Lying to the Church is Lying to God (Acts 5:1-16)

Are you tempted to put on a mask of spiritual hypocrisy [lying] in order to not expose who you truly are (Mt 23:5, 25; 2 Cor 5:12)?

• How important is unity (Ac 2:44; 4:32; Ps 133:1; Jn 17:21, 23; Eph 4:3; Mt 12:25; 1 Cor 1:10; 6:7; Jas 4:1)?
• Why was the hypocrisy dealt with publicly and harshly (Ac 5:5, 10)?
• Can you call out a hypocrite? How long can one live with hypocrisy? Are hypocrites in the church?
• Do you fear your sin being found out (Num 32:23)? How is the church affected (Mt 13:25)?
• If this happened today, would the church try to cover it up?
• Is killing people making an offering a church growth strategy (Ac 5:14; 6:7; 9:31; 11:21, 24)?
• Does God "kill" believers/Christians (1 Cor 11:30-32; 1 Jn 5:16; 1 Pet 4:17)? Why (Mt 5:8; 2 Cor 11:2-3; Rev 2:16; 3:19)?
• Should the church tolerate sin to make unbelievers feel welcome (Mt 18:15; 2 Cor 13:2)?

1. What's wrong with what Ananias did (Ac 5:1-4; Eph 4:27)? Why did he do it (Ac 4:34-37)? What was his motivation (2 Cor 8:12; 9:7)? What % of your total assets belong to Jesus? Why is lying a serious sin (Ac 5:5-6; Exo 20:16-17; Rev 21:8)? Other sins (Rom 6:23a)?

2. What did Peter ask Sapphira and why (Ac 5:8-9)? Did Peter kill her (Ac 5:10)? Are Ananias and Sapphira in heaven (Jn 14:21; Mt 7:21-23)? Why did "great fear" come upon all who heard about this (Ac 5:5, 11)?

3. How did this affect the church (Ac 5:5, 11)? What do you learn about the gravity of sin? The sacredness of the human conscience (Ac 24:16)? The necessity of church discipline?

4. Why did they keep gathering at Solomon's Colonnade/Porch (Ac 5:12; 2:46; 3:11)? Why did some not dare to "join" the Christians while others did (Ac 5:13-14; Jn 3:19)? Who were healed (Ac 5:15-16) Does God still grant miraculous healing today?

From the beauty of unity and sharing to the ugliness of dishonesty and lying:

• Sinful pretense (Ac 5:1-2).
• Spiritual perception (Ac 5:3-4).
• Swift punishment (Ac 5:5-10). Shockingly sudden, swift and severe.
• Solemn purging (Ac 5:5, 11; Mt 18:15ff). Holy terror, holy fear.

5 essentials of an evangelistic church. The purpose of the church in every age (Ac 1:8; 4:28; 520). 

1. Purity (Ac 5:5, 11, 13-14; Mt 5:8; 18:15; Lk 17:3; Eph 5:11; 1 Tim 5:20; Tit 1:13; 1 Pet 4:17; Rev 3:19). To be transformed you must know that God will deal with your sin. The purity of the church is critical to its evangelistic testimony.
2. Power (Ac 5:12, 15-16; 1:8; 2 Tim 1:7). 
3. Persecution (Ac 5:17-18) is inevitable and predictable.

The Power of Praying People (Acts 2:42-47)

• What has Jesus begun in you (Ac 1:1)? What is Jesus continuing to do in your life?

• What power [dynamis] do you experience from the Holy Spirit (Ac 1:8; 2 Tim 1:7)?

• What vision do you have for your life (Ac 2:17)?

1. What are you devoted to (Ac 2:42 is regarded as the 4 pillars/marks/essential elements of the church)? What does it practically mean to be:

• "devoted ... to the apostles' teaching" (Ac 2:42)? Are you empowered by "words" (Jn 6:63; Mt 24:35; Lk 11:28)? By truth (Jn 8:31-32)? By preaching (Ac 2:14, 22)? What is your delight (Ps 1:2; 119:97)? How does the Bible correct and train you (2 Tim 3:16)?
• Without attention and devotion to the "teaching" of Scripture, what happens to Christians (1 Tim 4:1-2, 6-8, 11-13)?
• Is there a tendency toward emotional experiences rather than teaching based on the truth?
• How would you submit to "the apostles' teaching" today?

• "devoted ... to fellowship [koinonia]" (Ac 2:42)? What do we "share in" together (1 Jn 1:3; 2 Cor 13:14)? What do we "share out" with others (Ac 2:44-46a)? What does sharing help us to "know" (Lk 12:15)?
• Without attention and devotion to the Christian community and family, what will happen (Eph 4:3)?
  

