Category: Books of the Bible

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Come to Jesus

Summary of my sermon, based on Luke 6:17-19. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on February 25, 2024.

In December 2013, a young Public Relations executive named Justine Sacco made a decision that would drastically alter the course of her life. As she prepared to board a plane to South Africa, she sent out a tweet to her 170 followers: “Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!”

Despite her relatively small following, Justine’s tweet quickly spread worldwide, igniting a firestorm of criticism. The backlash was swift and severe, with people across the globe expressing their outrage. One person lamented, “How did @JustineSacco get a PR job?! Her level of racist ignorance belongs on Fox News. #AIDS can affect anyone!” Another tweeted, “All I want for Christmas is to see @JustineSacco’s face when her plane lands and she checks her inbox/voicemail.”

The public shaming that followed was relentless. While Justine was on a 12-hour flight from London to Cape Town, unaware of the storm brewing on the internet, the hashtag #HasJustineLanded began to trend on Twitter as people eagerly awaited her reaction upon landing. When she finally touched down and saw the damage, she deleted the tweet and closed her account. But the damage was done. Branded as a racist and fired from her job, Justine’s life was effectively ruined.

In an attempt to move forward, Justine traveled to Ethiopia to volunteer for an NGO working to reduce maternal mortality rates. However, even this effort was met with scorn. The journalist who had initially amplified her tweet found out about her volunteer work and shared it with the world, writing, “Sacco, apparently spent the last month hiding in Ethiopia after infuriating our species with an idiotic AIDS joke…”

In February 2015, Jon Ronson published an article about Justine in the New York Times Magazine. In it, she tried to explain herself: “To me it was so insane of a comment for anyone to make, I thought there was no way that anyone could possibly think it was literal.” Ronson attempted to redeem Justine, suggesting that her tweet might have been a reflexive critique of white privilege rather than a literal statement. But this did little to rehabilitate her image. A quick Google search of her name still brings up the infamous tweet, a testament to the permanence of her public shaming.

Justine’s story is just one of many instances of lives being ruined through public shaming by the internet mob. Some might be tempted to connect this with the lack of grace and mercy within certain cultural movements, particularly since many people are “cancelled” for comments or actions related to sensitive topics like race, gender, and sexuality. However, the desire to destroy someone’s life for a public blunder is not new. It is a universal phenomenon that has existed long before the advent of social media.

Jon Ronson, in his article about Justine, compared the online mobs to public shamings in New England from as far back as the 18th and 19th centuries. The truth is, the lack of grace and mercy is ingrained in the fallen human condition—it is the result of sin. As Christians, we are called to a higher standard. In a world that lacks grace and mercy, we must call on people to “Come to Jesus.”

The Gospel of Luke, which we will be exploring in a new series of sermons, provides a powerful reminder of the grace and mercy that Jesus offers to all. Unlike the other Gospels, Luke was written by someone who was not an eyewitness to Jesus’s life. Luke was a physician and a companion of Paul, who compiled stories from eyewitnesses to create his account of Jesus’s life. Luke’s Gospel is unique in that it was written for Gentile converts to Christianity, addressing the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s plan of salvation and the hostility with which first-century Jews viewed Jesus and the early Christians.

One of the most significant sections of Luke’s Gospel is the Sermon on the Plain, found in Luke 6:17-19: “And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.”

This passage highlights two key aspects of Jesus’s ministry. First, it shows that Jesus’s invitation is for everyone, regardless of ethnicity or circumstance. The mention of people from Tyre and Sidon—Roman cities—demonstrates that the Gospel is for all, not just the Jewish people. As Paul writes in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

Second, this passage illustrates the healing and rest that Jesus offers. Those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured, and the entire crowd sought to touch Jesus because they knew that power came out from him and healed them all. This echoes Jesus’s words in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

In a world that is quick to condemn and slow to forgive, let us remember the grace and mercy that Jesus extends to all. Let us be quick to offer that same grace and mercy to others, pointing them to the One who offers healing, rest, and salvation.

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Treasures in Heaven – Part 3

Summary of my sermon, based on 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on January 21, 2024.

As we conclude our series on “Treasures in Heaven,” we return to the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-24, a passage that forms part of the Sermon on the Mount. This passage centers on the instruction to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:20, ESV). Through these words, Jesus calls us to a life of generosity, encouraging us to avoid the pitfalls of stinginess and jealousy, and helping us steer clear of the idol of materialism.

