Fight Club – Week 4 Icebreaker: What in your life are you fighting for? Going deeper: Read: Acts 5:27-42 Pastor Doug painted some disturbing pictures for the church this week. He described a few experiences of early Christians in the Roman Empire: Emperor Nero would wrap believers in thistles, douse them in oil, impale them […]
Fight Club – Week 4
Icebreaker:
What in your life are you fighting for?
Going deeper:
Read: Acts 5:27-42
Pastor Doug painted some disturbing pictures for the church this week. He described a few experiences of early Christians in the Roman Empire:
Emperor Nero would wrap believers in thistles, douse them in oil, impale them and light them on fire to light up his parties.
Christians would be fed to animals that had been starved for weeks and taught to hunger for human flesh.
Cyprian was executed by Rome for encouraging people to seek Christ in the face of a plague.
Pastor Doug outlined three principles that defined the apostles in Acts 5 and the early church.
They had a righteous battle to fight.
They had unwavering conviction.
They were willing to sacrifice everything for Christ.
Now it’s time to really assess where you’re at. The temptation would be to cheat these questions of their intent.
1 Corinthians 10 is written to warn the church of idolatry (placing anything above God). Verse 21 draws the lines for us: “You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too.”
Note that there are two tables, two cups. Note that in the scriptures there are just sheep and goats. There are just heaven and hell. There are light and dark. There are good and evil. There are yes and no. There is no third choice, no halfway. On which side do you stand? At which table are you seated? These questions tell you where you’re seated, one or the other.
Do you believe that the battle of God’s Kingdom is righteous? (The things God stands for, stands against, stands to save and stands to destroy)
Do you have an unwavering conviction the Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, your Lord and Savior? Do you believe he lived, died, resurrected and will one day return to bring judgement on the earth?
Is there anything you won’t sacrifice for him?
The humbling element in all of this is that Jesus gave up everything for us. His choice was demonstrated on the cross. His desire is that none should perish; he died for everyone, but he gives us the choice. We don’t have to choose him. Maybe we just aren’t ready to make that decision; we haven’t weighed the options.
If I could convince you now, I’d tell you that there isn’t a thing on earth that will fulfill you outside of a relationship with Jesus. I’d love to spare you the desperate search for love, meaning and hope. Christ alone offers it. Will you accept it, fight for it and share it?
Reflect:
What do you need to do with this week’s message?
Thank God for his great love…