 00:28:12.040 --> 00:28:12.720 Let me share 00:28:12.720 --> 00:28:13.540 with you an example. 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.340 Now, I know 00:28:14.340 --> 00:28:16.380 she's going to be 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:17.140 embarrassed by this, 00:28:17.220 --> 00:28:18.560 but I ran it by her 00:28:18.560 --> 00:28:20.500 before I'm sharing. 00:28:21.040 --> 00:28:21.680 Let me share 00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:22.500 with you another 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:23.260 example of someone 00:28:23.260 --> 00:28:23.820 who I think is 00:28:23.820 --> 00:28:24.560 particularly good at 00:28:24.560 --> 00:28:24.840 this, 00:28:25.220 --> 00:28:25.580 my wife, 00:28:25.660 --> 00:28:25.820 Soda. 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:27.779 One thing that 00:28:27.779 --> 00:28:28.379 used to really 00:28:28.379 --> 00:28:29.259 bother me about 00:28:29.259 --> 00:28:30.480 Soda when we 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:31.299 first met, 00:28:31.899 --> 00:28:32.679 only one, 00:28:32.839 --> 00:28:33.399 I'm just kidding, 00:28:34.419 --> 00:28:37.139 was a tendency, 00:28:37.319 --> 00:28:37.980 especially when we 00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:38.480 first met, 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.259 it was a tendency 00:28:39.259 --> 00:28:40.619 to randomly spot 00:28:40.619 --> 00:28:42.279 people or someone 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:43.179 in a moving 00:28:43.179 --> 00:28:45.339 crowd and strike 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.059 up a conversation 00:28:46.059 --> 00:28:46.500 with them. 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:49.259 She often isn't 00:28:49.259 --> 00:28:50.000 even sure she 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.859 knows the person. 00:28:51.159 --> 00:28:51.799 They just look 00:28:51.799 --> 00:28:52.200 familiar. 00:28:52.200 --> 00:28:54.380 We'd be walking 00:28:54.380 --> 00:28:55.240 inside Causeway, 00:28:55.299 --> 00:28:55.779 like a busy 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:56.220 Causeway, 00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:57.539 like literally 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:58.319 walking in 00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:58.980 Causeway Bay 00:28:58.980 --> 00:28:59.759 on a weekend 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:00.600 in the MTR, 00:29:00.900 --> 00:29:02.279 and suddenly she 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:03.100 would stop 00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:04.539 and say, 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:05.680 and point, 00:29:05.860 --> 00:29:06.620 and I think I 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.400 know that person. 00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:09.500 Well, 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.019 then we'd have 00:29:10.019 --> 00:29:10.600 to make our 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.140 way through 00:29:11.140 --> 00:29:11.759 the crowd 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.880 over to this 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:13.200 person, 00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.660 or if they're 00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:14.660 going in the 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:15.519 opposite direction, 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.120 we'd kind of 00:29:16.120 --> 00:29:16.880 stop and have 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:17.440 this awkward 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:18.720 moment where we 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.200 had to find a 00:29:19.200 --> 00:29:19.900 space to not 00:29:19.900 --> 00:29:20.660 get in the way 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.220 of people. 00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:22.940 And bump them. 00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:24.100 And then we'd 00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.580 spend the next 00:29:24.580 --> 00:29:25.400 minute awkwardly 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:26.000 trying to find 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:26.620 out who this 00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.259 person was, 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:27.799 and now Soda 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.440 may or may not 00:29:28.440 --> 00:29:29.019 know who they 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:29.259 were. 00:29:30.539 --> 00:29:31.500 Do I know you? 00:29:31.900 --> 00:29:32.559 You look familiar. 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.279 Have I seen you 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:33.640 before? 00:29:34.460 --> 00:29:34.759 I mean, 00:29:34.860 --> 00:29:35.980 the introverted 00:29:35.980 --> 00:29:36.720 side of me is 00:29:36.720 --> 00:29:37.240 still getting 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.039 nervous as I'm 00:29:38.039 --> 00:29:40.140 sharing this. 