Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

1.      High School Grads:

• You have been in school now for 2160 days. • You have spent 12,960 hours in classes. • That translates into 777,600 minutes. • So far you’ve lived approximately 18 years. • You’ve been around 216 months. • You have been breathing 936 weeks. • You’ve slept 52,500 hours. • You’ve watched T.V. 12,173 hours. • You’ve spent 7,488 hours eating. (Mostly pizza!)

• SLEEP ………………..24 YEARS

• WORK ……………….14 YEARS

• PLAY …………………..8 YEARS

• EAT …………………….6 YEARS

• DRIVE …………………5 YEARS

• TALK ……………………4 YEARS

• GO TO SCHOOL…….3 YEARS

• SICK ……………………..3 YEARS

• STUDY & READ…….3 YEARS

• YOU WERE BORN WRINKLED, BALD, TOOTHLESS, COULDN’T HARDLY SEE, CRYING, COMPLAINING, AND HAD NO CLOTHES ON.

Well, you’ve come a long way! You’ve reached a milestone. But this is not the end…it’s really just the beginning! You’ve come to the end of a big episode, but just before the credits roll, across the screen flashes the words: “To be continued!”

2.      Your life journey will be an adventure if you walk with God.

3.      2 Timothy 3:14-17

I.       A God

In his book on Albert Einstein, author Walter Isaacson told of a dinner party in Berlin where everybody assumed Einstein was an atheist and he said, “No, I have a deep feeling of faith, a deep religiosity that comes from my appreciation of the way the Lord made the universe;” and everybody was stunned.

He said he was like a child walking into a library, and you see the books and you know somebody must have written them, and you see them ordered and you know somebody must have ordered them, and there’s a sense of awe that’s manifest in that, where you kind of understand that there’s an order underlying everything and the more you appreciate it, the more humble you become in the fact of it…

Isaacson continued: “In some ways, (Einstein’s) belief in God, that God had created an orderly universe, informed his science. He believed that underlying everything, there are laws.” Psalm 19:1

Christ’s relationship to the Universe – As God  Colossians 1:16-17

Think about what it means to be Creator of the Universe. John McArthur writes: The moon is a mere 211,463 miles away. You could actually walk there in 27 years if you covered 24 miles every day. Now, a ray of light travels at 186,000 miles per second (a little faster than walking) It could reach the moon in just 1.5 seconds. At the speed of light, we could reach Mercury in 4 ½ minutes. At light speed it would take 35 minutes and 11 seconds to travel the 367 million miles to Jupiter. Uranus, Neptune and Pluto would be around 3 billion miles more. And at that point we haven’t even left the front porch of our corner of the universe.

On the screen you can see a picture of the constellation Orion. A gigantic star called Betelgeuse is in the upper left corner. This star is 880 quadrillion miles away. Betelgeuse is classed as a super-giant. That one star has a diameter that is many times greater than the earth’s ORBIT around the sun. You can see on the screen, it is even greater than Jupiter’s orbit around the sun. That is one BIG star. And who made all this? JESUS!

II.    THE God

Value of History – In Readers Digest, Alexander Saul writes: “I have spent well-nigh fifty years working on the history of the Russian Revolution. In the process I’ve collected hundreds of personal testimonies, read hundreds of books, and contributed eight volumes of my own. But if I were asked today to formulate as precisely as possible the main cause of the ruinous revolution that swallowed up some sixty million Russians, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat the phrase, `Men have forgotten God.’ What is more if I were called upon to identify the principle trait of the entire Twentieth Century I would be unable to reflect anything more precise than this statement, `Men have forgotten God.’”

Things written aforetime were for our learning

• ·        The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. – Exodus 3; 4; 1 Kings 18.36; Acts 3.13;
•          The God of Israel – 1 Kings 8:22-26

III.  MY God

A.     Christ’s relationship to You  Colossians 1:21-23

God came to earth in order to reconcile all of us to himself by means of the cross.

Jesus paid the full price. He offers you a gift of salvation.

B. Ruth (1:16)

C.     David – 2 Samuel 22:1-3

D.     Thomas – John 20:27-29

E.     Yeshua (Jesus) – Psalm 22

Bill Irwin, who is the only blind person to hike the Appalachian Trail, has a talking computer he uses to study the Bible. He’s had a few chuckles over some of the pronunciations. “For a long time,” Bill says, “the computer pronounced Holy Bible as ’holly bibble’ until I figured out how to modify it.” But there was one thing Bill couldn’t change. The computer uses the Spanish pronunciation for Jesus Christ–HEYsus Krist. “The programmer is Hispanic,” Bill told me with a smile, “and he made sure that HEYsus Krist cannot be altered.”

I like that. It reminds me that among the things in life that can be changed to suit my taste, one remains tamper-resistant–I can’t change Jesus.

When life is unsettled, I gain great comfort from the Bible’s affirmation that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). But the statement is also a stern rebuke to my tendency to try to modify the words and character of Christ when I don’t like what He says. How easy it is to forget that I came to Christ longing for Him to transform me, not the other way around! Praise God that His Word and His love are perfect and unchanging. And praise Him too that in His love He is working to change me

IV.  OUR God

This story was related by Donald Grey Barnhouse. Several years ago, two students graduated from the Chicago-Kent College of Law. The highest ranking student in the class was a blind man named Overton and, when he received his honor, he insisted that half the credit should go to his friend, Kaspryzak.

They had met one another in school when the armless Mr. Kaspryzak had guided the blind Mr. Overton down a flight of stairs. This acquaintance ripened into friendship and a beautiful example of interdependence. The blind man carried the books which the armless man read aloud in their common study, and thus the individual deficiency of each was compensated for by the other. After their graduation, they planned to practice law together.

No believer is complete by himself, we are to minister to one another, as a family. (Source unknown).

A.     There are no loners as disciples of Yeshua (Jesus)

B.     We are a community of believers – Matthew 16:18; Acts 2:42-47

C.     We don’t go it alone – F-S-HS + community of faith

John Adams said, “There are two types of education: One should teach us how to make a living, and the other how to live.”

Are you a 1 mile worker or a 2 mile worker? Do you do only the bare minimum or do you go the 2nd mile and leave the mark of excellence on your work? People always remember second-mile-worker.

Around 1920 a pharmacist bought a drug store in south Chicago. Soon he became bored with his job and began to dream of ways to make it more exciting. It was during a time when people were just beginning to call in their orders by phone, so the man decided to challenge himself by seeing how quickly he could deliver orders. When someone called, he repeated the order aloud, including the name and address. As he spoke with the caller, his assistant filled the order and a driver left to deliver it. The druggist kept the customer on the phone chatting until the order arrived. Most of the customers lived nearby, but this kind of prompt service was revolutionary. As word spread, it became the busiest pharmacy in Chicago and within a few years, Charles Walgreen revolutionized the pharmacy industry because he decided to go the second mile.

Our God is the God of the Second Mile!

1.      Acceptance

I read of a man who had committed a crime for which he was deeply ashamed. When he’d served his prison sentence and was about to be released he wondered if his family would reject him because of the scandal he’d caused and the shame brought on the family. He wrote his parents saying that he would be coming back by bus but didn’t want to embarrass them with his presence if they didn’t want him back. He asked them to tie a yellow ribbon on the old oak tree at the beginning of their street if it was all right for him to return home. If there was no ribbon on the tree when the bus passed he wouldn’t get off the bus.

He was in quite a state on the bus journey and as it got nearer his street he couldn’t bear to look at the tree. He was so emotional that he asked the driver to look at for him. He needn’t have worried. The tree was covered with yellow ribbons! The whole community joined his parents in welcoming him back.

There’s a famous American song written about this story: ’Tie a Yellow Ribbon Around the Old Oak Tree’.

a.       We do many things to find acceptance among people – we may buckle to peer pressure

b.      We may seek official stamps of approval – Education – degrees; military rank; certain professions;

c.       Yet, God continually shows acceptance of us as we are; and gives his stamp of approval based on our faithfulness to him

2.      Ruth is a surprising story of acceptance and approval by God

a.       From an antagonistic nation – Moab; incestuous relations of Lot and daughter; opposed Israel in their journey to Canaan (Balaam); cursed by God  Deuteronomy 23:3

b.      A proselyte to Judaism

c.       Ancestor to David and Yeshua (Jesus) – one of three women named

d.      One of only two women with a Bible book named for them

3.      Story of Ruth – married into a Hebrew family who had come to Moab because of the famine; death of father-in-law and the two sons; goes back to Israel with mother-in-law, Naomi – becomes part of the Hebrew people and a great example of faithfulness

I.        Trying Times

A.     Trials are Common to People 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

1.      Even Yeshua (Jesus) Hebrews 4:15

2.      A Purpose – James 1:2-3 (perseverance/faithfulness)

B.     Trials are Central to the Story

1.      Famine led the Hebrew family to Moab

2.      Others who emigrated due to famine – Abraham; Jacob

3.      Fatalities lead back to Bethlehem

a.       No men for protection, provision, or status

b.      On their own

4.      Temptation to blame God –  Ruth 1:20

JW McGarvey was a leader in the American Restoration Movement. He had an encounter with a woman whose son was killed in an accident. When he arrived at her house, she was understandably upset. She said to McGarvey, “Where was God when my son was killed?” He replied, “The same place he was when HIS Son died.”

II.     Changing Times

 The men of Charlie Company had been in the field for two weeks when the Sarge announced, “I’ve got good news and bad news. First the good news, Today we’re going to change our underwear.” The troops started cheering at the news. “Now the bad news, Smith, you change with Jones. Andrews, you change with Murphy…”

Change is frightening to some. We get comfortable doing things a certain way and don’t like to do them differently. And some changes (as the story above illustrates) are completely undesirable. But some change is necessary if we are to grow.

Favor of God enters the scene

A.     People God Favored

1.      Mary – Luke 1:30

2.      Daniel – prestigious position – Daniel 2:48

3.      Joseph in Slavery/Prison/Pharaoh’s Court – Genesis 39:3-4

4.      Noah – Genesis 6:8

5.      God’s people today – Titus 2:11.

B.     God Favored Naomi and Ruth

1.      Naomi was not alone – accompanied by Ruth – Note: Ruth 1:15-17

2.      Ruth

a.       Was able to get food by labor and grace – Leviticus 19:9-10

1)      Key to Shavuot – harvest feast (as well as anniversary of Torah)

2)      Acts 2 – care for one another was a carry-over

b.      In Boaz’ field

1)      Kinsman Redeemer – a Type of Messiah

2)      No Coincidence –  Ruth 2:11-13

Neil Johnson was a man who lived in the 1880’s in Newark Ohio, he had a wife and a little child . He was a good man who had a bad temper. One day he and a neighbor got into a hot and heavy argument over a property line dispute. Things got real bad and Neil eventually killed his neighbor.  Neil Johnson went to trial was found guilty and was given a life sentence. Now a life sentence back then meant just that, he was in for life and he would never get out and see his family  again, he would never be a free man.

