WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.500 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.280 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:27.519 --> 00:00:29.100 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:00:29.100 --> 00:00:33.100 My name is Anita Scribner, and I attend the El Cerrito Community Group. 00:00:33.679 --> 00:00:36.960 Will you read with me from the Acts of the Apostles, chapter 14? 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:41.460 In Lystra, there sat a man who was lame. 00:00:41.900 --> 00:00:44.420 He had been that way from birth and had never walked. 00:00:45.039 --> 00:00:46.939 He listened to Paul as he was speaking. 00:00:47.939 --> 00:00:52.000 Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed, and called out, 00:00:52.159 --> 00:00:53.140 Stand up on your feet. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:57.180 At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:02.899 When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Laconian language, 00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:05.760 The gods have come down to us in human form. 00:01:06.920 --> 00:01:11.400 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:18.719 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates, 00:01:19.020 --> 00:01:22.860 because he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them. 00:01:23.640 --> 00:01:29.920 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, 00:01:30.240 --> 00:01:30.540 shouting, 00:01:30.540 --> 00:01:32.680 Friends, why are you doing this? 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:35.219 We too are only human like you. 00:01:36.020 --> 00:01:41.240 We are bringing the good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:44.740 who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:51.480 In the past, he let all nations go their own way, yet he has not left himself without testimony. 00:01:51.480 --> 00:01:57.340 He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons. 00:01:57.700 --> 00:02:01.859 He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy. 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:07.900 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them. 00:02:08.699 --> 00:02:12.580 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. 00:02:13.420 --> 00:02:17.439 They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:23.579 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:27.139 The next day, he and Barnabas left for Derbe. 00:02:27.699 --> 00:02:32.139 They preached the gospel in that city and won a large number of disciples. 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:38.460 Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the disciples 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:41.300 and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:46.439 We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God, they said. 00:02:46.439 --> 00:02:52.800 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and with prayer and fasting, 00:02:53.020 --> 00:02:56.460 committed them to the Lord in whom they had put their trust. 00:02:57.039 --> 00:02:58.620 This is the word of the Lord. 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:02.840 Thank you for that, Anita. 00:03:02.979 --> 00:03:03.860 Good morning, Christ Church. 00:03:03.939 --> 00:03:04.659 My name is Andrew. 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:05.879 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:03:06.419 --> 00:03:09.800 Will you join me in prayer as we come to hear what God has to say to us? 00:03:09.800 --> 00:03:16.020 Father, we love you, and we are amazed at your deep love for us, 00:03:16.160 --> 00:03:19.320 your incomprehensible, immeasurable love for us. 00:03:20.140 --> 00:03:22.460 And Lord, we want to be people who bear witness to that love, 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:26.180 so show us how to do that in a place like this, the East Bay Area. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:30.460 And would we do it for the glory of your name and for the good of our neighbors. 00:03:30.620 --> 00:03:34.120 Be honored in the preaching of your word this morning, we pray in Jesus' name. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:34.860 Amen. 00:03:34.860 --> 00:03:39.920 Well, Christ Church, we are now at the point in the story of the Christian Scriptures, 00:03:40.260 --> 00:03:47.420 in this book of Acts, where the first multi-ethnic, predominantly Gentile-led church has boomed, right? 00:03:47.720 --> 00:03:51.460 And this unlikely church of Antioch in Syria, just north of Israel, 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:55.500 has actually become a resource church, a sending church, 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:59.760 sharing their wealth of resources with the mother church in Jerusalem, 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:05.739 and then also sending out Paul and Barnabas to extend Christ's witness across the Mediterranean. 00:04:06.739 --> 00:04:09.620 And as much as we might think it's so cool, right? 00:04:09.679 --> 00:04:15.979 It's so cool how this Jesus movement was crossing cultural boundaries and uniting once divided peoples, 00:04:16.099 --> 00:04:20.279 we can't ignore the real challenges, though, that this must have presented. 00:04:21.060 --> 00:04:22.159 I want you to think about this. 00:04:22.219 --> 00:04:22.719 Think about this. 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:26.519 What was the apostles' initial strategy of mission in the early church? 00:04:26.519 --> 00:04:28.859 Their initial strategy was to go into what? 00:04:28.939 --> 00:04:30.959 Jewish synagogues in every city. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:34.279 In every city they entered, they would go first into the Jewish synagogue, 00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:41.000 and they'd preach that Israel's longed-for Messiah was the crucified and resurrected Jesus of Nazareth, 00:04:41.060 --> 00:04:43.799 and that he was actually the Lord Yahweh himself. 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:48.740 Now, surely this was a radical message for a Jewish audience to receive, 00:04:48.819 --> 00:04:51.019 but at least they had a framework for it, right? 00:04:51.019 --> 00:04:52.959 They had a framework to receive this kind of message. 00:04:52.959 --> 00:04:56.180 They already had an implicit trust in the Hebrew Scriptures. 00:04:56.180 --> 00:04:59.800 They already shared a monotheistic conception of Yahweh. 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:05.240 They shared a moral, ethical framework, and they had an expectation already of a Messiah. 00:05:06.139 --> 00:05:09.160 But where do you even start with people like these? 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:15.199 In Acts chapter 14, in Lystra, even further north above the Mediterranean in modern-day Turkey. 00:05:15.939 --> 00:05:18.139 People who had never read the Jewish Scriptures, 00:05:18.360 --> 00:05:21.680 people who believed in a whole pantheon of Greek gods, 00:05:21.680 --> 00:05:27.019 people who believed that their own sexual activities far outside the boundaries of marriage 00:05:27.019 --> 00:05:28.900 were actually acts of worship. 00:05:29.579 --> 00:05:31.780 Where do you even start with people like these? 00:05:32.500 --> 00:05:35.199 And I bring this conundrum up to us today, Christ Church, 00:05:35.259 --> 00:05:38.879 because our situation here in the Bay Area, it's not so different. 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:44.120 While Paul was bringing the message of Christ to non-Jewish, pre-Christian cultures, 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:48.240 here in the Bay Area, we are called in the Bay to bring the message of Christ 00:05:48.240 --> 00:05:53.959 to both Jewish and non-Jewish peoples, to both pre- and post-Christian cultures. 00:05:54.680 --> 00:05:59.019 Gone are the days when we could safely assume some kind of, at least cultural, 00:05:59.160 --> 00:06:04.340 Judeo-Christian background to work with when we're sharing about Jesus with a stranger. 00:06:04.819 --> 00:06:05.959 At least here in the West, right? 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:12.620 We are now living in a pluralistic, international, cosmopolitan region of the world. 00:06:13.379 --> 00:06:17.719 You know, in just my second month here serving at Christ Church back in 2018, 00:06:18.159 --> 00:06:21.379 I remember meeting a visiting scholar from China. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:25.279 I was tabling on Sproul Plaza at Cal, and I remember him saying to me, 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:27.139 he just came to our table, and he said, 00:06:27.539 --> 00:06:30.120 you know, I don't know anything about Christianity, 00:06:30.899 --> 00:06:32.120 but I'd like to learn more. 