Sermon Video: "What I have I give you" - Acts 3:1-10

On his way to the temple to pray, Peter is stopped by a crippled man asking for money.  Rather than simply give what is expected (and needed, the man had to live too), Peter offers healing in the name of Jesus Christ.  Peter then helps him to his feet and moments later his is jumping for joy.  This episode illustrates for us the need to take action when we see suffering in our world and not simply turn a blind eye.  Moreover, we need to offer help in the name of Jesus because only the Gospel can take a glass of water and turn it into Living Water.  As Christians, we have no excuse for not being active (as individuals and as churches) in helping to alleviate and solve suffering.  Whatever you have, you can give.

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Sermon Video: "I will sing in the shadow of your wings"- Psalm 63

In this psalm David expresses his joy and confidence which come from the love and protection of the Lord.  Despite wandering around in the desert, David knew that God was with him in the no matter what.  If the doubts came in the night, God was there.  That absolute confidence in God's Word allowed David to proclaim his ability to sing out in the shadow of God's protective wings in defiance of his enemies.  We too, with the guarantee of the Holy Spirit can rejoice in our confidence in the promises of God.

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The Church in America

The history and character of the Church in America is a fascinating topic.  It is to be expected that the American culture and political system being so different from that of the Europe from which most of its early settlers came, would be reflected in the Church as well.  The Church in Europe has a tremendous amount of historical baggage to carry on its shoulders; from the massacres of the Thirty Year's War to the disillusionment of the WWI generation.  The rise and fall of nations and dynasties became so intertwined with the aspirations of Church movements that the two could hardly be distinguished.
Yet when immigrants stepped off the boats at one of America's colonies (and later at one of the United States' cities), everything was different.  At first, the American colonies were a mixture of toleration (Rhode Island, Pennsylvania), dissident churches (Massachusetts' Puritans and Quakers), and transplanted state churches (Maryland, Virginia).  These fledgling institutions, whether they intended to offer religious liberty or not (most did not), were soon overwhelmed by the flood of newcomers representing every imaginable variation of Christianity that existed in Europe.  Even those who hoped to make a particular colony, or later the United States itself, into a bastion of one church over and above all others could see that their cause was hopeless.
The religious liberty that we take for granted as a part of the American character was not the ideal that most early settlers embraced (the Puritans of MA helped Rhode Island get started by driving out dissenters; something they were used to being on the receiving end of back in England, but did anyway when they had the chance), with a few exceptions such as William Penn, but it was an inevitable outcome of such diverse immigration.  It seems that God was intent upon nudging our American ancestors into choosing to respect each other's religious liberty whether that wanted to or not.
The interesting postscript to the American Christian experience is the contrast between the nearly empty state sponsored/endorsed churches of Europe and the still vibrant independent American Church.  It is no coincidence that deprived of the power and money that government control brings that Church in America has been strengthened by the voluntary support of its members.  Today Europe stands in desperate need of revival and the balance of Church growth in the world has shifted to the Third World; the question that remains is will America recapture its history of revival and collectively renew the Church here, or will we follow in Europe's footsteps and turn our churches into museums too.

Sermon Video: Peter's Message, Part II - Acts 2:32-41

In the conclusion of his Pentecost message, Peter stresses the fact of the resurrection, the cooperation of the Trinity, and concludes by declaring that God has made Jesus "both Lord and Christ".  The response of the audience is dismay (rather than defiance) as they realize their guilt.  Peter tells them that they must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, but that if they do, they too will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  In the end, three thousand people choose to believe the Gospel.  This message has been passed down for two thousand years, but holds true to this day.  Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

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More Grace?

An interesting question was raised at last night's Bible study (Hebrew 11).  We were talking about how all of the saints of the Old Covenant had lived by faith, as we do today, and that our faith is a response to the grace of God.  If God did not offer us grace, we would not be able to respond in faith {What would we respond to without God's offer of forgiveness?}.  The question was asked, if some people don't respond, why doesn't God just give them more grace until they do?  The question gets to the heart of the relationship between a holy omnipotent God and his fallen freewill creation.
How much grace is enough?  Do we have the right to ask God for more grace? {Grace being an undeserved gift, it seems rather cheeky of us to ask God for more, but when those who refuse God's call are our own relatives or friends our desperation is certainly understandable}
I'm not a full T.U.L.I.P. Calvinist (you can look it up if you want) because I don't believe in Irresistible Grace (or Limited Atonement).  When reading the Bible I see a lot of people to whom God holds out his hands in hope only to see them refuse to accept him.  As God says of his chosen people in Isaiah, "All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people" (Isaiah 65:2a).  Time and time again the Lord pleads with his people to repent and return to him.  He sends them prophets to warn them, he shows them miracles as proof, he tries tough love by judging their sins; often to no avail.  It seems clear that God wants everyone to repent and be saved but it blocked by our willful rebellion which refuses to admit our own wrongs or seek help from above.
In the end, God will decide who receives one chance at salvation, and who receives many.  It is not for me to say that anyone is beyond redemption or that it is too late for anyone on this side of the grave.  I simply know that God wants us to receive Jesus Christ, to be cleansed of our sins, and to once again have fellowship with our heavenly father.  Peter wrote about God's patience (he would certainly know having needed it on many occasions), "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (II Peter 3:9).
Any Bible study that leads us to contemplate the depth of God's love and mercy is time well spent.