Every month his wife and child would make the long trip just to visit him. Neil was doing well in prison and had won the respect of the guards and the inmates. The governor at that time had a practice that every Christmas he would walk through the jail and he would pardon one man, a man who was recommended by the warden. Someone who was in for life was rarely considered as a candidate.

 It had been 12 years since Neil had entered those dark prison walls and it was Christmas day. All the prisoners were assembled and the governor walked through. And stopped in front of them and made his announcement, “this year the pardon goes to Neil Johnson” and there was dead silence, no one stepped up to claim the pardon, so the governor said it again, and again dead silence. Then he walked through the ranks and in the back row with his head down and crying was Neil Johnson, and he was saying over and over again to himself there must be some mistake…there must be some mistake. And the governor put his hand on his shoulder and said, “No son it’s no mistake the pardon is real.”

I want us to look back at the cross and see Jesus hanging there, wrists nailed feet nailed. There were drops of blood rolling his wrists down his fingers and dripping on to the dry Palestinian sand.  With every drop of blood Jesus was redeeming you and me.

When Boaz redeemed Ruth it cost him money. When Jesus redeemed us it cost him his life. And when we looked at the cross and when we look at Jesus we shake our heads and say there must be some mistake, there must be some mistake…. And Jesus our redeemer places his nailed scared hand on our shoulder and says, no my child it’s no mistake the pardon is real I died for you.” you are free to go!!!!!

c.       Ruth and Boaz – David’s and Yeshua’s (Jesus’) ancestors

d.      A lesson learned – Romans 8.28

C.     God’s Favor is Reflected by Our Attitudes – But he gives more grace; therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  James 4.6

1.      Humility of Ruth (God-Centered) – 2:7, 10

a.       Request

b.      Not entitlement – No “It’s the Law, you owe me”

c.       Not “Naomi’s fault I am poor”

d.      Key attribute – 1 Peter 5:6

1)      Pride is not so much boasting as being self-absorbed

2)      Humility is being God-absorbed

 2.      Compassion of Ruth (Other-Centered) 2:11

a.       Ruth was not obligated to Naomi

b.      Acted out of love

c.       Naomi must have taught her about God and his Torah

[Survey of people who left church – asked one key question: “What would it take for you to go back to church?”

*60% — The invitation of a friend

*Caring enough to ask

1.      Destiny

During a momentous battle, a Japanese general decided to attack even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with doubt. On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took out a coin and said, “I shall now toss this coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If it is tails we shall lose. Destiny will now reveal itself.” He threw the coin into the air and all watched intently as it landed. It was heads. The soldiers were so overjoyed and filled with confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy and were victorious.

After the battle, a lieutenant remarked to the general, “No one can change destiny.” “Quite right,” the general replied as he showed the lieutenant the coin, which had heads on both sides.

2.      The story of Ruth (and her descendants) is not mere chance – the hand of God is clearly seen during this period of Judges when people were doing what was right in their own eyes

3.      It is not chance that you are here today to hear the message of God at work in the lives of people

1.      Jeremy Lin clip – Unseen potential http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUViw41Q7Hs&feature=related

(Use the first 2:17 minutes of this online video. It’s a series of highlights of Jeremy Lin’s powerful game-winning performance against the New Jersey Nets February 4th, 2012)

What you just observed is called Lin-sanity.

Jeremy Lin is newest the sensation of the 2012 NBA season. In the few short weeks since the game you just saw highlights from, the sales of his jerseys have skyrocketed to the most top selling item on the NBA market. In addition, his name is being placed on basketballs, shoes, hats, toys, etc. He has become one of the most popular basketball players of this season.

Lin is a Harvard Graduate. And while at Harvard, he led that college’s basketball team to a record 21 wins. Because of his stellar performance, he was able to enter the NBA and begin to fulfill his dreams to be a professional basketball player.

The only problem was – the NBA if filled with some of the best basketball players in the nation. And he was only one of many. And most teams weren’t all that impressed with him.  The Dallas Mavericks had him for a time As did the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. But he was eventually passed on to the NY Knicks (where he now plays).

But even Knicks’ Coach said: “I didn’t know he could play defense, I didn’t think he could shoot well enough and I didn’t think he could go up and finish. I’m going, ‘He can’t finish, can’t shoot, can’t play defense. I like his speed, but I don’t know.”

Because of those doubts, Knicks were planning to trade Lin for another player on Feb. 10th.

But then – just 6 days before that deadline – came February 4th. The Knicks faced the New Jersey Nets… and two of their best players were on the injured list. But even with those players, the Knicks were a terrible team – they’d lost far more games than they won that season.

When their point guard became injured, the Coach reluctantly put in Lin… and the world turned upside down. Lin led the Knicks to a 99-92 victory AND outplayed All-Star guard Deron Williams, scoring 25 points, and having five rebounds, and seven assists.

From that point on, Jeremy Lin led the Knicks to win the next 6 games, becoming an overnight sensation… and the press eagerly awaited interviews with him.

