August 22, 2010
Key Passage: Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60
“Radical Christianity 101”
“You may never have to face the decision of whether or not to die for your faith, but every day you face the decision of whether or not you will live for it.” DC Talk … from the book, Jesus Freaks
Let’s be serious – do we really think that Christ came to this earth voluntarily, lived for 33 years, suffered the indignities he went through and died a horrible death on a cross so we could come to church once in a while, throw a $10 bill in the plate and then squeak into heaven when we die? That commitment level wasn’t what he expected 2,000 years ago and it’s not what he expects today. As the old saying goes, “salvation is free, but it ain’t cheap!” So here’s the question: “Why are you here today?” Are you here to soothe a troubled conscience? To gain information? Are you here to fulfill an obligation? To meet with friends? Are you here because you had the strength and conviction to actually acknowledge and not ignore the alarm that had the gall to go off on your precious “day off?” Or have you come to meet and worship the one person truly worthy of meeting and worshipping…the Living Savior? Keep in mind: a “religious” person is just trying to avoid hell; a saved person has already been there!
Acts 6:8-15; 7:51-60 What “Radical” Looks Like – Stephen, the first “Jesus Freak”
1. What “radical Christianity” is NOT
* Deuteronomy 29:19 (those who feel “safe” because they’ve walked the aisle, prayed the
prayer, and have been baptized – yet there’s no discernable difference in their life.)
* Revelation 3:15-17 (again, those who lazily “straddle the fence,” are lukewarm. Here Jesus
promises to “spit you out of my mouth.”)
* Matthew 13:20-22 (those who begin strong, but then “fall away” because of the problems of
this world and the material wealth it offers)
* 1 John 2:4-6 (again, the bottom line – failure to obey is failure…..period!)
2. What “radical Christianity” IS
* 2 Corinthians 13:5 (examine yourself; test yourself – Q: What does this look like?)
* 2 Peter 1:5-9 (here’s the answer to the previous passage and question)
* Philippians 1: 21; 3:7-11 (well, there you have it – the true definition of “radical Christianity”)
Q: In your heart of hearts, are you sure of your salvation? Why? What can you point to in your life?
Q: What has it cost you to follow Christ? Please cite specific examples…
Q: In our church, the 80/20 rule applies: 20% give 80% of our tithes; 20% do 80% of the work here; 20% attend 80% of the time. What will it take for you to become part of that 20%? Better yet, why can’t we move beyond 20% to 50%? 75%? 100%!?
Bottom Line: Here’s the ultimate paradox for you: so many professing Christians want the mercy of forgiveness so that they won’t go to hell, but have hard hearts toward the Lord when it comes to obedience to His Word and daily fellowship with Him. Let’s be honest – the Word of God knows nothing of the easy “faith” that is so widely manifest in our churches today. We think we can “receive” Jesus as Savior, raise our hand to accept Christ, and that settles the matter. We’ll go to heaven – and that’s that. But the promise of Christ is that when he comes into the human heart there is a radical change of ownership which must, inevitably, result in a radical change in behavior. And that’s what radical Christianity is all about – does it describe you!?! Far better to die with Stephen under a hail of rocks crushing our skulls and be welcomed into heaven by the risen Lord Jesus, than to die peacefully in the midst of worldly comforts, surrounded by family (and other “Believers”), only to hear – “Away from me…I never knew you!”
