Sermon Reflections from The Unintended Pass | Alex Hardt | April 23, 2023
 
I can really identify with the title of Pastor Alex’s sermon- The Unintended Pass.   From our scripture reading in Acts 10 and 11, we see that Peter was unaware of his need to change his thinking so that God could use him to pass on the gospel to the Gentiles.  Prior to this vision and change of thinking, the Jewish believers felt that Gentiles that accepted Christ as their savior needed to also adopt the Jewish faith and customs.  It never occurred to them that belief in Jesus would override the need to follow the feasts, sacrifices and holy days.   They did not get the scope of what God had planned.  Isn’t that just like us?  We have such narrow vision about things sometimes that we miss how broad, deep and wide God’s plan truly is!

Peter was quick to accept the change- considering he had been born and raised not eating with uncircumcised people, believers or not, and keeping himself set apart from the worldly world.  By the third repeat of the vision, Peter had gotten the message.  It was providential that the men immediately knocked on his door and asked him to come to Cornelius’ home.  If he had had time to think about it, he might have thought he was dreaming or that the vision did not happen.  But, the knock came immediately and so Peter went as instructed by the angel without a second thought. 

At Cornelius’ home, the vision was confirmed by what Cornelius had experienced.  I love Peter’s remarks in Acts 10:34-35 “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”   Peter got the message from God that the Gentiles were to be welcomed into God’s family as equals.   They were not second class believers as the Holy Spirit ushered them into God’s family by indwelling them dramatically just as he had done earlier for Peter and the disciples. Acts 10:44 “ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.”  Peter had it confirmed by the Holy Spirit that God’s love is wide enough for all and God is impartial.   God’s love surpasses human comprehension.  Peter was caught unaware of the scope of God’s love but was quick to embrace it for all believers. 

How about you?  Do you think God shows favoritism to one group over another?  Romans 2:10 “For God does not show favoritism.”   James 2: 1-3 specifically reminds us of how we are to treat our brothers and sisters equally.   “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,”    Outward appearances, difference in beliefs, etc. should not cause us to treat others differently.  God’s love is wide enough for all and is beyond our human thinking.  God’s blessings are not for us to judge or withhold.  We are to seek to show God’s love in a non-judgmental way and to seek to bless others by loving them. When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he said in Mark 12:31-32 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 

Pastor Alex ended his message with the truth of Romans 10:13 “ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”   No matter who you are, how much you make, what you do in life, what family you come from…. All people are equal before God.  Jesus is the only way, John 14:6 ““I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  He alone brought us into His family though faith in His work on the cross.  John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?

So… who do you need to tell about Jesus?  The door is open and Jesus has his arms open wide beckoning us to bring others to Him.  Let the truth of our memory verse sink in this week as you seek to talk with others about Jesus. 1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”   Be prepared to talk about Jesus but in a gentle and kind way- loving others into the kingdom.

Linda

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Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am.
​Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass.

Alex Hardt with Joselin April 16, 2023
 
Joselin was a breath of fresh air in the pulpit this Sunday.  Her love for God and passion for His Word was evident from beginning to end.  She spoke with confidence and hope as she reflected upon the story of Tabitha or Dorcas as related in Acts 9:36-43.  The lessons and truth she gleaned from this passage reverberate throughout the gospel as she drew from passages to explain and give application to Tabitha’s life work for Christ. 

Tabitha was an energetic, resourceful and dedicated early Christian believer. She let her faith permeate her actions as she served and helped those around her with her gifts.  They truly mourned her passing and turned to the Apostle Peter to intervene when they found out he was in the area.  He came, saw where she was laid, sought to be alone in prayer and asked God to return her to life.  God did and her story became a testimony to God’s power and glory in the entire area.

Joselin had several key points about Tabitha’s life, work and faith that can be applied to our lives as well.  First, Tabitha had first-hand knowledge of God and believed in the eternal life that God offers.  John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.’   She believed like Mary and Martha in Jesus’ power of resurrection.  John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”    Tabitha believed and knew that through Jesus she received the righteousness of God. His death on the cross and resurrection was what gave new life and hope to all believers.  We too can have knowledge of God through prayer and the reading of His Word.  We know from 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  Our knowledge of God is based on Christ’s work on the cross and through his death and resurrection He imputed His righteousness to us.  Praise God!