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:33.879 What kind of church are you? 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:38.139 And I kind of froze for a second, 00:06:38.459 --> 00:06:41.159 because it took me a while to think, you know, 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:42.159 where do I even start? 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:45.000 Right before me, standing before me, was this guy, 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:46.740 this completely blank slate, 00:06:46.819 --> 00:06:49.819 and I needed to take a second to think about where to even start. 00:06:50.659 --> 00:06:53.100 And you know, it's not just my job to know where to start. 00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:55.439 If you are a follower of Jesus, it's your job too, 00:06:55.500 --> 00:07:01.319 and my job is to equip you to understand how to share the gospel in such a context as ours. 00:07:01.319 --> 00:07:05.379 Because as the world is constantly changing around us, 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:07.540 as our culture is constantly changing around us, 00:07:07.579 --> 00:07:09.480 it's incumbent upon us, the church, 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:16.079 to constantly evaluate how God's eternal word interfaces with God's ever-changing world. 00:07:17.040 --> 00:07:19.740 And so the question that I want us to consider today is, 00:07:19.959 --> 00:07:25.000 how does the church bear witness in a pluralistic city as diverse as ours? 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:29.639 Okay, how does the church bear witness to Christ in pluralistic cities as diverse as ours? 00:07:29.720 --> 00:07:32.800 And from this early church example in Acts chapter 14, 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:35.939 I want to suggest that we bear witness in at least two ways. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:36.699 I had a third point. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:40.560 Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to get to the last five or six verses of this text. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:43.139 So here are my two, from verses 8 to like 18. 00:07:43.899 --> 00:07:46.860 First, we must bear witness in word and deed. 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:47.240 Okay? 00:07:47.680 --> 00:07:49.319 First, we must bear witness in word and deed. 00:07:49.439 --> 00:07:53.060 And second, we must bear witness of what is worthless and what is worthy. 00:07:53.060 --> 00:07:53.740 All right? 00:07:53.819 --> 00:07:57.720 So first, the church, we the church, particularly in this pluralistic context, 00:07:58.040 --> 00:08:00.819 we must bear witness in word and deed. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:05.639 Now, I honestly struggled here with how to say this, how much to say, 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:11.160 because the principle is extremely simple, but at the same time, super complicated. 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:12.600 So I'm going to do my best. 00:08:12.860 --> 00:08:13.740 Let's look at verse 8. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:38.740 Now, the very first thing we should notice is that Paul came here preaching. 00:08:39.259 --> 00:08:42.279 He came here bearing witness to Christ in word. 00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:45.860 This is the context in which this miraculous healing happens. 00:08:45.860 --> 00:08:48.080 He's preaching the word of Christ. 00:08:48.680 --> 00:08:53.720 And yet, when he sees an opportunity and looks into the eyes of a suffering human being, 00:08:53.960 --> 00:08:58.600 lame from birth, he doesn't just see someone to convert with informational words, 00:08:59.100 --> 00:09:01.580 but it says he looks directly at this man. 00:09:02.200 --> 00:09:06.519 And he sees a person to love, a person to love with deeds of service. 00:09:06.580 --> 00:09:09.680 He sees a whole person who needs a whole salvation. 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:13.079 You know, when it says that he saw that he had faith to be healed, 00:09:13.199 --> 00:09:16.199 the word for healed is actually the same word as saved. 00:09:16.819 --> 00:09:21.739 And so even as he is preaching, he does not hesitate to pause mid-sermon to bear witness, 00:09:21.959 --> 00:09:27.659 not just to Jesus' saving words of truth, but also to Jesus' saving deeds of power. 00:09:28.239 --> 00:09:32.879 And his witness in word is accompanied by a witness in deed. 00:09:33.539 --> 00:09:34.120 And what does he do? 00:09:34.179 --> 00:09:36.639 He miraculously heals this listener. 00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:40.860 Now, to those of us who are acquainted with the New Testament scriptures, 00:09:41.240 --> 00:09:44.120 this pattern should sound kind of familiar to us, right? 00:09:44.199 --> 00:09:44.960 This model. 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:48.980 In Luke chapter 5, we have Jesus in the middle of teaching in a full house, right? 00:09:49.299 --> 00:09:52.059 And then, boom, a paralytic just busts through the roof, right? 00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:56.199 And Jesus says, rise, take up your mat, and walk. 00:09:56.259 --> 00:09:56.639 And what? 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:57.199 He's saved. 00:09:57.819 --> 00:10:00.379 Then in Acts chapter 3, Jesus has now descended, 00:10:00.840 --> 00:10:05.419 and his followers are trying to figure out how to do church and be the people of God 00:10:05.419 --> 00:10:08.459 while they wait for him to return, and Peter's on his way to the temple. 00:10:09.099 --> 00:10:12.959 And on his way, he commands a lame beggar to stand up and walk, 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:14.860 and boom, he's saved as well. 00:10:15.159 --> 00:10:15.899 And then what does Peter do? 00:10:15.939 --> 00:10:18.779 He launches into a sermon to explain what happened. 00:10:19.319 --> 00:10:20.559 See, this was the pattern of Jesus. 00:10:20.939 --> 00:10:24.059 This was the pattern of his apostles in Jerusalem and beyond. 00:10:24.319 --> 00:10:28.079 And this has got to be our pattern, Christ Church, as well. 00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:33.440 This has got to be our pattern as well, bearing witness of Christ in word and deed. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:39.040 But, of course, I'm aware that, you know, depending on our personalities and our dispositions, 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:44.020 this probably irks most of us because each of us has our own individual bents, right? 00:10:44.220 --> 00:10:47.460 Our own individual bents toward either words or deeds. 00:10:48.040 --> 00:10:51.520 For example, on the one hand, you know, you have right-leaning Christians, 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:53.480 or for you, it's right-leaning Christians, 00:10:53.939 --> 00:10:59.819 who have tended to emphasize witnessing in word while neglecting to witness in deed. 00:11:00.319 --> 00:11:04.419 After all, they say, how will others hear and know the good news of Christ 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:09.059 if we do not preach the truths and the doctrines of the faith with clear words? 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:11.139 Why show when we can tell? 00:11:11.860 --> 00:11:14.340 We aren't a social services agency. 00:11:14.579 --> 00:11:15.639 We aren't an orphanage. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:17.159 We aren't a homeless shelter. 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:17.980 We're not a hospital. 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:19.059 Those are all fine and good. 00:11:19.059 --> 00:11:22.500 But the church's distinct role is to preach Christ. 00:11:23.500 --> 00:11:26.579 Meanwhile, on the other hand, you have your left-leaning Christians, 00:11:26.779 --> 00:11:31.199 who have tended to emphasize witnessing in deed and to neglect witnessing in word. 00:11:31.679 --> 00:11:36.039 After all, they say, how will others see and experience the good news of Christ 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:40.359 if we do not display the good fruits and the implications of the faith 00:11:40.359 --> 00:11:42.879 with demonstrative deeds of service? 00:11:43.279 --> 00:11:45.139 Why tell when we can show? 00:11:45.579 --> 00:11:46.659 We're not all pastors. 00:11:46.859 --> 00:11:48.519 We're not all preachers and theologians. 00:11:48.519 --> 00:11:51.079 We're not all called to be teachers and evangelists. 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:53.299 Yes, that's good for some people in the church, 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:56.259 but the church, as the diversely gifted people of God, 00:11:56.299 --> 00:11:58.899 is called to do so much more, right, than just preach. 