Study Questions for Acts Chapter 20 verses 28 – 35 Sunday 29th June 2014

Study Questions for Acts Chapter 20 verses 28 – 35   Sunday 29^th June 2014

(You can read the accompanying talk at www.allsaintsbrenchley.blogspot.com)

Paul often finds himself having to explain or defend himself because of opposition encountered in his missionary travels. This he can do in all humility because he has sought to gain nothing for himself but only for Christ. Here he is speaking with the elders of the church at Ephesus, warning them of the ‘savage wolves’ who will appear both from outside and even within the Church to lead the people away from the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS

1. Why do you think the Paul needs to warn the elders of two threats? What are they and how might they come?

2. What do you make of verse 28? Can you spot three very important truths in it for our understanding of sound Christian doctrine (belief)?

3. What is the aim of the ‘savage wolves’ and what sort of things do you think motivates them?

4. Can you think of any modern day parallels to or examples of such threats to the Church – whether from outside or from within?

5. Why is the teaching and preaching, understanding and application of sound and faithful Christian doctrine so important?

6. What do you think might be - or what examples do you know of – the consequences of unfaithful teaching?

7. How can we remain ‘alert’ v31?

8. What do you understand by v 32?

9. How would you explain v32 to a non-believing friend.......or someone you happened to meet on the train or at the gym?

Acts Chapter 20 verses 28 – 38

So we continue this morning our journey through Acts. And if there is only one word or one phrase you take with you from this talk this morning – I hope it won’t be just the one!   - then let it be from V32 and the ‘message of grace.’

 A message that is ‘able to build you up and give you an inheritance.’ What is that ‘message of his grace’? Well, it is written in bold letters above me here on the arch. (John 3:16) 

And what is ‘grace’? Grace is an act of love towards the undeserving. To those who think they deserve God’s love – because of who they are, their achievements or their good deeds - this message comes as too much of a challenge to their pride. 

And sadly, as a consequence, they fail to act upon that message and so find it difficult to be a practising Christian of any real effectiveness in their calling as Christians. On the other hand, to those who humbly acknowledge the ingrained issue of their pride and their sin, it is a message of liberation, of peace, and of joy. It is a gift –a very costly one as v28 reminds us - from our Creator, offered to all, needed by all, and rejected by anyone at their peril. 

It is – if you are looking for an analogy that absolutely anyone can easily understand – an antidote, a cure, for a terminal illness. And who in their right mind, once they realise they are ill, would spurn such a gift. It is a very precious one, a ‘pearl of great price’: no wonder Paul, here in chapter twenty, wants to preserve it and to preserve it unadulterated.

I would like you to imagine that you are the current chief exec or MD of a company selling a product that everyone needs or wants. 

You have been in business for some time. The product, when people know about it, pretty much sells itself, at least to those who recognise that they need it. Now just recently your company has encountered two different but related problems. Some of your sales and marketing team, in order to boost their own earnings, have started to change the product description in order to make it easier for the gullible or the unconvinced to buy it. At the same time, others in your sales and marketing team are actually trying to sell a quite different product whilst using your advertising, packaging, plant, and other resources. As CEO or MD, my question to you is what would you do?

I hope it’s not too difficult to make the connection between my illustration and the issue Paul was facing and warning the leaders about. It has been of course a perennial problem for the Church and still is today. In America at least 7 whole dioceses have seceded from the ECUSA in the last two years because of the heretical teaching of bishops who no longer teach the faith as given in the Bible and the creeds, some of whom do not even believe that Jesus was God. Such disbeliefs, sadly and worryingly, can also be found amongst English Anglican priests and bishops.

So what is Paul concerned about here? Quite simply, it is the spiritual health and well-being of those to whom he first spoke the good news of Jesus, the Jesus in whom they put their faith, ‘the word or message of his grace’.

Notice that Paul warns of the danger both to their flocks and to themselves. Priests, bishops, who are called to be shepherds to their flocks, are not immune from this danger. I have encountered several in my time who have been deceived by false teaching and even promoted it amongst their flocks – always with devastating results. To say that such divisions are simply no more than differences of opinion and that the great British principle of toleration ought to operate here is to be either wholly naive or devilishly disingenuous about such a grave matter; not to mention dishonouring to Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

 Paul reminds them here of the most costly price paid by Jesus for the gospel of grace, for our forgiveness, for our freedom, for our inheritance v32

V30 These wolves then will come even from the flock ‘distorting the truth’ in order to entice the disciples to follow them.’ We need to be ‘alert’ v31.