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.180 And you know, 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:43.039 after all these 00:29:43.039 --> 00:29:43.500 years, 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:44.779 I only just 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.779 properly asked 00:29:45.779 --> 00:29:46.960 her why she 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:48.259 does that as I 00:29:48.259 --> 00:29:49.039 was preparing for 00:29:49.039 --> 00:29:49.720 this sermon and 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.539 thinking about it. 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:51.779 Well, 00:29:51.879 --> 00:29:52.319 to Soda, 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:53.700 it's about looking 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.539 for opportunities 00:29:54.539 --> 00:29:55.779 to see people 00:29:55.779 --> 00:29:57.359 and share the 00:29:57.359 --> 00:29:57.659 gospel. 00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:59.139 She is often 00:29:59.139 --> 00:29:59.720 scanning, 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:00.700 observing, 00:30:01.339 --> 00:30:01.879 looking for 00:30:01.879 --> 00:30:02.259 people, 00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.240 looking at 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:03.619 people. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:04.839 She often 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.460 invites those 00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:05.879 people to 00:30:05.879 --> 00:30:06.500 church or 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.000 texts them 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:08.019 afterwards to 00:30:08.019 --> 00:30:08.519 catch up. 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:09.940 She actually 00:30:09.940 --> 00:30:10.859 asks herself, 00:30:11.379 --> 00:30:12.240 she dreams about 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:12.779 what it would 00:30:12.779 --> 00:30:13.420 look like if 00:30:13.420 --> 00:30:14.019 this person 00:30:14.019 --> 00:30:14.779 believed in 00:30:14.779 --> 00:30:15.119 Jesus. 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.720 She prays for 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:16.899 them. 00:30:16.900 --> 00:30:18.140 Now, 00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.620 I'm not saying 00:30:18.620 --> 00:30:19.120 we all need 00:30:19.120 --> 00:30:19.840 to go out 00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:20.600 and hold up 00:30:20.600 --> 00:30:21.740 the MTR line, 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:23.600 but for some 00:30:23.600 --> 00:30:23.920 of us, 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.720 maybe we do, 00:30:24.840 --> 00:30:25.100 right? 00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:27.100 The point is 00:30:27.100 --> 00:30:27.519 the heart 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:28.180 behind it. 00:30:29.019 --> 00:30:29.880 How many of 00:30:29.880 --> 00:30:30.580 us do this? 00:30:31.040 --> 00:30:31.980 Actually look at 00:30:31.980 --> 00:30:32.280 people, 00:30:32.400 --> 00:30:33.160 look for people, 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.259 think about 00:30:34.259 --> 00:30:35.040 their salvation, 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:36.140 pray for their 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:36.700 salvation. 00:30:37.920 --> 00:30:38.980 Ordinary people 00:30:38.980 --> 00:30:40.360 doing what they 00:30:40.360 --> 00:30:41.280 can to share 00:30:41.280 --> 00:30:41.880 the gospel. 00:30:42.140 --> 00:30:42.580 It's going to 00:30:42.580 --> 00:30:43.019 look different 00:30:43.019 --> 00:30:43.800 for all of us. 00:30:44.320 --> 00:30:45.440 Just like those 00:30:45.440 --> 00:30:46.480 nameless men and 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.059 women who 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:47.599 will never 00:30:47.599 --> 00:30:48.599 know what 00:30:48.599 --> 00:30:49.079 their names 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.700 were from 00:30:49.700 --> 00:30:50.360 Cyprus and 00:30:50.360 --> 00:30:51.160 Cyrene in 00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:51.700 Antioch. 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.180 Something to 00:30:54.180 --> 00:30:54.579 think about. 00:30:56.640 --> 00:30:57.400 The second 00:30:57.400 --> 00:30:58.160 aspect of the 00:30:58.160 --> 00:30:58.720 church that I 00:30:58.720 --> 00:30:59.140 want to share 00:30:59.140 --> 00:31:00.960 about is this 00:31:00.960 --> 00:31:02.400 generosity that 00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:03.160 transcended 00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:03.860 boundaries. 00:31:04.920 --> 00:31:05.259 You see, 00:31:05.319 --> 00:31:05.759 the other thing 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.299 we see about 00:31:06.299 --> 00:31:07.759 the church is 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.660 this seemingly 00:31:08.660 --> 00:31:09.620 random section 00:31:09.620 --> 00:31:10.180 at the end of 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:10.579 the chapter, 00:31:10.720 --> 00:31:11.640 verses 21 to 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:11.980 30. 