Acts 5: To the Ends of the Earth

This week, Dave wraps up the first part of our series on the early church as recorded in the book of Acts (we will return for the second part in the fall). Next week, we will be having a BBQ and pool party at the home of one of our church families. There will also be an opportunity to be baptized there. As a result, there will not be a sermon podcast episode next week. If you are interested in joining us, please reach out. Also, as a programming note, as home churches have gone on a break for the summer, the Home Church Questions portion of the show notes will be abbreviated for the next couple of months.

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What stood out to you from this week's teaching?

2. Read Acts 8:26-39, 10:1-48 (preferably in multiple translations). What stands out to you from these passages?

3. What are some ways that I have set up barriers between myself and those around me?

4. How is God inviting me to break down those barrier?

5. Pray with and for one another, our church community, and our world.

Instagram: @theharbournewmarket
Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: david@theharbournewmarket.ca

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Well good morning everyone. It's uh it's great to be together on these uh summer mornings. I've uh received my instructions from my handler Sherry, who's at the trailer, the phone rang at quarter after seven, making sure that all was in order and uh that Cam had his outline and that Marianne had her announcements, and I said, Well, it's a little early, but um I'll get I'll get down there shortly. And uh yeah, it's uh it's good it's good to be together. Well, we're finishing up today. This would be part one of our series on the birth of the church. Next week we move into our um you know our appreciation barbecue, and uh then we're gonna kick off a summer series, and these are designed to be kind of one-offs, knowing that people you know fade in and out and have uh vacation, et cetera, et cetera. So we're gonna be looking at Old Testament stories, so characters in the Old Testament that uh yeah, that that are great stories of of faith, and uh change it up a little bit for a couple months. I will be doing some. I know Will's doing one, uh Mike White's doing one, Brian Waugh is gonna come and do one, and uh a friend of mine who partnered with me in uh at MCC. She uh had a caseload of circles of support and accountability with me and also was heavily involved on the woman women side. So she is gonna come and share in July. And uh yeah, so we're looking forward to just uh just changing it up a bit, and then we'll pick up in the fall kind of part two of Acts where we'll focus on Paul and uh some of his missionary journeys, and uh we can all save up our pennies to have a field trip to Greece, uh, maybe sometime. Probably not, but it's a nice thought. So, anyhow, we've watched over the last month this beautiful picture of the church emerging. We've seen disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit. We've witnessed the fire of Pentecost, and we've explored life and community, and we've seen ordinary people become courageous. And so today we come to a theme that basically runs through the whole book of Acts, and that's the gospel moving outward again and again. And whenever the church becomes comfortable, the Holy Spirit just pushes and encourages people to be courageous. And well, here we go again with uh two new stories, and um yeah, they're they're always pointing towards people who aren't like us. So I think a great lesson is I I played around with this this week and I've really enjoyed um kind of moving in and around and looking at commentaries, and uh you know the the greatest lesson I took away is friends, as much as we like to control things, this is the church belongs to Jesus. It's very simple. And so he's always reaching further than we expect. And I was musing on my time in seminary, and there was a great New Testament teacher that taught on the book of Luke. His name was Van Johnson, and we uh we would do these six-week units, fairly intensive. So you would do a half course in six weeks on a Tuesday night. So he showed up the first night and he drew two big circles, and he said, This will teach you about Luke in about 10 minutes. And we talked about in the book of Luke who's in and who's out, and who we think should be in, and who we think should be out, and then who Jesus says is in and who Jesus says is out. And uh back then that kind of blew my mind because we were used to creating categories. We categorize people, insiders, outsiders, you know, this would have been well 2005, so it was certainly lots of us and them, especially after 9-11, you know, people who belong, people who don't. And sometimes, you know, circles were certainly placed on ethnic background, sometimes culture, often politics, often economics, and of course religion. And what we quickly learnt in studying Luke is that while boundaries can create identity, they can also become barriers. And uh I love how Jesus crossed those barriers. Uh He crossed them a lot. He honored women, he touched lepers, he welcomed children, he ate with sinners. So again and again, we constantly see Jesus widening the circle, and in Acts, the Holy Spirit continues that work, and we'll look at a couple of stories this morning. And the first one takes us to Acts chapter 8, and it's the story of the Ethiopian official. Now, Peter, um standing there minding his own business one day, receives a strange instruction from God where an angel tells him, go south to the road, the desert road. No explanation, no detailed plan, just go. The text tells us he's just told to go. Now, this road would have connected Jerusalem with Gaza, one of the major cities on the southwestern edge of Judea. So it would have been on the Mediterranean coast. Likely there were two routes between the cities. There was the more populated coastal route, so that would be like going up California, the Pacific Coast Highway, or the much less traveled desert route through a more remote region. And it was pretty clear that Luke is referring to the desert road, which would have explained why Philip met the Ethiopian in such an isolated spot. Now, the Ethiopian eunuch that we read about was returning home after worshiping in Jerusalem. He was a high-ranking official serving Candace, who was then the queen of Ethiopia. And I guess back then it would have been the kingdom of Cush, which would be located in the present-day Sudan. So lots of travel there. He would have been traveling south from Jerusalem towards Gaza and then continuing on trade routes that led into Africa. Now, Philip does something so simple but yet remarkable, he obeys. He just does what he's told. Now, one of the recurring theme in Acts is we see that people often have good outcomes that begin with simple obedience. And God often doesn't reveal everything at once. Instead, he just invites people step by step, inch by inch. So Philip was just told to go. So Philip travels and he encounters this Ethiopian official. And again, this guy is significant. He's very wealthy, he's influential, he's well educated, but he's also an outsider. So he he lives in two worlds. He's not part of the Jewish religious community in the same way the others are, but yet he's seeking God, the text says. And as he's riding along in his chariot, he's reading the prophet Isaiah. Well, he's reading specifically Isaiah 53, and uh further study will uh will show that uh that was basically a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus. So he's already having his heart prepared, and uh Philip meets him in, I would say, an unlikely place, the middle of the desert. Um but we see God directing his servants to specific people at specific moments, and this encounter is a simple example of the gospel moving beyond Jerusalem and Judea into the ends of the earth, as we saw back in Acts chapter 1, you know, verse 8 on our first week. The gospel was moving outwards all the time. So we have revival going on in uh well Samaria, so back home, but yet God sends Philip away from the crowds to a lonely desert road for one searching traveler, and that just gives us a beautiful vision of God's mission, not just about reaching many people, but reaching out to individuals one at a time. So I love the first question Philip asks the eunuch. It's very simple, it gets right to the point. Do you understand what you are reading? Simple question. You're reading Isaiah 53. Do you understand it? Notice it wasn't a lecture, it wasn't an argument, it wasn't a lot of dialogue, it was a simple question. And that's a great reminder for us, you know, when we're when we're around and we're talking to people. Um it's probably not about all the YouTube videos we've seen, so it might be right or it must be right. Um, lots of our conversations around spiritual matters begin not with answers, but curiosity, questions. What's happening? What's going on in your life? So we see that Philip meets this man right where he is, and he shares the good news of Jesus. And the Ethiopian official responds with faith and wants to be baptized. So as they travel along the road, they come to some water, and uh the Ethiopian asks a question of his own what can stand in the way of me being baptized, and Philip basically says, Nothing. So they uh went down into the water and uh Philip baptized him. So as I'm thinking about that, and maybe I have too much time on my hands, but uh I'm thinking, you're in the desert. Where does one get baptized? In the desert. So a couple of uh a couple of things came to mind as I asked around, and I even asked Chat GBT, and they were no help at all, all with this. Um I thought it knew everything, apparently not. But it could have been a seasonal stream, uh like Arizona, very, very dry. Um, but if there if there is a rainstorm, it can uh produce washes and uh or then uh it would have been called a wadi. So that would have contained water at the time. And uh history says there were many springs or pools along that route, even though it was desert and quite arid, there would have been springs or pools, or an oasis, or it could have actually been low much closer to Gaza where there were lots of wells and springs. But um it's just interesting that it occurred on a desert road. Um, and I think the bigger picture is we see God's providence throughout this whole story. You know, God sends Philip, the scriptures have been opened, and then water is provided in an unlikely place. So, you know, the desert we think of barren and uh kind of yucky and hot, but here God's provided water and welcome. And this would have been a big deal for the Ethiopian, because um, as a eunuch, there would have been significant religious barriers for him. Um so now encountering Jesus means he's going to be beautifully included in God's family. And uh so that question, what can stand in the way of my being baptized, the answer of nothing is a big deal. Now, if you go back into Isaiah in chapter uh Isaiah 56, 3 to 5, you know, there's again a connection between the old and the new where God promises that eunuchs who embrace his covenant will receive a name better than sons and daughters. So many scholars would uh suggest that uh the Ethiopian eunuch is really a living fulfillment of God's promise. The gospel again reaches those who were considered outsiders. So what a great connecting rod, church. You know, the foreshadowing of Jesus in the book of Isaiah, which is why, you know, it's good to always look back at our Old Testament narratives. Um but now we see this being experienced in the work of Jesus. And there he continues on his journey after being baptized, rejoicing. So a couple of things from story number one here. God was already there, the spirit was at work, the man was already searching. Philip didn't