Last week, we explored the concept of tithing, a practice rooted in the Mosaic Law, where the Israelites were required to dedicate ten percent of their harvest as holy to the Lord. This act of tithing, which involved multiple offerings, meant that the total giving was closer to twenty-five percent. Yet, with the coming of Christ, we understand that we are no longer bound by these Old Testament laws. Instead, Christians have embraced the principle of tithing, guided by Proverbs 3:9, which instructs us to “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.” While not a requirement, this principle serves as a spiritual discipline—a way for us to reorder our priorities and grow in our faith.

Matthew 6:21 reminds us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Our giving is a reflection of our heart’s priorities, and it acknowledges that everything we have belongs to God. This is the essence of stewardship—managing God’s resources responsibly. As we discussed last week, it is helpful to shift our perspective from asking, “How much do I give?” to “How much do I dare keep?”

Today, we delve into one of the New Testament’s most profound teachings on giving found in 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. Many of you might be familiar with verse 7, “God loves a cheerful giver.” While this passage is often associated with tithing, its true focus is on the heart behind our giving.

Paul, who planted the church in Corinth, had a tumultuous relationship with the Corinthians. After moving on to Ephesus, he had to address numerous issues within the Corinthian church, from sexual immorality to divisions and social snobbery. In 2 Corinthians, Paul found himself defending his apostleship against those who sought to undermine his authority. Yet, despite these challenges, Paul continued to encourage the Corinthians in their commitment to Christ.

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul reminds the Corinthians of their pledge to support the struggling Christians in Judea. He had boasted to the Macedonians about their readiness to give, but knowing the Corinthians’ history, Paul wisely decided to send some of his co-workers ahead to ensure they were prepared. He writes, “But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be” (2 Corinthians 9:3).

Paul then uses a powerful agrarian metaphor to drive home his point: “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). This metaphor, drawn from the everyday life of an agrarian society, emphasizes the principle of generosity. Just as a farmer who sows generously reaps a bountiful harvest, so too will those who give generously experience the blessings of God.

However, it’s important to clarify that Paul is not preaching a prosperity gospel. He is not suggesting that giving will lead to material wealth. Instead, Paul is teaching that the harvest we reap is one of righteousness and increased generosity, not financial gain. He writes, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God” (2 Corinthians 9:10-11).

Paul’s message also touches on the element of trust inherent in giving. Just as sowing seed involves a risk, so too does giving. We trust that God will use our resources—whether financial, time, or effort—to accomplish His purposes. This trust is captured beautifully in the words of missionary Jim Elliot: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” Elliot’s sacrifice and the perseverance of his widow, Elisabeth, in continuing their mission work after his death, serve as powerful examples of the transformative power of giving and faith.

The motivation behind our giving is crucial. Paul advises, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). Our giving should be voluntary, not driven by guilt or pressure. It should spring from a heart of gratitude and a desire to glorify God. As Paul concludes, “For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God” (2 Corinthians 9:12).

In the end, God’s grace abounds to those who give. Paul reassures us, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). When we give with the right heart, trusting in God’s provision, we participate in His work and experience the joy of seeing His kingdom grow.

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Treasures in Heaven – Part 2

Summary of my sermon, based on Luke 21:1-9. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on January 14, 2024.

In last week’s sermon, we delved into Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 6:19-24, where He instructs us to lay up treasures in heaven rather than on earth. Jesus emphasized that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21, ESV). This teaching, part of the larger Sermon on the Mount, underscores a fundamental principle of Christian ethics: our hearts follow our treasure. The passage also hints at how we can store up heavenly treasures—by embracing generosity and rejecting the twin evils of stinginess and jealousy.

Jesus further illustrates this point by drawing a stark contrast between a healthy and a bad eye, a first-century idiom for generosity versus greed. He closes the passage by addressing the idolatry of wealth, stating, “You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24, ESV). This sets the stage for today’s message, which builds on last week’s lesson by exploring the practical application of generosity through tithing and offerings in the church.

Today’s topic is not easy to discuss, primarily because it involves personal finances—a subject often considered taboo. Moreover, discussing giving in the church can be uncomfortable for pastors and congregants alike, especially in light of the potential for abuse. Many of us are familiar with the so-called “Prosperity Gospel,” a dangerous distortion of Christian teaching that promises health, wealth, and prosperity as the divine right of all believers. This false gospel preaches that financial blessing and physical well-being are guaranteed by faith, often leading to the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.

As theologian Stephen Hunt explains, the Prosperity Gospel centers on the belief that “health and wealth” are the automatic divine rights of Christians and can be attained through faith. However, as John MacArthur rightly points out, this message is not just misguided—it’s satanic. It preys on the sinful desires of people to accumulate wealth, offering them false promises in exchange for their money. Prosperity preachers often live lavish lifestyles, using their wealth to further deceive their followers into giving more, all in the name of “activating” divine blessings.

