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July 19, 2009 - LifeWORDS:
"You are witnesses of these things!" (Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:4-8; cf. Luke 1:1-4)
Key Focus:
- The story of we have of Jesus is based on eye-witness testimony, empowered by the Holy Spirit
- This faith was validated in the change in those who witnessed Jesus before, during and after His crucifixion and resurrection
- While this was prophesied in Scripture and foretold by Jesus, the ultimate testimony to His resurrection and pouring out of the Spirit are these ordinary people made extraordinary (cf. Acts 4:13)
- Think of the impact of this "witness" on their lives. Born to be nobodies in a land under the domination of the Roman boot and relegated to being fishermen in an out of the way, has been country. Then a Galilean carpenter calls them and the next thing you know, they are caught up in this drama and then sent out to change the world ... forever -- and they did! Incredible!!
- Key Idea Flow
of Time in the Word
- The word witness, testify, testimony all come from the same root Greek word martus & martureow and it is found in 150 verses and used 172 times in the N.T. 36 times in Luke-Acts.
- Peter's Life as a Witness to the Resurrection (Drama: Rob Marcelain) -- this would be surrounded by key Scriptures as beginning and end
- Crucial Truth: Our message, our New Testament, is tied to the eye witness testimony of those who knew Jesus before His death and after His resurrection. Their lives were changed. Their courage was stirred. Ordinary people were made extraordinary by what they witnessed and the power of the Spirit. Our message rests on this foundation, this truth of eyewitness testimony empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Crucial Testimony: We are to be able to testify to what Jesus has done in our lives and change the world in which we live.
- What does it mean to be a witness for Jesus? Surely it's more than a spiel we give to tell folks how to be saved?
- "Witnessing Jesus includes sharing what God has done in your life, the power of His transformation." (Tammy Marcelain)
- "The Apostles had tremendous credibility because they were eyewitnesses of Jesus' life and ministry. We need to be "eyewitnesses" of what He has done in our lives." (Lynn Ashley)
- "It means telling about the Living Lord rather than the Lord who lived." (Amanda Pittman)
- "Telling about the Jesus who lives today, right now, not a long time ago!! This is what it means to me." (Donna Altman)
Key SoHills Emphasis:
- Jonathan Ross is a returning worship leader to help lead us in our worship this week
- LifeWORDS: the power of Jesus' resurrection in our lives ... this week, the power to be a witness for the resurrected Jesus in our lives today and as the heart of the story of Scripture.
Key Scriptures:
45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. 33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed ...
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Drama, Media, & Connecting Pieces:
- Pre-video: Corbett will help us here working with Vann or we can use, Shine Your Flashlight for pre-vid and Unshakeable Witness for main vid.
- Video Possibilities:
- Shine Your Flashlight
- Unshakeable Witness
- Drama with Rob Marcelain
- Peter looking back on his life. As a kid, a bit ADD -- love the stories of the synagogue school, but not the long tedious memory work and sitting still. Wanted to be with his dad catching fish in Lake Galilee. He liked action. As he took his job, he didn't want to change the world, just show up the other fishermen and feed his family. But then Jesus entered his life ... but then that awful night in Gethsemane and warming himself by the fire and his failures ... then the resurrection. Now, as an old man, he looked back on his life as a fisherman: he still knew the feel of the nets, the rock of the boat, the shifting of the winds that signaled the storm on Lake Galilee, but he also knew the travel of the world, the light in people's eyes when the they got who Jesus is, and he was ready to face his execution, a promise he had made years ago to Jesus that he would even die for him. From that little boy, to a salty fisherman, to a broken man at the crow of a rooster, to a world changer. Yes, he was a witness of what changed everything ... including him.
- Scripture Readings
- Acts 2:32-33 --Before the Peter piece, read off stage, immediately before Rob begins
- Acts 4:18-20 -- Right after the Peter piece, read off stage, immediately after Rob begins
Communion Focus:
- Two key ideas:
- What stands in the way of me sharing my witness with others? I leave my excuse, my sin, my fear, my timidity, at the Table and be reminded that Jesus died for me and was raised to be real and present in my life this week.
- With whom do I need share my testimony about what Jesus is doing in my life?
Daybreak Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Phil & J Ross)
Refresh Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Phil, Vann, & J Ross)
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