00:31:13.799 --> 00:31:14.620 I think it's 00:31:14.620 --> 00:31:15.279 no coincidence 00:31:15.279 --> 00:31:16.200 that this came 00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:17.140 up during the 00:31:17.140 --> 00:31:17.799 love offering 00:31:17.799 --> 00:31:18.220 month, 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:18.779 actually. 00:31:19.940 --> 00:31:20.700 But if we 00:31:20.700 --> 00:31:21.080 look at 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:22.140 verses 27 to 00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:23.740 30, what we 00:31:23.740 --> 00:31:24.940 see here is 00:31:24.940 --> 00:31:26.080 another never 00:31:26.080 --> 00:31:26.799 seen before 00:31:26.799 --> 00:31:27.660 event in human 00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.059 history. 00:31:28.779 --> 00:31:29.580 Basically, there 00:31:29.580 --> 00:31:30.240 was this prophet 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.340 Agabus who 00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:32.200 came down from 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.259 Jerusalem to 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:35.039 Antioch, and 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.279 Agabus shared 00:31:36.279 --> 00:31:36.640 that there was 00:31:36.640 --> 00:31:37.120 going to be a 00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:39.319 big famine sometime 00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.259 in the future 00:31:40.259 --> 00:31:43.279 in the Jerusalem 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.700 area. 00:31:43.700 --> 00:31:44.700 Agabus shared 00:31:44.700 --> 00:31:44.759 and it's not 00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.840 clear if there 00:31:45.840 --> 00:31:46.140 were any 00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:47.240 motivations or 00:31:47.240 --> 00:31:48.299 expectations or 00:31:48.299 --> 00:31:49.860 actual ask behind 00:31:49.860 --> 00:31:50.640 this sharing from 00:31:50.640 --> 00:31:52.000 Agabus, other 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:53.019 than to pass on a 00:31:53.019 --> 00:31:53.920 God-given message. 00:31:54.700 --> 00:31:55.440 There is no 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:56.240 direction from 00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:56.720 Paul or 00:31:56.720 --> 00:31:57.360 Barnabas, who 00:31:57.360 --> 00:31:57.840 were the leaders 00:31:57.840 --> 00:31:58.340 there at the 00:31:58.340 --> 00:31:59.700 time either, to 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.120 give. 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:01.360 There is not 00:32:01.360 --> 00:32:02.279 even a timeline. 00:32:02.819 --> 00:32:03.259 There's no 00:32:03.259 --> 00:32:04.500 severity provided 00:32:04.500 --> 00:32:05.980 to them as to 00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.680 how bad the 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.240 famine is going 00:32:07.240 --> 00:32:07.819 to be, when 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:08.240 it's going to 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.759 happen, how 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:09.299 long it's going 00:32:09.299 --> 00:32:09.920 to happen for, 00:32:10.460 --> 00:32:11.340 just that something 00:32:11.339 --> 00:32:12.039 is coming up. 00:32:12.639 --> 00:32:13.399 And how do 00:32:13.399 --> 00:32:13.980 the Gentiles 00:32:13.980 --> 00:32:14.419 respond? 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:15.959 They give. 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.459 They give 00:32:17.459 --> 00:32:18.240 according to 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.000 what they can 00:32:19.000 --> 00:32:19.519 afford. 00:32:21.179 --> 00:32:22.339 This is huge. 00:32:22.459 --> 00:32:23.319 If previously 00:32:23.319 --> 00:32:24.779 at Cornelius' 00:32:24.959 --> 00:32:26.079 house, a Jew 00:32:26.079 --> 00:32:27.119 eating with a 00:32:27.119 --> 00:32:28.899 Gentile was 00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:30.500 too much, now 00:32:30.500 --> 00:32:31.000 we have 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:32.839 Gentiles saved 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.539 and transformed 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.480 by the gospel, 00:32:35.179 --> 00:32:36.559 previously shunned 00:32:36.559 --> 00:32:37.459 for hundreds of 00:32:37.459 --> 00:32:39.199 years, voluntarily 00:32:39.199 --> 00:32:41.079 sending monetary 00:32:41.079 --> 00:32:42.839 relief back to 00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:43.359 the Jewish 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:44.279 communities in 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:44.639 needs. 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.079 This is 00:32:46.079 --> 00:32:46.619 radical. 00:32:47.399 --> 00:32:47.960 Martin Luther 00:32:47.960 --> 00:32:48.740 once famously 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:49.460 said in one of 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:49.919 his sermons, 00:32:50.500 --> 00:32:51.000 there are three 00:32:51.000 --> 00:32:52.199 conversions necessary, 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:53.379 the conversion 00:32:53.379 --> 00:32:54.019 of the heart, 00:32:54.619 --> 00:32:55.179 the conversion 00:32:55.179 --> 00:32:55.839 of the mind, 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:56.879 and the 00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:57.720 conversion of 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.099 the wallet. 00:32:59.240 --> 00:33:00.199 I think this 00:33:00.199 --> 00:33:01.019 is an especially 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.059 apt quote for 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:02.619 the church in 00:33:02.619 --> 00:33:03.740 Antioch and us 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:04.359 here in Hong 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:04.759 Kong, the 00:33:04.759 --> 00:33:05.339 church today. 00:33:06.119 --> 00:33:06.779 We can give 00:33:06.779 --> 00:33:07.339 ourselves in 00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:08.139 many ways, our 00:33:08.139 --> 00:33:08.819 time, our 00:33:08.819 --> 00:33:09.559 skills, our 00:33:09.559 --> 00:33:10.039 intelligence. 00:33:10.039 --> 00:33:11.359 We absolutely 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:12.200 should, that's 00:33:12.200 --> 00:33:13.480 wonderful, but 00:33:13.480 --> 00:33:14.579 oftentimes parting 00:33:14.579 --> 00:33:15.579 with our money can 00:33:15.579 --> 00:33:16.980 feel a step too 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:17.279 far. 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.759 Again, the point 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.299 of the passage 00:33:20.299 --> 00:33:21.059 here is not to 00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:21.839 condemn us and 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.500 make us feel 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:22.980 bad. 00:33:23.539 --> 00:33:24.119 This is an 00:33:24.119 --> 00:33:25.000 encouraging and 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.779 a celebratory piece 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:27.299 of scripture. 00:33:27.899 --> 00:33:29.500 But the fact is 00:33:29.500 --> 00:33:30.259 that one of the 00:33:30.259 --> 00:33:31.039 marks of the 00:33:31.039 --> 00:33:31.599 church in 00:33:31.599 --> 00:33:32.960 Antioch, that 00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:33.960 they had received 00:33:33.960 --> 00:33:34.819 the gospel, been 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.759 empowered by the 00:33:35.759 --> 00:33:37.279 Holy Spirit, was 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.019 this radical, 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:39.680 unexpected, and 00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.820 generous giving. 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:43.019 The early church 00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:43.940 shows us what 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:44.519 this can look 00:33:44.519 --> 00:33:45.620 like, and it 00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:46.259 should cause us 00:33:46.259 --> 00:33:46.799 to think what 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.200 it can look 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:47.900 like for us 00:33:47.900 --> 00:33:48.360 today. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.740 Let's come 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:52.360 into Lent. 00:33:52.820 --> 00:33:53.820 I gave some 00:33:53.820 --> 00:33:54.840 examples at the 00:33:54.840 --> 00:33:56.420 start of events 00:33:56.420 --> 00:33:57.259 that shift our 00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:58.519 understanding of 00:33:58.519 --> 00:33:59.380 what is possible 00:33:59.380 --> 00:34:00.960 moving forward. 00:34:01.560 --> 00:34:02.400 We've seen in 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:03.320 Acts 11 here 00:34:03.320 --> 00:34:04.460 another such 00:34:04.460 --> 00:34:05.519 event or events 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.140 that were never 00:34:06.140 --> 00:34:07.360 seen before, that 00:34:07.360 --> 00:34:08.099 impacted the 00:34:08.099 --> 00:34:08.840 course of history 00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:09.539 moving forward. 00:34:10.160 --> 00:34:10.820 In fact, that's 00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.480 why we are able 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.200 to stand here 00:34:12.200 --> 00:34:12.900 today and 00:34:12.900 --> 00:34:14.100 worship God in 00:34:14.100 --> 00:34:14.900 the first place. 00:34:15.579 --> 00:34:16.800 Gentiles, the 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.680 people of God 00:34:17.680 --> 00:34:19.220 from all 00:34:19.220 --> 00:34:20.059 backgrounds and 00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:21.420 races, a 00:34:21.420 --> 00:34:22.380 motley crew, if 00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:23.079 you ask me, 00:34:23.660 --> 00:34:24.519 worshipping God 00:34:24.519 --> 00:34:25.280 together. 00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:26.760 How do we 00:34:26.760 --> 00:34:27.559 respond to this? 00:34:28.420 --> 00:34:29.059 Well, if you're a 00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:30.880 Christian today, just 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:31.860 as it impacted the 00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.620 church back then, 00:34:33.180 --> 00:34:33.920 let these events 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.800 similarly change 00:34:34.800 --> 00:34:35.160 us. 