Sermon: Do Not be Afraid

Do Not Be Afraid
Jeremiah 1: 4-10
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
August 25, 2019

Now the word of the Lord came to me saying,
‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’
Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me,
‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,says the Lord.’

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,
‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’ - Jeremiah 1: 4-10

Before Jeremiah was born, God had a purpose for his life. God chose him to be a prophet, God’s mouthpiece, to God’s people of Israel and to the nations. Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. When he grew up into his calling, his heart broke for his people as they were traumatized by the Babylonian exile.

Jeremiah was the one who spoke God’s word of hope when Israel had none: “Thus says the Lord - Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile – and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its wellbeing you will find your wellbeing… For surely, I know the plans I have for you; plans for your welfare and not for harm, I have plans to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:7, 11).

But when Jeremiah first heard God’s plans for his future, he wasn’t feeling it. Jeremiah backpedaled saying, Hey God, I am too young. You want me to speak to the people and to the nations, but I have never even taken a public speaking class! You got the wrong guy!

Have you been there? Maybe you have sensed God guiding your steps with the Lord’s purposes on one particular day. It may be that God needs you to be Jesus’ hands and feet to someone in need. But our first response is a lot like Jeremiah’s – we are afraid. We quickly feel inadequate and unprepared to do something on God’s behalf.

In the biblical text and in the school of life, God does not take “No” for an answer. Do you know why? God pursues us! Because it is not about our ability. It is always about God’s ability and what God will do through us.

God reassured Jeremiah, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:8). And God’s words reassure us as we consider God’s purposes in our lives. God’s Word encourages us to grow into our future with hope as an ambassador of Jesus Christ.

Do not be afraid of your God-given purpose in life because you matter. God promised to deliver Jeremiah because the Lord delighted in him (Psalm 18:19). And the Lord delights in you. We cannot find meaning in life or find our God-given purposes without knowing that we are loved.

Being loved is our greatest human need because we are created by a loving God to live in relationship with God and one another. If we are not nurtured in a web of loving relationships then we will struggle in searching for our identity.

So, I have a word for you. In the case you have not heard these words lately, you matter because God loves you. God loves you and there is nothing you can do about it! We know love because God first loved us ( 1 John 4:19).

Do not be afraid of your God-given purpose in life because you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God has blessed each of us with unique talents, passions, and gifts to discover and hone throughout our lifetimes. Since being in ministry my tagline has been, “The life of faith is an adventure so jump in.”

We have to take a risk to jump in and explore who God has made us to be and to discover what we are made of. Just as a parent gives a child opportunities to discover their strengths and growing edges in sports, so God gives each of us opportunities to do the same. Self-discovery is not made on the sidelines. We have to put ourselves out there.

Do not be afraid but look towards your mentors. God was Jeremiah’s sacred center and spiritual mentor. God promised to be with Jeremiah every step of the way. The promise holds true for you and me as well. God’s Word in Jesus Christ is our sacred center and God’s Spirit is our mentor. We cannot live into God’s plans for a future with hope if we are not digging into God’s Word and seeking the Spirit’s guidance. It is impossible.

Gods’ Word and Spirit is our compass to give us direction. But you know what? We need the help of others to know how to use that spiritual compass. We need spiritual mentors to walk beside us to help us discern the ways God is shaping our lives for the Lord’s purposes.

Spiritual mentors are everywhere. And some are just waiting to have the opportunity to take someone under their wings. That grandmother; that Sunday school teacher. That co-worker. Many here have found spiritual mentors and prayer warriors one of our small groups for men, women, and youth.

Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. God promised to be with Jeremiah as he left what was familiar to try on different experiences that would empower him to do God’s work in the world. One of the best ways you and I can do that is to serve others. It is so important for our children, youth, and adults to put our faith into action and serve our community. We have some movers and shakers here in this congregation. Many among us have passions to serve Jesus in the community.

But as your pastor, I keep praying for God to lead our church to know what is that one thing we are known for? Where do the gifts of Van Wyck Presbyterian intersect the needs of this community to bring about God’s glory and God’s kingdom? How might we unify our service to God and neighbor? We cannot know if we do not step out of our comfort zones and serve in different capacities.

Do not be afraid of God’s purposes in your life or in the life of this church but be patient. You and I might not have a life-defining moment to know God’s purposes like Jeremiah did. For many of us it takes time. God uses our experiences, failures, and successes for God’s purposes in the world to show God’s steadfast faithfulness and eternal love for all of creation and humanity. Nothing reveals God’s love and redemptive purposes more than Jesus Christ.

As you and I strive to keep in step with God’s Spirit and discover the hope of God’s plans be patient. Come to the Table this morning to taste and see the goodness of God in your life. Let the bread of life and the cup of salvation nourish you for the journey ahead.

Our highest calling is to glorify God and enjoy our relationship with God forever [1]. We glorify God by loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves; that will always be our life’s purpose. The particular ways that you and I do that takes intentional prayer, a risk to put our faith into action, and the loving support of the family of faith.

The Lord will fulfill his purposes for us (Psalm 138:8). May we be the body of Christ and join the Lord in making a difference in the world.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] The Book of Confessions, The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Part I (Louisville: The Office of the General Assembly), The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Confession of Faith, 7.111.

Sermon: Empowered by Their Acts: Keeping Up Courage

Empowered by Their Acts: Keeping Up Courage
Acts 27: 1, 13- 26
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
August 4, 2019

After three missionary journeys, the Apostle Paul experienced his second arrest and imprisonment. He remained a prisoner in Roman custody for two years (Acts 24:27). He had defended himself on trial before the governor and also before King Herod Agrippa II (Acts 24, 26).

Paul maintained his innocence; he had done no wrong to the Jews whom accused him of being a pest, an agitator, a ringleader, and profaning the Jewish temple (Acts 24: 5-6; 25: 10-12).

And now he boarded a ship with 275 fellow prisoners, soldiers, and sailors (Acts 27:36). They set sail for Italy where Paul would make his appeal before the Caesar.

This is where we enter the story of Acts 27: 1, 13-26.

When it was decided that we were to sail for Italy, they transferred Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort, named Julius.