• "devoted ... to the breaking of bread" (Ac 2:42, 46b)?
• Without attention and devotion to communion and the Eucharist, what can happen (1 Cor 11:26)?
  

• "devoted ... to prayer" (Ac 2:42; Lk 18:1)? What is continuous prayer associated with (1 Th 5:16-18)? How did Jesus exemplify prayer (Lk 3:21; 6:12-13; 9:18, 28; 22:41-42; 23:34, 43, 46)? How did this influence his disciples (Ac 1:14, 24-25; 3:1; 4:23-31; 6:4; 8:15; 9:11; 13:3; 14:23; 16:25)?
• Without attention and devotion to communal prayer, what happens?
  

• "filled with awe ... wonders and signs" (Ac 2:43, 22)?

• "praising God" (Ac 2:47a)? "enjoying the favor of all people" (Ac 2:47b).

• Ac 1:1, 8; 2:17 - "I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach..."  "...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses..."  "...your young men will see visions..."

• 2 Tim 1:7 - "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline [self-control, sound mind, sound judgment, instruction, sobriety]."

• Jn 6:63 - "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. [Human effort accomplishes nothing. Human strength can do nothing. Human power is of no use at all. Human nature is of no help. The flesh doesn't help at all. The body does not benefit anything.] The words I have spoken to you--they are full of Spirit and life."

• Mt 24:35 - "Heaven and earth will pass away [won't last forever, disappear], but my words will never pass away."

• Lk 11:28 - He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it [put it into practice]."

• Ps 1:2; 119:97 - "But his [whose] delight is in the law of the Lord [LORD JEHOVAH] [finds pleasure in obeying the Lord's commands], and on his law he meditates day and night."  "Oh, how I love your law [instructions]! I meditate on it all day long." [Law are words.]

• 2 Tim 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed [inspired by God, breathed out by God] and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." {All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God's will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage." Amplified Bible.}

• 1 Tim 4:1-2, 6-8, 11-13 - "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2 Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron."

• Lk 18:1 -  "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

• 1 Th 5:16-18 - "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

The Church in relation to the State (Bonhoeffer)

"There are thus three possibilities for action that the church can take vis-à-vis the state:

1. 1st (as we have said), questioning the state as to the legitimate state character of its actions, that is, making the state responsible for what it does.
2. 2nd is service to the victims of the state's actions. The church has an unconditional obligation toward the victims of any societal order, even if they do not belong to the Christian community. "Let us work for the good of all". These are both ways in which the church, in its freedom, conducts itself in the interest of a free state. In times when the laws are changing, the church may under no circumstances neglect either of these duties.
3. The 3rd possibility is not just to bind up the wounds of the victims beneath the wheel but to seize the wheel itself."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Church and the Jewish Question.

https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/inspiring-quotes/20-influential-quotes-by-dietrich-bonhoeffer.html

Expose the Sin and Forgive (Matthew 18)

Lectionary [5/3/2020]: Ps 23; Jn 10:1-10.

1. Why are the disciples asking about who the greatest is (Mt 18:1; 16:21; 17:22)? What does this show about them?
2. Is being great a requirement for entering the kingdom of God (Mt 18:2-3)? What are kingdom people like (Mt 18:3-5)? What is required (Mt 18:3)? [child - paidion]
3. Who are the "little ones" [ton micron] (Mt 18:6a)? Why does Jesus use hyperbole--such drastic language toward those who cause others to stumble (Mt 18:6b-9; 1 Cor 12:12-20)?
4. What do disciples [we] incline to do with "little ones" (Mt 18:10a)? Why should we not (Mt 18:10b, 14)? How does Jesus illustrate this (Mt 18:12-13; Lk 15:4-7; Eze 34)? Is this pragmatic or prudent (Jn 11:50)?
5. 3 Steps for Conflict resolution. 
• What should you do when a fellow Christian sins [against you] (Mt 18:15a; Lev 19:17-18)? 
• Why? What is the ultimate objective (Mt 18:15b)? 
• What would this avoid? Why do we often NOT do so?
• What if the one who sins is a leader in the church (1 Tim 5:19-20)?
6. What is the role of the church (Mt 18:16-17; Dt 19:15)? 
• What does it mean to "treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector" (Mt 18:17)? 
• Why is church discipline important and necessary (Mt 18:18-20, 6, 1-5)? 
• On what basis does the church have such authority (Mt 18:18-20; 28:20)? 
• Is excommunication inconsistent with loving enemies and the golden rule (Mt 5:43-48; 7:12)?  
7. Why did Peter ask about the frequency of forgiving others (Mt 18:21)? Why did he chose "7 times" (Job 33:29-30; Amos 1:3; 2:6)? 
• How do we forgive others unlimitedly (Mt 18:22)? How much is 10,000 talents (Mt 18:24) and 100 denarii (Mt 18:28)? 
• Why do we not comprehend or grasp the greatness of God's forgiveness (Mt 18:23-31)? 
•  How serious is it to not forgive others (Mt 18:32-35)?
• What does an unforgiving heart show about the person?
• Does forgiveness involve restoring the relationship?

