The Apostles' Creed, part 3

Introduction
God called Israel to be His people—to reflect His character and make Him known to the world. But again and again, they fell short of that calling.  Jesus came to fulfill what Israel had been called to do. His story echoes theirs: He came out of Egypt, passed through the waters of baptism, and entered the wilderness. Where Israel had been unfaithful, Jesus remained faithful.

Through Jesus, God gathers His people into a family that includes both Jews and Gentiles. That helps us hear the contrast in today’s passage. Israel once stood trembling before Mount Sinai. Now, through Christ, we come to the heavenly Mount Zion, joining angels and saints in the presence of God. Listen to these words from Hebrews. 

Hebrews 12:18, 22-24
¹⁸ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; ²² But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, ²³ to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

The Apostles’ Creed
Today, we continue with the 3^rd part of our sermon series on the Apostles’ Creed. 

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; 

And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord:

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, dead, and buried;

he descended to the dead;

the third day he rose from the dead; 

he ascended into heaven,

and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; 

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, and the communion of saints…

This last part is what I want to discuss today.  Christians say this every Sunday.  But do we know what is means? 

"I believe in the Holy Spirit…"
The Holy Spirit (AKA the Holy Ghost, the Counselor, the Spirit of God, or simply the Spirit) is the third part of the Trinity of God.  The Trinity is a mysterious and often misunderstood concept Christians use to describe God.  In brief, God consists of three distinct but equal Persons.[1]  We believe God is one being, not three gods; but the One God expresses Himself as the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus was a Jew, and monotheistic Israelite, who subscribed to the Shema in the Old Testament law that says, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one." ()Deuteronomy 6:4) and the first of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20:3, which says, “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Yet the monotheistic Jesus commanded his followers in Matthew 28:19 to “…go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”  Christians baptize in the name of One God—who is expressed by Christians in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  

This is a great mystery, because in our human experience, we don't really experience 3-in-1 kind of people.  Humans aren't like that.  But God is above and beyond our experience.  He is not bound to operate by the laws of human experience or even the laws of nature.  And so we are confronted with this mystery:  the Scriptures say God is One, but it also shows us God is three.  And so Christian theologians have developed the doctrine of the Trinity as our feeble attempt to explain what is not fully explainable.  But we know it to be so because Scripture repeatedly expresses God's 3-in-1 nature.

Way back in the beginning, in Genesis 1:26 – ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make human beings^[a] in our image, to be like us…”  The Hebrew word naʿaseh means ‘Let us make’—God speaks in the plural, which makes since if God is 3-in-1.

We see all 3 persons of the Trinity present at the baptism of Jesus.  Matthew 3:16-17 – ^{16 "}After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened^[g] and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”  God is present in Jesus (the Son), the Holy Spirit (descending like a dove), and the Father (the voice speaking from heaven).

When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, God places His Holy Spirit in us.  The Holy Spirit is the part of God that gives us eternal life.[2]  

1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God?”

Titus 3:3 – “He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit is also the part of God that supernaturally enables us to live and serve according to God’s plan.

1 Corinthians 12:4 – “Now there are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all.”

The Holy Spirit is also the voice of God that acts as our conscience to teach us right from wrong and lead us in the way God wants us to go.

Galatians 5:25 – “If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

Listen to the still small voice of God; it is the Holy Spirit trying to lead you.  And cultivate your ability to hear by practicing spiritual disciplines (like prayer, sacraments, worship, and Scripture) and  through obedience.  (God is not going to keep speaking to you to show you the way if you don't actively listen and obey.)

"I Believe in the Holy Catholic Church…"
The word in this phrase that confuses people the most is probably “catholic.”  Why do we believe in the catholic church?

We are not referring to the Roman Catholic Church, which is just one of many denominations of the Church.  The word catholic means “universal.”   As a title for the Church, it was first used by St. Ignatius of Antioch in 107 A.D. when he wrote, “Where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” [3]

So by catholic, we are referring to the mystical union of all Christians throughout the world who are united as one body (or one Church) in Christ.  It is not limited by denomination, or race, or nationality, or even by time.  Christ came for all and all who receive Him are part of his Holy Catholic Church. 

I believe the “catholic” (or universal) Church is Holy.  People in our times often complain about the Church’s shortcomings.  You don’t have to tell me about the shortcomings of the church.  I’m a pastor.  I’m on the “inside” of the church structure. I sometimes see the darkest parts of the church that no one else sees.  Yet still I believe in a holy Church. Why? 

