May 16, 2019
“Outside-in and Inside-out” (Acts 11:1-18)
In Acts 11 we see that the early church leadership was upset with Peter: he baptized pagans and eat with them. Those actions were against their customs and against their laws. Even though Jesus has stated that the church would be built upon Peter, he was now under threat of impeachment. What the leadership didn’t realize was that Peter now acted at the direct command of the Holy Spirit and his orders were to take the gospel from inside his group and share it with those who were outside his group.
Taking the gospel outside our comfort zone, to people who don’t live like us, has been a challenge for the church for centuries. Fred Craddock tells about a church he knew. When he was growing up it was the status church. Income and proper attire seemed to be a requirement for membership. Years later he heard that it had closed, too few of the ‘right people’ I guess. Fred had opportunity to go back to town and discovered that old First Church was still standing. Now it was a restaurant. He walked in the big gothic doors, sure enough tables were set up where the pews had been, a salad bar where the altar once stood. He walked out the front door, back down the steps, muttering to himself, ‘Now, I guess everybody is welcome to eat at the table.’
The question for us is…will we accept the Holy Spirit’s challenge and take the good news of Jesus out into the community? What does God want us to do? Always remember: the Holy Spirit leads and prods with the promise of Jesus, “I go with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Blessings,
Pastor Mike
“Outside-in and Inside-out” (Acts 11:1-18)
In Acts 11 we see that the early church leadership was upset with Peter: he baptized pagans and eat with them. Those actions were against their customs and against their laws. Even though Jesus has stated that the church would be built upon Peter, he was now under threat of impeachment. What the leadership didn’t realize was that Peter now acted at the direct command of the Holy Spirit and his orders were to take the gospel from inside his group and share it with those who were outside his group.
Taking the gospel outside our comfort zone, to people who don’t live like us, has been a challenge for the church for centuries. Fred Craddock tells about a church he knew. When he was growing up it was the status church. Income and proper attire seemed to be a requirement for membership. Years later he heard that it had closed, too few of the ‘right people’ I guess. Fred had opportunity to go back to town and discovered that old First Church was still standing. Now it was a restaurant. He walked in the big gothic doors, sure enough tables were set up where the pews had been, a salad bar where the altar once stood. He walked out the front door, back down the steps, muttering to himself, ‘Now, I guess everybody is welcome to eat at the table.’
The question for us is…will we accept the Holy Spirit’s challenge and take the good news of Jesus out into the community? What does God want us to do? Always remember: the Holy Spirit leads and prods with the promise of Jesus, “I go with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Blessings,
Pastor Mike