Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:46b-48a, NIV)
Last week, we saw Philip meet the ultimate outsider. He told the man about Jesus, the man believed and was baptised. This week could look like more of the same: Peter goes to ‘outsiders’ and they believe and are baptised. Why do we need to see that same thing again? Perhaps because it’s easy to lose sight of how no-one needs to be excluded from God. No-one is too far from God; no-one is so different from us that we can think that Jesus is not for them. Everyone can receive the Holy Spirit because they believe.
I hope you’ll be able to join us either in person, or online, as we see again how the resurrection of Jesus means that outsiders can become insiders.
As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” (Acts 8:36, NIV)
If you feel like an outsider, or have ever felt like an outsider, you’re not alone.
As we’ll see on Sunday morning, the eunuch was the ultimate outsider. At the time, the Jews divided up the world into two groups: Jews and non-Jews. The eunuch didn’t fit into either one! Yet, he was still able, by faith, to become part of God’s family - an outsider became an insider. Because Jesus is alive, outsiders can become insiders - we can be inside God's family.
I hope you’ll be able to join us either in person, or online, as we look at how the resurrection of Jesus means that outsiders can become insiders.
This is the text of the vicar’s report given at the APCM earlier today.
“Don’t be in a rush to return to the church you once were, when God is calling you to be the church you’ve never been before.”
I begin my 2021 report with thanks to all those who have served the church in some way during 2020. I approach this with some nervousness, as I am aware that I could easily miss people out; if I miss you out, many, many apologies.
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13, NIV)
Something changed Peter and John. They were “unschooled, ordinary men”, yet they taught about Jesus. Only a few weeks before, they had run away from those arresting Jesus, yet now they stood boldy in front of the rulers, elders and teachers of the law. What had changed? Everything - Jesus is Alive!
I hope you’ll be able to join us either in person, or online, as we look at how the the resurrection of Jesus changes our lives.
“You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:15-16, NIV)
As we look at some of the book of Acts over the next few weeks, one of the big themes is that Jesus is alive - it is Jesus who heals the man who couldn’t walk. Without the resurrection of Jesus, there would be no church for us to be a part of.
I hope you’ll be able to join us either in person, or online, as we look at how the the resurrection of Jesus changes our lives.