Sermon for April 24th, 2016 - Revision history

Iraneal at 06:50, 22 April 2016

2016-04-22T06:50:59Z

Iraneal at 06:20, 22 April 2016

2016-04-22T06:20:34Z

Iraneal at 05:56, 22 April 2016

2016-04-22T05:56:13Z

Iraneal at 05:50, 22 April 2016

2016-04-22T05:50:48Z

Iraneal at 05:38, 22 April 2016

2016-04-22T05:38:49Z

Iraneal at 05:29, 22 April 2016

2016-04-22T05:29:09Z

Iraneal at 23:55, 21 April 2016

2016-04-21T23:55:10Z

Iraneal at 21:55, 21 April 2016

2016-04-21T21:55:54Z

Iraneal at 20:37, 21 April 2016

2016-04-21T20:37:29Z

Iraneal at 20:32, 21 April 2016

2016-04-21T20:32:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:50, 22 April 2016
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	This is the classic happy ending, right? Compromise achieved, problem solved, and everyone lives happily ever after.		This is the classic happy ending, right? Compromise achieved, problem solved, and everyone lives happily ever after.
		+
		+	[Cue Music]

	I wish that were true. I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, just a few decades after Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities. And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits that continue right down to this day.		I wish that were true. I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, just a few decades after Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities. And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits that continue right down to this day.

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 This is the classic happy ending, right?  Compromise achieved, problem solved, and everyone lives happily ever after.
-I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, only a few decades after Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits that continue right down to this day.
+I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, just a few decades after Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits that continue right down to this day.
-While there is tragedy to that kind of ending, there is also hope, because we can see that in some shape or form, the church goes on, and in a way becomes even more diverse, even more beautiful with every different stream, every different thread, every new tradition in every age and culture.
+While there is tragedy to that kind of ending, there is also hope, because we can see that in some shape or form, the church goes on, and in a way becomes even stronger, more diverse, more beautiful with every different stream, every different thread, every new tradition in every age and culture.
-Sometimes, the greater sin is when we hold on too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom as well as our identity; their dignity as well as our message; their ability to preserve as well as our ability to change and adapt.
+Sometimes, the greater sin is when we hold too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom as well as our identity; their dignity as well as our message; their ability to preserve as well as our ability to change and adapt.
-But through all the differences and divisions, what makes us the church is a willingness to keep coming back to these two sacred duties, lifted up by the earliest Christians, and too important to neglect:
+But through all the differences and divisions, what makes the church the church is a willingness to keep coming back to these two tasks:
-First, we go into the world, and proclaim good news.  Where there is fear, we bring faith.  Where there is despair, we bring hope.  Where there is hatred, we bring love.
+First, we go into the world, and proclaim good news.  Where there is fear, we bring faith.  Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is hatred, love.
-Second, we take care of the weakest and most vulnerable among us. We serve each other in humility and self-sacrifice.
+Second, we take care of the weakest and most vulnerable among us. We wait on each other in humility and sacrifice.

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 This is the classic happy ending, right?  Compromise achieved, problem solved, and everyone lives happily ever after.
-I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, only a few decades after Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities, separate churches.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits that continue right down to this day.
+I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, only a few decades after Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits that continue right down to this day.
 While there is tragedy to that kind of ending, there is also hope, because we can see that in some shape or form, the church goes on, and in a way becomes even more diverse, even more beautiful with every different stream, every different thread, every new tradition in every age and culture.
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 Sometimes, the greater sin is when we hold on too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom as well as our identity; their dignity as well as our message; their ability to preserve as well as our ability to change and adapt.
-But through all the differences and divisions, what makes us the church is a willingness to keep coming back to these two sacred duties, lifted up by the earliest Christians, and too important to ever neglect:
+But through all the differences and divisions, what makes us the church is a willingness to keep coming back to these two sacred duties, lifted up by the earliest Christians, and too important to neglect:
 First, we go into the world, and proclaim good news.  Where there is fear, we bring faith.  Where there is despair, we bring hope.  Where there is hatred, we bring love.
 Second, we take care of the weakest and most vulnerable among us. We serve each other in humility and self-sacrifice.