have to bring God to the Ethiopian, God was already there. God was already out in front of this whole matter. And I know we sometimes imagine ourselves bringing God into people's lives, but often God's already there. He's working long before we arrive. And so our task is really not to manufacture faith, it's simply to pay attention. Well, moving on to chapter 10 for our final story is probably one of the most important chapters in the entire book of Acts. And I would encourage you to read it this summer, the whole the whole book, and ask questions. And if you're interested in commentaries and stuff like that for digging a little deeper, I certainly have some. I'm happy to loan out. Um and there's also, of course, lots on lots online. But in Dax chapter 10, we meet Cornelius. Now, Cornelius is a Roman centurion, so we can see the ante being upped a little bit here. Um he was considered an outsider for many, many reasons, even though Luke does portray him as a devout and admirable man. He was a Gentile, and uh the most significant reason was that Cornelius was not Jewish, which of course makes him a Gentile, but uh in the first century God's covenant people were understood to be Israel, and Gentiles generally were deemed to be outside that covenant unless they fully converted to Judaism. And uh Cornelius wasn't that, he was a Gentile. So Peter gets to his house and basically in 1028 says, You are well aware, my friend, that it is against our law for a Jew to associate or even visit with a Gentile. So even though Jesus has come, he's taught, he's been resurrected, the Holy Spirit has arrived, people are following Jesus, we still see this incredible barrier existing between Jews and Gentiles. Now, the fact that he was a Roman soldier wasn't helpful either. A centurion in the Roman army would have meant he probably commanded about a hundred soldiers. And Rome being an occupying power in Judea, many, many Jews resented Roman rule. So an officer in that system would have certainly been deemed part of the empire that oppressed Israel. And so here we see again God reaching deep. You know, in Acts 10, he chooses a representative of Rome, not a Jewish religious leader, to uh to teach. And as a person through whom he demonstrates that the gospel is for all nations. Now Luke does describe, as I said, uh Cornelius as God's fearing, as God-fearing. Um he would have been a Gentile who worshipped the God of Israel. He prayed, even in his role, he likely supported the Jewish community because it does say he's an honorable man. I'm not sure how you carry that, and that's perhaps a sermon for another, you know, how you command a hundred men and then do the other, but again, conversation for another day. Um he certainly wasn't a full convert to Judaism, though. Um, and you know, he wouldn't have been circumcised, he wouldn't have uh been compliant with all of the Mosaic law. So, in other words, Cornelius was a fellow who was seeking God, but was certainly on the outside of covenant identity. Yet Acts again describes him as a devout man who seeks God. So while this is going on, Peter receives a vision. And Peter's in Joppa, and he's been moving around, he's been teaching, and he goes up to pray, and he falls into a trance. And there he sees a large sheet descending from heaven filled with all kinds of animals. Now, some are considered clean according to Jewish law, and others are considered unclean. And he hears a voice saying, Get up, Peter, kill and eat. And Peter refuses. Surely not, Lord, he says. I've never eaten anything pure or unclean. Well, then the voice calls out again, do not call anything impure that God has made clean. And throughout Acts 10 through 9 to 16, that happens three times. So again, this isn't just a little one-off. This conversation, this dialogue happens three times. And when we look at the meaning, we see that uh, you know, it could have been about food laws. However, Peter soon realizes that this is something much bigger. Um, so when Cornelius' messengers arrive, the Holy Spirit tells Peter to go with them, and that's when he uh he explains when he gets into Cornelius' house that God has shown me that I should not call anything impure or unclean. So Peter still wasn't there. There is still a huge learning curve for Peter, much like all of us. And but this vision was preparing Peter to cross a boundary that he had spent his whole life observing. And I'm not sure why it was so difficult for Peter until I start thinking of our own lives, and sometimes it takes us a long time to learn lessons. Um but Peter would have grown up for sure, believing that holiness well, it meant maintaining distinctions between Jews and Gentiles. That's just the way it was. It was embedded in daily life, and that understanding who belonged in God's family was hard to change. So this is a big lesson for Peter, and a big lesson for all of us. It's not just about changing dietary code, it's about God dismantling barriers that keep people apart. And Peter now learns that the gospel is not confined to one nation, not one ethnic group or one culture. And so we see a sequence. Here, that is good for us to be mindful of. God gives Peter a vision, a dream. Something happened. There was an encounter. Peter visits Cornelius. Faith in action. He goes for a visit. There's a good outcome. Peter and his whole household receive the Holy Spirit and receive Christ. And Peter learns and recognizes that God has accepted the Gentiles. And finally the church begins to understand that the gospel of Jesus Christ is for all people, not just some, all people. So maybe we can frame it this way, as I thought about this. Before God changed Peter's mission, and we know Peter's a man of action. We've seen him perhaps act first, think later. There's a bit of a history there. But here, before God changed the mission, he changed Peter's mindset. And I think the greatest obstacle to the spread of the gospel was not Roman