Do vs. Done

Worship Service for May 2, 2021

WELCOME

Good morning and welcome to CrossPointe Community Church’s online worship presentation. I thank God for all of you and for the opportunity to spend these moments with you.

Especially as today we have the blessing of sharing in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. If you haven’t already, you should pause this video and prepare your own communion elements and have them nearby for later.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A Priest, a Rabbi and a misguided evangelist were walking along when they came upon a trunk with a million dollars in it.

The Priest says. “I say we draw a circle on the ground then throw the money in the air. The money that falls outside the circle we give to God
and that which falls inside we keep for ourselves.”

The Rabbi thinks about it for a minute, then naturally says,
“I think just the opposite, the money that falls outside the circle we keep
and that which falls inside we give to God.”

The misguided evangelist interrupts, “No, no, no, my jet needs new tires.
I say we throw it into the air and what God wants he will keep.”

CALL TO WORSHIP

In Acts 1, Jesus ascends. In chapter 2, the promised Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples empowering them for ministry. In chapter 3, Peter and John are involved in the healing of a life-long cripple. In chapter 4, the Jewish religious leaders had them arrested and put in jail overnight.

The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.’ There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:5-12

OPENING WORSHIP SONGS

Stronger

Fielding, Ben/Morgan, Reuben

There is a love that came for us;
Humbled to a sinner’s cross;
Broke my shame and sinfulness,
You rose again victorious.
Faithfulness none can deny
Through the storm and through the fire
There is truth that sets me free.
Jesus Christ, Who lives in me.
You are stronger…You are stronger.
Sin is broken…You have saved me.
It is written…Christ is risen,
Jesus, You…are Lord of all.
No beginning…and no end;
You’re my hope…and my defense.
You came to seek, and save the lost.
You paid it all…upon the cross.
You are stronger…You are stronger.
Sin is broken…You have saved me.
It is written…Christ is risen,
Jesus, You…are Lord of all.
So let your name be lifted higher…
Be lifted higher…be lifted higher.
Let your name be lifted higher…
Be lifted higher…be lifted higher.
Let your name be lifted higher…
Be lifted higher…be lifted higher.
Let your name be lifted higher…
Be lifted higher…be lifted higher.
You are stronger…You are stronger.
Sin is broken…You have saved me.
It is written…Christ is risen,
Jesus, You…are Lord of all.
You are stronger…You are stronger.
Sin is broken…You have saved me.
It is written…Christ is risen,
Jesus, You…are Lord of all.
©2007 Ben Fielding/Reuben Morgan/Hillsong Publishing (admin. In US and Canada by
Integrity’s Hosanna! Music) c/o Integrity Media, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 1843349

Jesus Your Name

Chapman, Morris/Cloninger, Claire

Jesus, Your name is power.
Jesus, Your name is might.
Jesus, Your name will break ev’ry stronghold.
Jesus, Your name is life.
Jesus, Your name is healing.
Jesus, Your name gives sight.
Jesus, Your name will free ev’ry captive.
Jesus, Your name is life.
Jesus, Your name is holy.
Jesus, Your name brings light.
Jesus, Your name above ev’ry other.
Jesus, Your name is life.
Jesus, Your name is life.
Jesus, Your name is life.
©1990 Maranatha Praise, Inc./Word Music,Inc. (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.)
CCLI License No. 1843349

OPENING PRAYER

Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, four weeks ago today we gathered to proclaim ‘Christ is Risen!’ And we are still thrilled to hear again today the good news proclaimed by Saint Peter that Jesus died and was raised again, and that there is, therefore, no other name by which people might be saved. We thank You for granting us faith to embrace this truth. And we pray that as a result of our participation in this worship experience today our lives will reflect the glory of Your name that others might join us as worshippers of the Risen Lord. All glory and honor be unto Him, amen.

THE GIVING OF THE LORD’S OFFERING

For those of you who wish to participate in today’s offering, please place your gift in the wooden box on the table near the entrance.