Having knowledge of God and His righteousness through Christ, Joselin went a step further.  Just as Tabitha knew God’s righteousness in Christ, she then needed to have faith.  Having knowledge is not enough.  One must appropriate that knowledge and apply it in our faith.   She quoted 3 verses to help us see how to apply our knowledge of God to our faith.  2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. Our faith takes the knowledge God has given us and grows it in and with His grace!   Ephesians 4:13 “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”  This growing process is grace based in Christ and has as its goal- our maturity and unity together in Him.   Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”   Taking on the knowledge God, using His grace to grow our faith in Christ is all good but without our true belief that God exists and wants all things for our good and His glory it will be meaningless.  God is pleased when we believe in Jesus and have faith in our Heavenly Father.

So what happened in Tabitha’s life when she had knowledge of God, faith in God and was growing in Him through His grace and power?  She had a changed life as is expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  She was a new person in Christ, filled with the love of Jesus for all those around her.  From Jesus’ teachings, she knew the truths and actions required to live as Jesus commanded in Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’   Loving our neighbors is God’s way of having us show the world our love for Jesus and our commitment to Him.  We do that by being light and salt in our world.  We want to shine God’s light in our lives to point others to Jesus.  We want to be salt to heal, preserve, and flavor our world with the love of Jesus.  Tabitha did that as she willingly served those around her by sewing.

What ways has God used you or is He using you to reach out to those around you?  You may not be a seamstress but can you write a note of encouragement, cook a meal, or help a neighbor with a project….? The list is endless of ways we can show God’s love to those around us.  As you reflect on Joselin’s words this week, pray and ask God to show you someone who needs a hand and commit to being there for them. 

Linda

SERMON LINK
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Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am.
​Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass. 

Sermon Reflections from Preparing the Way | Alex Hardt | April 2, 2023

Pastor Alex’s sermon on Palm Sunday morning began with sobering thoughts. How much are you swayed by gossip or in our modern day ‘fake news’?   The Pharisee’s wanted to have Jesus GONE!  He was a threat to them as he had the support of the people and called them to be accountable.  They spread ‘fake news’ about Him- that He was claiming to be a King and that he wanted to start a rebellion against Rome.  Neither of those were true but gathered fake witnesses to lie and condemn him.  According to Jewish law at least 2 witnesses were required to convict someone of a crime, and they gathered the needed witnesses and brought them to court.   We know the reasons for their actions but why did the people go along with them?  Why did they listen?  Perhaps it was because they were the religious leaders who had power over them and could cause great harm to them personally if they did not go along to get along.  Or perhaps they agreed with them and thought Jesus was guilty.  Whatever the reasons God allowed it to happen.  God had a plan and in that plan to redeem us their needed to be a perfect sacrifice.  Jesus was that sacrifice. 

Hebrews 9:20 “so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”    Jesus was an obedient son as Philippians 2:8 attests, “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”  Jesus knew it was the Father’s will that He go to the cross. One of our memory verses for this week puts it this way, 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”   Jesus knew his death was the key to our restoration and redemption.   Thank you Jesus.

Just as the Pharisee’s had a way of redefining truth in their day so the world seeks to deceive us and deny the truth of Jesus and God’s Word.  We need to cling to the knowledge that God’s truth frees us from the bondage of sin.  Romans 6:6-8 “ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin-- 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”  Praise God our freedom begins when we accept Jesus as our Savior and goes into eternity with us.  Christ gives us eternal freedom.   He transforms us from sinner to saint through our faith in His work on the cross and his resurrection from the dead.   Believers are often referred to as saints in the Old and New Testament.  Psalm 34:9 “Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  Colossians 1:12-13 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[b] to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.”  We His saints have been transformed!  Thank you Jesus.

Pastor Alex’s last point was about the impact and importance of the resurrection.  Paul makes a case for the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”   If Christ was not raised from the dead, our faith is in vain. Paul continues in verses 12-120 “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.  20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  

Just like Paul and the early believers, if we do not believe in the resurrection all is lost.  If Christ could not be raised from the dead then neither can we.  However, Christ was raised!  He was seen by the disciples as they talked and ate with him.  Besides the disciples, over 500 people attested to Him being alive as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:5-7 “ and that he appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.”  He had indeed risen! Thank you Jesus.

Come Resurrection Sunday, be ready to reply, “HE HAS RISEN INDEED!”  It is true and a life changer for all who believe.
See you next Sunday!
Linda

SERMON LINK
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Our Sunday service is online and in-person at 11:00am.
​Come visit us at 5353 Concord Blvd, on the corner of Concord Blvd and Kirker Pass.