APPLY: But up until February 4, 2012 – nobody believed in Jeremy Lin.

3 teams had passed on him and the Knicks were just a week away from trading him

NOBODY wanted Lin. Nobody saw his true potential.

That is – until he got a chance to play in the game… and the rest is history.

2.      1 Corinthians 15.8-11

3.      Yeshua (Jesus) had made appearances to many people during the 40 days he taught after his resurrection (Acts 1.13)

a.       Peter-12-500-James

b.      Impact of the appearances was to change the lives of those to whom he appeared

c.       Many of them had not understood the potential of Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah

d.      Most had doubted him, yet look at the impact of these people on the world

4.      He also appeared to a Pharisee named, Saul – that event changed his life

 I.       Saul Did Not See the Potential in Yeshua (Jesus) 1 Corinthians 15:8-9

I read of an older lady who was expecting a gentleman friend to call on her later in the day. She was nervous because her eyesight was failing and was afraid her friend might reject her because she was less than perfect. So, she came up with a plan to prove to him that she could see perfectly.

She put a straight pin in a tree that was about 200 feet from her front porch.

When her friend arrived, they sat in the porch swing and were talking when she suddenly stopped the conversation and asked, “Is that a pin sticking in that tree?”

Her friend squinted his eyes and said, “I don’t see a thing.”

“Well, I’m going to go see,” she said as she jumped up, ran toward the tree, and collided with a cow. 

A.     Saul Saw Himself as a Defender of the Jewish Faith  Acts 22.3-5

1.      Opposed anything/anyone who differed

a.   Deuteronomy 13 and false teachers

b.   Stoning of Stephen

2.      Yeshua claimed to be greater than Moses (Mount of Transfiguration, etc.)

3.      Saul differed from his Rabbi, Gamliel (Acts 5.38-39)

B.     God Interrupted His Plans Acts 22.6-9

1.      Blinded

2.      Into the city, praying and fasting

3.      Ananias sent to him

II.    People Did Not See the Potential in Saul

A.     People Saw the Problems Instead of the Potential

1.      Ananias Argued with God About Him (Acts 9.13-16)

2.      Disciples Feared Him — Acts 9.26

B.     People Who Took the Risk

Three friends met together at Christmas time and were all moaning about how out of shape they had become. They decided then and there to do a Triathlon that Summer. They started to meet to run together on Saturday mornings. The Saturday runs were a great motivation to find time to work out during the rest of the week, and they usually talked about our successes and failures in getting workouts in as they ran. There were good weeks and bad weeks together, but that summer, all three signed up and swam, biked and ran the Guelph Lake Triathlon, and all finished it! Each agreed that they would never have finished if it had not been for the fellowship and encouragement of the friends.

1.      Healed by Ananias

2.      Taken in by Barnabas (9.27)

III. God Saw His Potential and Set Him Apart to a Great Work – Among Gentiles

A.     Had been God’s intent – Isaiah 2.2-4; Mark 11.17 (cleansing temple); Isaiah 56.7c; (Jeremiah 7.11 – den of robbers)

B.     Had been done –  Matthew 23.15

 C.     Paul’s Zeal Turned to the Gospel

Back in 1912, Ford Motor Co. had a production manager named William Knudsen – considered one of the best in his field. Knudsen became convinced that the Model T (which had been in production for 4 years now) had to be updated. But, the only problem was – Henry Ford loved his creation so much it was well known that he opposed changing anything about the car.

According to Robert Lacy (in his bestselling biography, Ford: The Man and the Machine) Knudsen thought to convince Ford by building an updated and impressive model to show what could be done with a few changes in color and design.

Ford had just returned from a European vacation, and he went to a Highland Park, Michigan garage and saw the new design created by Knudsen.

On-the-scene mechanics later revealed how Ford responded.

They say that the car was it was a four door job, and the top was down, painted gleaming red and built on a new, low slung version of the Model T.

One eyewitness tells how “Ford had his hands in his pockets, and he walked around that car 3 or 4 times…. Finally, he got to the left hand side of the car, and he takes his hands out, gets hold of the door, and bang! He ripped the door right off!… How the man done it, I don’t know! He jumped in there, and bang goes the other door. Bang goes the windshield. He jumps over the back seat and starts pounding on the top. He rips the top with the heel of his shoe. He wrecked the car as much as he could.”

Knudsen left for General Motors. Henry Ford nursed along the Model T, but design changes in competitors models made it more old-fashioned than he would admit. Competitive necessity finally backed him into making the Model A, but his heart was never in it.

APPLY: Henry Ford was one of the most creative men of his age. And yet… Henry Ford – one of the great minds of his day – resisted the obvious need for change. When Saul saw the need to change, he did not resist but embraced the change he found in Yeshua (Jesus).

 Note Philippians 3:8-11

1.    YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU’VE GOT TILL IT’S GONE

Our power is shut off, and suddenly we become thankful for electricity. Our garbage is not picked up, and suddenly we become thankful for the garbage collector’s weekly stop. A good friend dies, and suddenly we discover how much he meant to us. Our water becomes too polluted to drink and suddenly we appreciate having good water.

Why is it, Lord, that we take for granted the uncounted blessings of life until they are removed from us?

Apply to silence of God – Saul of Tarsus endured a period of silence and then God broke through in a powerful way.

