Acts 2:



IntroductionThe summer series for 2019 in home groups follows the sermon series which, in turn, is linked to the church’s vision. From Easter to the middle of June it is ‘knowing the Gospel and sharing our faith’. From late June until the end of July it is ‘getting to know each other better, or fellowship’.NumberDateBible textThemeVision segment1Sunday May 12th Acts 2:29-41What must we do?Sharing our faith2Sunday May 19thActs 8:26-40Going out to everyoneSharing our faith3Sunday May 26th Romans 5:1-11Know the good newsSharing our faith4Sunday June 2nd 2 Cor 5:11 – 6:2An urgent taskSharing our faith5Sunday June 9th Acts 2:1-21The Holy Spirit & WitnessSharing our faith6Sunday June 16th Romans 8:1-17Life in the SpiritSharing our faith7Sunday June 23rd Acts 2:42-7All the believers were togetherFellowship8Sunday June 30th 1 Cor 12:12-30We are the body of ChristFellowship9Sunday July 7th Romans 12:9-21A community of graceFellowship10Sunday July 14th James 2:1-13No room for favouritismFellowship11Sunday July 21st Galatians 6:1-10Carry each other’s burdensFellowship12Sunday July 28th Start of Summer Season of family servicesQuestions to ask the groupsFollowing a bit of background to each Bible passage, I have added a list of possible questions and links for further reading. Please do not feel that all these questions need to be asked or, indeed, must be asked in the order given. Home group leaders should choose which questions are most appropriate for the needs and abilities of the group. Alternatively, home group leaders may come up with their own questions. In addition, a good source of guidance will be the Sunday sermon. Although the preacher will not be tied to these questions and some preachers won’t even know these questions exist, there may be issues raised in the sermon. It is our hope and prayer that the fusion of church vision, Sunday preaching, and home group study will be a real blessing to the church through the summer of 2019.Steve GreenApril 2019Sunday 23rd June 2019. Acts 2:42-47. All the believers were together (Vision segment: Fellowship)Background to the book of ActsThis book is a vital bridge between the Gospels and the Epistles; without it, our understanding of the early Church would be significantly hampered. The author is the same as the author of the 3rd Gospel as the themes and the style are identical. Acts is therefore attributed to Luke, although the book never records this. Luke was a doctor (Col 4.14) and a Gentile (Col 4:11-14), the only Gentile author in the New Testament. Both Luke and Acts are addressed to a Theophilus (further proof of identical authorship) who may have been a high-ranking Roman official, possibly with a very different name. In a time when Christians were persecuted, discretion was vital. Some scholars date the book at around AD70. However, the book may have been written in AD63 since it terminates with Paul’s two-year imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28:30) but doesn’t mention the outcome of his trial. If it was written later than AD63, this would have been mentioned. Luke had three aims in writing this book (i) To show (to Roman officials) that Christians were good and loyal citizens (not insurrectionists); (ii) Christianity was for everyone from every country and (iii) To chart the expansion of Christianity from Jerusalem to all Judea, to Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). The structure of the book mirrors this last point. Chapters 1-7 are from Jerusalem to all Judea; Chapter 8 is in Samaria; Chapters 9-12 are to the Gentiles and Chapters 13-28 are to the ends of the earth.Acts 2:42-47?New International Version (NIV)42?They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching?and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread?and to prayer.?43?Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.?44?All the believers were together and had everything in common.?45?They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.?46?Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.?They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,?47?praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people.?And the Lord added to their number?daily those who were being saved.Background to Acts 2:42-47 – All the believers were together?We have in this passage an important snapshot of what the early church was like. Commentators have described up to nine distinct characteristics of the early church based on this passage. Firstly, it was a church which was focused on, and loved, learning: “they [the believers] DEVOTED themselves to the Apostles’ teaching” (verse 42). It is difficult to over-emphasise how important teaching was in the early church and, as a result, how much they cherished it. There was no internet, no books, no church tradition and very limited understanding of what this fledgling new faith was all about. As a result, they were always hungry to find out more. They were desperate to learn. Secondly, they wanted to be together. This was not only for reasons of security (necessary today in parts of the world where persecution of Christians is rife) but also because there is something special and spiritual about fellowship (see Matthew 18:20). Thirdly, it was a praying church. For as much as they were devoted to teaching and fellowship, they were also devoted to prayer. Prayer was needed for protection, for survival, for insight, for guidance and for growth. They knew this only too well and that is why they prayed with a sense of urgency, dependence and expectancy. Fourthly, it was a reverent church: “Everyone was filled with AWE” (verse 43). William Barclay writes that the Christian should move through the world in awe because the whole earth can be viewed as the temple of God. It is the