1 Peter

Maybe you’ll deal with this on Sunday, but what is the day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12)?

I hope to, but that certainly doesn’t mean I will! The day of visitation is used to describe both a day of judgment and a day of blessing, both relating to the appearance of God. It would appear in 1 Peter 2 that Peter is using the phrase to talk about the day of blessing on those who have come to faith in Jesus Christ, who previously slandered believers.

Acts

In Acts 8:39-40, was Philip really physically transported from one place to another by the Holy Spirit? I know that Elijah was taken into heaven right in front of Elisha, but this is different. As far as I know this is the only place in scripture that a person is physically transported from one place to another, and it seems so casually mentioned. The eunuch went on his way rejoicing and Philip preached In Azotus where he “found himself.” What is the purpose? Is it to show that the Holy Spirit is that powerful, that there are no limits for God . . . ?

Let me focus on the 2 options that are most probable, based on the language used and the context.

• First, there is the view that Philip was supernaturally transported by the Holy Spirit, literally
  “snatched” up. Even though this seems Star Trekky, it isn’t without precedent in Scripture, as you mentioned Elijah. Another such occurrence seems to have happened to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:12 and 8:3.
• Second, there is the view that Philip was led away by the Holy Spirit immediately after the baptism. This view looks at the events leading up to the baptism, specifically in 8:26-30, and sees the Holy Spirit directing and guiding Philip along his way, and understands the action in verse 39 to be similar.

Both of these are possible. The Greek word used is used for both a supernatural and a physical moving of a person in the New Testament. (Matt 13:19; John 6:15, 10:11-13, 27-29; Acts 23:10; 2 Cor 12:2-4; 1 Thess 4:17; Jude 22-23)

So what’s the purpose? Contextually, the purpose is that the mission of the Church is ever expanding. It is also good that we see how Philip responded as the Holy Spirit led. Wherever Philip was, he was committed to obedience and to preach/teach. One of the implications of this passage is that the Ethiopian went his way, and Philip went another, and both were representing Christ, which allowed the message to spread even further than before.

Here are a few things that I would like to keep on the front burner this week! Lot’s going on, which is a great thing!

• There are 2 new websites in existence today that were made with the intention of keeping us all up to date as we pray.
• The first is a site that will be updating all of us on the plans and the progress of our “Serve the Church” team that leaves for Belgium on July 15^th. You can find that site at www.nscmissions.wordpress.com, or by going to our church page (www.newsong-church.com), clicking on Ministries, and then clicking on Global, and then click on “Belgium 2012.”
• The second site is belonging to Joel and Karyn Guido. To be honest, they don’t have to write anything else – the first post is hilarious! I would encourage you to go to the site (http://joelguido.blogspot.com/), read “Portland or Bust,” and drop a note. . .and keep them in your prayers as they take this next step in their journey.
• Speaking of prayer. . .I would like to remind you all that a group of us gather at 8:30 on Sunday mornings in our prayer room to pray for the day. I’m thankful and grateful to the many of you who join us each week…and there is always room for more!
• If you would like to be kept in the loop about prayer requests from New Song and it’s friends, email PRAYNSC@JUNO.COM, and let them know that you want to be added to the prayer chain. This is a valuable and helpful tool for us to remember each other in prayer throughout the week.
• So – how are your Gospel conversations going this week? Are you talking like a blind man who just received sight?
• Du Page Hounds game on June 3^rd at 5:00. Free Tickets. What else do I need to say? (Oh yeah, they’ll be available after service again on Sunday.)
• Don’t miss this Sunday!! Not only for our time of celebration together (the music is below!), but also for our Annual Meeting and lunch following. Even if you aren’t a voting member of New Song, I would encourage you to stick around for the meeting. It will give you a taste of who we are, what we value, and where we are going. Love to have you with us on Sunday…

What was the best lesson your Mother ever taught you?

·       The importance of going to church regularly

·       To love unconditionally

·       When 1 door closes, another opens

·       Stop complaining! Just do it!

·       Meet life head on, then move on

·       Be true to yourself, do what brings real joy.

·       Forgive and keep loving even when difficult to do

·       Mom has always modeled selflessness

·       If you want to know something, look it up in a book (or 2 or 3)!!

·       How to be hospitable

·       If you keep physically active, you could be in a triathlon at 80 years old

·       Her example. Every morning, in her favorite chair, reading the Bible.