2.    Paul went through spiritual and physical blindness but came to see Yeshua (Jesus) for who he was.

3.    His encounter with him forever changed his life – and many who have believed because of him

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• Tell about a time you were jealous of a sibling (or good friend).
• How do you think people describe you?
• What is one thing you would change about the way you were raised?

Study

Please read the following passages and discuss your responses to the questions.

John 7.3-5; Mark 3.19-20; 31-35

• Why may it have been difficult for James and his brothers to believe in Jesus?
• Why do you think Jesus’ mother and brothers came for him in Mark 3? How might family pride have been involved?
• In your opinion, what would make Jesus’ brothers try to get him to go to Jerusalem at this Feast of Tabernacles?

Acts 1.14

• What reasons can you think of as to why James (and brothers) would have been present with the disciples in the upper room?
• What significance is there to the “upper room”?

Acts 12.17

• Why do you think Peter specifically wanted James to know of his miraculous escape from prison?
• In this chapter, how does the death of John’s brother, James along with the escape of Peter imitate Jesus?

Acts 15.12-21

• In the controversy over the Gentiles’ entrance into the church, why do you think James becomes the spokesman?
• How do you see James as being inclusive of the Gentiles? How does he make it easy on them instead of difficult?
• What significance do you see in the reading of Moses each Sabbath? How will this help the new Gentile converts?

Apply

• In what ways have you been in unbelief about Jesus? Are there specific things in which you have trouble believing him?
• What was your turning point in going from unbelief to belief in Jesus?
• James’ story gives us many lessons. Which of the following are you most like James? Least like James?
  • Passionate about Prayer
  • Passionate about Holiness
  • Passionate about Unity of Believers
  • Passionate about the Grace of God

See “Jesus’ Little Brother” video clip from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2BfHfkFJCQ

1.      James’ Ossuary

A little over 10 years ago, a French scientist made the discovery of an ossuary with the inscription, “James, the son of Joseph, brother of Jesus” on it. An ossuary was a small limestone box used to hold the bones of a dead person after the body decayed (approximately one year after initial burial). The box was about 2’ long x 1’ high x 1’ wide. The box had been in someone’s private collection in Jerusalem until someone recognized the importance of the inscription. Was it actually James’ ossuary? We cannot be certain, but why not?

2.      We have been looking at witnesses to the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 because the appearances of Yeshua (Jesus) made a life-changing impact on the eyewitnesses. WE are his disciples because the resurrection changed their lives.

a.       Peter – impetuous; defensive; denials; died for Yeshua (Jesus)

b.      The 12 – defectors at the cross who became defenders of the cross

c.       500 – became a fearless community of believers

d.      ALL were impacted by the resurrection and the appearances of Yeshua (Jesus) to them

e.       So many witnesses gives validity to the event

3.      Today – James, the Lord’s Brother – Galatians 1:18-19

a.       There was a significant change in James (Yacov) which lead him to become a great leader of the people of God

b.      Not James, the brother of John or James, the son of Alphaeus – Lord’s brother

I.       Jacob (James) Entered a Period of Unbelief

A.     “James” Is Actually “Jacob”

1.      “Supplanter” – Difficulties between Jacob and Esau

2.      Jacob (James) also gave Yeshua (Jesus) problems

a.       Jealousy?

b.      A High standard to live up to?

B.     The Neglect of Jacob (James) – Critical of Yeshua (Jesus)

Critics/T. Roosevelt

 “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who does actually try to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” – Jacob (James) would learn to get into the fray and he would succeed mightily!

Theodore Roosevelt, speech before the Hamilton Club, Chicago (April 10, 1899), in Swindoll, Hand Me Another Brick, p. 79.

1.      The real family of Yeshua (Jesus) – Mark 3:19b-20; 31-35 

2.      Taunting of Brothers (including Jacob) – John 7:3-5

a.       Between Yom Kippur and Feast of Tabernacles

b.      Tabernacles – Depiction of World to Come and Entrance of Nations

II.    Jacob (James) Exhibited a Passionate Faith

A.     Faith is Steadiness (Emunah) – Exodus 17:12; Habakkuk 2:4 (quoted 3 times in NT)

1.      Steadiness

2.      Faithfulness in demonstrating devotion

[A Missionary went to serve in a small fishing village in India. The Hindus there opposed him and even tried to kill him. When a fire destroyed most of the village, the Missionary showed up to help them rebuild. When they asked him why, he told them it was because he cared about them and more importantly that Yeshua (Jesus) did.

B.     Jacob’s (James’) Faith was Displayed:

1.      Upper Room – Acts 1:14

a.       Something caused Jacob (James) to go from unbelief to belief

b.      Something caused him to wait for the HS with the disciples

c.        It was the EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTER with his brother

2.      Upper-Level Responsibility within the Church

In “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevia joins a conversation with a man who says, “We need to keep out of everyone else’s business.” Tevia says, “You are right.” Another man says, “If we don’t know what is going on in the world, we can’t pray about it or do anything to prepare for what is coming.” Tevia says, “You’re right!” The Rabbi’s son says to Tevia, “He says this and you say, ‘You are right,’ and he says the opposite, and you say, ‘You are right.’ They can’t both be right. Tevia says, “You are right.”

