The Book of John Series (John 2:12-22) - October 14, 2012

The following service is part of The Book of John series from October 14, 2012.

 

The following are the answers to the text questions that came in during the sermon:

1.  “If a situation DOES capture my emotions, is it wrong for me to outwardly display my emotions ( in a negative way) if I am so driven?” 11:14 AM

I hope that I answer the intention of this question.  It is perfectly alright for all types of things to capture our emotions.  The point of our discussion from the passage in John 2 was to do a self- check on whether God had captured our emotions.  How those emotions manifest themselves, whether God or something else has captured them, is right or wrong based off of what one is actually doing.  Doing “something” based off of our emotions is not bad in and of itself.  (though we should not be controlled by our emotions)  It becomes negative when we hurt people or dishonor God.  I would say to respond, not react.  I would also offer the guideline that “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  – Colossians 3:17  If you are not doing anything intentionally for God, I would have to wonder if He has captured your emotions.

 

 2.  “Can you explain the difference between Christs Passion in the temple vs it being anger.” 11:29 AM

Well, I would first say that Christ’s Passion in the temple was anger.  Some people try to explain that Christians should never be angry, but the Bible actually paints a different picture.  Ephesians 4:26-27 reads, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”  This passage actually says to “be angry”.  There is an anger that is wrong and one that is right.  Being angry is right when it is because the glory of God is being shamed.  The passion that Jesus felt was focused on God.  Our anger is bad when the focus is on ourselves.  Later in the Ephesians passage we can read, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” – Ephesians 4:31  This passage reveals a progression of anger that is wrong.  The steps that Jesus took was right.  His anger led to righting some wrongs.  He did not react, rather, he responded to the situation.

 

3.  “Really love the sermon today. Good connection from the temple story to ourselves as the temple, other believers  as the temple , together we are all part of Gods temple.  Makes me glad to be part of the body of believers at Grace church.” 11:38 AM

4.  “How does the brother baptize someone? Is there not a requirement to be able to baptize others?” 11:51 AM

This is a great question.  I grew up in a church where only the Senior Pastor could baptize people.  I later worked in a church where only the Pastoral Staff could baptize people.  Later, I served in a church where whoever played an important role in leading the person to Christ could baptize.  That is the position that Grace Bible Church takes as well.  We will allow a person to baptize at Grace if they themselves have been baptized and they show a life that is committed to honoring God.  I wrestled with this question coming out of my first church, but quickly began to understand why the view that Grace Church holds is right.  One significant insight that I found was in the fact that the disciples of Jesus baptized many.  (John 4:1-3).  These guys were students of Jesus (a disciple is a student) and Jesus had them baptizing.  When Jesus later departed this world after his resurrection, he told his disciples to make disciples of all nations.  This was a major discovery for me because it opened my understanding to the idea that myself as a disciple of God could baptize.  I also found it significant that Philip baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch in the eighth chapter of Acts.  Philip was a Deacon at the time.  He had been appointed by the Apostles to be a part of the team that would meet the needs of the widows (Acts 6).  This is clearly not a part of the “pastoral staff”.  1 Corinthians 1:13-17 provides some interesting thoughts as well.  Paul seemed to take the attention off of the one doing the baptism and placed it instead on the one who actually can change the life…Jesus.  In Colossians 2:11-15 Paul explains how Jesus did what no external sign could do.  He provides a picture of what baptism actually symbolizes.  If we get too hung up on the qualifications of the one doing the baptism, then we can find ourselves in some difficult situations like when a Pastor is caught in adultery or other sin and is asked to step down.  Do all of the people who were baptized under that Pastor need to get re-baptized?  No!  Baptism is the work of Christ, not the human instrument helping to symbolize that mighty work.  Because it is such a beautiful picture of the work of Christ and often that work happens through loved ones, we celebrate when a loved one can be a part of the act of baptism.

 

 

 

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~ by Jason Miley on October 19, 2012.