LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON NOTES
Read Peter's preaching notes....
“Parting Words”
Matthew 28:16-20
5/12/24
Talk about important holiday this week: not one everyone else talking about
not talking about Mother’s Day: other holiday, one of most obscure at least in US
Ascension Day: celebrated last Thurs: did you even notice?
40 days after Easter Jesus ascended into heaven to take place of authority & glory
now rules over all creation: acts, intercedes, prays for us
may remember talked about few months ago as part of AC
Mt, Lk & Acts describe ascension, as well as later long ending to Mk, Jn in own way
each slightly different nuance to what happened, what it meant
look today at best-known version in Mt
known not as much for what happened as for what Jesus said before ascending
last words on earth before went to heaven: definitely worth paying attn to
On Easter morning, angels at empty tomb told women disc would meet Jesus in Galilee
so that’s where they went & that’s where they saw him
according to Lk, John, 1 Cor 15, saw him other times before then
depending on how count, at least 7 X: once to more than 500 people
Mt only tells us about one time, right before ascended to heaven
doesn’t mean didn’t know about other times: highlighted most important
When saw Jesus, Mt tells us that they wp’d him, but that some doubted
perhaps shouldn’t be surprised, based on what learned in last couple weeks
two disc, knew Jesus well, didn’t recognize as walked w/ all afternoon to Emmaus
Th refused to believe friends until saw for himself
but this is different: saw risen Lord right in front of them, knew it was him
still didn’t believe: why not? […]
because what I told you last week about Thomas isn’t true
said that we need evidence & facts before believe something
but even when have proof, won’t believe if doesn’t match our preconceptions
M. Polanyi, scientist turned philosopher, documented multiple times sci. community refused to believe new findings, no matter how well documented
because conflicted w/ what thought was true
maybe explains our current political climate
can provide someone w/ iron-clad evidence or proof about favorite politician
but if doesn’t match what want to think about them, will reject
might even call you a few choice names in the process
perhaps what happened for some of Jesus’ disc: saw him standing right in front of them
but because dead people don’t come back to life, didn’t believe what eyes showed
Move on to what Jesus said before ascended
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Given to him: didn’t take it or claim it for self
Philip 2:9: “God exalted him to highest place, gave name above every name”
Jn 8:54 “My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.”
given authority & glory because of obedience & sacrifice
doesn’t impose his authority over us: earned it by what he did for us
so when begins by reminding disc of authority, in essence saying
“After what I’ve done for you, this is what I’d like you to do for me”
consider for self what X has done for you: ask what can do for him in return
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations:”
Disc = follower & student: what each of us claimed to be in ch membership vow:
Do you intend to be Christ's faithful disciple, to obey his word, and to show his love?"
X now tells us to make more disc: more people like us who will follow him
how do you make disc? begin by being one yourself
can’t lead other people to follow Jesus if you’re not following him yourself
Jesus tells us next step in disc-making: seems obvious: “Go”
won’t make disc if sit “w/ teeth in mouth:” have to act, take initiative
be willing to be uncomfortable & put self out there: close to home or across globe
went on to outline 2 specific things that it takes to make disc
“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:”
Bapt ≠ some magic charm: when water hits you, instantly become disc
but sign of something powerful that is happening
bapt not something we do: bapt is something God does: claims person to be his own
when we baptize (we, not me), give person message: God claims you, God wants you
God wants to turn your life upside down, or more accurately, right-side up
“And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you:”
In order to teach someone to obey X’s commands, need to know them yourself
extra bonus if obeying them as well: do as I do: let your life be example
what does Jesus command? not list of do’s and don’t’s, shoulds and oughts
made it pretty clear at Last Supper, as recorded in Jn 15
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” [v 12]
in case missed, repeated in v 17: “this is my command: Love each other.”
Paul said same thing in Ro 13:9: “The commandments…are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
teach people how to love: and best way to teach love is to live love
love isn’t easy: love led Jesus to cross: who knows where love will lead you?
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Odd thing for him to say right before leaving & going up into heaven
entire Xn industry built around predicting when he will return
(even though told us no one knows day or hour)
when focus attn on Jesus’ return, lose sight of fact that he never left
Jesus already here: may not see w/ eyes, touch w/ fingers, hear w/ ears
but when you are his disc, if pay attn to what’s happening in your heart,
realize it’s true: he is and always will be w/ you
Matthew 28:16-20
5/12/24
Talk about important holiday this week: not one everyone else talking about
not talking about Mother’s Day: other holiday, one of most obscure at least in US
Ascension Day: celebrated last Thurs: did you even notice?