James did not have the option of uninvolvement as the key leader in Jerusalem.

a.       Jacob (James) becomes an important leader – Acts 12 (Peter is released from prison and goes to tell Jacob – James-)

b.      Leader/Spokesman in the Gentile Controversy in Acts 15:13

1)      No barriers between Jew and Gentile – make it easy for Gentiles to come into the church – don’t have to become Jews

2)      Pro-Unity

3)      Pro-Maturity – Acts 15:21

c.       Arbitrator for the Paul Controversy (that he was telling Jews not to keep Torah) – Acts 21:17-26

1)      Paul dealt with Judaizers

2)      False Rumors about his teaching – proved to be untrue

1.      Traditions about Jacob (James)

a.       Pious Man – kept Torah

b.      Nazarite vow (after coming of HS) – shaved head; no wine, etc.

c.       Prayed often in the temple – Camel’s Knees

d.      Respected – referred to as Jacob (James) the Just

2.      What Practical Lessons do we receive from Jacob’s (James’) life?

a.       Be Passionate about Holiness

1)      Set apart for God’s service

2)      Practical definition of Pure Religion – James 1:27

b.      Be Passionate in Prayer (Camel’s Knees) – James 4:1-3

c.       Be Passionate about the Grace of God

d.      Be Passionate for Unity (John 17)

3.      The Eyewitness Encounter with Yeshua (Jesus) changed Jacob (James) forever!

4.      We are never the same when we encounter Yeshua (Jesus).

Open

Please share with your Group your response to one of the following:

1. Tell about a vivid dream you had that seemed more than a dream.
2. What things make your life satisfying?  Complicated?
3. What person has been influential in shaping your personality, mannerisms and values?

Study

Please read 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 and discuss the following:

1. In your opinion, why did Jesus make as many appearances as he did between his resurrection and ascension? (see Acts 1.3 also)
2. This is the only mention of the appearance of Jesus to the 500. Why do you think Paul includes this in this section regarding the appearances of Jesus after the resurrection?
3. In what ways do you think this group of 500 was a supportive community?
4. How do you see in the church as a Worship Assembly?
5. How do you see the church as a “witness” to the world, aside from worship?
6. Why do you think Christians can be fearless in the face of death?
7. How do you feel about the second coming of Jesus?
8. How has Jesus supported you in your walk with him?

Apply

1. What gives you hope for this world as well as the world to come?
2. In what ways can this group build up the believing aspect of our congregation?
3. How can this group increase the congregation’s demonstrations of faith to our community?
4. How can we share the impact of the empty tomb and risen Jesus with others? Why does this have to begin with us?

Several years ago, while working on a graduate degree, one of my instructors taught several classes on “spiritual gifts.” Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4, and 1 Peter 4 mention the use of these gifts. They are obviously “spiritual” because the come from the Spirit of God. They are “gifts” (Greek – charismaton) because they have been given freely by the grace (Greek – charis) of God.

I had struggled for years in regard to the Holy Spirit. In my church culture, we have a limited view of the Holy Spirit. He is either not present in our lives, influencing us only by his word, or, He is present but does not empower us to do anything of a mystical nature. In the midst of my turmoil came the teachings on the spiritual gifts.

One of the things that struck me was that God had given ME gifts. In my thinking about the gifts – I – became the center of the focus. Each individual (including yours truly) received gifts. Some were given the gift of evangelism, others apostleship (missionaries), giving, mercy, teaching, etc. (read the above texts).

I certainly understood that God intends for us to use whatever He gives us. Whether it is finances or a job or whatever, He intends for us to use these in his service. This is true of His spiritual gifts to us.

Recently I had a new thought on the gifts. The gifts are not about ME atall. If I have the gift of mercy, it came from God. It is given so that I can show mercy as a gift to others. This makes me merely a conduit/pipeline for God.

Imagine a recent birthday party. As the center of attention, you receive gifts from the people that love you. One by one, people hand you a gift and say, “Here is my gift.” As you take each present you say, “Thank you for my gift.” On the one hand it the gift belongs to someone on the other hand, it is for someone.

This is similar in receiving and using gifts from God. All of the gifts we receive are HIS originally. He gives the gifts to us – not for storage or selfish use, but to “give” to someone else who is in need of “our” gifts. On the one hand we would say, “This is my gift” because God gave it to me. On the other hand we would say, “This is my gift” as we give it for another’s well-being. It becomes all about the God who gives instead of the receiver.

So, how do we know or gifts of the Spirit? Practice, practice, practice is the answer! There are Spiritual Gift surveys that we can take, but the real way to find our gifts is to involve ourselves in general ministry. Try a variety of activities that require different gifts. Which ones are you good at? Which ones give you joy? Which ones would you rather have a root canal than do? Soon you will discover what God has given you. Turn yourself loose on those gifts and serve so that God, who gave you the gift, will be honored as you pass the gift on to others through your ministry.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

1.      Power of Witnesses

Lee Strobel, author of The Case for Christ, put it like this…

“If we were holding a trial to determine the facts concerning the resurrection, and if we were to call to the witness stand every witness who personally encountered the resurrected Jesus and we cross-examined them for only 15 minutes, and if we went around the clock without a break…we would be listening to first-hand testimony for more than 128 hours…that’s over 5 days’ worth of testimony…who could possibly walk away unconvinced?”

The stories are too close. The written history is too strong to deny what they saw and what they experienced.

One psychologist even said “over 500 people having the same hallucination would be more of a miracle than resurrection itself!”

