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

According to the Bible, the Hebrews made daily sacrifices in the temple. They sacrificed animals every day at 9 AM and 3 PM. When the shofar blew, the people would stop and know that an animal was killed for their sins.

This is a key point to the sacrifice of Jesus. When the shofar blew at 9 AM he was crucified. At 3 PM, the shofar blew again and he died.

When the Hebrews went into Babylonian captivity the temple was destroyed. It was rebuilt and destroyed again in AD 70. Jesus made the “once for all” sacrifice on the cross. The animal sacrifices were no longer necessary. However, a question that comes to mind is, What did the Jews do for sacrifices while in captivity?  There was no temple in which they could sacrifice. The nation was essentially removed from Judah and Jerusalem. So, what did they do?

One answer to the question sounds very familiar to readers of the Christian text. Rabbis taught that since there was no temple, each Jew was to be a “living sacrifice” to God. They were unable to sacrifice animals, but they could live for God.

Do you remember Paul’s admonition in Romans 12:1?  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Perhaps he used the imagery of the captivity to remind the disciples of Jesus to LIVE for God.

Another thought occurs to me. The temple in Jerusalem was indeed destroyed by the Babylonians and by the Romans. We, however, have a temple in which God may dwell. It is the temple of our bodies (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). The temple is also the church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

We still make “sacrifices.” These are not the animal sacrifices of the Jews. They are not the “once for all” sacrifice of Jesus. Rather, these are the daily commitments of individual Christians and the corporate body of believers. What has been your sacrifice today?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

I recently read an intriguing fact about honey bees. You can keep bees but you cannot keep a bee. A single honey bee will die within three days, even if you provide it with an ideal environment. There is something about community that keeps the bees alive.

The application is obvious. We need Christian community to have Christian life. We need the “bearing of one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) in order to keep going. In fact, researches have found that people who have a good social network and a poor diet are as healthy as people who have a good diet and a poor social network. As John Ortberg has said, “It is better to eat Twinkies with friends than broccoli alone.”

The fellowship of believers is the heartbeat of the church. It comes in many forms. We see this precious fellowship in a small group caring for its members. We see it in a Bible class discussing a common passage. We see it when the same class works together on a Ministry task. We see it when the church cares for its members as needs arise.

Fellowship is a common meal and more. It is social and spiritual. It is life-giving. As the new year approaches make a resolution to be active in your church’s community. Find your “connecting place” and help build up others.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

I have heard it said that the best disciple-making is to BE the message. That has many ramifications in our time. “Church growth” is often equated to “disciple-making.” As a result, we have gimmick after gimmick for the sake of numbers. The result is shallow faith and shallow “disciples.”

Being a disciple of Jesus is far more than having our favorite pew at church. It is more than an occasional Bible study. It is becoming like our rabbi — Jesus – in every way. Jesus studied the text; taught the text; and lived the text (the Torah). He was the message (John 1:14).

Our rabbi told us to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20). If we are following Jesus should we not do the same kinds of things he did? Should we not study, teach, and LIVE the text in our lives?

Real disciple-making happens by real disciples. It happens when we give up gimmicks and worldly allurements to “get people into church.” It happens when we LIVE the message.

For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (Ezra 7:10, NIV).

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Think back for just a moment to the night Jesus was betrayed. Judas, of course, went out and brought the authorities to Gethsemane so he could collect his 30 pieces of silver. Jesus had predicted this as well as Peter’s denial (see Matthew 26:34).

As Jesus made the prediction, Peter denied his denials. He told Jesus that even if all of the other disciples left him he would not. He would even die with and for Jesus. We know that Jesus’ prediction about Peter came true.

Peter went through the three denials. Each grew more intense than the last. Until he reached the third denial and then heard the rooster crow. Just like Jesus had said, before the rooster crowed Peter would deny him three times. Luke tells us that Jesus looked Peter in the eye and then Peter went out and wept bitterly (Luke 22:61).

I have often thought about how weak we are. Just like Peter, there are times when we deny or at least want to deny Jesus. We want to be able to go along with the crowd, and still have the benefits of being a disciple of Jesus (you know, eternal life and all).

I have also thought about how Jesus must have felt when Peter actually fulfilled his prediction. What must Jesus have been thinking? “I knew it and told you so!”? “Poor Peter. He has good intentions but . . .”? Maybe he felt anger toward Peter. I know this, most of us would have not only wanted to shout “I told you so!” we would have wanted to punish Peter.

I wonder why Peter wept bitterly. Maybe it was because he denied the Lord. Certainly that should be enough. Maybe it was more. Perhaps Peter remembered the words of Jesus when he said, “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33).

Peter may have thought he blew it as far as letting the Lord down. He may also have thought there was now no hope for him. This would have been the case with mere men. But, Jesus is more than mortal.

Roll the tape forward. Look into John 21. Peter and his friends are fishing after the resurrection. Jesus appears on the beach and cooks breakfast for them. In the course of conversation Jesus asks Peter three times if he loved him. He then tells Peter to feed his sheep and lambs. Jesus did not give up on Peter!

That is good news for us. Not only did God not give up on Peter, he does not give up on us. He works with us as the imperfect people that we are. Sometimes we let the Lord down and we weep over it. God keeps coming back to pick us up and refocus our attention where it needs to be — on serving, not on ourselves.

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene