Risk and Christian faith seem to have been divorced since the church's earliest days. How risky is your Christian faith? Yet scripture won't let us forget that faith and risk go hand-in-hand.
The story of Saul's conversion includes Ananias, an often forgotten character, Ananias is told by Jesus in a vision to go and minister to Saul of Tarsus. Saul is known among the Jesus people in Damascus for his persecution zeal. Ananias questions Jesus, given the deadly risk involved in exposing himself to the one who presided over the stoning death of Stephen in Jerusalem (Acts 6). You can't fault his logic, but Jesus is adamant. Ananias' risk in faithfulness to Jesus needs to be recognized as he goes forth to complete his mission.
In (the appended) John 21, after Jesus cooks up a fish breakfast, there is a conversation between Jesus and Peter. It's a strange dialogue that features a three-fold repetition of Jesus' question to Peter, "Do you love me?" Something is missing that has thwarted scholars. However, I think I know what it is. It isn't what is said - the angle that scholars pursue - but what is not said.
You can check out the sermon video below, or download and read the sermon text below the video panel to find out how Jesus challenges Peter to adopt a risky faith.
The story of Saul's conversion includes Ananias, an often forgotten character, Ananias is told by Jesus in a vision to go and minister to Saul of Tarsus. Saul is known among the Jesus people in Damascus for his persecution zeal. Ananias questions Jesus, given the deadly risk involved in exposing himself to the one who presided over the stoning death of Stephen in Jerusalem (Acts 6). You can't fault his logic, but Jesus is adamant. Ananias' risk in faithfulness to Jesus needs to be recognized as he goes forth to complete his mission.
In (the appended) John 21, after Jesus cooks up a fish breakfast, there is a conversation between Jesus and Peter. It's a strange dialogue that features a three-fold repetition of Jesus' question to Peter, "Do you love me?" Something is missing that has thwarted scholars. However, I think I know what it is. It isn't what is said - the angle that scholars pursue - but what is not said.
You can check out the sermon video below, or download and read the sermon text below the video panel to find out how Jesus challenges Peter to adopt a risky faith.
| 04-10-16-ff-answers.pdf |
| 04-10-16-resurrection_witness-risky_faith.pdf |