Because the True Church is the spiritual Church that follows Christ.  At our best, Stark Methodist is one expression of this Spiritual Church.  It is what we strive to be—to truly embody the Spirit of Christ as a church.  The Church is holy because it is the only organization in the Bible established by Christ. 

Matthew 16:18-19 – Jesus said, “Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven.”

The Church was established and empowered by the Son of God.  And the Church is Holy because God’s Spirit works through the Church to make people holy.

Matthew 18:20 – “Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there.”   When we gather together as a church, the Spirit of God is present and works to change us into the likeness of Christ.  And the same Spirit leads Christ followers to go into the world to spread holiness everywhere they go.

Christians were never meant to be “lone rangers.”  We must belong to the Church.  A Christian who separates from the church grows cold.  I have never heard of someone growing closer to God after they abandoned the church.  But I can tell countless stories of people whose faith grew weaker or died spiritually because they stopped going to church.

Considered all the lives that have been positively influenced over the centuries by Jesus through the Church.  The best of what we experience in our world today came to be through the efforts of faithful Christians through the Holy Catholic Church.  What other organization can claim such a powerful influence that spans 2,000 years?

"I believe in the communion of saints…"
We say this every week in our Apostles’ Creed, but who knows what it means?  The Communion of Saints is the fellowship and spiritual cooperation of all Christians in the body of Christ.  This includes those on earth and those who already in heaven. 

Hebrews 12:23 from our Scripture lesson this morning says, when you worship “…you have come to the spirits of the redeemed in heaven who have now been made perfect.” 

In worship, we join together even with the saints in heaven!  How glorious!  As we gather for worship, it is a time to gather in the spirit with the saints who’ve gone before us!

Hebrews 12:1, says “We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses…” referring to the believers who have gone before us whose stories encourage us to have faith in God. 

Referring to the same “cloud of witnesses,” Hebrews 11:40 says, “God had far better things in mind for us that would also benefit them [the dead in Christ], for they can’t receive the prize at the end of the race until we finish the race.” 

This says the lives of people already with God in heaven are tied to our lives—they can’t receive their “final prize” until we finish the race.  The final prize they await is the Day of Judgment when the wrongs of this world shall be made right and God shall create a new heaven and new earth.

So, we are part of a great fellowship of saints.  We are all pulling for each other—encouraging one another to love and good deeds.  Even the saints in heaven are pulling for us.

You Are Not Alone
Sometimes the Christian life feels lonely.  You may wonder if anyone understands your struggles.  You may feel too weak to do what God is asking you to do.  But listen to what we have confessed today: You are not alone.

The Holy Spirit lives in you. You belong to a Church that stretches around the world. And you are part of a fellowship of saints that even death cannot break.

So don’t try to live your faith alone. Listen to the Spirit.  Let your church family walk beside you.  Remember the faithful people whose lives taught you to trust Jesus.  And when we say these words again, let’s say them as people who believe they are true:  “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints.”

God is with us. We belong to Christ. And we belong to one another.

---

[1] Quickverse Life Application Bible – Dictionary entry for “Trinity”

[2] http://www.therealpresence.org/essentials/creed/acc09.htm

[3] http://www.therealpresence.org/essentials/creed/acc10.htm

The Apostles' Creed, part 2

Introduction
A few year ago, I had a church member tell me how much he appreciated reciting the Apostles' Creed in church each Sunday.  You see, he didn't grow up in a Methodist church, but a little country church and they didn't say the creed.  And when he came to the Methodist church, he was skeptical of what seemed like a unnecessarily formal ritual.  But after a a while, he asked his young daughter what Christians believe and she recited to him the Apostles' Creed.  And man told me, "I get it now."

The Apostles' Creed is a beautiful and succinct summary of the basic Christians faith--what we believe.  It’s important to know, everything in the Creed is based on Scripture.  Now, you can't look up the Apostle's Creed and find it in the Bible.  But all the principles it teach are in the Word.  And that's why we believe it.  

Matthew 16:13-17
13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”[a]
14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”
15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah,[b] the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John,[c] because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

Ephesians 1:4-5
Scripture tells us that God sent Jesus to save and perfect His children.  Ephesians 1:4-5 says, “Long ago, even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.”

Who is Jesus?  If a person stopped you on the street and asked, “Who is Jesus?”  What would you say?  What would you say if they asked you what He did?  Perhaps you would be at a loss about what to say, but you don’t have to be, because we recite who Jesus is and what He did every Sunday in our Apostle’s Creed.  Say it with me:

The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord: 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended to the dead;
the third day He rose from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead...