result of God’s handiwork and we should be in awe of the God who planned, designed and created it, from nothing. Fifthly, the early church was a church where things happened: “and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles”. For us, great things from God will happen if we expect great things to happen and attempt great things for God. If we always ‘play it safe’ then we are likely to get what we want – safety! Sixthly, it was a sharing church: “All the believers were together and had EVERYTHING IN COMMON” (verse 44). In the 39 articles of the Church of England, article 38 is explicit about giving ‘alms to the poor’. This is picked up in verse 45: “they [the believers] gave to anyone as he had need”. Seventhly, it was a worshipping church as they spent their time praising God and continuing to meet together in the temple courts (verse 46). John Wesley once said, ‘The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion’. Ther early church met together and ate together. Next it was a happy church as they ate together with GLAD AND SINCERE HEARTS. There was a deep-rooted joy amongst the early believers grounded in the reality of the resurrection. Finally, the early church was a church which people could not help liking and being drawn to: “..and enjoying the favour of all the people” (verse 47). As a result of all these 9 things, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the church grew because: “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (verse 47).ImageChrist Before Pilate. Unknown Artist. 6th century. Basilica di Sant’Apollinare NuovoQuestionsICE BREAKER: What qualities in a person draw you to them?RECAP FROM LAST TIME: How have we reflected on the ‘life in the Spirit’ as opposed ‘the life of the flesh’ in the last week or two?Why, as Christians, should we always be learning new things from God (verse 42)? Why is this particularly so for church leaders?Is the modern-day church sufficiently in awe of God (verse 43)?Do we in today’s church genuinely share our possessions so that we have everything in common (verse 44)? If not, why not, or even, should we in the first place?Do you think John Wesley was right when he said, “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion?” Can you be a Christian and engage in zero fellowship with other Christians (verse 46)?Are we, as a group, the sort of people that enjoy the favour of others (verse 47)? What is it about us, and the way that we lead our lives, that other people are drawn to?Many preachers who preach from the book of Acts say that if we, today, only behaved like the early church then we would grow like the early church and experience miracles like the early church. Do you think this is true? Can the modern-day church behave like the first Christians?APPLICATION: What can we learn from the church in the book of Acts and, in particular, from this passage?In terms of Emmanuel church, is there anything more that we can do to facilitate the Holy Spirit in bringing more people to salvation so that, in the words of verse 47: “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”Links 30th June 2019. 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; We are the body of Christ. (Vision segment: Fellowship)Background to the book of CorinthiansCorinth was a rich and populous city in the ancient world, but it was also a city that was, in general, very immoral. The word Korinthiazesthat, to live like a Corinthian, became part of the Greek language and meant to live with drunken and immoral debauchery. Following destruction in 146 BC, the city was rebuilt in 46 BC as a Roman colony. It was the capital of the Roman province of Achaea, which included Greece. In these days, the time that Paul is writing, the population was very mixed and included Roman veterans, Greek adventurers, Phoenicians, Phrygians and Jews who contributed to the merchant class. It was in this eclectic mix of people and hotbed of vice that Paul did some of his greatest work. Following an unsuccessful time in Athens, Paul moved to Corinth and remained there 18 months (Acts 18:1-17), longer than anywhere else except Ephesus. Initially Paul stayed with Aquila and Priscilla and preached successfully in the synagogue. He then took up residence with Justus before moving onto Syria. However, things were not always well with the fledgling Christian church in Corinth. At times Paul was heart-broken over what was happening in the Corinthian church. It underlines how Paul suffered mentally and spiritually in pastoring the early church. It was this experience that led to Paul’s ‘severe letters’ although these appear somewhat out of sequence in the compilation of 1 and 2 Corinthians. A likely sequence of events for 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians is as follows: (i) A previous letter by Paul which may be contained in 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; (ii) A letter to Paul from the Corinthian church; (iii) Paul’s reply to this letter which is 1 Corinthians; (iii) The situation deteriorates, and Paul pays a personal visit. This is a complete failure and Paul’s heart is broken (iv) This leads Paul to write a severe letter contained in 2 Corinthians 10-13; (v) Paul then learns all is well and writes a letter of reconciliation from Philippi. This is 2 Corinthians chapters 1-9.1 Corinthians 12:12-30?New International Version (NIV) – We are the body of Christ12?Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,?so it is with Christ.?13?For we were all baptized?by one Spirit?so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.?14?Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.15?Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.16?And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.17?If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be??18?But in fact God has placed?the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.?19?If they were all one part, where would the body be??20?As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21?The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”?22?On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,?23?and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,24?while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it,25?so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.?26?If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.27?Now you are the body of Christ,?and each one of you is a part of it.28?And God has placed in the church?first of all apostles,?second prophets,?third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,?of helping, of guidance,?and of different kinds of tongues.?29?Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles??30?Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues??Do all interpret?Background to 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 – We are the body of ChristIn this passage we encounter one of the greatest explanations of the need for unity within the church. Plato drew upon the fascination within the ancient world of how the human body co-operated in unity. Plato pointed out that we don’t say “My finger has a pain” but rather “I have a pain.” Paul developed this thinking of the day by using it to describe the church. As Jesus is no longer in the world in bodily form, God has chosen the Church to be the hands, feet, voice and eyes of Christ. What a thought! This, of course was the teaching of St Teresa of Avila (1515-1582): “Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world. Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.” One of the great features of this passage is also its simplicity. Verses 15-24 are entirely logical, and we can easily relate to the truth contained therein. If our appendix (which is a small and not very honourable (verse 23) presentable (verse 24) part of the body) bursts, then this certainly has a huge impact on the whole body. But from this relatively simple picture, we can draw at least three things that ought to exist in the Church, as the Body of Christ: Firstly, the Church needs each other. In the modern-day Church, the charismatic evangelicals need the Anglo-Catholics and the Anglo-Catholics need the charismatic evangelicals. If either component was to be cut out of the Church (of England) the Church would be worse off. Similarly, the ‘First World’ Church needs the ‘Third World’ Church and vice-versa. Both have different gifts and resources to offer each other. Churches are different because people are different, and communities are different with different needs and there is nothing wrong with this. The healthy church, like the healthy body, is a community where all these different parts realize that they need each other. In the same way, the church should respect each other and sympathise with each other. Just as our body is inextricably linked, so should the whole Church be. When Christians are being persecuted in other parts of the world, we too should feel their pain. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ. They need financial support; prayer support and, where possible, people to visit them. From verse 28 Paul addresses the various forms of service within the church. At the top of the list is the Apostles because these were the people who companied with Jesus during his earthly life and were witnesses of the Resurrection (Acts 1:22). Jesus never wrote his words on paper but rather upon men. The Apostles were therefore walking Gospels and, as such, were an indispensable part of the early church in the same way that the Gospels are today. Next came the teachers. They had a very important role because they explained what Christianity was all about. The earliest Gospel wasn’t written until about AD60 and what we have come to know as the ‘Epistles’ weren’t written either. If the Apostles were walking Gospels, the ‘teachers’ were walking Epistles. Paul also includes gifts of helping and gifts of guidance (or administrators in the RSV). The point is that all are essential. In 1954 Billy Graham spoke at Haringey and also at Wembley. According to the Billy Graham foundation, at the end of his ‘crusade’, 10,000 people came forward for prayer. As a preacher and evangelist, Billy Graham certainly played his part but not a single person would have been there if there hadn’t been people in the background inviting Billy Graham to the UK, organising the event as administrators and others persuading their friends to come to the event in the first place. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we all need each other for God’s church to truly be Christ’s body on earth!Youtube clipThis is a simple but powerful video on this passage. You may want to start (or end) with this BREAKER: Can you remember a time when you were reconciled with someone who you previously thought was your enemy? How did it feel?RECAP FROM LAST TIME: How have we reflected on the nature of the church in the book of Acts? Has anything happened in the last week or fortnight which has thrown light onto the need for the church to be more prayerful, more sharing and more community focused?Who or what is the Body of Christ (verse 27)?Teresa of Avila said that “Christ has no body now on earth but yours; no hands but yours; no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world.” Do you think she is right? How should we respond to these words if she is?To what extent do different parts of the Anglican communion need each other? To what extent do the churches in the rich part of the world need the churches in the poor part of the world?Why were the