When a moderate south wind began to blow, they thought they could achieve their purpose; so they weighed anchor and began to sail past Crete, close to the shore. But soon a violent wind, called the northeaster, rushed down from Crete. Since the ship was caught and could not be turned with its head to the wind, we gave way to it and were driven. By running under the lee of a small island called Cauda we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. After hoisting it up they took measures to undergird the ship; then, fearing that they would run on the Syrtis, they lowered the sea-anchor and so were driven. We were being pounded by the storm so violently that on the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard, and on the third day with their own hands they threw the ship’s tackle overboard. When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul then stood up among them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and thereby avoided this damage and loss. I urge you now to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For last night there stood by me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before the emperor; and indeed, God has granted safety to all those who are sailing with you.” So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we will have to run aground on some island.’

Paul was no stranger to seafaring. He had sailed throughout the Mediterranean as an ambassador for Jesus Christ. I have a feeling Paul had seen it all. The journey to Italy encountered many weather-related delays. On the first leg of this journey to Italy, an alternate route was being assessed. When Paul gave his seasoned advice the centurion (the captain of the ship) respectfully disagreed with Paul (Acts 27: 9-11).

Those who were at the ship’s helm needed to determine a plan B to ensure the ship’s safety. And yet the options significantly decreased when a violent wind rushed down (Acts 27:14). As they struggled to get the boat under control, the situation went from bad to a worst-case scenario.

After three days of being pounded by the violent storm all hope was lost (Acts 27: 18-20).

In that moment when everyone on board was beyond the limits of human exhaustion, Paul received a word from the Lord; God had two purposes for Paul on that ship: (1) to take the gospel to Rome thereby fulfilling Jesus’ command at the beginning of Acts (1:8), and (2) to speak a word on God’s behalf to those men.

Therefore, Paul told the men on the ship two different times, “Keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only to the ship…Keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told” (Acts 27: 22, 25).

My commentary says Paul’s words seemed completely unrealistic in their present situation; Paul’s words were prompted by a [divine] vision that offered a different future [to everyone on that ship] from the one anticipated [1].

Paul knew a lot about courage needed to get through tough times. During the course of his ministry he had many sleepless nights - hungry, thirsty and naked. He had been flogged, stoned, encountered great dangers and many near-death scenarios (2 Corinthians 23-28). And through it all God’s faithfulness sustained him through the gift of faith. Gods’ faithfulness gave him the courage to persevere against the odds.

In fact, when it seemed like Paul’s ministry was dead in the water after his second arrest, the risen Lord stood near him and said, “Keep up your courage! For just as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must bear witness also in Rome (Acts 23: 11). The risen Christ was telling Paul your life matters and I have graced you with gifts and a purpose in this life! Don’t give up.

Just as the risen Christ encouraged Paul to keep courage, Paul was encouraging the sailors on that ship– not from the reserves of their fading human strength but from the strength of God’s faithfulness. The Lord called Paul to put his faith into action so that others may be assured of things hoped with Paul’s conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

And Paul’s courage was contagious. While the sailors saw Paul’s words become reality, the text does not say that any of them became men of faith. But surely Paul’s actions made an impression on each one. Surely Paul had planted seeds of faith; some may take root, and some may not. But more than anything, Paul blessed the 275 men on that ship by giving them a word of hope when they were desperate to hear one.

Each of us here today has endured unpredictable storms in life. That bully who always seems to have the upper hand. The pit of depression which seems too deep for the light of hope to touch. The unexpected change in employment that threatens the livelihood of our future. The relationship that seems beyond repair. That health concern that is not improving.

When we find ourselves in the storm, we all need someone who will encourage us to keep up our courage in God’s faithfulness. When we are at our most vulnerable self, we all want to know that we are safe and that we are loved no matter what.
We all need someone who will come alongside us and say, “Keep up your courage and do not abandon that confidence of yours, it brings a great reward. (Hebrews 10:35).

The writer of Hebrews says, “We who have taken refuge [in God] might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us. We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul (Hebrews 6:18b-19a).

When you are going through that storm – whatever your storm might be – remember that God’s faithfulness is the anchor of your soul. Let your spiritual anchor steady you as God’s hope brings calm in the chaos.

And yet we cannot be faithful followers of Jesus Christ and stop there. Just like Paul, you and I are called to put our faith into action and share the good news with others.

On any given day, the Lord will place you and I in another’s path – maybe even in the midst of another’s storm - for God’s purposes of giving a word of hope to someone who needs it. For someone else you just might be the conduit of faith to allow that person to seize the hope set before them.

Open your spiritual eyes with Jesus’ compassion to those around you.

Sit beside that student who is trying to hide the tears of being excluded and show that you care and that you see their pain.
Behold that mother’s frustration with her screaming child with words of empathy, “It’s hard being a baby and it’s hard being a mom too.”

Check in with that friend whose life just turned upside down and let him or her know you are praying for their well-being and their next right step.

Let God’s Spirit lead you to inspire courage in another.

May we be empowered by the Apostle Paul’s acts of keeping up courage in the storms of life.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary Volume IX Acts (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 276.

Sermon - Empowered by Their Acts: Doing Our Best Always

Empowered by Their Acts: Doing Our Best Always
Acts 24: 1-27
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
July 28, 2019

After Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways, Paul and Silas spread the good news on two more missionary journeys (Acts 15:39). The Holy Spirit interrupted Paul’s plans for his second journey to go with Silas and plant churches in Greece; they went to Troas, Philippi, Thessalonica, Beroea, and Athens (Acts 16-17). It was not an easy trip. They were arrested and thrown into prison at Philippi and yet God’s faithfulness prevailed. God not only freed these two apostles, but also used the opportunity to spread the gospel to the jailer and his family (Acts 16:19-24).

Paul’s third journey took him to Corinth, Antioch, Galatia and Phrygia, Ephesus, and Macedonia. He returned to the Greek cities from his second journey and visited the church plants in Asia Minor from his first journey. Paul then went back to Jerusalem to worship (Acts 18-21).