The Creed (founded upon Scripture) tells us who Jesus is and what He did:
“He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary…”

You know the Christmas story.  God sent the angel Gabriel to appear to Mary.  In Luke 1:34-35 it says, Mary asked the angel, “But how can I have a baby? I am a virgin.”  The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby born to you will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”

Jesus is special.  He was part of God’s plan to save us from the beginning.  He is the Son of God.  He is the product of a miraculous birth. He is the fulfillment of a multitude of prophecies given hundreds of years ahead of time. 

Yet He was also born as a helpless baby to a very human mother.  He was flesh and blood. 
He had to grow up like us.  He had to learn.  He felt emotions, got his feelings hurt, felt hunger, got tired, cried real tears and shed real blood.  Hebrews 2:17 says, “It was necessary for Jesus to be in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.”

Jesus also suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried.

Pilate – Pilate was the Roman governor in charge of Jerusalem when Jesus was arrested.
Matthew 27:1-2 – “Very early in the morning, the leading priests and other leaders met again to discuss how to persuade the Roman government to sentence Jesus to death. Then they bound him and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.”  [A real person…  Seat in Caesarea Philippi…]

Suffered – John 19:1-3 – “Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers made a crown of long, sharp thorns and put it on his head, and they put a royal purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, and they hit him with their fists.”

Crucified – John 19:17-18 – “Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him.”

Buried – Mark 15:46 – “Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth, and taking Jesus’ body down from the cross, he wrapped it in the cloth and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance.”
These are real places.  These are not just stories.  These events really happened.  Jesus is a real man who went through utter agony and paid the ultimate price for you and me!

Descended to the Dead - Not all denomination say this one; there are various interpretations and some choose to leave it out.  But this concept is also in Scripture.  In 1 Peter 3:18-20 it says, "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.  So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat."

And 1 Peter 4:6 — “For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead…”
(See also Acts 2:2, 31; Ephesians 4:8-10; and Romans 10:6-7)

There are differing interpretations on why Jesus descended to the dead and what it means.  I find comfort in thinking that it means even those who lived and died before Christ's atoning sacrifice had a chance to hear His message and be saved and Christ personally took them the message.

On the Third Day, He rose from the dead.  When the Jesus’ followers came to the tomb to put spices on his body in Luke 24:5-6, the angels said, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead!

Thousands, if not millions, of people visit this tomb every year.  Jesus is still not there.  I’ve been there and I’ve seen it and I can testify.  The tomb is empty; Jesus is risen!  I know He is risen, because I talked to Him just this morning!

We believe in a Lord who has authority over everything—even death.  When you begin to worry that your problems are too big, remember you believe in Jesus Christ who rose from the grave!  He can overcome any problem you face—even death.  

He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

It was important for Jesus to return to heaven.  It tells us that His home is heaven.  Jesus has taken His rightful place on the heavenly throne.  We too should set our sights on our Heavenly Home and think not only of this world.  For even if we suffer and die here (as Christ did), our true Home is in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus’ ascension to heaven also tells us that we have a job to do here on earth.  If Jesus wanted to do all the work, He would have stayed until all the work was done.  He ascended to heaven so we would have a chance to do some of the work ourselves.  Though Jesus empowers us and helps us to accomplish his plans, we are the ones who have to act as his hands and feet.  We are his body.  If we don’t act as Jesus to this world, no one will.

Acts 1:11b say, “Someday, just as you saw him go, [Jesus] will return!”  One of the fundamental beliefs of our faith laid down in the Bible is that Jesus is going to come back to judge the living and the dead.  One day, all people will be held accountable for their actions.  Therefore, it would be wise for us to live a life of godly service, doing as much good as we can with what we have in the time we have left. 

Say it again with me:
We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended to the dead;
the third day He rose from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

Salvation Comes from Jesus
Do you truly believe?  Reciting the words doesn’t save you. Only a personal relationship with Jesus based on true faith saves you.  It is when your eyes are suddenly opened and you realize, “Oh my!  Jesus really does want to save me!  He really did suffer and die for me.  He was whipped for my transgressions.  He was punished for my disobedience.  He bled to wash away my sins!  He died for me!  And on the third day, He rose from the grave.  He ascended to heaven and one day He’s going to come back for me and I want to be ready!” 

