resurrection – The Center City Christian

Real Talk – The Great Commission

Matthew 28:18-20 KJV

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Great Commission: Jesus Christ; given all power in heaven and on earth by God, who died for the sins of all people from all nations, tells us to make more disciples—teaching the Good News, baptizing new believers in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

What is baptism? My Life Application® Study Bible says: “. . . immersion was the usual form of baptism—that is, new Christians were completely ‘buried’ in water. They understood this form of baptism to symbolize the death and burial of the old way of life. Coming up out of the water symbolized resurrection to new life with Christ.” (Note Romans 6:1-4) “Baptism symbolizes submission to Christ, a willingness to live God’s way, and identification with God’s covenant people.” (Note Matthew 28:19[2])

The Great Commission is not optional but a command for all believers. We are to obey and teach others to obey Christ. Each time we choose to take a step in obedience, it results in authenticity (Psalm 139:14-18)! God has designed us as disciples to share the gospel—use your talents! And walk in obedience knowing that Jesus will be with you always!

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In Athens

Acts 17:16-34 KJV

16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.

17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.

18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.

19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?

20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.

21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.

23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.

33 So Paul departed from among them.

34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Real Talk – Marketing 101 (A.D.)

The apostle Paul once studied under Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). Gamaliel was an honored Jewish teacher of the time (Acts 5:34). Therefore, the apostle Paul possessed an extensive knowledge of the law.

With the Holy Spirit’s guidance, he also understood his audience, which is a crucial aspect of present-day marketing. When speaking to a Jewish audience in Acts 13:13-52, he began with themes that were familiar to them. And when addressing a Greek audience in Acts 17:16-34, he understood that Jewish history would be meaningless. So he pointed out what they believed about their god. But in both cases, he centered the rest of his sermon around the resurrection of Christ.

In the same way, understanding our audience will help us introduce the Good News. And that is only one small detail I find most interesting of the apostle Paul’s enormous, yet humble, character. A man stoned and beaten (both in and out of prison) (Acts 14:8-20; 16:16-40), shipwrecked (Acts 27:1-44), placed under house arrest (and still wrote letters to all the churches) (Acts 28:16-31), and finally faced death in a cold Roman prison (2 Timothy 4:6-8)—all for the sake of the gospel.

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Praise to God for a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-12 KJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.