One of the scriptures frequently twisted by Prosperity Gospel proponents is Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap” (ESV). On the surface, this verse seems to support the idea that giving leads to financial gain. However, when we examine the full context—“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged… forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:36-37, ESV)—it becomes clear that Jesus is not talking about material wealth, but about mercy and forgiveness.

This misuse of scripture is a prime example of the potential for abuse when discussing giving in the church. It’s understandable that such distortions can make people wary of sermons on tithing. However, the truth remains that Christians are indeed called to give generously. The motivation behind our giving is what truly matters.

So, what should motivate our giving? First, it’s essential to understand that everything we have belongs to God. Psalm 24:1-2 reminds us, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (ESV). Our giving, then, is not about meeting God’s needs—He has no needs—but about acknowledging His lordship over all creation.

Tithing, or giving 10% of our income, is a biblical principle rooted in passages like Leviticus 27:30: “Every tithe of the land… is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord” (ESV). While we are no longer bound by the Mosaic Law, tithing remains a beneficial practice that honors God and supports the work of the church. Proverbs 3:9 further instructs us to “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce” (ESV). This principle suggests that our giving should be from our gross income, not after taxes and other deductions.

Moreover, tithing helps reorder our priorities, aligning our hearts with God’s kingdom rather than with earthly wealth. Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:21—“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (ESV)—serve as a poignant reminder of this truth.

Finally, tithing provides for the needs of the church and the community. Malachi 3:10 encourages us to “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house” (ESV). The early church exemplified this practice, as seen in Acts 4:34-35: “There was not a needy person among them… as any had need” (ESV).

As we consider our giving, let us remember the example of the poor widow in Luke 21:1-4, who gave two small copper coins—“all she had to live on” (ESV). Her gift was small in value but immense in faith. May we, too, give generously, not out of obligation, but out of love for God and a desire to see His kingdom flourish.

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Treasures in Heaven – Part 1

Summary of my sermon, based on Matthew 6:19-24. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on January 7, 2024.

Have you ever heard of the game called Minecraft? If you haven’t, it’s what they call a “sandbox game.” Unlike traditional games with clear objectives—like saving Princess Peach in Super Mario or clearing lines in Tetris—Minecraft gives players the freedom to interact with the game world however they want. You can mine blocks, which are your raw resources, and build whatever your imagination can conjure up. Whether it’s a simple house, a model of the Titanic, or even entire cities, the possibilities are endless.

Though it might seem like a simple child’s game, Minecraft is actually the best-selling video game of all time by a huge margin. It has sold over 300 million copies, far surpassing the next best-selling game, Grand Theft Auto V, which has sold 190 million copies. Even though Minecraft was released in 2011, it remains incredibly popular, averaging 140 million monthly active players in 2023. That’s more than three times the population of Canada playing the game every month!

With such popularity and success, it’s no surprise that Minecraft made someone very wealthy. The game’s creator, Markus Persson, sold it to Microsoft in 2014 for a staggering $2.5 billion. To put that in perspective, Facebook bought Instagram for just $1 billion in 2012, and Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion in 2006. Markus Persson became incredibly rich from Minecraft, which would make you think he’d be happy. But just a year after selling the game, he tweeted, “The problem with getting everything is… you run out of reasons to keep trying, and human interaction becomes impossible due to imbalance.”

Persson also tweeted about his struggles with relationships, saying, “Found a great girl, but she’s afraid of me and my lifestyle and went with a normal person instead.” He further expressed his isolation by stating, “Hanging out in Ibiza with a bunch of friends and partying with famous people, able to do whatever I want, and I’ve never felt more isolated.”

It’s hard to feel sorry for a billionaire, but Persson’s experience reveals a profound truth: the riches of this world don’t bring the happiness most people think they will. Yet, this is what many strive for. Whether it’s the dream of becoming a billionaire or just wishing for a million dollars, a nicer car, or a bigger house, these thoughts often lead to a sense of despair. Despite living in one of the wealthiest places in the world during the wealthiest period in history, many people still feel empty.

This isn’t a new phenomenon. Over a hundred years ago, the French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville observed a “strange melancholy” haunting the inhabitants of democratic countries, even in the midst of their abundance. This “strange melancholy” persists today because, as the riches of this world lead to despair, we must learn to treasure Jesus Christ instead.