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:37.019 Spur us on to 00:34:37.019 --> 00:34:37.639 share the good 00:34:37.639 --> 00:34:38.860 news and give 00:34:38.860 --> 00:34:39.900 generously to 00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.699 those in need. 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.440 If you're not a 00:34:42.440 --> 00:34:43.940 Christian today, I 00:34:43.940 --> 00:34:44.360 don't know what 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:45.079 stage of your 00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:46.000 spiritual journey 00:34:46.000 --> 00:34:46.900 you're at. 00:34:47.440 --> 00:34:48.320 God does. 00:34:49.179 --> 00:34:50.119 But I want you 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:52.259 to know, as an 00:34:52.259 --> 00:34:54.039 ordinary man up 00:34:54.039 --> 00:34:54.480 here on the 00:34:54.480 --> 00:34:55.619 stage, with a 00:34:55.619 --> 00:34:56.340 very simple, 00:34:56.559 --> 00:34:57.500 ordinary message, 00:34:58.019 --> 00:34:59.059 I want you to 00:34:59.059 --> 00:34:59.860 know that Jesus 00:34:59.860 --> 00:35:02.059 loves you so 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:06.059 much that he 00:35:06.059 --> 00:35:06.860 died for you. 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:12.299 And he is 00:35:12.299 --> 00:35:13.559 asking you to 00:35:13.559 --> 00:35:14.719 respond to that 00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:16.380 by believing in 00:35:16.380 --> 00:35:18.480 his name, so 00:35:18.480 --> 00:35:19.340 that you can find 00:35:19.340 --> 00:35:20.380 true life and 00:35:20.380 --> 00:35:21.360 relationship with 00:35:21.360 --> 00:35:21.679 God. 00:35:22.719 --> 00:35:23.699 He is powerful 00:35:23.699 --> 00:35:25.239 enough, and we've 00:35:25.239 --> 00:35:25.860 seen that in the 00:35:25.860 --> 00:35:27.219 chapter today, to 00:35:27.219 --> 00:35:29.000 break down whatever 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:30.199 barriers are in 00:35:30.199 --> 00:35:30.639 your way. 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:32.259 And he cares 00:35:32.259 --> 00:35:33.019 enough to change 00:35:33.019 --> 00:35:33.500 your life. 00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:33.559 life. 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:35.519 So I invite you 00:35:35.519 --> 00:35:36.820 to respond to 00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:37.539 this invitation. 00:35:38.019 --> 00:35:38.440 If you're not a 00:35:38.440 --> 00:35:40.199 Christian, believe, 00:35:40.519 --> 00:35:41.360 turn to Jesus 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:41.760 today. 00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:43.239 I'm very happy to 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:43.940 speak to you about 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.619 it after the 00:35:44.619 --> 00:35:45.019 service. 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:46.960 Let me pray for 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:47.900 us as we finish. 00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:57.579 Father God, thank 00:35:57.579 --> 00:35:58.720 you for your son 00:35:58.720 --> 00:35:59.099 Jesus. 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:00.320 Thank you for the 00:36:00.320 --> 00:36:00.940 Holy Spirit. 00:36:01.200 --> 00:36:02.119 These very simple 00:36:02.119 --> 00:36:04.700 truths that were 00:36:04.700 --> 00:36:08.240 the way that you 00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:09.780 grew your church 00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:11.119 back then is the 00:36:11.119 --> 00:36:12.180 way that you grow 00:36:12.180 --> 00:36:12.960 your church now. 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.440 Help us to not 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:17.740 grow complacent at 00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:18.700 the familiarity of 00:36:18.700 --> 00:36:19.440 the gospel in our 00:36:19.440 --> 00:36:20.380 lives, but to see 00:36:20.380 --> 00:36:21.440 it for the amazing, 00:36:21.559 --> 00:36:22.300 life-changing, 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.380 transformative thing 00:36:23.380 --> 00:36:24.000 that it is. 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.880 May we be 00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:26.880 encouraged to share 00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.720 it with others, to 00:36:27.720 --> 00:36:28.659 give generously to 00:36:28.659 --> 00:36:30.400 those in need, for 00:36:30.400 --> 00:36:31.300 the praise and the 00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:32.720 glory of your name, 00:36:33.059 --> 00:36:34.240 so that many people 00:36:34.240 --> 00:36:35.039 would come to know 00:36:35.039 --> 00:36:36.059 and say that Jesus 00:36:36.059 --> 00:36:36.980 Christ is Lord. 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:38.280 In his name I 00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:38.500 pray. 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:39.300 Amen. 00:36:39.300 --> 00:36:39.400 Amen.