Sermon in a nutshell: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Walk! (Acts 3:1-10)
God wants us to have an abundant life! That is why God wants to help us in every situation. There are two ways how God helps us. (1) Sometimes God directly feeds us. (2) Sometimes God gives us strength so that we can find foods for us. When we are too tired or too weak, God directly involves in our lives. However, when we have potential to stand up, God just nudges us to get up and move.
Churches are following God when we help people in and outside of our churches. For those who are too weak, we provide direct aids, like Share foods, Winter Night shelter, and Good Will donations. Many people think that non-profit organizations are doing all the good works while the churches are doing lip services but in reality churches are the providers of the resources to those non-profit agencies. We donate money and provide volunteers to them. Without local churches, all the non-profits cannot function even a day! They are branches and arms of the local churches. Non-profit Institutions and churches, we are working together. So, if you think that churches are hypocrites who are doing nothing, think twice. We are just like roots of a tree and invisible to those non-church people but we are there and working as hard as branches and leaves!
However, the more important function that our churches are doing is spiritual work! We not only give direct services like the non-profit organizations or public agencies, we are also doing spiritual work, called ministry! Our unique ministry is giving people the strength to feed themselves. We provide hope, faith, and love for people who are ready to accept them. One example is in the Bible for today.
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. There was a man who was lame from birth. He was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. There were about 10 gates where people went in and out of the Jerusalem City. Each gate has its name according to its function. So, if you are bringing sheep through the gate, it is Sheep Gate. If you go out to get water (not secret information), it is Water Gate. If you go to the Temple, the beautiful place, it is Beautiful Gate. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
When we do not give out direct aids, we give this spiritual power to people. People come with broken heart, weak bodies, lost hope, and low self-esteem to churches. Then we proclaim, “Silver or God, I do not have. But what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Walk!” You can do it. Start it over! God is with you! Can you say “So be it!”? Would you walk, run, and praise God with me?
• When God does not give what you want, what would you do?
• What would make you to stop begging and to start walking?