How do you recognise a wolf or someone who has been led astray by a wolf? Well they almost always do not appear to be wolves - that’s the problem! - but as sheep or shepherds. Fortunately there are certain tell-tale signs that mark out such ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’; signs, both positive and negative, by which we can discern whether or not someone is a wolf or a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

In the C of E we have differed, legitimately, over points of belief regarding the faith and how that faith is expressed; but when the central doctrines of the faith expressed in the creeds and the reliability and authority of the bible – even the teaching of Jesus – are being attacked, undermined, or changed, then we know that we have a wolf attack on or hands.

‘By their fruit shall you know them’, said Jesus. And we know, from having studied what Jesus clearly meant when he used the word ‘fruit’, that he spoke of the growth, especially new growth, of those who acknowledge him as God and who obey his teaching. So, when we encounter Christians (and especially Shepherds –clergy!) we need to ask God to help us discern whether or not their teaching is faithful. Notice I said ‘faithful’; not comfortable or in line with the spirit of the age or the most recent theories of science, but ‘faithful’ – faithful to what God has revealed, especially in the life, teaching claims, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

This was a very pressing question in Old Testament times when people wanted to know which prophet they should believe. It was not enough that the guy looked like a prophet, spoke like a prophet and claimed to be a prophet: they all did! And so God spoke to the people of Israel and gave them two criteria by which to discern whether or not a particular prophet could be believed. The first 

concerned whether or not what the prophet prophesied came true. 

The second criteria was whether the prophet led people back to God or away from him. And it is quite clear that the most important criteria was the second – whether the prophet led people back to God. Why? Well because it might very well transpire that what the prophet prophesied did come to pass. But if as a result the people were led astray - away from God and from his laws and commandments, then that prophet was not to be trusted. So the first criterion was always dependent upon the second.

And these criteria, especially the second, we can bear in mind and apply when we come to judge whether or not a clergyperson or a modern day prophet or an ordinary Christian is telling God’s truth. 

The watchword here must always be ‘faithfulness’; faithfulness, that is, to the teaching of Jesus and the apostles - and not to the spirit of the age, the current theories of science, or the thoughts of whatever is ‘trending now’ on the net. This is not to say that these are always contrary to Christian teaching; not at all. However, I am often shocked by how much and how easily some Christians are influenced by these when they are trying to make sense of the world and of their lives. And I don’t think many Christians realise just how dangerously deceptive such unchristian ideas and priorities can be. Who do you believe about the creation of the world? Stephen Hawking or Jesus? Who do you believe about gay marriage? Stonewall or Jesus? Who do you believe about morality? Christopher Hitchens or Jesus? Who do you believe about human nature? Richard Dawkins or Jesus? I think you would be astonished how often some Christians could not answer ‘Jesus’.

So what do wolves in sheep’s clothing do? They deceive people either by changing the Gospel or by short-changing people about it or by offering something completely different as Christianity, albeit often something temptingly religious or spiritual in appearance. Just as with the Old Testament prophets, we really do need to be on our guard  against those who claim to be Christians or priests, who talk like them, dress like them, and act like them but in fact are not faithful to the Gospel of Jesus and lead people astray. In my experience they tend to really look the part, to play down your sins and theirs, and to make you feel comfortable rather than challenged in your faith, telling you what you want to hear rather than what you need to know.

Paul knew that the wolves would come for the flock; and he knew that some of those wolves would come from the flock itself, which is why the shepherds had to be especially careful.

So what can we do to be on our guard? Well, the best way to recognise the wolf is to steep ourselves in knowledge of Jesus and what he taught so that we can get to know him and his teaching and be able to recognise what is of him and what is not. The closer we draw to Jesus – through prayer, study of his word, and unashamedly standing up for him in our lives, the easier it will be not only to recognise the wolves in whatever guise they come but also to defend ourselves and others from their clutches. But for all these very real concerns about wolves, some of which will face us over the next few years - indeed already do! – let us not forget 

Jesus’ promise to be with the faithful until his coming again. He has promised not leave us comfortless. Indeed, if we have chosen to decide for him, to take up our cross and follow him faithfully, then he will provide all that we need in the time of trial. We have only to trust him. V32 (RE-READ)

   

Matthew 28 verses 16 to 20

In today’s gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus gives his disciples what is known as the Great Commission.

He delegates his authority to them and sends them out into the world to make disciples of all nations.

And of course this Great Commission hasn’t changed. The Church must still, using Jesus’ authority, reach out and proclaim the gospel to all people in every nation.

And that means that we, as Jesus representatives here in Brenchley, also have a role to play in spreading and sharing the gospel - both to our community and to our families, friends, neighbours and work colleagues.

No Christian is exempt from the Great Commission.

The trouble is though, that lots of us find it quite hard to share the gospel. We may have our own faith but we don’t find it easy to try and talk about it with others.

We may feel a bit embarrassed or perhaps we feel a bit theologically inadequate.

So what can we do?

Well I’ve got a couple of thoughts and suggestions about sharing our faith and this is what I’d like to talk about this morning.

Initially we are going to find it very difficult to tell others that they need God in their lives unless He has made a difference to our lives.

If for instance we have a hobby or interest which we really enjoy, we can talk about it enthusiastically and sell its benefits to others - because we’ve experienced it and genuinely derive pleasure from it.

Christianity is the same. If we are going to share our faith effectively, we need to truly believe that having a relationship with God is a good thing, and we need to have experienced something of God’s love ourselves.

I say love, because love is the central theme of Christianity. God’s whole kingdom is based on love. Everything Jesus said and did was motivated first and foremost by love.

He healed people because he had compassion on them. The prostitutes and sinners flocked to him because he didn’t judge or condemn them. He sought to show them a better way.

When people met with Jesus they experienced God’s love. Even sometimes when he had to warn people that they were heading in the wrong direction and needed to repent, he was saddened by the hardness of their hearts, because he still loved them.

And of course when Jesus went to the cross he showed us the full extent of God’s love for us.

God is love, and his greatest desire for each individual is know his love, to be filled with his love, and then to share that love with others.

When we make the decision that we want to become Christians we invite God into our hearts and lives and he comes in the person of the Holy Spirit.

And the Holy Spirit fills our hearts with God’s love. So when we become Christians there should be a new depth of love in us – a tender hearted mercy and compassion for people, that wasn’t there before.

A compassion that sometimes moves us to really want to reach out and help people, – particularly those who are hurting or sad or lost or unloved.

Of course we don’t feel this love all the time, but on occasion, compassion and mercy should flow out of lives towards others and motivate us to want to show them and tell them that God loves them and wants a relationship with them.

I remember when I first became a Christian that I didn’t really know or understand what had happened to me. All I knew was, that a new love – that hadn’t been there before - was living in me, and if you’re a Christian that same love is living in you – and it should be motivating you to reach out to and pray and care for others.

And as you do this you may be surprised to find that sometimes people will see something of God’s love in you.

And if you do have an opportunity to share your faith just tell others in simple words the basics of the gospel and what God means to you personally.

Just be honest and tell them what you truly think and believe. You don’t have to pretend that you have all the answers to life’s big questions. It’s OK to say “I really don’t know the answer to that.”

Nicky Gumble who does the Alpha course has written a very useful book called Searching Issues which deals with the main questions he’s found that people ask on Alpha courses. I’d recommend reading this as it gives some very useful pointers on how you can respond if people do ask you difficult questions about suffering for instance.

The next thing that we need to motivate us to share the gospel is I believe a clear understanding of the judgement that is coming.

Now this may sound a bit odd to you when I’ve just spoken about love – but the fact is that Jesus came to save us because we needed saving.

And if judgement wasn’t coming, there would be no need for the Great Commission and no need to evangelise.

The problem is that we don’t really like to talk or think about judgment so we avoid it. We may even avoid reading bible passages that speak about judgment and kid ourselves that in the end everyone will be OK.

But this is untrue. Not everyone will be OK. Those who reject or ignore Jesus sacrifice of himself on the cross will one day have to face God’s judgement.