Apostles so important in the early church?Why were teachers so important in the early church?The Church of England has Bishops which are similar to Apostles with a notion of spiritual continuation from the first Apostles. What is the significance of this?How many people contribute to making a Sunday morning worship happen? Are any of the people involved more important than the others?APPLICATION: How many people were involved in brining you to a point of faith – making a commitment to follow the Lord Jesus as Saviour and God. How many stages or steps do you think that it takes the average person. What role does each person play in that journey?Links 7th July 2019. Romans 12:9-21. A community of grace (Vision Segment: Fellowship)Background to the book of RomansPaul’s letter to the church in Rome is different from all his other ‘epistles’. What is the reason for this? One reason is that he had not founded the church in Rome and had had nothing to do with it. Unlike his letters to the church in Corinth (Corinthians) and Philippi (Philippians), Paul is not dispensing any practical advice about an immediate problem that has arisen in the church. Here, writing to Rome, Paul has a blank slate. It is therefore in Romans that we get pure theology without practical advice to pressing pastoral problems in the church. What is the significance to Paul of the Roman church? Paul was a strategist who longed to see the Gospel taken to the ends of the earth. He realises that the ‘west’ is a fertile ground for Christianity and he realises that this base should be Rome. Rome was the capital of the world and he wanted the church in Rome to have the correct version of the Gospel. Paul also wanted to visit Rome one day (Romans 1:11). In the ancient world there were many who wanted to discredit Paul. Therefore, when he arrived in Rome he wanted to assert his credentials as the one who had been charged by God with the correct interpretation of Christianity and so welcomed into the Christian church in the city. The book of Romans may be seen in four parts: (i) chapters 1-8 deal with the problem of righteousness; (ii) chapters 9-11 deal with the problem of why the Jews do not believe in Christ; (iii) chapters 12-15 deal with practical problems of life and living; and, finally, (iv) is a letter of introduction for Phoebe, and a list of final personal greetings.Romans 12:9-21?New International Version (NIV) - A community of grace9?Love must be sincere.?Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.?10?Be devoted to one another in love.?Honour one another above yourselves.11?Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour,?serving the Lord.?12?Be joyful in hope,?patient in affliction,?faithful in prayer.?13?Share with the Lord’s people who are in need.?Practice hospitality.14?Bless those who persecute you;?bless and do not curse.?15?Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.?16?Live in harmony with one another.?Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.17?Do not repay anyone evil for evil.?Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.?18?If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.?19?Do not take revenge,?my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”?says the Lord.?20?On the contrary:“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;????if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21?Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.Background to Romans 12:9-21 - A community of graceThis is a wonderful passage of love in action which finds resonance in 1 Corinthians 13 and Matthew 5 (the beatitudes). Paul lays out a simple list of how a Christian should live out their every-day lives based on love. Let’s look at each of his points in turn. Firstly, love must be completely sincere (verse 9). There should be no hypocrisy, play-acting or ulterior motive to our love. As many teachers will also testify, it often shocked me when students had done something wrong, that they were upset not because they had done wrong, but that they had been caught! For the Christian, we need to be shocked when we do things wrong irrespective of whether or not we are ever caught! Next, Christians must be devoted to each other in mutual love (verse 10). The word that Paul uses here is storgē. This is the Greek word for ‘family love’. In other words, we need to love each other as part of God’s family. In verse 11 we are encouraged to never be lacking in zeal. There is an urgency to the Christian message. We don’t know when Jesus will return. Do we have a burden for the un-saved? C S Lewis once remarked that if Christianity was true it meant absolutely everything; if it was not true it meant nothing. Either way, we cannot be neutral or passive about it. We cannot be luke-warm about the Gospel message. In Revelation 3.16, the church in Laodicea was about to be spat out due to the fact that it was only luke-warm. Christians should be joyful in hope (verse 12). Christians always rejoice in the future because ‘the best is yet to come’. Yes, there will be affliction and pain but even in the fiery furnace, God was there with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (Daniel 6). Christians are to always share with people in need (verse 13). We must practise hospitality as an indispensable part of our Christian calling. This is something that our Muslim friends do very well. In verse 14 Paul explains about blessing those who persecute us. Plato commented that it is better to suffer evil than do evil. Of course, this was trumped in both word and action by Jesus who suffered the ultimate evil without repaying his persecutors but rather asking that God forgive them (Luke 23:34). There is nothing more powerful than this. It was the forgiveness in death of Stephen that led to the conversion of Paul (Acts 7.60) and the growth of Christianity. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (verse 15). When someone beats us in a race, rejoice for them! When someone is hurt, we are hurt also. The Hillsong song ‘Hosanna’ has the lyrics “Break my heart for what breaks yours.” That is Christian living. We are to live in harmony with each other (verse 16). God lives in harmonious relationship – Father, Son and Spirit and we are called to live in harmonious relationship too. I remember being at Spring Harvest many years ago and talking to an elderly church member who was in a chalet where there was a lot of noise every night from all the young people in the adjacent rooms. It must have kept him awake late into the night. I said to him, there are so many young people in this chalet block expecting him to complain. His reply was very different. He simply said to me, “Yeah, great isn’t it!” That elderly church member realised the importance of having young people in the kingdom of God. Verse 19 reminds us not to take revenge. The reason is that our desire for vengeance is based on not knowing the whole story. Only an omniscient God, who knows the whole story, can justifiably judge others. To stoop to vengeance is to be conquered by evil. Evil can never be conquered by evil. If hatred is met with more hatred only hatred will be increased; but if hatred is met with love, an antidote for the poison is found. A famous American educationalist once commented: “The only real way to destroy an enemy is to make that person a friend!”SongA good song to start or end with ‘break my heart for what breaks yours’Hosanna from Hillsong United: BREAKER: What breaks our heart most?RECAP FROM LAST TIME: Can you think of any experiences in the last week or fortnight when you were particularly glad in receiving help from someone else who has different gifts from yourself?Why must love be entirely sincere (verse 9)?Is the modern-day church zealous enough for the Gospel? Is it too zealous (verse 11)?What is the Christian hope (verse 12)? How does this hope affect our daily lives?What does Daniel chapter 6 teach us about hope in the face of adversity?Is Middle-Eastern hospitality counter-cultural in the West? What more can we do (verse 13)?What does Acts 7.60 teach us about the power of forgiveness?How should we react when someone beats us fairly in a fair contest (verse 15)?How does the existence of the Trinity help us understand harmony (verse 16)?Why should the Christian not take revenge (verse 17)?APPLICATION Can we, as a church demonstrate love in action more fully? If so, how?Links 14th July 2019. James 2:1-13. No room for favouritism (Vision Segment: Fellowship)Background to the book of JamesOf all the books in the New Testament, the book of James is probably the one that had the hardest fight to be included. Indeed, Martin Luther, in the 16th century would not have included it at all. The reasons are quite obvious. Firstly, it is in almost direct opposition to Paul and the rest of the New Testament, it ascribes justification by works and not by faith. Secondly, not once does it give to Christians any instruction or reminder of the Passion, Resurrection or Spirit of Christ. Indeed, it only mentions Jesus twice. If these passages are removed, the whole book would probably fit better into the Old Testament, as a Jewish book. However, all these criticisms are slightly harsh. It was written, almost certainly, by James the half-brother of Jesus who was the leader of the Jerusalem church. It was written to, and for, a very Jewish (Christian) audience. It was also written very early on – probably. It may have been written in AD45. If this was so, it gives us an invaluable insight into very early Christian thinking in this part of the world. In many senses it is a very practical book which many Christians have found helpful over the centuries. In particular, there are some very famous verses which Christians often quote. For example, “Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up” (James 4:10); “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26); “the tongue, though a small part of the body… corrupts the whole person” (James 3:5-6), and, mercy triumphs over judgement (James 2.13). Finally, it presents something of a balance to other parts of the New Testament which some regard makes the message richer and deeper, not worse. For all these reasons, inspired by the Holy Spirit, it has been included in the New Testament.James 2:1-13?New International Version (NIV). No room for favouritism2?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,”?4?have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges?with evil thoughts?5?Listen, my dear brothers and sisters:?Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world?to be rich in faith?and to inherit the kingdom?he promised those who love him??6?But you have dishonoured the poor.?Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court??7?Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?8?If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,”?you are doing right.?9?But if you show favouritism,?you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.?10?For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles?at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.?11?For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.”?If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.12?Speak and act as those who are going to be judged?by the law that gives freedom,?13?because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.?Mercy triumphs over judgment.Background to James 2:1-13 – No room for favouritismIn verse 1 James underlines the importance of not showing favouritism. It is important to understand that the ancient world was built on hierarchies. Everyone had their place. It would have been extremely hard for a rich and powerful man to sit next to a slave and harder still to receive a sacrament from him. However, despite this temptation to segregate, the church was the one place in the ancient world where segregation must not happen. In verses 2-4 James outlines this temptation. We must remember the early church was filled with poor people and it had limited resources. It would be so tempting to encourage, though favouritism, rich people to come to church so as to redress this imbalance and so begin to have a financial and social influence. James is quite blunt about this though. In verse 5 “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith..” No doubt James was thinking of Jesus Himself who was poor too. Abraham Lincoln once said, “God must love the common people because he made so many of them.” In the ancient world, when a slave became a Christian, he no longer looked upon his master as the most important being in his life, rather Jesus was. In addition, the Christian slave would no longer support his master’s sharp practice and petty dishonesty. Therefore, many masters got annoyed with their slaves and ‘bad mouthed’ the name of Christian. It is to this that James probably alludes in verse 7, “Are they (the rich) not the ones who are slandering the name of Him to whom you belong?” No doubt there was a counter argument from the early church which stated: “the royal law of loving our neighbour includes the rich as well as the poor”. Very well, says James but make sure that you are showing love as a neighbour and not love as a rich person (verses 8-9). In Jewish thinking at the time there was the view that all good deeds put you in credit with God and all bad deeds but you in debit. At the end of your life the two columns are added together and if the credits outweigh the debits then you are okay. James counters this simplistic legalistic view (verses 10-12). Like Jesus, James raises the bar for the Christian. Any sin is wrong. We cannot manipulate or engineer a favourable bank balance with God. Rather, we need to avoid all sin. This is a very ‘Christian’ teaching. Christianity goes beyond Judaism. It demands an even greater level of personal control as Jesus makes clear: “You have heard it said an eye for an eye….. but I say that if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, show him the other cheek as well.” (Matthew 5:38-9). James builds upon this principle in verses 12-13. The law that James refers to is the law of liberty or the law that gives freedom (verse 12). The law for the Christian is not governed by external rules; it is governed by internal freedom. This is the inner compulsion of love which is harder than external rules. It is not driven by fear but by a love for God. Finally, in verse 13, James reminds his audience that just as God shows mercy, so must we. Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). In addition, this is underlined by Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:22-35). Scripture is agreed that those who would find mercy, must be merciful themselves. James goes even further. He says that “Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (verse 13). This implies that the person who has shown mercy will have their sins blotted out on the day of judgement. What is significant is that this is very Christian (not Jewish) teaching – see background to the book of James, above.QuestionsICE BREAKER: Have we ever treated a rich and/or powerful person differently from others?RECAP FROM LAST TIME: How have we shown love and grace in this last week? How have we received love or grace in this last week?Why do you think that some people are tempted to show favouritism to others?Why must segregation not happen in the church? (verse 5). How was segregation justified during apartheid in South Africa?Can you think of someone who is poor in the eyes of the world but rich in faith (verse 5)? What can we learn from their life and example?Why were some masters in the ancient world slandering Christianity when their slaves became Christians (verse 7)?In what ways is the modern world hierarchical?What, if anything, do rich and famous people becoming Christians struggle with in their walk with God?“God has no individual favourites, we are all his favourites”. How far do you think that the modern church reflects this?Why is the Christian life much more than being just in credit with God (verses 10-12)?Why must the Christian show mercy (verse 13)? APPLICATION: How can we avoid favouritism in our homes, places of work and church?PrayerDear Lord, help us to accept others whoever they are, however they dress, whatever their popularity, status, financial position and appearance in the same way that you love them.Links 21st July 2019. Galatians 6:1-10. Carry each other’s burdens (Vision Segment: Fellowship)Background to the book of Galatians Galatia was in Asia minor, and now modern-day Turkey. Written by the Apostle Paul in about AD 58 (some suggest earlier) the epistle calls upon Paul to defend his theology of grace. Judaistic teachers had come in to adulterate Paul’s gospel with a mixture of human works and legalism. This situation made it incumbent on Paul to defend his apostleship as genuine and therefore the gospel that he preached as divinely authoritative. This was the doctrine of justification by faith alone. Christians, Paul maintained, live on the basis of freedom in Christ. The epistle may be split into three: chapters 1-2 are personal; chapter 3-4 are doctrinal and chapters 5-6 are practical. The whole epistle is suffused with some wonderful contrasts including: lost in Adam but saved in Christ; law and grace; works and faith; servants in bondage and sons in freedom; condemnation by works and justification by faith and, finally, living in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. In closing, it is important to note that if Paul had not won the argument outlined in Galatians, Christianity would have become another Jewish sect. It might have become dependent on circumcision and the keeping of the law, instead of being a gift of grace. If Paul’s opponents had had their way, then the Gospel might have been kept for the Jews, and the Gentiles (i.e. us) would never have known the love of Christ. The fact that this did not happen is due, in part, to the book of Galatians.Galatians 6:1-10?New International Version (NIV) - Carry each other’s burdens6?Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit?should restore?that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.?2?Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.?3?If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.?4?Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,?without comparing themselves to someone else,?5?for each one should carry their own load.?6?Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.7?Do not be deceived:?God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.?8?Whoever sows to please their flesh,?from the flesh will reap destruction;?whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.?9?Let us not become weary in doing good,?for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.?10?Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good?to all people, especially to those who belong to the family?of believers.Background to Galatians 6:1-10 – Carry each other’s burdensPaul fully knew the problems that exist in any Christian society. The best of people slip-up (verse 1). Unfortunately, in the church today and also then, it would appear, there are those who are too swift to condemn. In contrast, Paul’s message is cure not punishment. Here again, we see the nature of Paul as pastor to the first churches. Paul goes on to say that for many of us we might say, “there, but for the grace of God go I!” (verse 3). However, there is also a note of caution at the end of verse 1. If we spend too much time in seeing the world from other’s perspectives, we might end up believing that perspective ourselves. Christian fellowship and regular worship are essential. In verse 4, Paul suggests we should not compare ourselves with others and so become either conceited or depressed, but rather compare ourselves with the best we can be, personally. It is all about achieving your personal best. Athletes know the importance of this and we should adopt this attitude in all walks of life as a guard against any form of conceit. In verse 5, Paul refers, again, to the term ‘burden’. While we need to carry others burdens (verse 2), we sometimes need to carry our own. Here the word in the Greek is that of a soldier’s pack (verse 5). Sometimes Christians have just got to stubbornly resist temptation and not blame the devil for everything. From verse 6, Paul becomes intensely practical. Perhaps there were rumours that the church in (probably Southern) Galatia was not looking after its teachers. Whether we can draw a parallel today with churches not paying the preacher’s expenses and offering him (or her) hospitality afterwards is not irrelevant. How do we financially support our church leaders and teachers today? Next Paul writes “a man reaps what he sows” (verse 7). This is an interesting point. While God always forgives, it is true that sometimes the scars of sin remain. God wipes out the sin but not even He can always wipe out the consequences of that sin. A wife may forgive her husband from an act of adultery, but the marriage relationship remains wounded (see verse 8). In contrast, if we repeatedly and continually sow seeds of love, then one day the fruit of that action will probably return to us. In verse 10, Paul reminds us to perform all the kind acts we can – and especially to fellow believers, because they are our family!QuestionsICE BREAKER: A freshly trained young priest from theological college arrives in an economically-deprived community one hot summer day in the Southern States of the USA. He walks up the drive to one house with dogs barking, half-dressed children screaming and adults shouting at each other. He finds the mother of the family in a back yard doing the hand-washing with a small bar of soap and a tub of dirty water. In the sweltering heat with hair matted by sweat she periodically waves her raw skinned hands to deflect the flies. She sees the new priest and says, “What do you want?” He replies, “I have come to talk to you about eternal life”. She stands up, thinks for a moment and then replies, “You know, I don’t think I could stand it.” What burdens confront most people in Britain in 2019?RECAP FROM LAST TIME: How did you avoid showing favouritism last week / fortnight?Do you think that some people are too swift to condemn (verse 1)?Why is it important to carry each other’s burdens in church (verse 2)?What is the danger of seeing everything from a worldly perspective (verse 1)?Why is it important not to compare ourselves with others (verse 4)?Do we sometimes need to carry our own burden (verse 5)?In what ways might a person reap what they sow (verse 7)? Can you think of any examples?APPLICATION: How are we going to set about carrying someone else’s burdens in the near future?John Wesley once said, “Do all the good that you can to all the people that you can in all the ways that you can in all the places that you can for as long as ever you can”. How can we perform random acts of kindness over the remainder of this summer?Links OF SUMMER SERIES. THANK YOU FOR FOLLOWING IT ................
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