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:01.759 So let me ask, who's right? 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:03.279 Who's right? 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:07.579 The Christians to the right or the Christians to the left? 00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:09.740 Well, they're both right, right? 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.579 They're both right and yet they're both incomplete. 00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:14.720 See, Scripture seems to talk about the church in two distinct ways. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:18.399 In some instances, it speaks about the church organically, 00:12:18.540 --> 00:12:22.540 simply as the whole people of God who are called to do everything God has called us to do, 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:24.379 to love God and to love our neighbor. 00:12:25.139 --> 00:12:26.740 And yet in other instances in Scripture, 00:12:27.100 --> 00:12:30.139 it speaks about the church as a more distinct institution, 00:12:30.660 --> 00:12:35.600 with more distinct functions and the purpose of being a pillar of truth in the world 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:40.879 and organized, worshiping, even location-specific covenant community. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:44.420 So this means that, yes, right-leaning Christians, 00:12:44.820 --> 00:12:46.720 right-leaning Christians are absolutely right. 00:12:47.420 --> 00:12:49.139 The church is an institution. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:52.180 It does have a distinct role and calling to preach Christ. 00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:56.540 So a church, you know, it might not have a specific program to serve refugees 00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:58.279 and those seeking asylum. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.779 It might not have a food pantry, 00:13:00.060 --> 00:13:03.220 but that doesn't necessarily mean it's an unfaithful church. 00:13:03.220 --> 00:13:06.060 A church that is not preaching the good news of Jesus, however, 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:08.060 now that is an unfaithful church, 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:10.860 no matter how many social services it offers. 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:13.540 And yet at the same time, 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:16.680 left-leaning Christians are absolutely right 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:18.360 that the church as an organism, 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:21.300 as the wide-ranging people of God, 00:13:22.100 --> 00:13:25.960 we have a diverse calling to imitate Christ in a variety of ways 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:29.040 according to our gifts and our callings and our context. 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:32.259 While every single local church as an institution 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:34.379 must at least, at the very least, 00:13:34.580 --> 00:13:36.360 be preaching the gospel and baptizing 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:38.299 and gathering around the Lord's table, 00:13:39.000 --> 00:13:41.700 if these churches are not producing disciples 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:43.460 who are taught in the words of Jesus 00:13:43.460 --> 00:13:44.700 to do everything, 00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:46.779 everything that he commanded, 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:49.519 to do justice and to love mercy, 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.819 to walk humbly before their God, 00:13:50.899 --> 00:13:53.860 to love God and neighbor in every way imaginable, 00:13:54.700 --> 00:13:56.539 there's something off about that church. 00:13:56.539 --> 00:13:59.899 A church that only produces Sunday worshipers 00:13:59.899 --> 00:14:01.419 who don't engage their culture 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:03.500 and love their neighbors and communities 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:05.379 with their diversity of gifts. 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:07.079 A church that just preaches the gospel 00:14:07.079 --> 00:14:09.000 in such a way that its people are not filled 00:14:09.000 --> 00:14:11.519 with compassion for the unsheltered, 00:14:11.899 --> 00:14:13.620 and orphans, and foster families, 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.319 and those who are differently abled, 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:17.860 and the many marginalized and oppressed peoples 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.419 that will always be amongst us. 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:23.219 Such a church is getting something miserably wrong 00:14:23.220 --> 00:14:26.100 when it preaches a gospel that does not bear fruit 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:28.139 and make a movement in the city. 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:30.220 Faithful followers of Jesus, 00:14:30.340 --> 00:14:31.660 the church as an institution 00:14:31.660 --> 00:14:34.820 and as an organic people of God, 00:14:35.540 --> 00:14:38.379 we have to bear witness of Christ in both, 00:14:38.779 --> 00:14:40.100 in word and deed. 00:14:40.180 --> 00:14:42.279 And this is why every Sunday here at Christ Church, 00:14:42.440 --> 00:14:44.360 no matter what has happened in our city, 00:14:44.540 --> 00:14:46.000 in this world, we will worship, 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.379 and we will pray, 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:49.340 and we will preach the truth of Christ. 00:14:49.860 --> 00:14:52.279 And yet the burden of our entire mission of a church 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:54.919 does not simply rest on Sunday worship. 00:14:56.019 --> 00:14:57.100 We want to form people, 00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:58.279 we want to develop people 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:00.659 to be Monday through Saturday followers of Jesus 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:02.919 who are crushing it in their communities, 00:15:03.100 --> 00:15:05.039 who are crushing it in their vocations 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:06.579 and in their spheres of influence, 00:15:06.699 --> 00:15:08.259 not necessarily as, you know, 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:11.319 institutional reps of Christ Church East Bay, 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:14.519 but as the church, the church Catholic, 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:16.439 the people of God, followers of Christ. 00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:18.279 And this is especially important 00:15:18.860 --> 00:15:21.339 in a pluralistic context like ours. 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:23.600 It's imperative for us to witness in Christ, 00:15:23.740 --> 00:15:26.680 to witness to Christ both in word and deed. 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:28.740 We can't just major on one or the other, 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:29.980 word or deed. 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:32.040 Yes, there may be a time 00:15:32.040 --> 00:15:34.280 where it's better to witness in deed. 00:15:34.399 --> 00:15:35.220 Yes, there may be a time 00:15:35.220 --> 00:15:37.920 where it's better to witness in word, 00:15:38.060 --> 00:15:38.840 but on the whole, 00:15:39.180 --> 00:15:39.940 on the whole, 00:15:40.060 --> 00:15:42.560 in such a diverse context as ours, 00:15:43.060 --> 00:15:45.720 where people literally and figuratively 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:47.000 speak, you know, 00:15:47.080 --> 00:15:49.860 countless cultural languages that are different, 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:53.500 we need to be conveying the good news of Christ 00:15:53.500 --> 00:15:56.580 in both languages of word and deed, 00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.940 to both show and tell the good news about Jesus 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:01.220 with the clarity of speech 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:03.820 and the visibility of action, 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:04.740 conveying to, you know, 00:16:04.779 --> 00:16:07.639 a multiplicity of observers the truth 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:10.480 and the power of Christ. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:13.240 So if your relationship with God, 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.580 if your relationship with God 00:16:14.580 --> 00:16:16.460 and your outward engagement in the world 00:16:16.460 --> 00:16:17.940 merely consists of, you know, 00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:19.120 showing up at Project Peace 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.080 or serving at your local food bank, 00:16:21.580 --> 00:16:22.539 then I want to challenge you 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:23.320 to equip yourself 00:16:23.320 --> 00:16:25.139 to bear witness in word. 00:16:25.600 --> 00:16:26.320 This coming fall, 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.680 we will be extending invitations 00:16:27.680 --> 00:16:28.379 to a deeper, 00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:30.279 more intentional mentoring 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.139 in the way of Jesus. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:32.440 Let me know if you're interested. 00:16:33.080 --> 00:16:35.720 Or just jump into Jonathan's Bavink group 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:37.879 or my Bavink systematic theology group. 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:40.100 Or maybe next time you're serving 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:41.279 alongside your neighbor 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:43.100 at your kid's school event, 00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:44.759 serving alongside a neighbor 00:16:44.759 --> 00:16:45.700 who doesn't know Jesus, 00:16:46.060 --> 00:16:47.000 maybe try leading them 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:48.820 into a conversation about your faith 00:16:48.820 --> 00:16:51.820 and about why Jesus means so much to you. 00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:54.720 Try bearing witness to Christ in word. 00:16:55.620 --> 00:16:57.320 But then if your relationship with God 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:59.620 and your outward engagement in the world 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:01.160 merely consists of, you know, 00:17:01.300 --> 00:17:01.899 Bible reading 00:17:01.899 --> 00:17:03.659 and getting your theology right 00:17:03.659 --> 00:17:05.059 and getting into theological 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:07.200 and religious debates in person, 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.099 or maybe you're that person 00:17:08.099 --> 00:17:09.839 who does it online on those forums, 00:17:10.259 --> 00:17:11.160 I want to challenge you 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.019 to equip yourself 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:14.779 to bear witness in deed as well. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:16.900 Put Project Peace Days of Service 00:17:16.900 --> 00:17:17.660 on your calendar. 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:19.460 Chat with Sharon Pipkin 00:17:19.460 --> 00:17:20.460 and Shea Gilbert 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.400 and our guest preacher 00:17:21.400 --> 00:17:22.160 in a couple weeks 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:23.220 from Foster the Bay 00:17:23.220 --> 00:17:24.400 to learn about how we can care 00:17:24.400 --> 00:17:26.160 about foster families. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.400 Join Catherine St. Clair and myself 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.660 and Bill Barnes and some others 00:17:29.660 --> 00:17:30.740 on our Care Portal team, 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.660 which is going to directly 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:33.120 connect us to the needs 00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:34.240 of hurting families 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.400 in Alameda County. 00:17:36.120 --> 00:17:37.740 Get excited about this initiative 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:39.180 that Jonathan and Denise Yon 00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:39.640 are launching 00:17:39.640 --> 00:17:40.920 to help our professionals 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.080 integrate their faith 00:17:42.080 --> 00:17:43.080 and their work. 00:17:43.820 --> 00:17:44.180 See, Christchurch, 00:17:44.259 --> 00:17:45.800 this is the kind of faithful witness 00:17:45.800 --> 00:17:47.360 that our city requires. 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.720 Word and deed, 00:17:49.019 --> 00:17:49.900 show and tell, 00:17:50.180 --> 00:17:51.040 truth and power, 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:52.940 knowledge and experience. 00:17:53.820 --> 00:17:55.360 Because if we ever only witness 00:17:55.360 --> 00:17:56.600 in word but not deed, 00:17:56.880 --> 00:17:57.900 no one's ever going to listen 00:17:57.900 --> 00:17:59.960 to the truth of Christ on our lips. 00:17:59.960 --> 00:18:02.420 And if we ever only witness 00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:03.559 in deed but not word, 00:18:03.819 --> 00:18:04.880 no one will ever understand 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.960 the power of Christ 00:18:05.960 --> 00:18:07.140 in our lives. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:08.940 So now with the remainder 00:18:08.940 --> 00:18:09.319 of our time, 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:10.620 let's move on from the mode 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.740 of bearing witness 00:18:11.740 --> 00:18:12.819 to the content 00:18:12.819 --> 00:18:13.700 of bearing witness 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:15.519 in a city as diverse as ours. 00:18:15.579 --> 00:18:16.299 We must bear witness 00:18:16.299 --> 00:18:17.279 both in word and deed 00:18:17.279 --> 00:18:19.200 and we must bear witness 00:18:19.200 --> 00:18:20.100 of the worthless 00:18:20.100 --> 00:18:21.039 and the worthy. 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:22.180 Look with me at verse 11. 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:24.299 When the crowd saw 00:18:24.299 --> 00:18:25.440 what Paul had done, 00:18:26.100 --> 00:18:28.039 they shouted in the Lycanian language, 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.519 the gods have come down 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.840 to us in human form. 00:18:31.640 --> 00:18:32.840 Barnabas they called Zeus 00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:34.620 and Paul they called Hermes 00:18:34.620 --> 00:18:36.420 because he was the chief speaker. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:38.100 The priest of Zeus, 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:39.340 whose temple was just 00:18:39.340 --> 00:18:40.060 outside the city, 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.900 brought bulls and wreaths 00:18:41.900 --> 00:18:42.640 to the city gates 00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:44.240 because he and the crowd 00:18:44.240 --> 00:18:45.960 wanted to offer sacrifices 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:46.480 to them. 00:18:47.220 --> 00:18:47.940 Okay, so Paul, 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:49.100 he's bearing witness 00:18:49.100 --> 00:18:51.259 to Christ in word and deed, 00:18:51.259 --> 00:18:52.879 and the crowd goes wild. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.619 In their minds, 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:54.440 this is something 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:55.779 only a god can do 00:18:55.779 --> 00:18:56.599 and the only gods 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:57.440 that they knew about 00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.460 were the Greek gods. 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.579 So they assumed 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:00.680 that Barnabas is Zeus 00:19:00.680 --> 00:19:02.059 and that Paul is Hermes 00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:02.619 and they prepared 00:19:02.619 --> 00:19:04.799 to sacrifice bull offerings 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:06.299 to these two men. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:09.240 But this is the exact opposite 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:11.200 of what Paul and Barnabas want. 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:11.900 They don't want 00:19:11.900 --> 00:19:13.980 themselves to be worshipped. 00:19:14.099 --> 00:19:14.779 They don't want Zeus 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:16.119 and Hermes to be worshipped. 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.579 They want Jesus to be worshipped. 