We really need to accept and take this on board – as the knowledge of impending judgement should motivate us to do all that we can to encourage others to make their peace with God - and to be reconciled to Him.

If we don’t understand the reality or terrible seriousness of judgement, it will smother and deaden our desire to reach out to others.

God takes no pleasure in judging anybody, and he’d much rather welcome us into his kingdom. However, the fact is that a lot of people live their lives without reference to God and these people are heading for disaster – unless they come to their senses and repent and it is our job to warn them.

I remember a few years ago a picture coming into my mind. It was somewhere like Beachy Head and I saw a long line of people – 6 or 8 abreast just walking along the cliff top and chatting quite happily.

This long line of people tailed back into the distance but when I looked up, I saw that the people at the front were all walking straight over the edge of the cliff and the ones behind them seemed to be oblivious to it, and were following them over.

In fact all the walkers were heading for the cliff.

And then I looked to the left and there was a huge cross with Jesus on it and I could see that he was desperate for these people to change direction and to come to Him.

As I looked more closely at the crowd of walking people I could see that there were some other people who were walking beside the crowd and encouraging them to come to the cross.

And a few people were leaving the crowd and heading towards the cross with the help of these people.

And then I noticed that there were quite a few other people just sitting and chatting at the foot of the cross.

I could sense that Jesus didn’t want these people – who’d found the cross themselves – just sitting there while this great throng was heading for destruction.

He wanted them to join those who were actively trying to lead some of the crowd to him.

Where are you in this picture I wonder?

Perhaps you’re in the great crowd of walkers and you know a little bit about Jesus, but you’re not really that fussed. You’re quite content as you are and you can’t really see a need for God in your life.

Well if that’s you – you’re heading for disaster. There’s a cliff up ahead and one day – if you don’t change direction and start taking Jesus seriously – you’ll find yourself falling off the cliff and facing God’s judgement.

Perhaps you’re one of those people who have left the crowd and you are journeying towards the cross. You may not have reached it yet – but at least you’re heading in the right direction and you have found people to help you get there.

Perhaps you are one of those people who is actively trying to help those in the crowd towards the cross. You may not feel you’re a great evangelist - but you care and you’re doing what you feel you can to reach out to others and help them find God.

If that’s you, God bless you – because you are helping to fulfil the Great Commission – and God is pleased with you.

Perhaps you’re one of those people who is sitting at the foot of the cross. As far as you’re concerned you’ve found God but at the moment you’re making very little effort to help others find him too.

If that’s you there is something very wrong in your relationship with God.

Jesus called you into a relationship with him in order to bear fruit and if you’re making no effort to reach out to others in his name – you’re missing the main purpose that God has for you.

I heard a story about a young man from Manchester with a good job and a nice house who decided he’d move onto a rough council estate to help plant a church among single parent families, teenage mums, drug addicts, and prostitutes.

Someone asked him why on earth he’d want to move from his nice house into such a deprived area.

He said that if he’d found a cure for AIDS and didn’t share it with others – he’d be worse that Hitler.

However he said as far as he was concerned he’d found something much better than a cure for AIDS. He’d found a relationship with a God who loved him and who’d saved him for eternity.

How could he not try and share this with so many people who desperately needed God themselves?

I think it’s interesting that Jesus commands the disciples to make disciples of all nations. He doesn’t tell them just to make converts.

God wants us to grow in our faith and to put time and effort into our relationship with Him. To set aside time regularly, to pray and read and study our bibles.

And to do this we need to be disciplined. A disciple is one who is disciplined in their relationship with God.

And the more we grow in our understanding of Christianity, of who we are in Christ and the authority that God has given us, the more effective we will be in helping to fulfil the Great Commission.

So to conclude, if we’re Christians the Great Commission is spoken to us.

All around us are dozens of people who haven’t yet been reconciled to God, and as the Church, Christ’s ambassadors, it is our job to try and help as many as we can to realise the error of their ways and to find a relationship with a God who loves them so much He died for them.

If we know anything of God’s love we need to wake up to the reality of judgement and with God’s help, start to try and lead at least some of those around us towards a relationship with Him.

In the name of the living God. Amen