When you realize that, repent, and you pray in your heart, “Lord, I believe in You and I want You to save me!  Forgive me!  Help me to live the way You want me to live!  Be the Lord and Savior of my life!” Then, you will be saved. 

The Apostles' Creed, Part 1

Introduction
Nicole is an old acquaintance of mine from High School. She grew up as a good Catholic girl and took classes to teach her the basics of the Christian faith.  One of the lessons she learned was the Apostles Creed—the same creed we say on Sunday mornings, the same creed used in thousands of churches of many different denominations all around the world.  

As an adult, Nicole still remembers the creed she learned as a child and it is a continual reminder of the Christian faith.  Nicole has hosted many exchange students from around the world and the Apostles’ Creed helped Nicole share her faith with them as she explained what Christians believe.  Nicole has been a good an ambassador for Christ.  

Christians should take advantage of every opportunity to share our faith with others.  But in order to do that, we have to know what we believe.  Perhaps, like Nicole, the Apostles’ Creed can help you be more effective in explaining what you believe.  The Creed is a succinct declaration of our belief—the faith handed down to us for generations all the way back to the 12 Apostles in the Bible.  (And most of us probably have the Apostles’ Creed committed to memory by now!)   

Over the next few weeks, we’ll study the Apostles’ Creed—mining the rich treasures of our faith hidden in each section.  But first, let’s hear the Word of God.

Scripture Readings
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

I believe in…
Now, say the first section of the Apostles’ Creed with me:  We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord…  Here we have the first and most basic statement about our Christian faith.

We Believe in God
We believe in God.  We believe there is a Higher Power that is beyond us.  There is more to life than just us and what we see.  There is a God.  

That simple fact changes life from a mere struggle for the survival of the fittest to something altogether more meaningful.  It means there must be a grander purpose to life.  These four simple words,

“We believe in God…”, beg us to ask all kinds of questions like: Who is this God?  What is God like?  Can I know God and how do we relate to each other? 

The next words of the Creed provide some of the answer the Christian faith offers:

“We believe in God the Father.”
God is like a father.  He looks after and cares about His children.  He provides for them.  He teaches them.  He disciplines them.  He plays with them.   

When my kids were little, we would sometimes wrestle and tickle each other.  What a sight to see an grown man with his children climbing all over him, laughing and playing.  

God is a Father.  We can play with God, but He will also discipline us when we are disobedient. 

We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
God is almighty: all powerful, all knowing, and present in all places.  God is the last word, the final say.  He has authority over all things.  No one and no thing can overpower Him or circumvent Him. 

These words may be troubling to those who wish to disobey or disregard God; but, knowing that God is Almighty is a great comfort to those who seek Him for strength to overcome adversities that are too big for us to handle on our own (but never too big for an Almighty God). 

Look up at the stars in the night sky.  There are a thousand billion trillion stars in the universe.  The stars you see are trillions of trillions of trillions of trillions of miles away.  God is present on each of those at the same time that He is here.  God created it all and He has power and wisdom and authority over it all.

Now, Christians are not the only religion that believes in God.  Every civilization in the history of the world—regardless of where in the world they lived—has believed in God in some form.  But of all the religions of the world, Christianity is unique because we believe in Jesus Christ.  Without Jesus Christ, our faith is incomplete.

We believe in Jesus Christ.
The word Christ means Messiah, the chosen one. We believe Jesus was appointed by God for the special purpose of saving humanity.  We believe that Jesus can save us.  We believe that Jesus can save our children.  We believe that Jesus can save our parents, our friends, our neighbors, our wife or husband.  We believe that the salvation of the world comes through Jesus the Christ!

We believe in Jesus Christ His only Son.
Jesus is more than just a man.  All religions have great people who have shaped their religions—Jews have Moses, Buddhists have Buddha, Muslims have Muhammad.  But these men were mere mortals. 

Christians believe Jesus is more than just a man.  Jesus is the Son of God.  John 1:1 (which refers to Jesus as “the Word”) says, “In the beginning the Word [Jesus] already existed. He was with God, and he was God.”  So, Jesus is the Son of God and He is God.  Jesus was with God when the world was created.  What a mysterious faith we have!

We believe that Jesus is God and also the Son of God, that Jesus is a divine being and also lived as a man! We don’t have enough time today to explore all the ramifications of Jesus as the Son of God—but it is a fundamental and unique belief of the Christian faith that Jesus is the Son of God.