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 This is the classic happy ending, right?  Compromise achieved, problem solved, and everyone lives happily ever after.
-I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, only a few decades after the time of Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities, separate churches.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits in  various churches that continue right down to this day.
+I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, only a few decades after Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities, separate churches.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits that continue right down to this day.
 While there is tragedy to that kind of ending, there is also hope, because we can see that in some shape or form, the church goes on, and in a way becomes even more diverse, even more beautiful with every different stream, every different thread, every new tradition in every age and culture.
-Sometimes, the greater sin is when we try to hold on too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom and our identity; their dignity and our message; their ability to preserve or our ability to adapt, and move forward in new directions where the spirit is leading.
+Sometimes, the greater sin is when we hold on too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom as well as our identity; their dignity as well as our message; their ability to preserve as well as our ability to change and adapt.
-But through all the differences and divisions, what makes us the church, and what separates those that carry on from those that simply disappear, is a willingness to keep coming back to these two sacred duties, lifted up by the earliest Christians, and too important to ever neglect:
+But through all the differences and divisions, what makes us the church is a willingness to keep coming back to these two sacred duties, lifted up by the earliest Christians, and too important to ever neglect:
-First, we go into all the world, and proclaim good news to all people.  Where there is fear, we bring a message of faith.  Where there is despair, we bring a message of hope.  Where there is hatred, we bring a message of love.
+First, we go into the world, and proclaim good news.  Where there is fear, we bring faith.  Where there is despair, we bring hope.  Where there is hatred, we bring love.
-Second, we take care of the weakest and most vulnerable among us.
+Second, we take care of the weakest and most vulnerable among us. We serve each other in humility and self-sacrifice.

@@ Line 65: / Line 65: @@
 This is the classic happy ending, right?  Compromise achieved, problem solved, and everyone lives happily ever after.
-I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, only a few decades after the time of Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities, separate churches.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits in  various churches that continue right down to this day.
+I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem so early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, only a few decades after the time of Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities, separate churches.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits in  various churches that continue right down to this day.
 While there is tragedy to that kind of ending, there is also hope, because we can see that in some shape or form, the church goes on, and in a way becomes even more diverse, even more beautiful with every different stream, every different thread, every new tradition in every age and culture.
@@ Line 71: / Line 71: @@
 Sometimes, the greater sin is when we try to hold on too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom and our identity; their dignity and our message; their ability to preserve or our ability to adapt, and move forward in new directions where the spirit is leading.
-But through all the differences and divisions, what makes the church the church, what separates those groups that carry on from those that simply disappear, is a willingness to keep coming back to these two great purposes lifted up by the early church as sacred duties, too important to neglect, and too central to abandon:
+But through all the differences and divisions, what makes us the church, and what separates those that carry on from those that simply disappear, is a willingness to keep coming back to these two sacred duties, lifted up by the earliest Christians, and too important to ever neglect:
-First and most important of all, we go into all the world, every nation, and proclaim God's good news to all people.  Where there is fear and confusion, we bring a message of faith.  Where there is despair and sorrow, we bring a message of hope.  Where there is hatred and anger, we bring a message of love.
+First, we go into all the world, and proclaim good news to all people.  Where there is fear, we bring a message of faith.  Where there is despair, we bring a message of hope.  Where there is hatred, we bring a message of love.
-Second, and almost just as important, we take care of the weakest and most vulnerable among us.
+Second, we take care of the weakest and most vulnerable among us.

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:29, 22 April 2016
Line 71:		Line 71:
	Sometimes, the greater sin is when we try to hold on too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom and our identity; their dignity and our message; their ability to preserve or our ability to adapt, and move forward in new directions where the spirit is leading.		Sometimes, the greater sin is when we try to hold on too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom and our identity; their dignity and our message; their ability to preserve or our ability to adapt, and move forward in new directions where the spirit is leading.

−	But through it all, we keep coming back to these two ~~things~~	+	But through all the differences and divisions, what makes the church the church, what separates those groups that carry on from those that simply disappear, is a willingness to keep coming back to these two great purposes lifted up by the early church as sacred duties, too important to neglect, and too central to abandon:
		+
		+	First and most important of all, we go into all the world, every nation, and proclaim God's good news to all people. Where there is fear and confusion, we bring a message of faith. Where there is despair and sorrow, we bring a message of hope. Where there is hatred and anger, we bring a message of love.
		+
		+	Second, and almost just as important, we take care of the weakest and most vulnerable among us.