In Matthew 6:19–21, Jesus teaches, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The message is clear: the treasures of earth don’t last forever. Everything we own will be left behind when we die. But the treasures we store in heaven—good works, generosity, and devotion to God—are eternal.

The Apostle Paul echoes this teaching in 1 Timothy 6:17–19, saying, “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”

This passage is a reminder that we are the “rich in this present age,” and our focus should not be on accumulating wealth but on laying up treasures in heaven through good works and generosity. While God has given us good things to enjoy, we must remember that our ultimate purpose is to glorify Him in all that we do (1 Corinthians 10:31).

In Matthew 6:22–23, Jesus continues, “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” Here, “healthy” refers to a sincere and generous spirit, the opposite of stinginess and jealousy. When we set our eyes on Christ and His righteousness, our whole being is filled with light.

Finally, in Matthew 6:24, Jesus warns, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” As believers, we must choose to serve God, setting our minds on things above (Colossians 3:1–3) and storing up treasures in heaven rather than being consumed by the fleeting riches of this world. In doing so, we find true fulfillment in Christ, who is our greatest treasure.

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O Come: See What Your God Has Done

Summary of my sermon, based on Luke 2:30-32. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on December 31, 2023.

As we journey through the Christmas season, one of the most profound aspects of this time is the fulfillment of ancient prophecies that foretold the birth of Jesus. Often, when we think of these prophecies, our minds turn to the familiar passages in Isaiah, particularly Isaiah 7:14, where we read of the virgin conceiving and bearing a son, and Isaiah 9:6-7, where the coming Messiah is described as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

These passages have sometimes been misinterpreted, seen by some as referring to a military hero or political leader—a Messiah who would deliver Israel from oppressive empires like Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. This interpretation has led some to doubt that these prophecies refer to Jesus, suggesting instead that they were fulfilled by King Hezekiah or that they remain unfulfilled. Another crucial misinterpretation is the belief that the Messiah was meant only for Israel, sent solely to save the Jewish people.

But if that were the case, why are we, who are not Jewish by birth, here today, worshipping Jesus as the promised Messiah? How do we reconcile the fact that Jesus, in Matthew 28:19, instructs His followers to “go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”?

To understand this, we must delve into the events following Jesus’ birth as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, where we find a key moment that reveals the universal nature of Jesus’ mission.

Before we explore these events, it’s important to clarify some elements of the Christmas story. Many of us are familiar with the traditional nativity scene: Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus, surrounded by shepherds, angels, and wise men, under the light of a shining star. These elements, while deeply ingrained in our Christmas celebrations, are actually a combination of details from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.

Both Gospels share common events, such as the angel’s visit to Mary and the census decree that led Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. However, Matthew focuses on the visit of the wise men and the family’s subsequent flight to Egypt, while Luke tells of the shepherds and the angelic announcement of Jesus’ birth. Luke also includes a lesser-known but significant part of the story that is particularly relevant to us as Gentile believers.

In Luke 2:21-24, we read that Jesus was circumcised, presented at the temple, and that a sacrifice was offered for Him. His circumcision fulfilled the covenant requirement in Genesis 17:11: “You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you.” The presentation at the temple, though not a specific requirement, is tied to the sacrifice Mary and Joseph offered, fulfilling the law that every firstborn male was to be consecrated to the Lord (Exodus 13).

What stands out here is the humility of Jesus’ family. They offered two turtledoves or pigeons, the sacrifice prescribed for those who could not afford a lamb (Leviticus 12:8). This humble offering underscores the lowly circumstances of Jesus’ birth, a stark contrast to the grandeur we might expect for the King of Heaven.

Amid these rituals, Luke introduces us to Simeon, a devout and righteous man, who had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah. Simeon, described as “waiting for the consolation of Israel” (Luke 2:25-26), was not merely expecting a political savior but someone who would bring true comfort and redemption to God’s people. When he saw Jesus, he recognized Him immediately as the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Simeon’s response upon seeing Jesus is a profound declaration of the Messiah’s universal mission. In Luke 2:29-32, he says, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Simeon understood that Jesus was not just the Savior of Israel but the Savior of the world. This understanding goes back to God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3: “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” It is echoed in Isaiah 49:6, where God declares, “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

As we reflect on Simeon’s song and the prophecies of Isaiah, we see that Christmas is not just a celebration of Jesus’ birth but a reminder of His mission to bring salvation to all people. This truth should compel us to share the message of God’s love and salvation with others, just as Paul urges in 2 Corinthians 5:20-21: “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

As this Christmas season draws to a close, let us remember that we are called to be lights in the world, proclaiming the good news of salvation to everyone, so that all might come to know the love and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.