And we believe Jesus is the His only Son.
That is, Jesus is unique in his relationship with God.  There are no other “sons” of God that can lead us to God besides Jesus.  

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Our Lord
And finally, we believe in Jesus Christ the only Son of God our Lord.  That is, we submit to the Lordship of Jesus in our life.  We surrender our lives to him and accept his authority over us.  We seek to obey his teachings and follow his direction for daily life.

Say the first part of the Apostles’ Creed with me again:  I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord…

Conclusion
Members of our church promise to support the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness.  We must know what we believe if we want to be effective witnesses. 

The Apostles’ Creed helps us know what we believe.  It gives us the basics of the faith in a few short statements.  I hope it will help you share your faith with others as you recall the deep meaning of our Creed.

Not only do I hope you will share your faith.  Even more important, I hope you will truly believe.  Do you truly believe the words you say when you recite the Apostles’ Creed?  Do you believe in God the Father Almighty?  Do you believe in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord?  More than anything, I hope you will truly believe and know the eternal life that God offers all who do.

Looking for the Living Among the Dead | An Easter Sermon on Luke 24:1-12

Introduction

Easter is the most important holiday of the whole year for Christians.  Jesus–the Son of God–was arrested, tortured, falsely convicted, and executed on a cross.  His body was hastily placed in a borrowed tomb, but on the third day, Jesus rose to life.  This is the foundation of everything for Christians. 

I want you to know, I believe in the resurrection.  I know Jesus is not dead.  I believe He literally got up out of the grave--a bodily resurrection.  It's not just a great story or an ideal to live up to.  I believe it really happened and it's the Truth I base my life on. 

I hope you believe too.  But if we really believe Jesus rose from the grave, it will change the way we think and live.  That’s what I want to talk to you about today.

Luke 24:1-12
¹ But very early on Sunday morning^[a] the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ² They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. ³ So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴ As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

⁵ The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? ⁶ He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, ⁷ that the Son of Man^[b] must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

⁸ Then they remembered that he had said this. ⁹ So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. ¹⁰ It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. ¹¹ But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. ¹² However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Two Angels at the Tomb
The women found an empty tomb.  The stone was rolled away.  The body of Christ was gone.

Luke says, “Two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.”  These are clearly not men, but angels.  They resemble the angels Luke says appeared in heavenly glory at Jesus’ birth.  They also resemble Acts 1:10, where Luke also says “two men dressed in white” appeared when Jesus ascended to heaven

I also can’t help but think about the two cherubim God stationed at the entrance of the Garden of Eden.  Remember, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit and where kicked out of the Garden of Eden, God stationed two angelic figures (Cherubim) to guard the entrance so no one could re-enter.  Those two cherubim were later represented by the golden cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies, which was considered by Jews to be the holiest place on earth and the very footstool of God.  But now 2 angels appear to the women at the empty tomb and say something incredible.

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”  In a literal sense, the women were looking for a dead Jesus.  They came to anoint His body with burial spices.  This had not been done at His initial, hasty burial.  Remember, Jesus was crucified and died on a Friday afternoon.  They had to get His body off the cross and into a borrowed tomb quickly, before sunset when the Sabbath started and no work could be done.  So Christ's body had not been properly anointed for burial according to their traditions.

So the women had to wait until Sunday morning to come finish the burial ceremony.  As they approached the tomb, their thinking was completely focused on a dead Jesus, which was totally understandable.  The reality of what they found was so implausible, they couldn’t immediately comprehend the truth.  Their earthly minds struggled to make sense of it with the most reasonable explanations:  Someone has moved or stolen the body.  The authorities must have moved the body.

God knew resurrection would be so far from their thinking they would need help to see the truth.  So, God sent His angels to explain:  “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!”  

Some people today still struggle to accept the resurrection.   A dead man coming back to life is incredible (in the literal sense of that word–not credible).  The entire history of human experience as well as modern science cries out as a witness that dead people do not come back to life–not in the way the Gospels describe Jesus’ resurrection.  And so many people cannot make the leap of faith to conclude Jesus rose from the grave as He said He would and as the earliest witnesses and the Bible say He did.

So, many people still look for Jesus among the dead.  What I mean is, they cannot accept that He really, literally rose from the grave and so they try to spiritualize the resurrection.  Maybe they see Christ rising from the grave as a symbol of hope, or a fresh start, or spiritual renewal—but not as a real resurrection that changes everything about how we live and think.  For them, the resurrection has “some” meaning, but they are still looking for the living among the dead—holding onto the idea of Jesus, while missing the reality that He is alive.