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:19.079 So verse 14 says, 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:20.319 But when the apostles, 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:21.339 Barnabas and Paul, 00:19:21.439 --> 00:19:22.039 heard of this, 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:23.480 they tore their clothes 00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:25.419 and rushed out into the crowd 00:19:25.419 --> 00:19:25.819 shouting, 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.539 Friends, 00:19:27.259 --> 00:19:29.159 why are you doing this? 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:31.399 We too are only human like you. 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.919 We are bringing you good news, 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.000 telling you to turn 00:19:35.000 --> 00:19:36.379 from these worthless things 00:19:36.379 --> 00:19:38.000 to the living God. 00:19:38.919 --> 00:19:39.539 Now again, 00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:41.259 they aren't in a Jewish synagogue. 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:42.399 They're in a completely 00:19:42.399 --> 00:19:43.799 different context here 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:44.879 in Leicester, right? 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:46.820 So I want us to notice 00:19:46.820 --> 00:19:49.320 this approach that they take 00:19:49.320 --> 00:19:50.480 in this place 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.500 where they didn't have 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.280 the same framework 00:19:52.280 --> 00:19:53.720 that they were operating out of 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:54.140 with the people 00:19:54.140 --> 00:19:54.980 they're speaking to. 00:19:55.100 --> 00:19:56.140 I want us to notice 00:19:56.140 --> 00:19:56.540 this approach. 00:19:56.640 --> 00:19:57.360 They don't start with, 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:57.660 you know, 00:19:57.680 --> 00:19:58.220 they don't start with 00:19:58.220 --> 00:19:58.820 sinners, 00:19:59.920 --> 00:20:00.340 fools. 00:20:01.300 --> 00:20:01.940 They don't say, 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:02.980 stop sinning. 00:20:03.360 --> 00:20:03.740 They don't say, 00:20:03.980 --> 00:20:04.740 stop worshipping 00:20:04.740 --> 00:20:05.880 your false gods. 00:20:06.100 --> 00:20:07.000 You're breaking the Torah. 00:20:07.120 --> 00:20:07.700 Did you know that? 00:20:07.740 --> 00:20:08.600 You're breaking the Torah. 00:20:08.960 --> 00:20:09.840 You're breaking the first 00:20:09.840 --> 00:20:10.920 of the Ten Commandments. 00:20:11.300 --> 00:20:12.540 Shame on you. 00:20:13.460 --> 00:20:13.759 No. 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:15.019 What do they say? 00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.460 They say, 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.559 friends. 00:20:18.440 --> 00:20:18.859 Friends. 00:20:19.619 --> 00:20:20.659 They approach these 00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.639 pagan worshippers 00:20:21.639 --> 00:20:22.920 as friends. 00:20:23.399 --> 00:20:24.339 And they engage them 00:20:24.339 --> 00:20:25.859 not by clobbering them 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.720 over the head 00:20:26.720 --> 00:20:28.599 with their Christian doctrines 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:29.220 and telling them 00:20:29.220 --> 00:20:30.539 how wrong they are, 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.700 but they simply ask a question. 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:33.779 Why? 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:36.519 Why are you doing this? 00:20:37.339 --> 00:20:37.480 I mean, 00:20:37.539 --> 00:20:38.220 can you imagine 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:38.940 if the history 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:40.200 of Christian outreach 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:41.220 was filled with this 00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:42.500 kind of more gentle 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:43.160 spirit? 00:20:43.839 --> 00:20:44.160 Why? 00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.839 Can you tell me about that? 00:20:46.500 --> 00:20:46.720 Like, 00:20:46.779 --> 00:20:47.640 what if we treated those 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:48.599 who don't know Jesus, 00:20:48.700 --> 00:20:49.500 what if we treated them 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:50.380 as friends, 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:50.880 right? 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:52.920 As rational human beings, 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.680 what if we pursued 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:55.380 good and deep conversations 00:20:55.380 --> 00:20:56.319 with those who were 00:20:56.319 --> 00:20:57.400 religious others 00:20:57.400 --> 00:20:58.140 in our lives 00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:59.259 simply using the 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.400 why question? 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:02.059 Not seeking to clobber 00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:02.799 those who worship 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:03.720 differently than us, 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.859 but to genuinely 00:21:04.859 --> 00:21:06.200 understand. 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:08.359 Understand those 00:21:08.359 --> 00:21:08.859 who are different 00:21:08.859 --> 00:21:09.359 than us. 00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.460 Like, 00:21:10.539 --> 00:21:10.680 oh, 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.599 you worship Zeus. 00:21:11.599 --> 00:21:12.159 Huh. 00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:12.219 Huh. 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:12.980 Well, 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:13.839 you tell me about that. 00:21:14.259 --> 00:21:14.599 Why? 00:21:14.740 --> 00:21:15.740 Why do you worship Zeus? 00:21:16.279 --> 00:21:17.079 How do you choose 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:18.399 in your great pantheon 00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:19.079 of gods 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:20.139 who you worship? 00:21:21.119 --> 00:21:21.939 What do you value? 00:21:23.219 --> 00:21:24.179 Or how might this look 00:21:24.179 --> 00:21:25.359 in our present-day context? 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:26.019 Where we've, 00:21:26.079 --> 00:21:26.279 you know, 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.219 we've traded our 00:21:27.219 --> 00:21:28.519 Greco-Roman pantheon 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.579 for the unholy trinity 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.119 of sex, 00:21:30.379 --> 00:21:30.599 money, 00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:31.059 and power, 00:21:31.119 --> 00:21:31.539 haven't we? 00:21:31.939 --> 00:21:32.599 Bowing down 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.279 to the altars 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:33.899 of approval 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.779 and appetite 00:21:34.779 --> 00:21:35.480 and ambition. 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:38.220 What if we had deep 00:21:38.220 --> 00:21:39.180 and meaningful 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:39.900 conversations 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:40.819 with our friends 00:21:40.819 --> 00:21:42.000 and our families 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:43.539 exploring the gods 00:21:43.539 --> 00:21:44.819 that we are all 00:21:44.819 --> 00:21:45.579 tempted to worship? 00:21:46.380 --> 00:21:46.579 Hey, 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.519 you seem really, 00:21:47.640 --> 00:21:48.380 really invested. 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:49.259 You seem to have 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:49.880 really invested 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:50.660 a lot of your time 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:51.240 and your talent 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.180 and your treasure 00:21:52.180 --> 00:21:53.900 in this or that, 00:21:54.000 --> 00:21:54.180 right? 00:21:54.279 --> 00:21:54.920 Your career, 00:21:55.319 --> 00:21:55.779 your partner, 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.339 your children, 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.360 your hobby, 00:21:57.740 --> 00:21:58.559 that life goal 00:21:58.559 --> 00:21:59.059 that you have, 00:21:59.120 --> 00:21:59.680 this lifestyle 00:21:59.680 --> 00:22:00.400 that you want. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:01.599 Can you tell me 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:02.140 about that? 00:22:02.780 --> 00:22:03.259 Do you feel 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:04.560 it's been worth it? 00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:06.580 Why do you value 00:22:06.580 --> 00:22:07.380 what you value? 00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:08.580 And how's that 00:22:08.580 --> 00:22:09.400 working out for you? 00:22:10.100 --> 00:22:10.980 Simple questions. 00:22:11.140 --> 00:22:12.520 Get to know you questions. 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:12.860 See, 00:22:12.920 --> 00:22:13.740 Paul and Barnabas, 00:22:14.020 --> 00:22:14.700 they didn't need 00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:15.300 to convince 00:22:15.300 --> 00:22:16.640 their religious others 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:17.680 that the Torah 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:19.060 was God's word 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:19.660 right off the bat. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.000 They didn't need 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:20.380 to do that. 00:22:20.440 --> 00:22:20.740 They didn't need 00:22:20.740 --> 00:22:21.740 to convince others 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.560 that they were sinners 00:22:22.560 --> 00:22:24.259 for worshiping other gods 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.320 and neither do we. 00:22:25.440 --> 00:22:26.780 That's not the first move 00:22:26.780 --> 00:22:27.780 that we need to make. 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:28.920 As we go about 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:29.860 bearing witness to Christ 00:22:29.860 --> 00:22:31.240 here in the Bay Area, 00:22:31.240 --> 00:22:32.579 a powerful first step 00:22:32.579 --> 00:22:34.279 is just to genuinely seek 00:22:34.279 --> 00:22:35.299 to understand 00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:36.599 the why question 00:22:36.599 --> 00:22:37.620 amongst the people 00:22:37.620 --> 00:22:38.420 we're engaging. 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:40.380 And what I found 00:22:40.380 --> 00:22:41.279 is that as we listen 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.059 to others answer 00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:43.000 that why question, 00:22:44.160 --> 00:22:44.839 why do you value 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:45.519 what you value? 00:22:46.380 --> 00:22:47.299 It opens doors. 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.160 It opens doors 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:49.039 for us to share 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:50.000 our answer 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:51.279 to the why question. 00:22:51.839 --> 00:22:53.339 Why do I worship Jesus 00:22:53.339 --> 00:22:54.700 above all else? 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.279 Look right here. 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.319 After Paul and Barnabas 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:58.039 ask why, 00:22:58.799 --> 00:22:59.920 they're unafraid 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:01.840 to enter their own beliefs 00:23:01.840 --> 00:23:03.400 into the arena, right? 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:04.820 They're unafraid 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:06.360 to enter their own good news 00:23:06.360 --> 00:23:07.680 into this pluralistic 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.880 sea of ideas. 00:23:09.320 --> 00:23:10.340 Hey, I'm curious 00:23:10.340 --> 00:23:11.360 why you worship 00:23:11.360 --> 00:23:12.300 Zeus and Hermes, 00:23:12.340 --> 00:23:12.900 why you worship 00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.640 what you worship. 00:23:14.200 --> 00:23:14.900 And I'd also love 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:15.600 to share with you 00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.920 why I worship 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:18.560 the one that I worship. 00:23:19.380 --> 00:23:19.960 Verse 15, 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:20.539 friends, 00:23:21.120 --> 00:23:22.420 why are you doing this? 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.440 We too are only human 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:25.259 like you. 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:25.840 They establish 00:23:25.840 --> 00:23:26.519 common ground 00:23:26.519 --> 00:23:28.140 and then they go ahead 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:29.120 and they speak their truth. 00:23:29.119 --> 00:23:30.859 We are bringing you 00:23:30.859 --> 00:23:31.959 our good news 00:23:31.959 --> 00:23:33.199 telling you 00:23:33.199 --> 00:23:34.319 to turn from these 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.279 worthless things 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:36.500 to the living God. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.399 That's all they do. 00:23:39.239 --> 00:23:40.219 Now, it does sound 00:23:40.219 --> 00:23:40.939 a little bit offensive 00:23:40.939 --> 00:23:41.459 though, right? 00:23:42.039 --> 00:23:42.859 And that's because 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:43.500 it kind of is. 00:23:43.559 --> 00:23:44.039 It kind of is. 00:23:44.099 --> 00:23:45.059 But at the end of the day, 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:46.519 no one can be 00:23:46.519 --> 00:23:47.239 completely neutral. 00:23:47.779 --> 00:23:48.599 No one's going to be 00:23:48.599 --> 00:23:49.619 completely neutral 00:23:49.619 --> 00:23:50.359 at the end of the day. 00:23:50.439 --> 00:23:51.339 If you're convinced 00:23:51.339 --> 00:23:52.799 that one thing is true, 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:54.079 then you will necessarily 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:55.500 disagree with claims 00:23:55.500 --> 00:23:56.459 that refute 00:23:56.459 --> 00:23:57.639 what you're convinced of. 00:23:57.640 --> 00:23:59.000 And after all, 00:23:59.100 --> 00:23:59.660 if Barnabas, 00:24:00.080 --> 00:24:01.340 not Barnabas, 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:01.560 sorry, 00:24:01.780 --> 00:24:03.240 if Paul and Barnabas' 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.759 news to share 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:06.240 was the truth, 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.940 then it truly was 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.440 good news 00:24:08.440 --> 00:24:09.280 to tell the crowd 00:24:09.280 --> 00:24:10.220 to turn from 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.200 these worthless things 00:24:11.200 --> 00:24:12.040 and unto 00:24:12.040 --> 00:24:13.100 the living God. 00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.120 They were just 00:24:14.120 --> 00:24:15.100 speaking their truth 00:24:15.100 --> 00:24:16.400 here with authenticity 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.500 and compassion. 00:24:18.420 --> 00:24:18.880 And again, see, 00:24:19.000 --> 00:24:19.880 we have to appreciate 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:20.620 that they're not 00:24:20.620 --> 00:24:22.160 bringing this news 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.920 of condemnation 00:24:22.920 --> 00:24:23.380 like, hey, 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:24.440 you're all going to hell 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.180 for worshiping 00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:26.039 the wrong God. 00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.720 They truly believe 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.660 that they are bringing 00:24:28.660 --> 00:24:29.700 good news, 00:24:30.259 --> 00:24:31.000 an invitation 00:24:31.000 --> 00:24:32.240 to stop wasting 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:33.240 one's time 00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:34.140 with what is worthless, 00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.220 an invitation 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:36.400 to turn to the one 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.080 who is truly 00:24:37.080 --> 00:24:38.920 worthy of worship. 