Paul’s adventures in faith show that doing God’s work has a way of stirring things up. Fellow disciples warned Paul of trouble that was brewing as a result of his ministry to the Gentiles. “[Jews from Asia Minor] had come to Jerusalem questioning Paul’s commitment to their common Jewish heritage; for them the tradition of the past (circumcision) defined the church’s faithfulness to God in the present” (Acts 21:21; 24:19). As a result of the Jerusalem Council’s decision that circumcision was not essential for new Gentile believers, this group was misinformed; they believed that Paul was telling Jewish believers to disregard their own customs. (Of course this was untrue).

When this group laid eyes on Paul, conflict broke out; Paul was arrested with the group’s intention to kill him (Acts 21:30). Paul did his best to defend himself as an ambassador of Jesus Christ (Acts 22: 1-21). Nevertheless, charges were brought against him and Paul was sent to Caesarea, the capitol of Judea, for a trial with the Governor (Acts 23:23).

And so we enter the story with a courtroom hearing in Acts 24: 1-23.

Five days later the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and an attorney, a certain Tertullus, and they reported their case against Paul to the governor. When Paul had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

‘Your Excellency, because of you we have long enjoyed peace, and reforms have been made for this people because of your foresight. We welcome this in every way and everywhere with utmost gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you to hear us briefly with your customary graciousness. We have, in fact, found this man a pestilent fellow, an agitator among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, and so we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to learn from him concerning everything of which we accuse him.’

The Jews also joined in the charge by asserting that all this was true.

When the governor motioned to him to speak, Paul replied:

‘I cheerfully make my defence, knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation. As you can find out, it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. They did not find me disputing with anyone in the temple or stirring up a crowd either in the synagogues or throughout the city. Neither can they prove to you the charge that they now bring against me. But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our ancestors, believing everything laid down according to the law or written in the prophets. I have a hope in God—a hope that they themselves also accept—that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous. Therefore I do my best always to have a clear conscience towards God and all people. Now after some years I came to bring alms to my nation and to offer sacrifices. While I was doing this, they found me in the temple, completing the rite of purification, without any crowd or disturbance. But there were some Jews from Asia—they ought to be here before you to make an accusation, if they have anything against me. Or let these men here tell what crime they had found when I stood before the council, unless it was this one sentence that I called out while standing before them, “It is about the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.” ’

But Felix, who was rather well informed about the Way, adjourned the hearing with the comment, ‘When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.’ Then he ordered the centurion to keep him in custody, but to let him have some liberty and not to prevent any of his friends from taking care of his needs.

The prosecuting attorney laid out four allegations against Paul: (1) he was a pest; (2) he was an agitator; (3) he was a ringleader of a sect; and (4) he attempted to profane the temple (Acts 24: 5-6).

And Paul boldly defended himself. He was no pest, but a sojourner of faith coming to worship (Acts 24:11; 20:16). There was no proof that he had caused any agitation (Acts 24:12). He was no ringleader, but he confessed his faith in the Way, a movement in the hope of God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 24:14-15).

This hope was in the same God of their ancestors, but God was revealing a new way of his saving mercy (Acts 24:21). Paul contested he had done nothing profane, rather he did his best always to have a clear conscience towards God and all people (Acts 24:16).

Paul continued to do his best to have a clear conscience after the governor heard his defense and left him in prison for two years. The governor and his wife Drusilla would stop by the jail to see Paul. Paul would talk with them about life and faith. And yet the governor never changed his mind about Paul (Acts 24:24-27).

Can you possibly imagine the stamina it took for Paul to do that? It took discipline. It took spiritual and mental preparation. It took a willingness to fully trust God’s ability in the face of adversity. Paul was no stranger to discipline and preparation. Those two virtues were prerequisites to be a Pharisee in the Jewish tradition.

God worked through Paul’s strengths and weaknesses, his past mistakes and his present successes to give glory to God. God redirected Paul’s zeal and passion to give all he had for God’s purposes. Paul gave his all to God because Jesus Christ had given his all to God as the pioneer and perfecter of faith to endure the cross and disregard its shame so that we might not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).

Being an ambassador for Christ took much spiritual and mental preparation. Paul’s intimate relationship with God was foundational in that preparation and empowered Paul to do his best always with a clear conscience.

When times get tough and you are faced with adversity what do you do? Some of us raise our fists and are ready to face a challenge. But some of us throw our hands up and say, “This is too hard.”

But when we walk away from challenges in our life and faith, then we are also walking away from an opportunity that God may be placing in our path…. An opportunity for us to learn from – to learn who God is and to learn who we are and who we are becoming.

God’s opportunities reveal that God’s grace is sufficient in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). God’s opportunities demonstrate that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

If Paul had walked away when the challenges got heavier and heavier, we would not have the majority of the New Testament letters. We would not have the hope that is set before us in Jesus Christ and in our shared human stories to guide our way. We would not have the conviction of faith that Paul gained every time God made a way when there seemed like no way.

When adversity comes your way then by all means throw your hands up - but throw them up as you reach for God’s presence and guidance. By all means throw your hands up and pray. Pray with a growing trust that God is already there. Pray with the assurance that God will supply what is needed for you to overcome that challenge. And pray for God to reveal what is worthy of praise in that moment or season of adversity (Philippians 4: 4-8).

When adversity comes your way remember that strife is part of our human story. Every ancestor of faith in Scripture faced hardship, conflict, and testing. Our identity of belonging to God does not protect us from adversity. Instead knowing that we belong to God gives us affirmation that God is with us in whatever crisis or problem we may face. Knowing that we belong to God is knowing that we are not alone in the human struggle.

God is not only with us in the person of Jesus Christ and in the power of Holy Spirit But God will always fight for his children – and we need only to be still until the Lord tells us when to take the next right step (Exodus 14: 14-15). Sometimes we just have to step out in faith when God’s Spirit’s gives us that nudge to go in God’s bold assurance. Just know that our God always goes ahead of you and is your rear guard (Isaiah 52:12).

When adversity comes your way hold fast not just to your personal convictions of faith but also to our shared conviction that in Christ all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). There is no part of your life that God cannot and will not use for God’s glory.

Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has taken our greatest mistakes and our God-given potential to bring about God’s plan of redeeming all of creation and humanity to himself (2 Corinthians 5: 17-19). And God has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us so that we may share the love of Christ with others in our own unique ways (2 Corinthians 5: 19-20).

When we come together as the body of Christ to be about the Lord’s business – whether we are on the playground, working in the cubicle, or running errands – the gospel will not only inspire others but it will bring challenges too.

When you and I are doing our unique part of sharing God’s love we inspire others to not grow weary in doing what is right.

But sharing God’s love can also stir things up and challenge the ways of the world. In those moments we are to keep doing what we have learned and received and heard through Scripture and through the Church; and the God of peace will be with us (Philippians 4:9).

When adversity comes your way may we be empowered by the Apostle Paul’s acts of doing our best always to have a clear conscience towards God and others.

Doing our best always means to practice the marks of a disciple with daily practice and intentionality as Paul tells us:

As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3: 12-17).

May it be so for you and for me.

IN the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, ad Sustainer. Amen.

Sermon - Empowered by Their Acts: Trusting God in Conflict

Empowered by Their Acts: Trusting God in Conflict
Acts 15: 1-41
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
July 21, 2019

As Peter and Cornelius were humbled by the impartial love of God and the power of Holy Spirit (Acts 10-11), Saul of Tarsus was humbled by his own “coming to Jesus” moment (Acts 9). This Pharisee knew the Torah inside and out. Saul was the greatest persecutor of the early Christians.

And yet Saul was also chosen and transformed by God to use his passion to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the known world in the Mediterranean. As a sign of his conversion Saul received the new Christian name of Paul.

The first apostles to meet Paul were afraid of him (Acts 9:26). But Barnabas stood beside Paul as a fellow brother and spoke on his behalf (Acts 9:27). At that time the first century church was growing like wildfire through Judea, Galilee, and Samaria (Acts 9:31). God’s mission would keep moving to make Jesus known throughout the known Mediterranean world.

Therefore, Holy Spirit sent Paul and Barnabas to spread the good news from the ancient city of Damascus, Syria to Antioch (which is now modern-day Turkey) and throughout Asia Minor (Acts 13).

As Paul’s first missionary journey came to a close with Barnabas, they received news that a conflict was needing to be resolved in the church back in Jerusalem. This was the first conflict recorded in Acts. And this is where we enter the story of Acts 15: 1-41.

Then certain individuals came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’ And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to discuss this question with the apostles and the elders. So they were sent on their way by the church, and as they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, they reported the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the believers. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them. But some believers who belonged to the sect of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘It is necessary for them to be circumcised and ordered to keep the law of Moses.’

The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter. After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, ‘My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’

The whole assembly kept silence, and listened to Barnabas and Paul as they told of all the signs and wonders that God had done through them among the Gentiles. After they finished speaking, James replied, ‘My brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first looked favourably on the Gentiles, to take from among them a people for his name. This agrees with the words of the prophets, as it is written,
“After this I will return,
and I will rebuild the dwelling of David, which has fallen;
from its ruins I will rebuild it,
and I will set it up,
so that all other peoples may seek the Lord—
even all the Gentiles over whom my name has been called.
Thus says the Lord, who has been making these things known from long ago.”
Therefore I have reached the decision that we should not trouble those Gentiles who are turning to God, but we should write to them to abstain only from things polluted by idols and from fornication and from whatever has been strangled and from blood. For in every city, for generations past, Moses has had those who proclaim him, for he has been read aloud every sabbath in the synagogues.’

Then the apostles and the elders, with the consent of the whole church, decided to choose men from among their members and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers, with the following letter: ‘The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the believers of Gentile origin in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that certain persons who have gone out from us, though with no instructions from us, have said things to disturb you and have unsettled your minds, we have decided unanimously to choose representatives and send them to you, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than these essentials: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.’

So they were sent off and went down to Antioch. When they gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter. When its members read it, they rejoiced at the exhortation. Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. After they had been there for some time, they were sent off in peace by the believers to those who had sent them. But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, and there, with many others, they taught and proclaimed the word of the Lord.

After some days Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Come, let us return and visit the believers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’ Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul decided not to take with them one who had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not accompanied them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the believers commending him to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

As God’s Spirit widened the circle of faith to welcome Gentiles, women and men like Peter, Paul, and Barnabas had witnessed first-hand that God’s love was revealed to new believers without stipulations.

And yet some Jewish Christians wrestled with this. Their understanding of coming into the fold of faith was initiated by circumcision (covenant sign of belonging to God), which began with God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 17: 9-14).

While this debate may seem irrelevant today, we know the church does not exist in a conflict free bubble. Many debates and conflict have become stumbling blocks throughout the history of Christianity to present day. Conflict is a part of human life. So how do we handle conflict in the church and in our daily lives as people of faith?

The Gospel of Matthew is my starting point when levels of conflict rise up. Matthew’s words are practical when we spend time in prayer about any issue. Matthew says:

If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector…Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them (Matthew 18: 15-17, 20).

There is more to Matthew’s words than meets the eye. According to the Greek, “to point out the fault” is not to blame. Instead it is to name the problem and ask the individual to explain what has happened from their point of view. And “to listen” is not just to hear a response, but to hear God’s voice from within. The godly goal in times of conflict is for our faith to seek understanding and to be reconciled to God and to one another. Faith tells us that God is trustworthy in times of conflict.

John Paul Lederach is a Mennonite; his faith tradition is committed to working for peace. He has worked in conciliation and for over thirty years. In his book, Reconcile: Conflict Transforming for Ordinary Christians, Lederach sees the church in Acts 15 as a model for working through conflict. He says, “To disagree does not necessarily have to translate into relational distance and separation. It can mean increased understanding, relationship, and growth.”

He notes six key steps for handling conflict from our text today: [1]

1. Recognize and define the problem. The Jerusalem Council recognized there was division and they named the conflict regarding the identity of new Gentile believers. If the council had delayed naming the conflict it would have created more confusion and dissention. The leaders’ willingness to be real and transparent about the matter was central to the process of moving forward.