They want to find value in the Christian story—and in Jesus as an important religious figure—
without really believing the fundamental claim of Christ.  But if Jesus did not really rise, then the faith He gave us falls apart. It’s not just weakened—it’s false.

The Apostle Paul said it plainly in 1 Corinthians 15:14:   “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”  And he goes even further in 1 Corinthians 15:17:  “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.”

On the other hand, there are many Christians who do believe Jesus truly rose from the grave, yet that reality has not fully transformed the way they think and live. They still turn to the dead things of this world, hoping to find the life and fulfillment that only the risen Christ can give.  

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in success, in comfort, in possessions—thinking if they just had a little more, they would finally feel full.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in approval, in relationships, in what others think of them—hoping someone else can give them the worth Christ already secured.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in routine religion—going through the motions without truly setting their hearts on Christ.

They believe in the resurrection, but still look for life in distractions—keeping busy, staying entertained, avoiding stillness—because they’re not drawing from the life that is already theirs in Christ.

They believe Jesus is alive, but still live as if this world is where life is found.

They believe in the resurrection, but they haven’t yet learned to think like people who have been raised with Christ and live like people who have nothing to lose because Christ already won the ultimate victory.

Jesus is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
But that’s exactly what the resurrection offers us–a whole new way to think and a whole new way to live.  Paul said it like this in Colossians 3, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ… set your sights on the realities of heaven.”

Not someday you will be raised, but you have been raised.  That means the life you’re looking for is not found in the dead things of this world.  It’s found in a living Savior.  

So stop looking for life where there is none.  Stop searching among the dead, and start following the One who walked out of the grave.  Lift up your eyes!   Set your heart on Him!  Because Jesus is not in the tomb!  He is alive!

And if He lives then real life is found in Him.  Not later.  Not someday.  But right now!  So, let’s stop looking for the living among the dead.  And let’s stand together and celebrate the victory we have in Jesus, because He lives.

Closing Invitation
I want to give you this invitation.  Maybe you need to make a decision today.  Maybe you want to start following this Jesus who walked out of the grave.  You don’t have to understand.  The resurrection isn’t logical.  It doesn’t make sense.  It doesn’t follow the laws of nature.   But if God is real and Jesus is His Son, is anything impossible with God?  Maybe today, you just need to choose to have faith in God and His Son.  For then you will find, not just belief,  but life.  Life that is real.  Life that is full.  Life that is eternal.

So, stop looking for the living among the dead. Come to the One who is alive.  Close your eyes.  Tell God you believe, and ask Him to save you and give you new life in Christ.

Jesus Calls Us to Follow | A Sermon on Mark 1:16-20

Introduction
Donnie Thaxton shared an interesting story on Facebook this week.  He shared how when he married Maxine in 1969, they moved to Dekalb County.  But they missed home, so they came home to Butts County almost every weekend to stay at the Redman House (Maxine's childhood home) where they had a 1.5-acre fishing lake.

The lake was full of bass and brim.  They would catch them all the time and save them up and have fish fries throughout the year.  They were delicious, but you had to be careful not to get a bone stuck in your throat--those fish were very boney.  Eventually, someone had the great idea to drain the whole lake, get rid of the brim and bass, and restock the lake with catfish.  Catfish could grow much bigger and then you could just fillet the fish and not have to deal with bones.

I have another fishing story for you today.  It’s about the day Jesus went fishing and He caught 4 fishermen!

Mark 1:16-20
¹⁶ One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon^[g] and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. ¹⁷ Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” ¹⁸ And they left their nets at once and followed him.

¹⁹ A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. ²⁰ He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

Fishing for a Living
Many people like to fish for recreation.  I do that sometimes.  But Simon and Andrew fished for a living.  James and John were also fishermen by trade and worked for their father’s fishing enterprise.  Zebadee porbably had numerous boats out fishing on the Sea of Galilee.  Then they would sell the fish at the market for a profit.  

Fishing and tradition go hand in hand.  Many fishing techniques are handed down generation to generation.  And in a traditional enterprise like fishing, change is hard.  Many people don't like change.  I don't like change.  But for fishermen, change may be especially hard.

But when you fish for a living, sometimes you have to put success ahead of tradition.  If a new technique comes a long that is more effective than your old tradition, then you may need to adapt and evolve, or else your business may not succeed.