2.      1 Corinthians 15.3-6 [500 – about the same as our congregation]

3.      God knew we needed more than an empty tomb

[In 1876, Wild Bill Hickock was killed in Deadwood, SD by Jack McCall while playing poker at the Nuttal & Mann’s Saloon. You may recall that he was holding what has been referred to as the “Dead Man’s Hand” (2 8’s and 2 Aces – all black with an unknown 5^th card). He was buried in the White Gulch Cemetery. His body was moved to the Mt. Moriah Cemetery in 1883. One might have gone to the original site of Hickock’s grave and have found it empty. What does that mean? Was Wild Bill resurrected? No, his remains were merely moved. So, It was necessary for Jesus to show himself to witnesses following the resurrection, not just to have an empty tomb.

4.      Witnesses to the resurrection proved to be powerful influences to the gospel

I.       A Faithful Community of Action

The huge redwood trees in California are amazing. They are the largest living things on earth and the tallest trees in the world. Some of them are 300 feet high and more than 2,500 years old. You would think that trees that large would have a tremendous root system, reaching down hundreds of feet into the earth. But that is not the case. Redwoods have a very shallow root system. The roots of these trees are, however, intertwined. They are tied in with each other; interlocked. Thus, when the storms come and the winds blow the redwoods still stand.

A.     A Called Out Assembly – 2 Thessalonians 2.13-14

1.      Informational assemblies

2.      Worship assemblies

B.     A Witnessing Congregation – Exodus 12.3

1.      God’s intention for Israel was to declare/affirm/witness to the reality of God – Seen in the Passover event and feast each year

2.      God has the same intention for us – Acts 2.42; 46-47

a.       An Assembly and More, a Community

b.      Church is the Army of God to advance the kingdom of God in the world

1)      Every time we obey a command of God the kingdom (rule of God) advances

2)      Every time a sinner is turned to God the kingdom advances

c.       As an Army we need – discipline, passion, and vision – that belong to Yeshua (Jesus)

II.    A Fearless Community of Anticipation (Hope)

A.     As Holy (Set apart) People in an Unholy World

1.      Lives that reflect Calm in the Midst of Stress

a.       Peter walked on water UNTIL he took his eyes off of Yeshua (Jesus) [Matthew 14.28-33]

b.      To walk on the water – remain calm in the storm – we have to fix our eyes on Yeshua (Jesus) and get out of the boat

2.      Lives that are Reorganized in Priorities

a.       Nothing too small to get our best effort

1)      Little children and Yeshua (Jesus) [Matthew 19.14]

2)      Faithfulness in the small leads to greater things (Luke 16.10)

b.      Nothing too great to take away our peace from God – Philippians 4.6-7.

3.      Lives that are Persistent in God’s Service

a.       Distasteful is no longer distasteful – [Priests racing to remove ashes from altar

b.      Unimportant tasks become important

Persian Legend – Pour Water Into Basket

A certain king needed a faithful servant and had to choose between two candidates for the office. He took both at fixed wages and told them to fill a basket with water from a nearby well, saying that he would come in the evening to inspect their work.

After dumping one or two buckets of water into the basket, one of the men said, “What is the good of doing this useless work? As soon as we pour the water in, it runs out the sides.”

The other answered, “But we have our wages, haven’t we? The use is the master’s business, not ours. He is a wise King, and must have his own purpose that we do not understand.”

“I’m not going to do such fool’s work,” replied the complainer. Throwing down his bucket, he went away.

The other man continued until he had drained the well. Looking down into it, he saw something shining at the bottom – it was a diamond ring.

“Now I see the use of pouring water into the basket!” he exclaimed. “If the bucket had brought up the ring before the well was dry, it would have been filtered out in the basket. The King was looking for his diamond. Our work was not useless.”

The King found his most faithful servant!

B.     As a People at Rest in a Restless World

1.      A Calmness in Expectation – John 21.21-22

2.      A willingness for “sleep”

a.      Lazarus — “Our friend Laz′arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep.” John 11.11

b.      Stephen – And when he had said this, he fell asleep.  Acts 7.60b

3.      Anxious for the awakening to be with God

a.       Death is a parenthesis of life – Born-Live-(Die)-Live Again

b.      Resurrection becomes a powerful message of hope – even over death

1.      42 – Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was the first black person to play major league baseball. Breaking baseball’s color barrier, he faced jeering crowds in every stadium. Players would stomp on his feet and kick him.

While playing one day in his home stadium in Brooklyn, he made an error. The fans began to ridicule him. He stood at second base, humiliated, while the fans jeered. Then, shortstop Pee Wee Reese came over and stood next to him. He put his arm around Jackie Robinson and faced the crowd. The fans grew quiet. Robinson later said that arm around his shoulder saved his career.

We are sometimes like Jackie Robinson, full of shame. Sometimes, like Jackie, our shame is from nothing we’ve done. Sometimes our shame is from our own sin and guilt. And like Pee Wee Reese, Jesus comes and slips his arm around us, and bears our shame for us and gives us life.

2.      The Risen Yeshua (Jesus) is our basis for hope – reason for his appearances

3.      The open grave and his appearances prove immortality

4.      Encountering the risen One enables us to be:

a.       A Believing Community

b.      A Fearless Community

c.       As a Witness for the Resurrected Yeshua (Jesus)

1.      Misfits

Good and amusing stories often work on the proposition of an odd mix of unlikely characters:

·         The Odd Couple –.a neat freak and a world-class slob have to learn how to live together.

·         Gilligan ’s Island — seven people, all of whom are weird in some way, stranded together on a deserted island.