40 days after Easter Jesus ascended into heaven to take place of authority & glory
now rules over all creation: acts, intercedes, prays for us
may remember talked about few months ago as part of AC
Mt, Lk & Acts describe ascension, as well as later long ending to Mk, Jn in own way
each slightly different nuance to what happened, what it meant
look today at best-known version in Mt
known not as much for what happened as for what Jesus said before ascending
last words on earth before went to heaven: definitely worth paying attn to
On Easter morning, angels at empty tomb told women disc would meet Jesus in Galilee
so that’s where they went & that’s where they saw him
according to Lk, John, 1 Cor 15, saw him other times before then
depending on how count, at least 7 X: once to more than 500 people
Mt only tells us about one time, right before ascended to heaven
doesn’t mean didn’t know about other times: highlighted most important
When saw Jesus, Mt tells us that they wp’d him, but that some doubted
perhaps shouldn’t be surprised, based on what learned in last couple weeks
two disc, knew Jesus well, didn’t recognize as walked w/ all afternoon to Emmaus
Th refused to believe friends until saw for himself
but this is different: saw risen Lord right in front of them, knew it was him
still didn’t believe: why not? […]
because what I told you last week about Thomas isn’t true
said that we need evidence & facts before believe something
but even when have proof, won’t believe if doesn’t match our preconceptions
M. Polanyi, scientist turned philosopher, documented multiple times sci. community refused to believe new findings, no matter how well documented
because conflicted w/ what thought was true
maybe explains our current political climate
can provide someone w/ iron-clad evidence or proof about favorite politician
but if doesn’t match what want to think about them, will reject
might even call you a few choice names in the process
perhaps what happened for some of Jesus’ disc: saw him standing right in front of them
but because dead people don’t come back to life, didn’t believe what eyes showed
Move on to what Jesus said before ascended
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Given to him: didn’t take it or claim it for self
Philip 2:9: “God exalted him to highest place, gave name above every name”
Jn 8:54 “My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.”
given authority & glory because of obedience & sacrifice
doesn’t impose his authority over us: earned it by what he did for us
so when begins by reminding disc of authority, in essence saying
“After what I’ve done for you, this is what I’d like you to do for me”
consider for self what X has done for you: ask what can do for him in return
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations:”
Disc = follower & student: what each of us claimed to be in ch membership vow:
Do you intend to be Christ's faithful disciple, to obey his word, and to show his love?"
X now tells us to make more disc: more people like us who will follow him
how do you make disc? begin by being one yourself
can’t lead other people to follow Jesus if you’re not following him yourself
Jesus tells us next step in disc-making: seems obvious: “Go”
won’t make disc if sit “w/ teeth in mouth:” have to act, take initiative
be willing to be uncomfortable & put self out there: close to home or across globe
went on to outline 2 specific things that it takes to make disc
“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:”
Bapt ≠ some magic charm: when water hits you, instantly become disc
but sign of something powerful that is happening
bapt not something we do: bapt is something God does: claims person to be his own
when we baptize (we, not me), give person message: God claims you, God wants you
God wants to turn your life upside down, or more accurately, right-side up
“And teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you:”
In order to teach someone to obey X’s commands, need to know them yourself
extra bonus if obeying them as well: do as I do: let your life be example
what does Jesus command? not list of do’s and don’t’s, shoulds and oughts
made it pretty clear at Last Supper, as recorded in Jn 15
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” [v 12]
in case missed, repeated in v 17: “this is my command: Love each other.”
Paul said same thing in Ro 13:9: “The commandments…are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
teach people how to love: and best way to teach love is to live love
love isn’t easy: love led Jesus to cross: who knows where love will lead you?
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Odd thing for him to say right before leaving & going up into heaven
entire Xn industry built around predicting when he will return
(even though told us no one knows day or hour)
when focus attn on Jesus’ return, lose sight of fact that he never left
Jesus already here: may not see w/ eyes, touch w/ fingers, hear w/ ears
but when you are his disc, if pay attn to what’s happening in your heart,
realize it’s true: he is and always will be w/ you
Old Union Presbyterian Church | 200 Union Church Road, Mars, PA 16046
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com
724-538-8672 | OldUnionChurch@gmail.com