I Was Called to be a Methodist Minister
When Kelly and I got married, we were young. We started dating in high school at Southwest High School in Macon. I graduated in 1992, she graduated two years later in 1994, and we got married when she was 18 and I was 20.

And we had a plan.  We wanted to follow God. We were going to church. We were trying to live faithfully.  But our dream was simple: go to college, start a career, move back to Macon, stay there our whole lives, be good people in the community, and make a difference.  And I liked that plan—because it didn’t involve much change.

But God has a sense of humor.  Instead of letting me stay put, He made me a Methodist minister and moved us from town to town to town. And I’ve come to realize something over the years: His vision was just bigger than mine. I may not have stayed in one town, but I’ve stayed in one community—the North Georgia community—my entire married life.

In Mark 1, Jesus called Simon—later called Peter—along with Andrew, James, and John. He called them to leave their traditional careers as fishermen and follow Him. And He told them what they would do instead: fish for people.

And in His own way, Jesus called me to do the same.  When Kelly and I were in college, we attended East Cobb United Methodist Church in Marietta during our young adult years. As graduation got closer, I realized I was going to need a résumé. I’d need interviews. And I thought, You know what would look good on a résumé? Volunteering at church.

So I started volunteering.  I told Kelly one day, “I think I’m going to sing in the choir.”  She said, “You can’t sing.”  She was right. My voice cracked like a 13-year-old—but I joined anyway.

Then I started volunteering with the youth ministry. Eddie Bradford was the youth minister, and I helped out under him. I thought I was padding my résumé—but something happened. I fell in love with it.

I loved being at church. I loved working with the youth. I loved singing in the choir. If the church doors were open, I was there. Ski trips? I went. Events? I helped. I even started going to church council meetings for fun.  (Now that’s crazy!)

As graduation approached, I realized something troubling: I was sad. Not because I was graduating—but because I wouldn’t have as much time to volunteer at church.  And that’s when God started planting a seed in my heart.  What if you’re not called to be a textile engineer?  What if you’re called to work in the church?

The problem was—I didn’t talk to Kelly about it. I prayed about it. I thought about it. I wrestled with it in my own heart, but I didn’t talk to her for about a year.

I kept asking God for a sign. “Lord, if you want me to be a pastor, give me a sign.”  And one day—quietly, in my heart—God said, You don’t need a sign. You already know. The only reason you want a sign is so you can show it to other people… especially your wife.

Eventually, I did talk to Kelly. And she wasn’t ready yet. So we waited.  I graduated, got a great job as Director of Quality Assurance at 1888 Mills in Griffin. We made towels. It was a good job—better than I expected to get right out of college.  

But there was a catch.

We lived in Lithia Springs near Six Flags, and I worked in Griffin—an hour drive each way. That’s a lot of windshield time. You can only listen to so much music and so many audiobooks before you’re just alone with God.

And for a year, that drive became a prayer.  “I like this job,” I told God. “But this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing.”

After a year, I talked to Kelly again. And she said something I’ll never forget. She said, “Every day when you leave for work and kiss me goodbye, I think about it too. And I know God has called you to be a pastor. And if that’s what He’s called you to do, I’ll support you.”

In 1999, I gave up my career as a textile engineer and began the process of becoming ordained in the Methodist Church. It took nine years. I worked at the plant for two more years while serving in ministry. Then I left completely and became the youth minister at Lithia Springs United Methodist Church.

And I have no regrets.  Because when you do what God has called you to do—even when it involves change—it fits.  And it feels right.

We Are All Called by Christ
But Christ’s calling isn’t just for me.  And it isn’t just for the people who were in the Bible.  We are all called by Jesus.  

Remember my message from last week? What did Jesus say?  He said, “Come to me all of you…” The call is for all. And He said, “Take my yoke upon you…”

Jesus invitation is for everyone who realizes we’re lost with out Him. Everyone is lost (just some haven't realized it yet).  So, we’re all called by Jesus.  But what are we called to do?  Well, according to the Bible, there are several things we are called to do.  Let me share some.

What Are We Called to Do?
We are called to follow Jesus.  (Mark 1:17)
Before anything else, we are called to: Walk with Jesus.  Listen to His voice.  Shape our lives around Him.  Christianity is not just believing in Jesus—it’s following Him.  Are you following Him?

We are called to leave what keeps us from following. (Mark 1:18)  We are called to let go of:
Anything that defines us more than Christ.  Anything that keeps us from obedience.  Anything we trust more than Jesus.  Not everyone leaves the same “nets,” but everyone leaves something.  What “nets” do you need to lay down?