·         The Dirty Dozen — twelve hardened criminals and a colonel on the outs with his commanders on a mission to eliminate the Nazi leadership.

2.      The same idea is found in the lives of the apostles whom Yeshua (Jesus) called

3.      These men were witnesses to his ministry; his death; his burial; and his resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15.3-5

4.      As in the case of Peter the resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus) made all the difference in their lives

I.       The Apostles Were Called Men

“Jesus was never interested in having fans. When he defines what kind of relationship he wants, “Enthusiastic Admirer” isn’t an option. My concern is that many of our churches in America have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them.” Kyle Idleman “Not a Fan” p. 25 [Jesus has called DISCIPLES, not fans.

A.     Yeshua (Jesus) Knew Them

1.      Peter– John 1.41-42

2.      Nathanael – John 1.46-47

3.      Judas – John 6.70-71

B.     They Knew Yeshua (Jesus) – John 1.29

C.     Yeshua (Jesus) Selected Them by Prayer – Luke 6.12-13

II.    The Apostles Were Complex Men

Peter Marshall, in a sermon entitled, “Disciples in Clay,” pictured the apostles before an examining board which was appointed to choose Jesus’ close associates. Peter stood there smelling of fish – uncouth, uncultured, impetuous, uncultured, and impulsive. Andrew, James, and John also reeked of fish and lacked refinement. Philip appeared to be indecisive. Thomas seemed cynical. Matthew was considered a traitor. Simon the Zealot was a dangerous patriot. Judas was a thief. The NT tells it like it was. This was a group not likely to succeed. It is most likely they would not have been chosen by a board for Jesus, but they were chosen by Jesus.

A.     Consider Their Differences:

1.      Nathanael’s Prejudice — John 1.45-46

2.      Thomas – “Doubted” – Wanted Proof

3.      Andrew – No Notoriety – brings Peter and Greeks to Yeshua (Jesus)

4.      Peter – Impulsive; Denials

5.      Simon – Zealot – Galilee

6.      Matthew – Roman Tax Collector

7.      Judas – Betrayal – Pushing for the Kingdom to come?

B.     Consider Their Common, Ordinary Background – Acts 4.13

1.      Not “Ivy League” Education

2.      Recognized they had been with Yeshua (Jesus) because they acted/sounded like him

C.     This Was a Complex Group Yeshua (Jesus) Called and Led

III. The Apostles Were Convicted Men

Abraham Lincoln said, “I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day.”

A.     They Witnessed Firsthand:

1.      The Ministry of Yeshua (Jesus)

2.      The DBR of Yeshua (Jesus)

3.      The Resurrection of Yeshua (Jesus)

B.     They Experienced His 40 Days of Teaching – . Acts 1.3

IV.  The Apostles Were Converted Men

In 1922 Max Flack of the Chicago Cubs and Cliff Heathcote of the St. Louis Cardinals were traded for each other. This is not unusual, except that they were traded after the first game of a double-header between the two teams. During the second game, both men played in different uniforms. The eleven remaining apostles made sure whose team they were on.

A.     Each Was a Determined Disciple

1.      Better understanding

2.      Deeper conviction

B.     Each Part of God’s Family – they were “A Band of Brothers”

1.      Some were literal brothers – James and John; Peter and Andrew

2.      All were brother Israelites and descendants of Abraham

3.      Now they were brothers in Yeshua’s (Jesus’) Family Mark 3.31-35

a.       In spite of ideological differences – Matthew and Simon

b.      New purpose together – from deserters at the cross to defenders of the cross

V.     The Apostles Were Commissioned Men (Matthew 28.18-20)

1.      People come to matter more than self

Norman Schwarzkopf tells an interesting story in his autobiography. His father was an ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He once traveled with his father to visit some Bedouins.

They were welcomed into a large tent where their hosts had spread a traditional Bedouin feast. The centerpiece of the feast was a camel, fully cooked, but still mostly intact. The chief of the Bedouin tribe immediately took a liking to young Norman and offered him the choicest morsel on the table; the camel’s eye ball. Schwarzkopf writes that his father didn’t even have to look at him. He knew what he had to do. He popped that eyeball in his mouth and swallowed; and kept it down. Any other response would have been an unforgivable insult. He squelched the gag reflex.

Helping people feel welcome and accepted is more important than suiting your own tastes.

2.      It was true with Yeshua (Jesus) – it will be true of his disciples

3.      We are Called; Complex; Convicted; Converted; Commissioned

Open

Please share your response to one of the following

•          Tell about a time you did not fit in with a particular Group.
•          Tell about the best team you have ever belonged to.

Study

Please read 1 Corinthians 15.3-5 and Luke 6.12-16 and discuss the following with your Group:

•          Why do you think Jesus chose this particular group of disciples?
•          How do you see prayer as playing a role in his selection?
•          What was it about Jesus that caused the disciples to follow?
•          What were some of the big differences you see among the Twelve?
•          What things did they witness to cause them to boldly go into the world with the gospel?
•          In what ways were they a “Band of Brothers”?

Apply

•          What characteristics of the apostles do you see in yourself (good and bad)?
•          How can we be more sensitive to others than to ourselves?
•          How does Jesus demonstrate this? How can we?
•          What missing ingredient do you see that could help us be bolder (not offensive) with the gospel in our world?
•          How can we better get along with people who are different than we are?