David Bahn – Reflections

Acts 2:32-36

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³ Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

I have been at the FiveTwo WIKI Conference for the past three days. During that time I have heard from some excellent speakers, visited with some great friends, brothers and sisters in Christ and colleagues in ministry, as well as having participated in some edifying workshops. High on the list of great speakers are Michael Frost, Dr. Lorena Gonzales, and Bob Goff. Each brought a different perspective and focus regarding missional living.

Michael Frost spoke about the Reign of God as something to announce and demonstrate. Bob Goff talked about holding out cups of water lightly by the rim (a marathon running analogy). Dr. Gonzales shared her encounter with real people living in poverty and how God lifted them out of poverty, and eventually also out of economic poverty.

The centerpiece of all this? Jesus’ work in people’s hearts and lives to redeem, give hope, restore lives, and bring salvation.  Frost told of “STREET PASTORS” ministered to people in a community dramatically reducing the incidents of alcohol-related violence, while sharing Jesus’ message of forgiveness with broken people. Gonzales told the story of a five-time convicted felon who was redeemed from a life of drug abuse, then introduced her and let her tell her story of shame turned to delight. Bob Goff shared how he helped bring the first Ugandan witch doctor to trial and conviction for the brutal attempted murder of an eight-year-old boy. He used his story to urge us all to “do Tuesday” rather than “do ministry.” In other words, live your life for Christ rather than compartmentalize your Christian witness or service.

What gets just a bit tricky has to do with a reaction I heard of from some of the participants. For the message was heavily centered in the realm of God’s reign (sovereignty) rather than our more familiar and well-founded (Lutheran) Christo-centric message. This was a nagging concern of mine as well, but not to the point of dismissing the message. In fact, I believe the “Reign of God” (a preferred term to “Kingdom of God”) is an important corrective to our sometimes one-deminsional message of salvation. We have a great handle on justification by grace through faith. It’s the center of Lutheran theology. We sometimes, however, neglect to talk about the purpose for Jesus’ redemption, “that I may be his own and live under him in his kingdom…” (cf. Luther’s Small Catechism, 2nd Article).

This week was that corrective. It’s all centered in Christ, who is seated at the right hand of God. He is the King of kings and the One before whose name all people will bow. He is our Redeemer and the centerpiece of history and faith. So just as a beautiful centerpiece adorns a table, I want Christ to adorn my life and be on prominent display in all that I do. I’m deeply thankful for his redemption and his continuing grace in my life. I want to live under him in his kingdom and serve him today. How about you?

Acts 2:29-41

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. ³² This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. ³³ Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. ³⁴ For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

³⁶ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

³⁷ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” ³⁸ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”⁴⁰ And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying,“Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” ⁴¹ So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.