As we consider God’s call upon our lives to give, I invite you to consider these words from the Lord Jesus: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33).

PRAYER SONG

Everlasting God

Riley, Kenneth Henry/Brown, Brenton

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.
Our God, You reign forever.
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer.
You are the everlasting God.
The everlasting God.
You do not faint.
You won’t grow weary.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.
Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.
We will wait upon the Lord.
Our God, You reign forever.
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer.
You are the everlasting God.
The everlasting God.
You do not faint.
You won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak.
You comfort those in need.
You lift us up on wings like eagles.
Our God, You reign forever.
Our hope, our Strong Deliverer.
You are the everlasting God.
The everlasting God.
You do not faint.
You won’t grow weary.
You’re the defender of the weak.
You comfort those in need.
You lift us up on wings like eagles.
©2006 worshiptogether.com.
CCLI License No. 1843349

MORNING PRAYER

Katie and Maylee Albright

Please join us in prayer:
Dear God,
We have many things we would like to pray to You about today. So many blessings to thank You for.
So many people are hurting and need you to remind them that You are present and that You are bigger than any storm they are facing right now. So many things going on in the world today that need Your divine intervention. The list goes on and on. But today we would like to specifically pray for the congregation.
We would like to thank You for bringing us all into this church and surrounding us with so many wonderful people. All the members with loving hearts who do so much for others and don’t even realize how much of an impact they really make.
We would like to pray for the ones that send random cards or text messages to others telling them they are good people and they are loved. The ones that devote themselves to prayer every time Randy sends an email asking to pray for others in need.
The ones that volunteer so much of their time to help others – like preparing and making food for the community meal, showing up to serve the meals, the members that participate in the band to play music and sing the beautiful songs, the ones who show up early and stay late to move, chairs, pews or put together slideshows.
We pray for the members who give their time every Friday night to run the Recovery Group and on Mondays for the Grief Support Group.
We pray for the church leaders making decisions and the members who step up to the plate when Randy is out of town.
We pray for the members that helped in so many ways during our pre-covid life when there was children’s worship, the nursery, gather to scatter, bible study groups, all the community activities that were put on. And we pray that someday soon we can return to all of that.
We pray for the people that greet us at the door and pass out bulletins, the ones who lead us in prayer every Sunday, all the people who attend whether it be in person or online. Whether they show up for the very first time or every week all the time. We pray for all the generous hearts that donate and keep the church going, and the larger groups that provide generous donations as well.
God, these are people that You have inspired. They are leading by example. They are spreading Your grace. We pray that we can continue to help and touch the lives of many others. God, the only reason we can love You, ourselves, and others around us is because You loved us first. And for that we thank You.
Amen

SCRIPTURE

You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Matthew 5:13-16

Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. But Paul and Barnabas traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services. After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: ‘Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.’
So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. ‘Men of Israel,’ he said, ‘and you God-fearing Gentiles, listen to me. The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them multiply and grow strong during their stay in Egypt. Then with a powerful arm he led them out of their slavery. He put up with them through forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years.
After that, God gave them judges to rule until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years. But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’
And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel! Before He came, John the Baptist preached that all the people of Israel needed to repent of their sins and turn to God and be baptized. As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’
Brothers—you sons of Abraham, and also you God-fearing Gentiles—this message of salvation has been sent to us! The people in Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize Jesus as the one the prophets had spoken about. Instead, they condemned Him, and in doing this they fulfilled the prophets’ words that are read every Sabbath. They found no legal reason to execute Him, but they asked Pilate to have Him killed anyway.
When they had done all that the prophecies said about Him, they took Him down from the cross and placed Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead! And over a period of many days He appeared to those who had gone with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now His witnesses to the people of Israel.
And now we are here to bring you this Good News. The promise was made to our ancestors, and God has now fulfilled it for us, their descendants, by raising Jesus. This is what the second psalm says about Jesus: ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your Father.’
For God had promised to raise Him from the dead, not leaving Him to rot in the grave. He said, ‘I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.’ Another psalm explains it more fully: ‘You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.’ This is not a reference to David, for after David had done the will of God in his own generation, he died and was buried with his ancestors, and his body decayed. No, it was a reference to someone else—someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.
Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in Him is made right in God’s sight—something the law of Moses could never do.
Be careful! Don’t let the prophets’ words apply to you. For they said, ‘Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it.’
As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people begged them to speak about these things again the next week. Many Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them to continue to rely on the grace of God.
The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord. But when some of the Jews saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, ‘It was necessary that we first preach the word of God to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life, we will offer it to the Gentiles. For the Lord gave us this command when He said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’
When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region.”
Acts 13:13-48

THE MESSAGE

Randy K’Meyer

Do vs. Done

Pastor Riley was in the middle of his sermon when he noticed a man had fallen asleep with his head on his wife’s shoulder.
“Wake up your husband,” Pastor Riley snapped.
The wife smiled and replied, “You put him to sleep, you wake him up.”

Here’s praying we won’t have a conversation like that today.

2000 years ago, the good news began to spread across the Mediterranean Basin, as in today’s text from Acts 13, where Paul boldly declares in the synagogue at Antioch:

“Brothers and sisters, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man, Jesus, there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in Him is made right in God’s sight” (38-39).

And the result was many believed and “the Lord’s message spread throughout that region” (49).

2000 years later, that same good news is still being spread by the disciples of Jesus. There is no higher calling in life; no more significant task occurring on the planet than helping people discover the truth about who Jesus was and what He accomplished for anyone who trusts in Him.

And 2000 years later, people still make decisions to believe and the word of the Lord continues to spread.

Two weeks ago, I introduced Each One Reach One where I implored all of us to participate in evangelism by reaching one person for Christ between now and next Easter. I asked you to write down the names of five persons whom you know who do not practice the Christian faith. I asked you to begin to earnestly pray for those persons, recognizing the key to reaching people for Christ is prayer. I then asked you to simply invite them to come to a Christian worship service, where they could be exposed to the truth of the good news.

Last week, we investigated the Come and See method of evangelism championed by the woman who encountered Jesus at Jacob’s well and who consequently told the people in her town to “Come and See the man who told me everything I ever did” (John 4:29).

And I gave you six examples of ways to say to your five people, ‘Come and see what Jesus has done or is doing and/or will do for me,’ so that their curiosity will drive them to discover for themselves what you already have about Jesus.

But beyond inviting a person to either come to church or consider what Christ has done for us, there will come a time, hopefully, when we must be prepared to share the Biblical truth about what Christ has done for all humanity.

I Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

Let’s admit this is more difficult than inviting someone to come to church, or sharing how Christ Jesus has made a significant positive impact in our lives.

One reason that it’s difficult is we are afraid we might offend someone. Today’s highly-charged, politically-correct, cultural-climate can, if we allow it, impede our efforts to have an intelligent conversation about matters of faith. It’s getting so bad that atheists are being offended when anyone within earshot exclaims, or even mutters to themselves, the expression, “Oh my God” lol!

Listen, there will always be those who reject the truth of the gospel. Paul had his detractors: “they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said” (Acts 13:45b). But that didn’t stop Paul, it shouldn’t stop us from being salt and light by sharing the truth of the good news.

Michael Green, in his classic, Evangelism in the Early Church, states that Paul and company were successful in helping others discover faith in Christ because, “First and foremost they were sold-out to the truth of their message.” ¹

The truth must prevail over any hesitancy on our part to share it!

The question is: ‘what tool can I use to always be prepared to share the truth?’ and the answer is: put the Do vs. Done tool in your evangelism toolbox.

‘Do vs. done; we’ve heard this before.’ Here’s where I might put some to sleep, because, yes, I have talked about this several times over the last 10 years. But here’s the thing; until I’m sure everyone understands it and is using it, I’ll keep bringing it up from time to time.