·       You can happily make due with out a great deal of things

·       To love God with all of you heart, thoughts and deeds

·       To persevere through difficulty

·       Be patient! Being a nerd will pay off!

·       The Gospel.

·       If you keep making that face, it will get stuck like that!

·       Family is a strong bond, and we are always there for each other

·       Sometimes it’s ok to cry. And how to laugh at myself

·       How to cook, serve my family, take care of others and serve others

·       To get up and go to work

·       Family must stick together, no matter what

·       Her quotes: “You’re not winning an Academy Award for that tantrum.”

·       To do the dishes

·       To stay connected to family

·       To love and trust everything in the Lord and to be obedient to Him

·       To love God’s Word and be humble

·       You are what you eat

·       That Jesus always comes first

·       Share and give to others

·       “Mothers are always right!”

·       “Don’t marry a person for their looks, money or brains but for their personality!”

·       How to be self sufficient, get a job, and buy my own stuff!

·       Don’t make promises you can’t keep

·       Work for everything and take nothing for granted

·       Be careful when you ask God to humble you! You never know what He’ll do to answer that prayer.

The world sees Him as a stumbling stone. After looking Him over, they reject Him, tossing Him back into the pile. They can accept certain parts of Jesus, like His love, His justice, His teachings on poverty, but when He starts talking about eternal life, heaven, Hell, they often get angry. Why? Because He is offensive to their pride, to their independence. 1 Cor 1.23

God sees Him as a chosen, precious and living stone. There is no place we more clearly see this as in Romans 1, where Paul tells us that the resurrection is the evidence of Jesus being the chosen and precious One.

We are to see Him as the cornerstone. Peter uses this language earlier in Acts 4:8-12, and again here, where his reminder is that Jesus is to be the anchor, the foundation, the most important “brick” in our lives. He is to be what we build on, not on any other. We must be careful that we don’t try to fit Him in somewhere else… He is to be the cornerstone.

Who are we?

We are His! As chosen people, we can be confident we did nothing to earn His love, nor can we do anything to lose it. As a holy nation, God is looking to us to be set apart for His honor and glory. We belong to Him!

We are priests! This is impossible in the Old Testament, as we would have needed to be born in the line of Levi to even qualify. Instead, because of our new birth, we are called priests, with instant access to God, and with the opportunity to bring spiritual sacrifices to Him. These can be the sacrifices of thanksgiving, praise, good deeds, finances, and life-long service in ministry, or in our vocation.

So what? Why do we need to know this?
So we may respond accordingly, by proclaiming the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into marvelous light!

We must do this when we gather as a church. That means sharing with each other, it means in our singing, it means in discipleship and mentorship, it means in our preaching time. Our time together on Sunday is much like halftime in a game. This isn’t where real life happens, but it is where we get our game plan, our coaching and then we go!

We must do this when we scatter as the church, telling others abut Jesus. Too often we complicate this, instead of simply telling our story. Yes, it will be rejected by some, but our job isn’t to make them accept it… it’s to tell our story, like the man born blind in John 9. Why?

The One Thing: Because a blind man who receives his sight will never be mute about it.

Enjoy!

1 Peter

1 Peter 2:2–There’s this “milk” metaphor. Is this a different analogy than the one in Hebrews 5:12-13, where the author refers to immature believers needing to get a handle on the basic teachings (milk), in contrast with teachings for mature believers (solid food)? 1 Peter doesn’t seem to infer immaturity; I just don’t want to get the points of different books mixed up if they’re intended to illustrate different things.

Great catch!!! Indeed, it’s a different analogy altogether. In Hebrews, it is seen more negatively, that they should be getting some meat by this point, but they still can’t handle the most basic. The focus is on the milk.

Here in 1 Peter 2, it is much more positive, and a command to desire milk. The major difference is that the focus here is on the baby – desire like a baby desires milk. That’s a very aggressive picture – the shrieking of a hungry baby…

In 1 Peter 2:5 what are the spiritual sacrifices that Peter is talking about? I’m not sure about what this means.

There are a number of times this phrase, or a phrase like it, is used in Scripture. The possibilities are endless, things like prayer, thanksgiving, repentance, good deeds, praise or evangelism. (Psalm 50:14, 23; Hebrews 13:15-16; Philippians 4:18; Romans 12;1-2). His point is, as we are continually coming to Jesus, we are being made more like Him, and we offer back to God as a result. My favorite part of 2:5 is the little word through. It points out that none of our sacrifices are worth anything to God, unless they are done through Jesus.

Can you speak to 1Peter 2:8b – “They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” How does this reconcile with 2Peter 3:9? If some are destined to disobey and turn their backs on God, are those the days ordained for them? Is there hope for them, that they will turn to God, or not?

There are a number of views on this verse. What were they destined to? To disobey, or to stumble because they disobeyed? I think it’s important to remember that Peter is trying to encourage the people he is writing to, and here, he is doing so by reminding them that God will not only never be fooled, but He is also always in charge. That being said, no where is man ever removed from personal responsibility. That’s where this gets confusing, difficult to comprehend, and plain old uncomfortable at times.

Looking at 2 Peter 3:9 is important in all of this. He is saying it is not His desire that any should perish – He isn’t a sadistic, mean God. But just because He doesn’t want any to perish doesn’t mean many won’t. 3:10 says that He will come as a thief in the night, and at that point, certainly those who disobey His word will perish. So what kind of hope does that leave them?

The hope is wrapped up in the fact that His desire is to show mercy, His grace is for the chief of sinners… even me. So there is hope for them… as long as they are alive, there is hope, if they repent and turn towards God.

Acts

What is the significance in Acts 4:22, of pointing out that the man who had been healed was over 40 years old? Was his healing that much more exciting? Why?

Because once you reach 40, you’re really really old! Ha! In fact, if you read 3:2 as well, you see the description of this man is that he had been lame from birth, and at the temple daily asking people for alms. You get the sense that these people walked passed him every day, noticing him, but trying to ignore him. Now, in 4:21, we find that these same people were celebrating the lame man’s healing. They noticed the awesomeness of this miracle. Why? He hadn’t just been injured for a week or 2 – this was a permanent way of life for him! For 40 years this man couldn’t walk… and everyone knew it. So the 40 years old reference is a reference to the fact this was a permanent condition.

(Acts 5:17-6:7). Do you have any further background on this rift between the Hellenists and the Hebrews? I only know as much as there was a potential language barrier between the groups…and possibly cause of the oversight of providing for the Hellenists’ widows?

From history, we know that the Pharisees cast a dark shadow over the Hellenist’s, those who not only spoke a different language, but looked differently and had different culture.

We also find in some very old historical books that the Hellenists were often the more allegiant to the ancient Israelite culture, so much so, it made the Hebrews uncomfortable. In fact, that is probably why this issue arose in the first place. The Hellenists would often move back to Israel at a later age so that they could be buried there when they died. When they moved back, they brought their spouse with them, and the number of widows would naturally increase. This caused some tension as well.

It is interesting to see this very cultural dynamic entering into the church at a time the church is thriving. How they dealt with this issue would set the course for the early church. We would do well to learn a lesson from them – handling times of success is not always simple and easy!

In Acts 8:14-17, it says that people in Samaria had received the word of God, and had been baptized in the name of Jesus, but they had not received the Holy Spirit. Verse 17 says that when Peter and John laid their hands on them they received the Spirit. This intrigues me. We are taught that one receives the Holy Spirit when he/she believes in Jesus as savior. Why did these Samaritans not receive the Spirit until Peter and John went and laid hands on them?

Great question, and I wish there was an easy or obvious answer. I spent some time reading different people on this one, and have found 3 possibilities to answer this one. I don’t know that they are mutually exclusive, so accepting all (and a few others) would be possible. The Holy Spirit didn’t come until Peter and John went to them and laid hands on them:

• Bringing about a sort of Apostle “stamp of approval.” The Gospel is now spreading out, and to have the apostles come on the scene, and there to be an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, it shows the apostles are “on their team.”
• Allowing the new Samaritan believers to be brought under the authority of the apostles right away. This helped in the creation and organization of this new church.
• Declaring that no matter where believers were, no matter what their backgrounds or prejudices were, the body of Christ is one! This is probably the reason I feel strongest about. The history between the Jews and the Samaritans was never a good one, so to have 2 apostles come and be a part of this new church, it points out the truth that there should be no ethnic or cultural divides within the church.