@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
 Verse 7.  The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
-This is the classic happy ending, right?  Compromise achieved, problems solved, and everyone lived happily ever after.
+This is the classic happy ending, right?  Compromise achieved, problem solved, and everyone lives happily ever after.
-I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story there. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem early on, their differences continue to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, they split into entirely separate communities, separate churches.  And this happens more than a thousand years before the Catholic-Protestant split, or the later splits in the various churches that continue right down to this day.
+I wish that were true.  I wish we could end the story right here. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem early on, ultimately their differences continued to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, only a few decades after the time of Jesus, they split into entirely separate communities, separate churches.  And all of this happened more than a thousand years before the great Catholic-Protestant divide, or any of the later splits in  various churches that continue right down to this day.
-While there is a tragic aspect to that kind of ending, there is also hope, because we can see that in some shape or form, the church keeps going, and in a way becomes more diverse and beautiful with different streams and traditions in every age and culture.
+While there is tragedy to that kind of ending, there is also hope, because we can see that in some shape or form, the church goes on, and in a way becomes even more diverse, even more beautiful with every different stream, every different thread, every new tradition in every age and culture.
-Sometimes, the greater sin is when we try to hold on too tightly to that unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing our identity, our message, our ability to adapt, and move forward in new directions where the spirit is leading.
+Sometimes, the greater sin is when we try to hold on too tightly to our unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing their freedom and our identity; their dignity and our message; their ability to preserve or our ability to adapt, and move forward in new directions where the spirit is leading.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:55, 21 April 2016
Line 65:		Line 65:
	This is the classic happy ending, right? Compromise achieved, problems solved, and everyone lived happily ever after.		This is the classic happy ending, right? Compromise achieved, problems solved, and everyone lived happily ever after.

−	~~But it's also worth noting~~ that~~, in the long run, these two factions eventually split~~. ~~The~~ Hebrews and Hellenists ~~eventually go~~ their ~~own separate ways~~ and ~~form their own~~ separate churches. ~~All~~ this happens a thousand years before the Catholic-Protestant split, ~~and two thousand years before various~~ splits ~~and schisms~~ in the ~~Presbyterian church~~. ~~So it's helpful~~ to ~~put things in perspective and remember~~ that ~~division happens. And the church~~, in some ~~form~~ or ~~another~~, ~~goes~~ on.	+	I wish that were true. I wish we could end the story there. But the truth is, even though the Hebrews and the Hellenists successfully resolved this one problem early on, their differences continue to grow throughout the Book of Acts and the New Testament, and at some point late in the first century, they split into entirely separate communities, separate churches. And this happens more than a thousand years before the Catholic-Protestant split, or the later splits in the various churches that continue right down to this day.
		+
		+	While there is a tragic aspect to that kind of ending, there is also hope, because we can see that in some shape or form, the church keeps going, and in a way becomes more diverse and beautiful with different streams and traditions in every age and culture.
		+
		+	Sometimes, the greater sin is when we try to hold on too tightly to that unity--when we try to keep everyone happy just so they won't leave, and we end up sacrificing our identity, our message, our ability to adapt, and move forward in new directions where the spirit is leading.

@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 And so most communities, including the early church, opt for a middle road:  We have some different opinions, we have some similar opinions, and so we compromise.  We decide together which things are the most important, where unity is necessary, and in everything else we tolerate our differences.
-This position is best summed up by a 17th century quote from Marco Antonio de Dominis, who was Ironically the Archbishop of Spalato, which, in Italian, means "Split." He said, "In necessary things, unity.  In doubtful things, liberty.  In all things, compassion."  The trouble, of course, is deciding what's necessary and what's not.
+This position is best summed up by a 17th century quote from Marco Antonio de Dominis, who was Ironically the Archbishop of Spalato, which, in Italian, means "Split." He said, "In necessary things, unity.  In doubtful things, liberty.  In all things, compassion."  The challenge, of course, is deciding what's necessary and what's not.
-−
-In today's passage from Acts, there is a happy ending.  The people agree on a solution that is acceptable to both factions.  But it's also worth noting that, in the long run, these two factions eventually split.  The Hebrews and Hellenists eventually go their own separate ways and form their own separate churches.  All this happens a thousand years before the Catholic-Protestant split, and two thousand years before various splits and schisms in the Presbyterian church.  So it's helpful to put things in perspective and remember that division happens. And the church, in some form or another, goes on.
 One last thing about verse one. Notice the subject of the disagreement: Some widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food.  I would love it if all the arguments we had in the church were about serving people, and not about the color of the carpet, the number of pews, the style of worship, insurance liability, or the budget. Wouldn't you?
@@ Line 64: / Line 62: @@
 Verse 7.  The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 The other deacon who is singled out with a longer description is the last one, Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.  That's significant for two reasons.  Nicolaus is a Greek or Hellenistic name, Antioch is a Greek city, and a proselyte is a recent convert.  In other words, Nicolaus is a rookie--someone new to the faith community, and new to the faith. The criteria for leadership in the early church wasn't putting in your time, paying your dues, and demonstrating your faithfulness to our way of doing things.  It was simply good standing, spirit, and wisdom.
-So to those of you who are new to our faith community, consider yourself warned.  You are fair game when we elect officers later this year.
+So to those of you who are new to our faith community, consider yourself warned.  You are fair game when we elect church officers later this year.
-By the way, being a man was not one of the criteria.  Paul, in his letter to the Romans, notes that Phoebe, a woman, was one of the early deacons.
+Verse 6.  They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
+Verse 7.  The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
-diakonos - through the dust