Sermon in a nutshell: Acts 5:17-42 “They never stopped preaching the Good News.”
Today we have a worship service before God remembering all Saints who went before us to heaven. We have read the book of Acts. We read about Barnabas who sold his property and gave it to Apostles for the ministry of church. We remember that among our saints we have had people like that.
We read about the disciples who went around healing people. People were healed from physical and mental weaknesses and restored their wholeness. We remember that among our saints we have had people like that.
Today, we also read about an angel of the Lord who opened the doors of the jail and brought the disciples out so that they could go out to preach the Gospel. We remember that among our saints we have had people like that.
We also read in the Bible that there are disciples who went out to the street and witnessed to the life, teaching, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Even though they were given warnings of persecution, they did not stop preaching the Good News. We remember that among our saints we have had people like that. They listened to God and obeyed Him rather than human beings! They had courage and also wisdom how to silence those leaders of the community who threatened them not to preach.
We also read in the Bible about a wise man, Gamaliel, who had wisdom to take time to discern God’s direction. He did not take any hasty decisions or human conflicts as a cue. He let the movement flow to see if it came from God or from human desires. We remember that among our saints we have had people like that.
We read in the Bible today, in sum, day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, the disciples never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. We remember that our saints lived their lives like that. They did not just talk the talk but they walked the walk. When we remember those apostles, disciples, and saints, we take their stories as “treasures of our hearts.”
Their stories are the ones that lift us up when we lost our hopes. They lives are the sources of encouragement when we lose our hearts. Their stories are the memories that dry our tears in the times of sorrow. When we feel lazy, saying that evangelism is too much for us, their stories are continuous inspiration for us to move around sharing the love of God. The Rev. Oglesby went around, knocking the doors of the neighbors, at the age of 83, to share the zeal to start a new church. Now, when we remember all these saints and all the ministries that they did, we realize that it is now our turn to give our lives to make our church grow and to spread the Gospel all over the world.
Are you willing to sacrifice your life for the Lord? Are you willing to give what you have to spread the Gospel? Are you willing to be remembered as great saints later by your descendants? If so, let us name the saints and remember their lives while we are making our own resolutions.
1. Who is the one saint that you want to follow and imitate?
2. What would be your legacy when you move to heaven?