Reference:

1. Hays, Richard B. The Moral Vision of the New Testament: community, cross, new creation: a contemporary introduction to New Testament ethics. Part One, 3. The Gospel of Matthew: Training for the Kingdom of Heaven. 1996. HarperCollins Publishers, NY.
2. Hauerwas, Stanley. Matthew. Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible. Brazos Press, Grand Rapids, MI, 2006. MATTHEW 18: The Church.

I desire to do nothing else other than what I'm delightfully doing

Only God could have thought up the church. I could not have thought the church up. I could not have imagined "church." That we exist, that West Loop Church exists, that our modest collection of people exist, is a miracle. I am honored beyond words to express that you allow me to preach to you each Sunday as we worship God together. Even though I've never been paid for this "job," it is the best job I've ever had, which I would not exchange for anything else in the world. I desire to do nothing else other than what I'm presently doing every week and every day of the year: sharing the Word and living in community with the church. For sure, I did not think this up. For sure, God "thought us up." Only by God's immeasurable grace we are God's imagination for the world.

A Community of Character, 1981, Stanley Hauerwas

"Christians most important social task is nothing less than to be a community capable of hearing the story of God we find in the scripture and living in a manner that is faithful to that story. The only reason to be Christian is because Christian convictions are true; and the only reason for participation in the church is that it is the community that pledges to form its life by that truth." (1)

"That the church has often failed to be such a polity (concerned with the development of virtue) is without question, but the fact that we have often been less than we were meant to be should never be used as an excuse for shirking the task of being the people of God." "...(trust) in truth and love to banish the fears that create enmity and discord. To be sure, we have often been unfaithful to his story, but that is no reason for us to think it is an unrealistic demand. Rather it means we must challenge ourselves to be the kind of community where such a story can be told and manifested by a people formed in accordance with it..."

What is the Purpose of West Loop UBF Church?

"I consider my life worth nothing to me ... my only aim is to ... testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24, NIV, ESV)


What's the point? When we began having Sunday Worship Services at West Loop on Jan 4th, 2008, I came up with 3 short catch phrases: "Love God. Understand People. Impact the World." Yet, over the last few years, not a few people have asked me, "What is the purpose of West Loop UBF?" After almost 4 years (probably a little late!), this might be my first written attempt to answer the question.

What was the First Church Like? (Acts 2:42-47)

When construction began on the Bible house in Manila a few years ago, a worker was hired to do the job. During breaks, a member of the church studied the Bible with him. After work he wound drink, go home and ignore his wife and 6 kids. But after some months of Bible study, he stopped drinking. One Valentine's day, he stunned his wife by buying her flowers (which he never did before). Totally surprised at her husband's change, she began coming to church. Now all of their 6 children are members of the church, from Children's Bible Fellowship, to High School Bible Fellowship, to College Fellowship. The lives of this entire family was completely transformed by the influence of the church.

What is the church? Christians have called their churches a missional church, worshiping church, gospel church, Bible church, Reformed church, Methodist church, emergent church, evangelical church, non-denominational church, house church, etc. What was the first church in Acts 2:42-47 like? It was:

Are We Christians (and Our Churches) Stuck in a Stifling Status Quo?

Check out missiologist Alan Hirsch's 2 minute video. He speaks quite fast, so here's the transcript:

I think that Christians are very risk-averse. And churches are very risk averse.

Churches are places that you don't normally associate with adventure or risk or creativity. Because here is the deal: If you want to be creative you have to risk failure. If you want to achieve something beyond the status quo, you have to get out of the status quo. That means you can't make everyone happy.

The Gravest Question Before The Church

Ponder these questions: What are your thoughts about God? What do you conceive God to be like?

Whatever we may (or may not) think of God, it will fully dictate and determine the way we live and think.

If we think little or nothing of God, then we ourselves become the measure of all things, based entirely and subjectively on our own ideas, thoughts, speculations, pride, self-confidence, experiences, culture, traditions, expectations, prejudices, "wisdom," etc.

If we think that God or others "owe" me for being good, or that God should do for me what I want, it will surely affect the way we live in the world and interact with others.

So, what do you really think about God? About your church?

Perhaps, A.W. Tozer says it best in the first chapter of his book, Knowledge of the Holy: