The Gospel Brings Us In (Mark 3:31-35&Mark 10:28-30) - a podcast by Don Shoemaker, Steve Williams, and Bob Wriedt
from 2022-06-26T18:00
There’s a letter that has been preserved from an early Christian leader named Cyprian who was the bishop of Carthage, Tunisia. He was writing to a fellow-Christian named Euchratius in about A.D. 250. The letter had to do with a theater actor who had been converted to Christ and was asking Euchratius whether it was alright to stop acting but still teach at the theater school because it was his only means of earning a living.
Because of the immoral nature of the theater and the challenge this would pose to this man’s new life in Christ, Cyprian advises that the man should also stop teaching theatre, but that the church there should supply his needs until he can find another job, or if this is not possible because of lack of funds, then the man will be financially helped by the church at Carthage, which is where Cyprian is at.
This is an amazing story when you think about it.
The church, echoing Jesus, said to this man, “Leave all to follow him!” And if he gave up his job, they wouldn’t just say to him, “good for you, brother, now you have Treasure in heaven…good luck and god speed!” No, were going to make up what was lacking. They called him to join a new family and then treated him as family. They were willing – like a healthy family – to sacrifice for one another. They put their money where they’re evangelistic mouths were. Amazing!
On Sunday, we’ll be considering how the gospel which comes to us (week 1) and changes us (week 2) also brings us in (week 3). It brings us into community. It incorporates us into the family of God. God’s work which is done in us individually is never meant to be lived out alone.
As Sister Sledge sang in the late 70s: “We are Family!”
That song might get you on the dance floor but what Jesus says about family will provide far more. Don’t miss it.
Many blessings to my many siblings,
Pastor Tim
31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”
28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.
- Mark 3:31-35, Mark 10:28-30
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