The Prodigal Christian

Today we continue our series on the overcoming Christian – on what it means to run the race as a Christian, to achieve victory in our lives devoted to Christ. This week we will also have a time in which we remember the Lord through the sharing of the bread and cup, and we will have what we call a “sharing time,” where we gather in a big circle and where anyone who desires may share what the Lord has been teaching them.

But in preparation for our time of worship remembering the Lord with the bread and cup, I want to talk about what it means to be a prodigal Christian. What is a prodigal? According to the dictionary, a prodigal is a recklessly extravagant consumer. Synonyms include squanderer and waster. So what do I mean by prodigal? As no doubt you can guess, I am referring to the parable Jesus told of the prodigal son. We will turn to this parable shortly.

The Kneeling Christian

We began this week with a clip from the movie version of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maude Montgomery. The scene is early in the movie where Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert are permitting the teenage Anne Shirley to live with them “on a trial basis.” It is nighttime, and Marilla comes into Anne’s bedroom as Anne climbs into bed. The following conversation ensues.

Marilla: Have you said your prayers?

Anne: I never say any prayers.

Marilla: What do you mean? Haven’t you been taught to say your prayers?

Anne: Since Mrs. Hammond told me that God made my hair red on purpose, I haven’t cared for Him since.

The Reluctant Christian

Right off the bat, you’ve got to be thinking, what does being reluctant have to do with being an overcoming Christian? It’s like the old Sesame Street short: “One of these kids is not like the others…”

This is my message to myself. I apologize if it doesn’t meet you where you are, but it’s chock full of Scripture, and the word of the Lord does not return void.

A while back, Carl mentioned that we would have a topical series based on the overcoming Christian from Revelation. Then, as time grew closer he asked if I would consider giving a message. Then, a few weeks ago, he asked if I had thought of a title to go in the program. I had some ideas, but not really a title. I think I said the Trepidatious Christian, then the Hesitant Christian, and then out popped the Reluctant Christian.

The Logical Christian

We have been going through a series on what it means to be an overcoming Christian. This week’s message title is “The Logical Christian.” This message today has two parts. The first part is a bit of a theology lesson. In order to talk about what it means to be a logical Christian, I want to talk about the Logos, the Greek word from which we get our word “logical.” We will see that this will help us understand the source of becoming overcoming Christians in the area of logic and reason. In the second part of this message I want to focus on some practical aspects of incorporating logic into your relationship with Christ.

Today we are going to look at a number of passages, but especially I want to look at the very beginning of the book of John.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. – John 1:1-1:5

The Emotional Christian

Last week we began a new series entitled The Overcoming Christian. We looked at Revelations chapters 1 through 3 and read of warnings to seven churches. Each of the warnings ended with the phrase “to him who overcomes.” We learned that the Greek word for “overcome” is nikeo, from the word nike, which means victory. In fact, the Greeks believed in a goddess Nike who was the goddess of victory.

I gave the picture of someone running a long race, getting slower and slower, eventually walking, but finally finishing (hours after the winners have crossed) as a good example of what nikeo is not. Nikeo is winning, not finishing. We are not supposed to just finish the Christian race, but to win. This series explores what it means to win, to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, in our Christian “race.” I even said that I would “ban” the use of the phrase “Christian walk” during this series, instead calling it the “Christian race.” I closed with I Cor. 9:27, which says:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. – I Cor. 9:27

The Overcoming Christian

Is there anyone here who does not recognize this symbol? It is the symbol of Nike, the shoe maker. It is known as the Nike “swoosh.” What is this symbol supposed to represent? It is a wing. Why a wing? Believe it or not, this fits in with what we are going to talk about today. Our main text today is Revelations 1 and 2.

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. – Rev. 1:1-3

"I Would Heal Them"

Acts 28:1-28:31
We have been going through the Book of Acts, line by line, chapter by chapter, and at last, we are on the very last chapter. Honestly, I am very sad that it is coming to an end. I personally have learned and benefited so much from my time spent studying this book in depth, that it is currently my favorite book in the whole Bible. I have learned a lot about how to study a book in depth through this series, and hopefully each future book we go through line by line will become my new favorite as a result. Starting next week, though, we will take a break from book studies, and begin a series on what it means to really live as a Christian, as a follower of, as it says in Acts, “The Way.” The series is entitled “The Overcoming Christian,” and I will introduce the series next week.

But as I have said, I am sad to end this series on Acts. I think it has changed me. More than anything else, I think God has used it to enlarge my compassion. I have thought so much about what it must have been like to endure all the things the early believers had to endure, and I am more “raw” when I come face to face with the suffering that I see from time to time today.

Finding Peace in the Storm

Acts 27:1-27:44

We are now up to the last two chapters of the Book of Acts. Before we begin going through Acts chapter 27, let me bring you up to speed. Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem and brought to Caesarea. After spending two long years in jail, he finally had the beginnings of a trial, and Paul chose to “appeal to Caesar” rather than continue on trying to get a fair trial among people who lived by political favors without much regards for real justice. What this meant is that his trial would be taken up in Rome.

Rome is a long, long way from Caesarea, about 1500 miles one way. That distance is as a straight line; an actual journey, unless by air, is significantly longer. The most direct route at the time of Paul was by ship.

Living in a Political World

Acts 25:1-26:32

When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison. – Acts 24:27

We have been going through the book of Acts, line by line, since the beginning of the year. Two weeks ago, we came to this verse at the end of the teaching. Paul had now been on several successful yet challenging missionary journeys. New churches were being planted and growing, entire towns were coming to faith in Christ, and the gospel was spreading as promised in Acts 1. After overcoming countless dangers, obstacles, and setbacks, the Holy Spirit made it clear to Paul that he was to go to Jerusalem, and that “bondage and affliction” awaited him. In city after city, as Paul got closer to Jerusalem, those around him begged him not to go and confirmed to him that, indeed, bondage and affliction awaited him. But Paul was determined to follow the leading of God wherever He led and whatever would become of him, and so at last he entered Jerusalem.

Reflections on Acts

Acts 1-24, Psalm 63

We have been going week by week, line by line, through the Book of Acts since the beginning of January. Last week we ended in chapter 24 with Paul waiting under arrest in Caesarea for two years. Paul’s ministry was seemingly put to an end, despite the Lord’s promise that he would be His witness in Rome. Poor Paul! This had to be so difficult – the people holding him were amazingly corrupt, callous, brutal, evil men. Paul was held without due process for political reasons, partly because he didn’t try to bribe his jailors. What about the promise? What was God doing? I hate to do this to you, but we are going to leave Paul in jail for another week.

As we come close to finishing the Book of Acts, it seemed appropriate to take one week out of the sequence and review the entire book up to where we are in Chapter 24. I believe it is helpful to study the Bible many different ways, and one of these ways has been called the “Bird’s Eye View.” Just as a fast-flying eagle can survey a very large territory very quickly, we are going to survey 24 chapters of Acts to see what we can learn from seeing all at once the “big picture.”