2. Create the appropriate forum for processing the matter. As God’s love in Jesus Christ was breaking down barriers between Jews and Gentiles, the Jerusalem Council knew the issue needed to be addressed. “They created a forum for discernment with broad participation. Discernment emerges from understanding the nature of the conflict and what level of response is needed to deal with it adequately. Process matters more than outcome.”

3. Let diverse viewpoints be represented. “The Jerusalem Council was intentional to be inclusive so that all viewpoints would be shared. There was no one-sided conversation. Everyone affected by the decision had a place at the table.” Every voice is a child of God and deserves to be heard with respect.

4. Speak well and listen carefully. “The whole assembly engaged in intervals of talking, listening, and keeping silent. The people of Jerusalem, the leaders, Peter, Paul and Barnabas each shared what they saw God doing and what was at stake.” Listening and keeping silent entail some hard, internal work. True listening requires empathy and respect of another’s viewpoint. Keeping silence gives us pause to consider what beliefs or deep values within us have been touched. Silence also allows for us to hear the voice of God through another.

5. Use the gifts in the community. As the meeting progressed, “this diverse group of people united their gifts in order to find common understanding. Certain people rose and spoke. Some brought evidence of what they had seen and heard from their ministry. Some spoke of the past. Some spoke of how God had worked among them. Some interpreted biblical text. Some formulated ideas of how things will be brought together. Some moved the meeting toward a specific outcome. Some wrote the outcome down. Some carried the message to those not present. In times of working through conflict, we need to unite our gifts to initiate, support, help create, and sustain understandings that are reached.”

6. Decide and then implement decisions. The Jerusalem Council reached a conclusion that made a way for the Christian movement to expand into the Church Universal. That conclusive decision was a result of making a compromise. Lederach says, “In essence they decided, ‘We recognize new things that God has envisioned for the church, things we did not expect from our tradition. We are [reforming] our beliefs to match this new understanding of God moving among us. However, we recognize important things from our past that we must not let go, and we share them explicitly with our brothers and sisters.’”

What a powerful example for you and me. Our text reminds me that when disagreement happens within the body of Christ we have hope as we trust God in any level of conflict. Disagreement and conflict are a normal part of human life. And the way we engage it matters.

Taking passive-aggressive postures and pointing fingers of blame are not the ways of the kingdom of God; these are ways of the world. But meeting one another where we are and making room to listen to our differing viewpoints are ways of God's kingdom because God’s kingdom values relationships. That is a core Christian virtue.

If God created you and if God created me and if God created the one whom you or I disagree with then we are still connected in God’s love even when we might disagree about the other stuff.

Trusting God in conflict is about our commitment to connect and grow. We trust God in conflict as we connect with God and one another through prayerful listening as our faith seeks understanding. We trust God in conflict as we are willing to grow in our faithfulness to follow God’s desire for reconciliation and unity.

Not every conflict will resolve with a unanimous decision to reach common ground, to reconcile, and to move forward. The conflict that arose between Paul and Barnabas became so sharp that they went their separate ways (Acts 15:39). Maybe Paul was just a hot-head, blew up, and walked away from Barnabas. We do not know the particulars.

But we do know that despite the sharp disagreement between them, God continued to be at work through Paul and Barnabas respectively; the story of God’s mission did not end there. Whatever human conflicts exist within us, among us, or out in the wider world, human conflict is not powerful enough to thwart God’s purposes in the world – you and I are not that powerful.

My prayer for us is this: when disagreement interrupts our daily rhythm, may we remember who we are and whose we are. You and I are children of God and we each belong to God. Belonging to God carries far more value than belonging to a position.

Instead of trying to be right, may we try to be open. Be open to see the image of God in the one you disagree with. Be open to listen to the story of what has shaped her or his viewpoints, and may they be open to listen to yours. Be open to listen for the Spirit of God speaking through that sister or brother.

May we be empowered by the apostles’ actions of trusting God in conflict.

When you think of conflict – do not think red (for anger), but look at the cross. The vertical line of the cross symbolizes that God has already reconciled us back to God through Jesus Christ. The horizontal line symbolizes the work we are called to do in Jesus’ name to be reconciled to one another.

As we do that work, may the world know that we are disciples of Jesus Christ by our love…not by our divisions.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] John Paul Lederach, “Reconcile: Conflict Transforming for Ordinary Christians” (Harrisonburg: Herald Press, 2014).

Sermon: Empowered by Their Acts: Humility

Empowered by Their Acts: Humility
Acts 11: 1-18
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
July 14, 2019

The Spirit of God was on the move and the apostles were encouraging the first century church to keep in step with God’s Spirit.

You see, God’s mission focused on drawing the circle of faith wider and wider to break down barriers between Jews and Gentiles. Last week Rev. Janet Alford shared the apostles’ first experience of this as Holy Spirit led Phillip to guide the Ethiopian eunuch into Christ’s love. This was a radical thing in the first century.

Our text today circles around the apostle Peter and the Roman centurion Cornelius; a God-fearing man and also Gentile. God’s Spirit brought these two together in an amazing way to further God’s mission in the world and to accomplish God’s purposes of reconnecting us to God and one another (Acts 10).

When the apostles and the believers in Jerusalem caught wind of this, they criticized Peter for being with a Gentile.

Listen to Peter retell the story to move the hearts of his ministry colleagues in Jerusalem, Acts 11: 1-18:

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, ‘Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?’

Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, ‘I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air.

I also heard a voice saying to me, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But I replied, “By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.”

But a second time the voice answered from heaven, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.”

This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven.

At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man’s (Cornelius') house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, “Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.”

And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, “John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?’ When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, ‘Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life.’

The most pressing barriers between Jews and Gentiles were worship and dietary differences. Many Gentiles (but not all) worshipped other gods. Jews were to worship God alone. Jewish tradition had long held that circumcision was the covenant sign showing that one belonged to God. Jews were also restricted to eat foods that were kosher; a sign of faithfulness to have a clean heart and mind before God. Therefore, these differences often kept these two peoples at a distance.

And yet, the Spirit of God moved in the lives of Cornelius and Peter. They each received a profound message from God through a vision that reshaped the ways they saw one another.

God told Cornelius in a vision that he, his household, and his men needed to hear a message from Peter that would completely change their lives (Acts 10:5, 30-32; 11: 13-14).

God made a point to tell Peter in a vision three times, “What God has made clean, do not call profane” (Acts 10:14-16; 11:9-10). Whenever something is repeated in Scripture the Spirit is shining a neon light “THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!” God’s point was this – God shows no partiality therefore we are not to single out anyone for their differences (Acts 10:28).

My friends, God’s love changes things. Scripture is God’s story that shapes our hearts and minds to better understand how we are to interact and relate to one another because of who God is.

God’s love changed Peter. While Peter was trying to be faithful to the Jewish tradition of only welcoming those who thought and acted like him into the circle of faith, God did a new thing. God opened the eyes of Peter’s heart to see God’s reality; in Jesus Christ we all have been reconciled to God and one another. Therefore, unity is both a gift and a responsibility for every disciple to pursue. It was a humbling moment for Peter as he said, “Who am I to hinder God?” (Acts 11:17).

God’s love changed Cornelius. While Cornelius was learning to be faithful to God, he felt the affirmation of Christian belonging, connection, and community through Peter. As a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s participation in what God was already doing, Cornelius and his household were empowered by God’s saving grace. It was a humbling moment for Cornelius and his household as they received the same power of the Holy Spirit as the apostles received at Pentecost (Acts 2).

God’s love changed the rest of the apostles and the believers who received Peter’s testimony. By hearing God’s story of amazing grace these men and women went from an attitude of criticism to a posture of praising God. Their fear of change to widen the circle of faith took a 180 degree turn as they were awed by God’s power to do far more than they could have hoped, asked for, or imagined. Their skepticism of Gentiles was changed by God’s radical hospitality and love as they saw the image of God in one another. Their fear of sharing the same circle of faith was transformed as the Holy Spirit renewed their minds by the will of God. What a humbling moment for the apostles and believers who received Peter’s story.

God brought Peter and Cornelius together to share the Spirit’s gift of holy connection.
God brought Cornelius and Peter together to show that God’s love created each of us as God’s beloved sons and daughters.
God brought Peter and Cornelius together to proclaim that the love of Jesus Christ is cleansing our hearts by faith by the power of Holy Spirit.
God brought Cornelius and Peter together to demonstrate that God sees us without labels or distinction.
God brought Peter and Cornelius together to illustrate that the Kingdom of God is about uniting us for God’s purposes to build the kingdom of God.
God brought Cornelius and Peter together to reveal what the body of Christ looks like when we let God’s love lead us.

This past week a few of our youth and I were at Montreat Youth Conference. This year’s theme is “Let Love Lead.” We learned ways to let the love of Jesus Christ lead us to join God in changing the world.

In order to understand God’s love, our keynote presenters took us to the beginning of God’s Word in the second creation story (Genesis 2: 7-9, 18-23). This is a story of God’s love as God created humanity; male and female. God lived in the Garden, played in the dirt, created humanity, breathed life into us, and made community for us to know our value because we are created by God. You are loved because you have been created. This story belongs to each and every one of us. Our keynoter reminded us that because of this biblical truth, “Whoever you are there is a place for you here.”

God’s grace connects all of us as children of God. Therefore God said, “Do not call profane what God has made clean” (Acts 11: ). The Rev Dr. Jerry Cannon, put it like this at Montreat Youth Conference:

“I am made of dirt. You are made of dirt. So I cannot talk about your dirt!”
Now look your neighbor in the eyes and say these words!

It is a humbling thing to know we have no earthly reason to look down on one another. As disciples of Jesus Christ we are called to live differently than the world lives. We are to live as Jesus lived and compassionately come alongside all God’s children and especially those whom society has cast aside.

God’s grace opens our spiritual eyes to see the image of God in one another. Do not miss the opportunity to see the beauty of God’s grace in another’s differences. We each have something to learn from one another’s respective worldviews, theological and political positions, family backgrounds, personal experiences, cultures, and contexts. God’s grace humbles us as we let love lead us to see the other as our sister, our brother.

God’s grace challenges us with the truth that God is in control and we are mere stewards of God’s grace. God’s divine purposes will change the world and we are invited to join God in making the Lord’s vision of reconciliation and unity a realization.
God’s grace humbles us to have the same “Aha! Moment” that Peter had, saying, “Who am I to hinder God?”

I want for you to imagine an individual or a group that you have had difficulty including in your circle of relationships or in the circle of faith. Name the barriers that seem to create distance between you. Pray for God to give you the courage to draw closer and look for the image of God in this individual or group. Hospitality, genuine sharing of stories, and empathy are key virtues to breaking down barriers that divide us. I want for each of us to say together, “Who am I to hinder God?”

The Apostle Paul tells us the more we let Jesus’ love lead our daily lives then the more our faith is shaped by grace and gratitude to glorify God Paul says in Romans 12: 9-18 -

Let love be genuine; hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

May you and I be empowered by the apostles acts of humility to join God in bringing all of God’s children home.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer Amen.

Sermon: Empowred by Their Acts - Uniting

Empowered by Their Acts: Uniting
Acts 4:32 – 5:11
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
June 23, 2019

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. There was a Levite, a native of Cyprus, Joseph, to whom the apostles gave the name Barnabas (which means ‘son of encouragement’). He sold a field that belonged to him, then brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property; with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. ‘Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!’ Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it. The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.’ And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things. Acts 4:32 - 5:11

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why does the Church exist?” You might find yourself answering the question, “It is where we go on Sunday mornings” or “The Church exists because God made it.” These answers are true, but they do not capture the whole truth.

When the early Church was born in the first century it was not an institution built of religious doctrine or physical buildings. Luke tells us in Acts the Church exists for two purposes: it is a community of believers uniting in heart and soul and giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (Acts 4:32-33). God honored the early church’s budding faithfulness by giving the apostles great power and an abundance of grace (Acts 4:33).

It matters that Luke places the purpose of uniting before the purpose of giving testimony. In the first century it was believed that the heart and soul joined together as the center of one’s spiritual life. The heart (more like the gut) was considered the seat of decision-making and the soul was considered the seat of feeling God’s love.

Borrowing the Apostle Paul’s words, the Spirit was shaping the believers to be of the same mind, to have the same love, and to be in full accord with the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:2). Uniting in heart and soul meant doing nothing from a point of selfish ambition or conceit but living by the godly virtue of humility; looking to the interest of others (Philippians 2:3).

Luke lifts up Barnabas as a model for what uniting in heart and soul look like. Barnabas knew he was a steward of God’s grace. The land he owned was not his, but it belonged to God. So he sold it and gave it back to God to further the Lord’s work in his community.

Luke’s point is that uniting with Jesus’ ministry of pursuing a common good will for others is what the Church in every generation should look like. Reaching out into the community to live in authentic relationship with our neighbors and sharing our God-given resources to meet real needs is a primary way of sharing the good news of God’s grace.

Luke remembered the core of Jesus’ ministry of sharing the good news came from Jesus' Sermon on the Plain (Matthew's Gospel remembers this as Jesus' Sermon on the Mount). The core of Jesus' ministry was and is to bless the poor, bless the hungry, and bless those who weep over injustices (Luke 6: 20-21). God’s great power and abundant grace will bless the poor to behold the kingdom of God, the hungry will be filled, and those who mourn will rejoice in God’s provision and deliverance (Isaiah 61: 2-3).

The Lord not only invites us to participate with God’s economy of grace, but also the Lord holds us accountable to be good stewards of it. Therefore, Luke lifted up Ananias and Sapphira, the couple who decided to hold back a portion of their land proceeds out of self-interest.

A friend of mine puts it this way: We are all connected. When you reject your God-given assignment, you could be unconsciously blocking someone else’s blessing. Don’t be fooled. Your life choices affect more than just you. Someone needs to see and experience the very gift God has given to you.

While Ananias’ and Sapphira’s motivations and actions were judged by Peter’s authority, there was no mandate on behalf of the apostles to hold all their resources in common. Luke doesn’t want us to miss what is at stake for uniting in one heart and soul. Uniting is never out of obligation or duty, but rather gratitude.

The early Christians, like Barnabas, shared all things in common for the well-being of all out of a deep spiritual well of gratitude. They gave and shared with grateful hearts in praise of God’s faithfulness. As the apostles received the gifts of time, talents, and treasures from the believers, I can imagine they all sang these familiar words with conviction; the same words we sing as we give back to God our time, talents, and treasures in worship:

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures [and all neighbors]here below;
Praise him above, our heavenly host [and provider];
Praise [the promises, grace, and guidance of] Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.


The early Christians had a deep gratitude and respect for the relationships they had with fellow believers and their community, especially those who were poor, hungry, and mourning. Their respect and gratitude to love their neighbor as themselves overflowed to the point where God multiplied their gifts to meet the needs of the vulnerable. Luke says as a result there was no needy person among them (Luke 4:34).

The early Christians had deep gratitude and praise for who God is, what God was going, and what God promised to do. The early church knew that all they had belonged to God, therefore they gave their resources back to God to join God in building the kingdom in the community.

Van Wyck Presbyterian Church has long been known as a small church that cares. This church cares greatly about the relationships in the wider community and the relationships within the body of Christ.

Van Wyck Presbyterian was born 135 years ago in the spirit of generosity, with the land given as a gift for the original body of Christ to gather, worship, and serve. Throughout the generations, many apostles within this body of Christ have been and are movers and shakers to seek the good will of the community.

As this body of Christ has slowly grown in number and spirit, the session elders and I know that God’s Spirit is still moving among us. I am grateful this church has a memory of being forward thinking to envision the ways the Spirit is leading us to build God’s kingdom here. As we continue to discern what is means to be good stewards of the land surrounding the church, our text today gives me pause.

Four years ago when God called me to walk beside this body of Christ in faith, this church had already made the decision to be more missionally present in the community. God’s faithfulness continues to amaze me as I see God’s grace bearing fruit here. That good fruit is present because this body of Christ values relationships with God and neighbor. God has blessed us to be a blessing to the surrounding community.

My dream for Van Wyck Presbyterian is for us to keep growing in our passion to love God and love our neighbor as ourselves because it mattered more than anything to Jesus Christ. It is the greatest commandment after all. I am not dreaming so much about growing church membership. Growing in number is a good thing. But growing in number is not the only thing. I am dreaming about growing our passion to participate in what God is already doing among us.

Karl Vaters is a small church pastor. He says:

A church that has strong discipleship, deep relationships, passionate worship, and transformative outreach is contributing to Christ and his mission on earth, whether or not it results in the numerical increase of our local congregation.

Celebrating effective ministry is to find my place in what Jesus is doing and participate in it with all the faithfulness and passion I have… not for numbers. Not for attendance. Not for church growth. But for Christ. For his mission. And for God’s glory.

These are the things that really matter as we gather to love God and love neighbor as ourselves.

My ultimate prayer is that together we will envision how to be good stewards of God’s land that fosters strong discipleship, deep relationships, passionate worship, and transformative outreach.

May we be empowered by the apostles’ acts of uniting our hearts and souls in the mind of Christ, in God’s mission and for God’s glory.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen

Sermon - Empowered by Their Acts: Boldness

Empowered by Their Acts: Boldness
Acts 4: 23-31
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
June 16, 2019
Trinity Sunday

The past six weeks we have been sitting in the story of the Acts of the Apostles. Luke’s writings tell us that being an apostle of Jesus Christ is not for the faint of heart.

The twelve apostles, Mary the mother of Jesus, and other women had to practice patience and wait in Jerusalem for God to empower them by the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1: 1-11). As they waited they devoted themselves to prayer and yet they had no idea what to expect in their near future (Acts 1: 12-26).

Holy Spirit made her dramatic entrance in the event of Pentecost. The Spirit birthed the first century church and empowered the apostles to have a sense of urgency to continue Jesus’ ministry; they were divinely inspired to dream big like God and do God’s work in the world (Acts 2: 1-4, 14-14-20).

Living into God’s dream started with relationships with God and one another. As the early Christians were united in the gift of faith they were empowered to live differently by God’s provision, Jesus’ redeeming grace, and the Spirit’s guidance.

Jesus’ instructions were to witness to the Lord’s authority and power starting in the apostles’ backyard of Jerusalem. Filled with Holy Spirit’s power, Peter and John embarked on their first mission trip as they were entering the temple for prayer. Peter and John were empowered to give hope to a man who had been born lame. They extended Jesus’ compassion and grace to heal this man whom society had merely taken pity on (Acts 3: 1-12).

This first local mission trip landed Peter and John in jail because they were daring greatly to be about the Lord’s business (Acts 4: 1-4, 13-22). Just proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ changes things, and yet this holy work in Jesus’ name threatened the religious authorities in Jerusalem.

This is where we enter the story today in Acts 4: 23-31.

After they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

When they heard it, they raised their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and everything in them, it is you who said by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant:

“Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples imagine vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
and the rulers have gathered together
against the Lord and against his Messiah.”

For in this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

And now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.

The apostles received their first lesson in the school of hard knocks: being about the Lord’s business was not going to be easy. In order to experience God’s victory, they recalled Jesus’ example. Whenever Jesus was about to embark on the challenges of life and ministry he prayed. So the apostles did just that in our text today; they prayed for boldness (Acts 4: 29-31).

This was a full circle moment for the apostles. When we go back to Luke’s Gospel these men and women were not bold. They were like you and me.

Mary the mother of Jesus had big questions about bearing the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:29).
Peter felt unqualified and unworthy to follow Jesus (Luke 5:8).
The apostles argued about being the greatest without realizing what being empowered by God really meant (Luke 9:46).
They worried about God’s provision even after seeing Jesus feed five thousand (Luke 9: 10-17; 12:22).
After Jesus’ lesson on prayer, the apostles had no spiritual stamina in light of Jesus facing his destiny on the cross (Luke 11:1; 22: 39-46).
After following Jesus for three years the apostles still did not understand the big picture of God’s work in Jesus Christ.
Peter denied his association with Jesus three times after Jesus had washed his feet (Luke 22: 31-34).
When Jesus died on the cross the apostles stood at a distance as their hope dissolved into despair like a deflating balloon (Luke 23:49).

Who in the world would entrust the kingdom of God to a group of women and men like these? God did. And God empowered these women and men to be bold in order to join the Lord in kingdom building.

So how do you and I become empowered with boldness? How do we grow in our confidence of God’s power, Jesus’ grace, and the Spirit’s guidance? How do we come full circle from being timid disciples to bold apostles?

My commentary gave me a big clue to these questions: “If the church is too timid and does not ask God for enough boldness for ministry it must have timid convictions about who God is, what God has done, and what God will do” [1].

The Greek definition of boldness is to have a resolve of leaving a witness that something deserves to be remembered. That resolve is speaking with a growing confidence in love. It took years for the apostles to grow in their faith to be confident in God’s ability to do far more than they could ever hope, ask for or imagine. It takes time for your faith and mine to grow in godly confidence too.

Personal and communal commitment are required in order for our actions and voices to embody a bold conviction that God’s character and actions deserve to be remembered. Where do you go to learn who God is, what God has done, and what God will do? God’s Word will always illumine the truth of God’s character and actions in the past, present, and future.

Scripture tells us that the Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth; he does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable (Isaiah 40:28). And yet God knows each of us intimately and calls us by name saying we belong to God (Isaiah 43:1). God is love (1 John 4:16). God’s love was revealed in sending Jesus Christ, God’s only Son as the Savior of the world, so that we might live through him (1 John 4:9, 14).

Through the cross and resurrection God has given us life in Jesus’ name. God revealed his sustaining presence in the Holy Spirit, who came like a violent wind to set the apostles’ faith aflame with a passion to serve God alone no matter the costs (Acts 2:2).

And as obstacles and adversity arise in our lives God promises to strengthen us, help us, and uphold us with God’s victorious right hand, therefore we have nothing to fear because of who our God is (Isaiah 41:10).

God’s character is unchangeable, and it is impossible that God would prove false (Hebrews 6:17-18). God’s word will accomplish God’s purposes (Isaiah 55:11). If we confess this to be true about God, then what a mighty spiritual force we have in every obstacle and opportunity.

All of our spiritual ancestors faced life’s obstacles and spiritual adversity. When they asserted their own strength they did not go very far. But as they tapped into the power of our God, they grew in their confidence that they would overcome. And their stories give us courage to say we shall overcome too. The genuineness of our faith will be tested (1 Peter 1: 6-7). Every test is an opportunity for our spirits to fully rely on God so that our faith may be refined and strengthened.

The Lord will always reward our imperfect faithfulness as our faith seeks understanding. God will bring us full circle from a timid faith to a bold faith as we commit to these things: steeping our spirits in God’s living Word; devoting ourselves to prayer; acknowledging our need for the Lord’s help – “I believe Lord, help my unbelief!”; focusing where God is active in our personal lives and in the life of our surrounding community and world; proclaiming that God’s faithfulness is bigger than any obstacle we may face; taking risks to join God in kingdom building. Therefore, when we are faced with obstacles, we will stand firm in the Lord and speak the truth in love and with integrity.

When we live out our faith with intentionality and authenticity, God honors our faithfulness by empowering us to grow in our confidence in God’s ability to do far more than we can ever hope, ask for, or imagine.

The Presbyterian tradition describes being empowered by acts of boldness in this way:

The church universal is to be a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its own life. The church universal is to be a community of love, where sin is forgiven, reconciliation is accomplished, and the dividing walls of hostility are torn down.
The church universal is to be a community of witness, pointing beyond itself through word and work to the good news of God’s transforming grace in Christ Jesus our Lord [2].

This is what godly boldness looks like.

May our faith be in conversation with our heart to grow in confidence of God’s ability and in confidence of our shared call to be holy partners with God.

And may we be empowered by the apostles’ acts of boldness because this is where the rubber meets the road - you and I are the next generation of apostles to join God in building the kingdom. And God's grace requires something of you and me.

In the name of God our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.

Sources Referenced:

[1] New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Volume IX Acts (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015), p. 73.
[2] The Book of Order 2017-2019, Part II of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (Louisville: Office of the General Assembly, 2017), p. 2, F-1.0301