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.360 For them, 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:41.080 it's not about 00:24:41.080 --> 00:24:41.920 convincing others 00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:43.519 of doctrines to believe, 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:45.180 but they're bearing 00:24:45.180 --> 00:24:46.120 witness to what is 00:24:46.120 --> 00:24:46.440 worthless 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.940 and to what is worthy. 00:24:48.340 --> 00:24:48.740 They're doing it 00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.420 out of compassion. 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:50.320 They're doing it 00:24:50.320 --> 00:24:50.900 out of compassion. 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.480 The Greek word 00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:51.960 for worthless 00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:52.420 here could be 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.480 translated empty 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:54.780 or fruitless, 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.540 useless, 00:24:56.080 --> 00:24:56.440 powerless, 00:24:56.720 --> 00:24:57.240 futile. 00:24:57.920 --> 00:24:59.540 And this is intentional. 00:24:59.720 --> 00:25:00.680 This is an intentional 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.720 juxtaposition 00:25:01.720 --> 00:25:03.220 to the living God. 00:25:03.860 --> 00:25:05.080 It's really quite simple 00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:06.340 for Paul and Barnabas 00:25:06.340 --> 00:25:06.900 in Lystra. 00:25:07.460 --> 00:25:08.780 And it can be quite simple 00:25:08.780 --> 00:25:09.800 for us here 00:25:09.800 --> 00:25:10.900 in the Bay as well. 00:25:11.560 --> 00:25:12.800 They simply saw themselves 00:25:12.800 --> 00:25:13.700 as bearers 00:25:13.700 --> 00:25:14.940 of better news. 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:16.080 That's it. 00:25:16.800 --> 00:25:17.720 They simply believed 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:18.900 that they had better news, 00:25:18.980 --> 00:25:19.660 a better God. 00:25:19.660 --> 00:25:19.700 God, 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:21.380 worship worthless things 00:25:21.380 --> 00:25:23.360 or worship the worthy one, 00:25:23.740 --> 00:25:24.860 the living God. 00:25:25.800 --> 00:25:25.940 See, 00:25:26.100 --> 00:25:27.160 bearing witness about Christ, 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:29.540 we don't need to be afraid of 00:25:29.540 --> 00:25:30.400 or we don't need to get 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:31.820 hung up upon, 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.140 you know, 00:25:32.220 --> 00:25:33.480 what if these people 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.160 I'm talking to, 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:35.420 what if they question 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:36.620 why they even need Jesus? 00:25:37.360 --> 00:25:38.600 What if they don't believe 00:25:38.600 --> 00:25:39.300 the Bible? 00:25:39.460 --> 00:25:40.500 Or what if they disagree 00:25:40.500 --> 00:25:41.560 about the Ten Commandments 00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:42.420 or that they need 00:25:42.420 --> 00:25:43.040 to be forgiven 00:25:43.040 --> 00:25:44.519 or that there is judgment 00:25:44.519 --> 00:25:45.240 for what the Bible 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.200 calls sin? 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.900 We don't need to worry 00:25:47.900 --> 00:25:48.840 about those questions 00:25:48.840 --> 00:25:49.600 right off the bat. 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.540 But simply, 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.660 we need to be convinced 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:53.080 that we have better news 00:25:53.080 --> 00:25:54.400 of a better God. 00:25:55.320 --> 00:25:56.720 That's all it takes 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:58.120 to be a witness of Christ, 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.840 to be convinced 00:25:58.840 --> 00:25:59.920 that we have better news 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:01.420 of a better God. 00:26:02.180 --> 00:26:03.220 But the question is, 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.540 are we convinced? 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.259 Are we convinced? 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.180 Is our God, 00:26:07.360 --> 00:26:08.440 is the God of the Scriptures, 00:26:08.580 --> 00:26:09.600 the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.420 is He truly better? 00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:12.640 Is He? 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:15.020 Before I wrap up, 00:26:15.060 --> 00:26:15.880 I want to share a story 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:17.140 that was well known 00:26:17.140 --> 00:26:18.000 in Lystra, 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:19.220 and that the whole region 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:19.880 of what is now 00:26:19.880 --> 00:26:20.980 modern-day Turkey, 00:26:21.300 --> 00:26:21.920 they would have been 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.820 familiar with this 00:26:22.820 --> 00:26:23.900 during the time of Paul. 00:26:24.020 --> 00:26:26.100 It's a Greek hospitality myth 00:26:26.100 --> 00:26:27.940 of Philemon and Bosis. 00:26:28.780 --> 00:26:29.700 See, as legend had it, 00:26:30.360 --> 00:26:31.200 Zeus and Hermes 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:32.060 had entered a city 00:26:32.060 --> 00:26:33.420 not unlike Lystra, 00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:35.300 and not far from Lystra, 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:37.240 but they had done so 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:39.619 disguised as ordinary peasants. 00:26:40.339 --> 00:26:41.779 And they go into the city 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.740 seeking shelter, 00:26:43.299 --> 00:26:44.740 but as these ordinary peasants, 00:26:44.819 --> 00:26:45.819 they are rejected by 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:47.619 everyone in the entire city 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:50.000 until they come to this 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:51.299 humble cottage 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:53.159 owned by this old couple 00:26:53.159 --> 00:26:54.899 named Philemon and Bosis. 00:26:55.740 --> 00:26:57.039 And then after receiving 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.079 generous hospitality 00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:59.319 from this poor couple, 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:01.000 they revealed to them 00:27:01.000 --> 00:27:01.819 who they were. 00:27:02.339 --> 00:27:03.519 And they told this couple, 00:27:03.599 --> 00:27:04.279 Philemon and Bosis, 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:05.700 you need to go flee 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.460 up on the mountain. 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:07.920 So Philemon and Bosis, 00:27:08.019 --> 00:27:09.059 they go flee on the mountain, 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.559 and from that mountain, 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:12.240 they watch the entire city 00:27:12.240 --> 00:27:13.279 just wiped out, 00:27:13.519 --> 00:27:14.960 destroyed by a flood, 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:15.940 and then they see 00:27:15.940 --> 00:27:17.079 their humble little cottage 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:18.319 transformed into 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:19.740 a marvelous temple. 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:21.740 So I hope that 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:22.519 after hearing this story, 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.359 you can imagine 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:25.059 what was likely going on 00:27:25.059 --> 00:27:25.639 in the minds 00:27:25.639 --> 00:27:26.579 of the Lyconians 00:27:26.579 --> 00:27:27.539 in seeking to offer 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.819 sacrifices here 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:30.500 to Paul and Barnabas, 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.700 whom they presumed 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:33.879 to be Hermes and Zeus. 00:27:34.279 --> 00:27:35.680 These Lyconians were 00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:37.119 simply seeking 00:27:37.119 --> 00:27:38.160 to protect themselves. 