Beruflich Dokumente
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SERMON OUTLINE
SUBJECT: Servant Church DATE: July 20, 2008
TITLE: To Serve the Present Age TEXT: Acts 13:36
SCRIPTURE: Acts 13.36
HYMN OF PRAISE: 577 OPENING PRAYER: 574 HYMN OF INVITATION: 413
INTRODUCTION
Each year, during this season of Pentecost, I read again the Book of Acts, which records
the events of the first Pentecost and the subsequent early history of the Church.
In the ninth chapter we read of the conversion of Paul, in chapter thirteen he and
Barnabas are commissioned as missionaries to the Gentiles, and soon after we find Paul
preaching in Antioch.
The subject of his sermon is the Resurrection but in passing, as it were, he dropped this
little nugget:
David, after he had served the will of God in his own generation, died.
For the Jews he represented the high water mark; the “golden-age” of their history
Even so—the Biblical chronicle is painfully honest in its presentation of David
Oliver Cromwell: “warts and all!”
The record reveals that David, the great hero, the “Lion of Judah”
was also an adulterer and murderer
All of this must have been in Paul’s mind when he reminded his listeners:
David, after he had served the will of God in his own generation, died.
These followers of the Way (in the town where first called “Christians”) were also sinners
set apart by God to do his will.
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To Serve the Present Age Chu-04
It is not unusual for modern Christian speakers and writers to refer to “the servant church”
However—not a concept universally accepted.
In fact, definite impression given by some church-members that church is here to
Serve their needs !
Apparently, one of the widest things he could think of was a church door
[The Living Bible] In this new life one’s nationality or race or education
or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing.
Some of you may have heard of a west Texas rancher named Shanghai Pierce
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To Serve the Present Age Chu-04
Speaking to his disciples, he said: “as the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
He tells us he was sent as a servant—to proclaim Good News:
We can best respond to some of these cries through large cooperative actions.
[As a church or a community; a state or a nation]
Others call for more personal; one on one responses.
The early “Methodists” were called that because they were so methodical, so systematic
iin their approach to living out what it means to be a Christian disciple;
They set aside certain specific times for prayer, for Bible reading, for study,
And also for seeking out those who needed help.
An event from the life of John Wesley provides an excellent example.
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To Serve the Present Age Chu-04
Even after he had gained a large following, unlike many “popular” preachers of our day, he
never built up a personal fortune. In fact, by the standards of our day he would be classified as
“poor.” Yet, he was ever concerned about those who had even less than he. On one occasion,
learning of the destitute circumstances of those in a certain area, he went begging among his
more affluent friends and acquaintances until he had gathered 200 pounds. Then, from early
morning until late evening, he sloshed through melting snow to make distributions of food and
coal to the poor. He continued in this arduous task for five days--until he was taken violently ill.
It is worth mentioning that at the time he was eighty-two years old!
Charles Wesley might well have had this verse in mind when he wrote these words:
*
“A Charge to Keep I Have” (UMH 413)
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July 20, 2008
And it shall come to pass, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Joe 2:28 ASV
O ETERNAL GOD, in whom we live and move and have our being,
we thank Thee;
!for the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that Thy Spirit would come upon us and we would,
"Dream dreams and see visions"
!for thy faithful disciples who, from the Day of Pentecost, have been challenged and empowered to
create a world in accordance with the teaching and example of Jesus.
!for the courage and endurance with which each generation has used its talents and gifts
to pro- claim the Good News, and to preserve the Church and its Holy Testament.
O GOD OF GRACE, hear now our petitions for those with special needs:
! ! ! ! !
All of these things, along with our own personal petitions, we make in the name of Him who
sends us out into the world as his witnesses, even Jesus Christ our Lord, who taught us to pray
together saying:
OUR FATHER,
wHO ART IN HEAVEN...