We are called to be changed by Jesus.  Jesus said, “Let me teach you…” (Matthew 11:29)  The Apostle Paul said in Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  Jesus reshapes our hearts.  We are called to grow, learn, and become more like Christ.

We are called to love God and love others.  (Matthew 22:37–39)  This is the heart of the Christian life.  It’s what we were created for.  We are to Love God with everything we are.  And, love people the way Christ loves us.

We are called to fish for people.  Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of people.” (Mark 1:17)
How do we fish for people?  We share hope, point people to Jesus, and live in a way that draws people toward Christ.

I’ve only been at Stark Methodist for a couple weeks, but I can already tell this church loves missions & outreach.  You have been very, very active, and it’s wonderful.  I love hearing about your River of Life missions event, your blood drives, your helping hand neighbor program, and all the many things you do.

But there can be a danger in this too.  Because sometimes we forget the most important thing people need:  People need Jesus.  When we look around at a world of people in need, we see:  they need home repairs, food and clothing, maybe a ride to work; and the list of needs goes on and on.  But the greatest need—and the one that helps address all the others—is they need Jesus.

Jesus saw a world full of needy people too.  There were the blind and deaf, the lame, the sick.  He healed some of them.  But He knew their greatest need went deeper than these surface issues.

Our Deepest Need
The deepest problem in the human heart is we want to live life on our own terms.  We’re OK with a little God, a little Jesus, in our life as long as we get to keep living our lives pretty much the way we want.

But you see, that’s the problem.  Our lives are not our own.  We belong to God.  He is Lord.  

Jesus didn’t come to help Peter, Andrew, James, and John be more successful fishermen.  He said, “Leave your nets behind.  Come follow me.”

And Jesus comes and says the same to us.  “Leave your old life behind.  Come follow me in a new life.”  And that’s what He wants to say to our neighbors in Jackson through us:  “Come follow me.  Leave your old life behind (because it wasn’t working anyway).  Come follow me and I will give you a new life.”

I think about that old pond at the Redman House.  Do remember what they did?  They drained it.  Got rid of all the bass and brim.  And restocked the pond with catfish.  The brim and bass were too boney.  The catfish were bigger and you could make filets.

That’s sort of what Jesus says we need in our life.  We need to let Him drain it all out and start over fresh.  That’s what our neighbors in Jackson need too.  Sure, we can help with a power bill or rent. 
We can try and help with the practical physical needs they have.  But these are just the surface issues. The real needs go way down deep in the heart.  And we’ve got to invite them to come follow our Savior, our Lord, because He knows how to get down deep in their heart where the real change has to happen.

Jesus Is Still Calling Us To Follow Him
Church, the most important thing I want you to hear today is this:  Jesus didn’t stop calling people in Mark chapter 1.  He is still walking along the shoreline of ordinary lives.

He is still calling people who are busy trying to make life work.  And He is still saying the same simple words:  “Come. Follow Me.”

For some of you, that call may sound familiar.  You remember a time when Jesus first called you—maybe years ago.  Today, I’m inviting you to remember your calling and renew your commitment to live it out.

For others, this may feel new.  You’ve heard about Jesus. You’ve admired Him from a distance.  But today, you sense He may be calling you to a deeper relationship.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John didn’t have all the answers.  They didn’t know where Jesus would lead them.  They just knew who was calling.

And that’s still the question for us today—not: Do I have everything figured out?  but:  Do I trust the One who is calling me?  Jesus is not calling you to add Him to your life.  He is calling you to follow Him with your whole life.

Invitation / Reflection
I invite you to bow your heads and close your eyes for just a moment and reflect on a few questions:

• When did Jesus first call you?
• Are you still following Him—or just believing in Him?
• What “nets” might Jesus be asking you to lay down?
• Is Jesus calling you to take a next step of obedience today?

If you feel Jesus calling you to follow Him for the first time, or calling you back to a deeper walk with Him, I want you to know—you don’t have to have it all together.  You just have to say yes.

Final Gospel Invitation
Jesus left heaven to come to us.  He lived the life we couldn’t live.  He died the death we deserved.  And He rose again to offer us new life.

And today, He simply says:  “Come. Follow Me.”

If you’d like to respond to that call—whether for the first time or in a fresh way—I’ll be here after the service. I would love to pray with you.

Church, may we be a people who don’t just hear His call,
but who are willing to leave our nets and follow.

Amen.