I highly recommend the Do vs. Done tool because first of all, it’s Biblical. It basically is a contrast and comparison of being made right with God through either choice one: obeying a moral law, the Law of Moses, or choice two: believing in Christ.

In today’s text from Acts, Paul models this Do vs. Done, contrast-comparison:

“Everyone who believes in Him (Jesus) is made right in God’s sight; something the law of Moses could never do” (Acts 13:39).

Secondly, because it helps us comply with Peter’s counsel to share the good news “with gentleness and respect.” It doesn’t condemn the other person, or put them on the defensive. In fact, it invites the other person to participate in a thoughtful discussion.

Third, rather than starting with an axiom or proposition, it begins with a question. ‘Would you like to know the difference between religion and Christianity?’ From there people can say, ‘No, I’d rather not,’ and we accept that. But if you know them and they trust you, they probably won’t. They will most likely say something like, ‘Okay, humor me, what’s the difference between religion and Christianity?’

Then, you enlist them to help you answer the question with follow-up questions. ‘Why do people even consider being religious?’ And they will probably say something like, ‘Because people want to be accepted by God and hope to go to heaven.’

And you follow with, ‘So what do religious people do in order to be accepted by God and go to heaven?’ There’s the key question: ‘What do religious people do?’ Then you ask them to help you create a list of the things that religious people do.

And they will say for example that religious people ‘pray, worship, read scripture, love others, give money, help people in need, etc., etc.’

After a minute or so of creating this list of things that religious people do, you say, ‘So what we are recognizing is that religion is characterized by the word do. We do something in order to merit or earn God’s favor.’

Christianity, on the other hand, is characterized by the word ‘done.’ Everything that possibly could be done to make us right with God was done when Jesus died on the cross.

[By the way, towards the bottom of the page after the footnotes there is a one-page diagram that nicely lays this out for you.]

Anyway, this is the ‘good news’ of the gospel; Jesus willingly went to the cross so that we could be made right with God.

‘And,’ you can continue, ‘One of the reasons this is good news is because we never have to worry about when we have done enough to be accepted by God and go to heaven. Right? If we adopt the religious point of view based upon what we do, we will never be at peace about when we have done enough.’

At this point, we need to ask a couple of very important follow-up questions:
First, ‘Does this make sense to you?’ And they will either say, ‘Yes, it does, thank you,’ or they might ask for clarification.

Second, ‘Is there anything holding you back from turning your life to Christ?’

And with that, we have done our job, we have shared the gospel truth,
we have planted the seed! We have become salt and light.

Now the graffiti from the 1800s re-discovered by workers renovating the Washington Monument in 1994 applies to us.

Whoever is the human instrument under God in the conversion of one soul, erects a monument to his own memory more lofty and enduing than this. ²

And would like some more good news? After we have shared the truth of the gospel, God says, ‘Thanks so much for sharing the gospel, now kindly leave the results up to Me.’ You have planted the seed, others might water that seed, but rest assured, I will take on the responsibility to make it grow .’

J. I. Packer writes, “While we must always remember that it is our responsibility to proclaim salvation, we must never forget that it is God who saves. . . . Our evangelistic work is the instrument He uses for this purpose, but the power that saves is not in the instrument: it is in the hand of the One who uses the instrument.” ³

God takes the responsibility to bring the seed to fruition because, if I might put it this way: God is the One with the most skin in the game.

Paul puts it more eloquently than that in his letter to the Philippians:

Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up His divine privilege; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled Himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (2:6-8).

Because this is true, this good news must be shared.