00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.319 They were acting 00:27:39.319 --> 00:27:40.519 out of self-interest 00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:41.599 and maybe even trying 00:27:41.599 --> 00:27:42.819 to merit for themselves 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:44.200 ornate temples 00:27:44.200 --> 00:27:45.359 through the sacrifice 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:46.259 of bulls 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.279 to their Greek gods. 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:49.299 So let me ask again, 00:27:49.539 --> 00:27:50.579 are these Greek gods 00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.559 whose existence 00:27:51.559 --> 00:27:52.240 and history 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.420 threatened disaster 00:27:53.420 --> 00:27:54.200 upon a lack 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.940 of hospitality 00:27:54.940 --> 00:27:55.960 and a lack 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.819 of bloody sacrifice, 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.879 are these gods 00:27:57.879 --> 00:27:59.180 better than the God 00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:00.200 of the Scriptures? 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:02.160 are they? 00:28:02.920 --> 00:28:04.100 Or are there any gods 00:28:04.100 --> 00:28:05.039 that we all worship 00:28:05.039 --> 00:28:06.580 and offer sacrifices to 00:28:06.580 --> 00:28:08.420 now in the 21st century? 00:28:08.559 --> 00:28:09.519 Are any of these gods 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:10.000 any better? 00:28:10.559 --> 00:28:11.779 Like the God of money 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:13.039 who threatens disaster 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:13.840 upon us, 00:28:14.080 --> 00:28:15.799 upon our insatiable appetites 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:16.799 if we do not sacrifice 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:18.220 to Him enough. 00:28:18.360 --> 00:28:19.420 Or the God of sex 00:28:19.420 --> 00:28:20.580 who threatens disaster 00:28:20.580 --> 00:28:21.500 upon our need 00:28:21.500 --> 00:28:22.080 for approval 00:28:22.080 --> 00:28:23.220 if we do not sacrifice 00:28:23.220 --> 00:28:24.360 to her enough. 00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.380 Or the God of power 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.460 who threatens disaster 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:27.480 upon our ambitions 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.900 if we do not sacrifice 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:30.259 to Him enough. 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.940 See, to quote 00:28:31.940 --> 00:28:33.220 the late atheist author 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.140 David Foster Wallace, 00:28:34.519 --> 00:28:35.559 there is no such thing 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:37.319 as not worshiping. 00:28:38.319 --> 00:28:39.440 Everybody worships. 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:41.480 The only choice we get 00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.539 is what to worship. 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:43.599 And pretty much 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:44.720 anything you worship, 00:28:44.839 --> 00:28:45.200 he says, 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:46.360 will eat you alive. 00:28:46.819 --> 00:28:47.759 If you worship money 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:48.319 and things, 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.599 if they are where you tap 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.779 real meaning in life, 00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:51.720 then you will never 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.180 have enough, 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.420 never feel you have enough. 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:54.640 Worship your body 00:28:54.640 --> 00:28:55.240 and beauty 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:56.440 and sexual allure 00:28:56.440 --> 00:28:57.460 and you will always feel 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.079 ugly. 00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.840 And Wallace's point, 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.840 and he's absolutely right, 00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:02.180 is that whatever we worship 00:29:02.180 --> 00:29:04.380 will always be our master 00:29:04.380 --> 00:29:06.000 and we will always be 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.299 his, her, or its 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:08.779 suffering slave. 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.440 But you know, 00:29:10.559 --> 00:29:11.559 there is a God 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:13.299 whom we can worship, 00:29:13.740 --> 00:29:15.160 whom we can bow down to 00:29:15.160 --> 00:29:16.059 as our master 00:29:16.059 --> 00:29:17.120 and yet who will not 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.840 eat us alive. 00:29:19.559 --> 00:29:20.559 A master who is, 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.500 who even when we fail him, 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:24.160 is always wanting 00:29:24.160 --> 00:29:25.019 to forgive us. 00:29:25.420 --> 00:29:26.840 A master whose yoke is easy 00:29:26.839 --> 00:29:27.459 and whose burden 00:29:27.459 --> 00:29:28.139 is light 00:29:28.139 --> 00:29:28.859 and who declares 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:30.339 that we are not just servants 00:29:30.339 --> 00:29:31.599 but liberated children 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.699 of a good king. 00:29:33.299 --> 00:29:34.559 A master who paid 00:29:34.559 --> 00:29:36.139 for our very own liberation, 00:29:36.319 --> 00:29:37.339 not through our own 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.639 bloody sacrifices, 00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:39.799 but through the sacrifice 00:29:39.799 --> 00:29:41.139 of his own blood. 00:29:41.879 --> 00:29:43.119 And this is the living God 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:44.519 of Paul and Barnabas. 00:29:44.859 --> 00:29:45.579 In verse 15, 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.720 who made the heavens 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.539 and the earth 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:48.220 and the sea 00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:49.519 and everything in them, 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:50.299 who in the past 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:51.079 let all nations 00:29:51.079 --> 00:29:52.159 go their own way. 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:53.919 Yet he has not left himself 00:29:53.919 --> 00:29:54.960 without testimony, 00:29:55.399 --> 00:29:56.539 but has shown kindness 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:58.319 by giving us rain from heaven 00:29:58.319 --> 00:29:59.879 and crops in their seasons 00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:01.240 and provides us 00:30:01.240 --> 00:30:02.299 with plenty of food 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:03.740 and fills our hearts 00:30:03.740 --> 00:30:04.500 with joy. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:05.759 In short, 00:30:06.099 --> 00:30:06.699 not a God 00:30:06.699 --> 00:30:07.839 who always takes from us 00:30:07.839 --> 00:30:08.419 far more 00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:09.740 than he actually gives, 00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.259 but quite the opposite. 00:30:11.960 --> 00:30:12.799 Quite the opposite 00:30:12.799 --> 00:30:14.839 of every other worthless God, 00:30:14.899 --> 00:30:16.759 the one true worthy God 00:30:16.759 --> 00:30:18.379 who has always given us 00:30:18.379 --> 00:30:19.559 far more 00:30:19.559 --> 00:30:21.480 than what he requires of us 00:30:21.480 --> 00:30:23.200 and even wants us 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:24.700 to have all things 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:26.099 in Christ. 00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:27.980 Christ Church, 00:30:28.059 --> 00:30:28.759 this is the gospel. 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.440 This is the gospel, 00:30:30.559 --> 00:30:31.279 the good news 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:33.019 that we get to bear witness to 00:30:33.019 --> 00:30:35.119 in both word and deed. 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.519 Will you pray with me?