Sermons

S.R. Acts 17:26-32

Introduction

1. July 4^th 1776
   1. The second paragraph in the Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.”
   2. The Scriptures declare how all human beings are viewed by their Creator.
      1. Acts 17: 26
2. Jesus the Christ, more than any other person throughout time, has taught us how to view our fellow human beings.
3. Let us survey the interaction of Jesus with various ethnic groups

Outline

1. Jesus and the Jewish People
   1. For the past 1400 years prior to Jesus the Jews enjoyed a special national connection, with specific laws, priests, religious rites, and a tabernacle/temple that set them apart as God’s own chosen possession (cf. Romans 3:1,2; 9:1-5).
   2. God recognizes people as individuals. National or ethnic identity does not define the person. (Matthew 3:7-10)
   3. (Luke 4:16 ff.) Jesus in his hometown
      1. Even in the period of the Jewish nation God often showed special kindness to those of other ethnicities.
   4. Jesus experienced the prejudice of Jewish leaders based upon:
      1. Questions surrounding his birth (John 8:41)
      2. The place of his childhood residence (John 1:21; 7:52)
      3. The lack of a “good education.”
         1. John 7:15; 41-52
      4. The low view of his occupation (Mark 6:2-3)
      5. Jesus came to the Jews first (John 1:11) “They did not receive him.”
   5. Jesus treated these people with respect and proper decorum
      1. As a 12 year old (Luke 2:46)
      2. And as an adult (Matthew 23:1-3)
   6. Jesus countered the culture of hate with a culture of love. (Matthew 5:43-46)
2. Jesus and the Gentiles
   1. Centurion who seeks healing for his servant (Luke 7:6-10)
   2. Syro-Phonecian (Mark 7:26-31)
   3. Greeks seeking Jesus (John 12:20-21)
   4. Jesus, a “light to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:47)
3. Jesus and the Samaritans
   1. Disciples view of Samaritans
      1. Background (2 Kings 17)
      2. Jesus and the Samaritan woman (John 4:9, 27)
      3. Call down fire (Luke 9:51-56)
   2. Ten leprous men healed (Luke 17:12-18)
   3. Good Samaritan (Luke 10:33) Trying to define “Who is my neighbor?”
4. Jesus Taught People: All Ethnic groups; Men and Women
   1. John 4 “had to go through Samaria.”
      1. Jesus went to the Samaritans and so did Philip (Acts 8:12)
      2. Jesus came for all and Phillip taught an Ethiopian about Jesus (Acts 8)
   2. Jesus hated sin but loved sinners.
      1. Jesus did not expose the Samaritan woman’s sin because she was a Samaritan. But because she was a sinner.
   3. Look up – what do you see? (John 4:35)
5. Observations:
   1. Jesus Christ, more than any other person throughout time, has taught us how to view our fellow human beings.
      1. The gospel of the kingdom has instructed us more accurately than any other document in history how we are to respond to all others in the human race.
      2. It is a journey for nations and individuals to learn and imitate the teaching and practice of Jesus in our interaction with other people.
   2. The more we imbibe the principles of postmodernism and the general theory of evolution the more rapid the deterioration of the social fabric.
6. The Gospel is for All
   1. Galatians 3:26-28 “²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”