A man was out for a stroll and noticed a family in their front room watching TV laughing, relaxed, having a good time. But then he noticed what they couldn’t see: flames coming from their roof! Naturally, his first impulse was, “I should bang on their front door and warn them. But then he thought, “But what if they don’t believe me? What if they’re annoyed that I’ve interrupted their family time?” Then he thought, ‘But this is serious; if I don’t say anything, they’ll lose their lives.’ “Fire, fire!” ⁴

Jesus was born in a borrowed manger, He preached from a borrowed boat, He entered Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey, He ate the last supper in a borrowed room and he was buried in a borrowed tomb. Now he asks to borrow the lives of people like you and I to reach the rest of the world. If we do not speak, we render Him dumb and silent.

C. S Lewis said, “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.” ⁵

CLOSING PRAYER

[Please pray as you feel led].

By the way, before we celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion, ‘If you haven’t already, is there anything holding you back from deciding to believe Jesus died so that you could be forgiven?’

I love the story of the lady who while attending a dinner party spilled a little wine on a beautiful, gorgeous, handmade handkerchief that had been given to her by her grandmother. She felt terrible, thinking it was ruined. The great poet and artist, John Ruskin, was in attendance, and asked if he could borrow it, took it home and then brought it back to her a couple weeks later. She didn’t even recognize it because the previously white handkerchief had now been transformed into a brightly colored handkerchief – that stain having been incorporated into a beautiful new design.

You know, that’s what God does for us. We have stains in our lives: sins, failures, mistakes. But God, in the depth of His love, takes our stains and through the power of the cross makes them part of a beautiful new forgiven life.

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

INVITATION

Christ our Lord invites to His table all who love Him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another. Therefore, let us confess our sin before God and one another.

CONFESSION AND PARDON

Merciful God,
we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have failed to be an obedient church.
We have not done your will,
we have broken your law,
we have rebelled against your love,
we have not loved our neighbors,
and we have not heard the cry of the needy.
Forgive us, we pray.
Free us for joyful obedience,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All pray in silence.

Hear the good news:
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners;
that proves God’s love toward us.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

SONG OF THANKSGIVING FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SIN

Give Thanks

Smith, Henry

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He’s given
Jesus Christ, His Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks because He’s given
Jesus Christ, His Son.
And now let the weak say,
‘I am strong.’
Let the poor say, ‘I am rich’
Because of what the Lord
Has done for us.
And now let the weak say,
‘I am strong.’
Let the poor say, ‘I am rich’
Because of what the Lord
Has done for us.
Give thanks.
Give thanks.
Give thanks.
©1978 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
CCLI License No. 1843349

THE WORDS OF GRACE

On the night in which He gave himself up for us,
He took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread,
gave it to His disciples, and said:
“Take, eat; this is My body which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of Me.” [Receive the bread].

When the supper was over, He took the cup,
gave thanks to You, gave it to His disciples, and said:
“Drink from this, all of you;
this is My blood of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [Receive the cup].

COMMUNION PRAYER

Eternal God, we give You thanks for this holy mystery in which You have given yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit, to give ourselves for others, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever, amen.

CLOSING SONG

Salt and Light

L’Ecuyer, John and Jan

You make me want to be like You
Your holiness I will pursue
I want the heart of Jesus.
Show me the meaning of Your grace
I want to give the world a taste
Of the love of Jesus.
Make me salt…make me light
Let your holy fire ignite…
Reveal Your glory in my life.
For I am not ashamed…
To lift up Your holy name
Make me salt… make me light.
Make me salt…make me light.
Let your holy fire ignite…
Reveal Your glory in my life.
For I am not ashamed…
To lift up Your holy name
Make me salt… make me light.
Make me salt…make me light.
Make me salt…make me light.
©2002 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
CCLI License No. 1843349

BENEDICTION

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:20-21

2 Spokesman-Review, June, 1994
https://www.sermonsearch.com/sermon-illustrations/7070/1800s-graffiti-found-in-monument/

4 https://hotsermons.com/sermon-illustrations/sermon-illustrations-evangelism.html

5 C. S. Lewis (1898 – 1963), was a novelist, poet, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian, broadcaster, lecturer, and Christian apologist, best known for his works MERE CHRISTIANITY and CHRONICLES OF NARNIA.