opposition, but assumptions. The assumptions that God's people carried, who was in, who was out. And of course, we see this vision that Peter has challenging all those assumptions. And we now see the door opening a crack for the church to become truly global. And so there's maybe two conversions here, a little bit. A conversion of exclusion to inclusion, from seeing people through cultural categories to seeing them through the eyes of God. Well, Peter already believed in Jesus, for sure. But God just keeps expanding Peter's mind, and he learns throughout the Old Testament many more lessons. But the biggest one here is that God's grace reaches farther than he could even imagine. And perhaps our spiritual growth as individuals and as a community is learning new truths and unlearning some old truths and prejudices. I love it that when Peter arrived at the house, he simply states, God has shown me that I shouldn't call anyone impure or unclean. Not just some people, anyone. The gospel church is radically inclusive, not because everyone is the same, it's because everyone isn't. But they're all loved by God. So the cross removes our barriers, the spirit welcomes people from every nation, every background. And while it should seem obvious today, and sometimes it does, um not always, but it was certainly revolutionary for the early church. Well, winding down here, we see that the Holy Spirit falls again. Can't seem to get away from the from the Holy Spirit in this uh first part of Acts. The Holy Spirit falls on Cornelius and his household, and they become fully integrated in the church. And before they understand everything, the Holy Spirit comes. And Peter's astonished, not because God's acted, it's because God acted where it wasn't expected. And I think as I head into the summer of 2026 with learning more and digging into the work of the Holy Spirit, I'm learning that I think that's one of the favorite activities of the Holy Spirit to surprise us, to expand us, to stretch us, and to teach us. Well, as we head into the summer, what's our challenge? And I ask, who are the people we might overlook? And who are the people we assume that they wouldn't be interested in faith? Who are the people that are outside our comfort zones? And as I prayed this week, I I was in the John Howard office for a little bit, and um there's a tremendous diverse background of a very, very young staff from different faith journeys, different walks, um, this beautiful collection. And um yet we have these beautiful conversations, and uh often I don't initiate, sometimes I do, but um I'm really learning that that's the Holy Spirit's job. And um, although I'm not there as as much as I used to be, um, well, the Holy Spirit is moving towards people who are surprising me. So this summer, let's make room. Let's make room at our tables, in our conversations, in our hearts. And I've believed it for a long time, and I still believe it, that hospitality is one of the primary rays the gospel becomes visible. It reflects the welcome of God. And every time we create space for another person, we bear witness. And that's uh that's our challenge as a church, not only to grow numerically, but simply to grow in openness and to be a community where people are welcomed, where questions are welcomed, and struggles are welcome. And of course, they all come with different stories, and they're really welcome. And let me be clear, it's not because we lower the call of discipleship, but we believe that the grace of God is available to everybody. So my prayer is that this church is not a fortress, it's simply a table for people to be together. So what do we do with this? Or as uh I heard it once, what's the so what factor? What do we do with this when we when we leave here? Well, we believe that the Holy Spirit is alive and well and moves today. So we pay attention to where God may be at work around us. We don't have to create new things. The Holy Spirit is preparing people long before we get there. Be curious. Meaningful conversations often begin with listening, questions. And thirdly, allow God to challenge our assumptions. I have many assumptions. Sherry says I have way too many, but but um I've also learned that with those assumptions comes growth, comes questioning, and uh I'm certainly learning to understand God's grace in a beautiful way. And fourthly, make room, make room for others, whatever that looks like. Hospitality of any sort is a powerful witness to the kingdom of God. And finally, the gospel always moves outward. So let's remember that as we're on vacation, with family, having uh barbecues together, being in community together as our harbor community. The gospel always moves outward, and our church will be healthiest when it continually welcomes new people and new stories. So as we conclude part one on this Father's Day, let's remember that the birth of the church was never, ever, ever, ever, ever like a Taylor Swift song never ever ever ever about being a closed community. Okay, it's about creating a spirit-filled people who would carry the love of Jesus into the world. You know, more people welcomed, more barriers removed, and more lives transformed. And as we leave this place, we ask ourselves: where is the Holy Spirit inviting us to widen the circle? Who is God asking us to notice, welcome, live, and love? Because this gospel that began in Jerusalem was always meant to reach the ends of the earth, and it still is, and uh that's why we continue to be headed. Let's pray. Well, thank you, Jesus, for your invitation to follow you, and we gratefully receive that invitation and desire to walk with you. And for those who have not experienced your grace and your love, may we uh all have opportunity as a as a community to share our journey with others and to build connections. Thank you, Lord, for uh being our provider, our mentor, um our beacon, and our savior. And just ask you to go with us this day. In Jesus' name. Amen.