Cornerstone Blog

“The Godliness of Righteous Anger”

Scripture: Matthew 21:12-13

Sermon Summary

Justice is not a liberal, social or political word. It is a biblical word because justice is an attribute of God that his image bearers are responsible to practice. The murder of George Floyd comes on the heels of many other incidents of injustice such as Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Now more than ever, the Church of Jesus Christ as well as followers of Christ must respond. The easiest way is to simply ignore the issues, mind our own business and continue to work hard. But the way of the cross requires dying to ourselves. It requires being righteously angry at the injustices taking place in God’s world. This kind of anger is cruciform because anger that faces injustice is draining, frustrating and wearies the soul. But it is the kind of anger God himself adorns. This means righteous anger at injustice is good and godly for the Christian.

Jesus displayed this kind of anger when he entered the temple and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and drove out those selling animals for sacrifice. But it was righteous anger because he was responding to the injustices committed in the temple. This business commerce was taking place in the court of the Gentiles giving them no room to properly worship and pray. God’s vision was that the temple would be a house of prayer for all peoples but the Gentiles were being denied the right to do that. Also the money changers and the sellers were exploiting those who traveled to worship at the temple by raising prices. Thus Jesus calls them robbers. They particularly targeted the poor who purchased pigeons to sacrifice, an Old Testament provision made specifically for those who could not afford sheep or oxen. Jesus’ anger was directed at these injustices.

As Christians we are called to imitate Christ and follow his ways. This means our desire for justice and our disgust over injustice is not a social issue but a sanctification issue. To look more like Christ means we get righteously angry at the injustices around us, particularly the racial injustice in our country. What will transform us to be these kinds of people? The gospel. Jesus’ confrontation in the temple foreshadowed his work on the cross. Whereas in the temple Jesus upheld the justice of God while condemning the injustice of sinful men, on the cross Jesus upheld the justice of God while being condemned for the injustice of sinful men. More specifically Jesus was condemned in our place by the justice of God so that we could receive forgiveness and mercy.

This gospel changes us in two ways. First, it’ll give us a desire to condemn injustice. The death of Christ shows us how much God hates injustice and the lengths he went to eradicate it. So we begin to condemn injustice in all of its shapes and forms. Second, it’ll give us a desire to contend for justice. The death of Christ shows us how much God loves justice and the lengths he’ll went to uphold it. So we begin to contend for justice wherever and however it is called for. Gospel-centered Christians then become the strongest and most courageous advocates for justice in society. We realize that being righteously angry at injustice is not something to suppress or smother as it leads us to right actions that conform to God’s desire for justice. We must believe that when it comes to injustice, an apathetic response is a pathetic response.

Here are eight things justice loving Christians can do. 1) Repent of what you see in yourself. 2) Lament over what you see around you. 3) Listen and learn from the voices and experiences of others. 4) Speak up for justice and speak out against injustice because everybody is made in God’s image. 5) Model for the world what it means to follow Jesus because we are made in the image of a justice loving God. 6) Teach our children it is heroic and strong to stand up for justice and cowardly and weak to dismiss injustice 7) pray for God’s reconciling work through Christ to bring peace to the world. 8) Long for the day when God will right every wrong and justice rolls down like waters (Amos 5:24).

Group Discussion Questions

1. Share with one another how all of this makes you feel (the recent events, the history of events, the responses of people). How do you tend to respond? Be honest.
2. What have you learned through conversations or other mediums that has helped you process the issue of racism and racial injustice, particularly in America? What has been eye-opening? What are some of the questions you are still wrestling with?
3. How does a bible-believing, Jesus-following, gospel-centered Christian understand, interpret, react and respond differently than any other person who is also aware and concerned about racism and racial injustice? Or is there not/should there not be a difference?
4. Which of the eight suggested things do you need to work on most? Can you unpack and elaborate on it?
5. Make a list of things the community group should pray for and lament over. Then pray and lament over those things.

“Grace Marked Generosity” Acts: To the End of the Earth

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Sermon Summary

The Christian faith is not just about knowledge and intellectual assent but about practice and intentional action. We live out what we believe. Some of the most difficult things about Christian discipleship are the things that address very concrete, tangible things in our lives. Acts 2:42-47 gives a picture of the early believers who were transformed by the gospel. This passage teaches us that the mark of God’s grace in our lives translates into generosity displayed in our lives.

The disciples who formed the first community of believers were genuinely transformed Christians. When they repented and believed the gospel of grace, Luke tells us that their souls were saved indicating that they were more than nominal Christians. They had truly repented of their sin and exercised saving faith in Christ. If we have been truly touched by God’s grace we will be transformed by that grace to do tangible acts of grace to one another. One of the clearest evidence of this is generosity. 

The practice of the believers was to sell what they had and give generously to those who had need. But it’s hard to be radically and sacrificially generous when we feel we have a right to what is ours. The gospel frees us to view our rights in a new perspective. When we are united to Jesus by faith, our lives become patterned after his. And we see in Christ’s life that he gave up his rights for us in order that he could generously share those things with us. And when this grips our hearts and it sinks in, Acts 2 comes to life for us in a whole new way. We can actually become generous in a truly Christlike way. Eugene Peterson says that the gospel transforms our pronouns from “I” to “we” and “mine” to “ours.”

When God’s grace marks our generosity, he invites us to participate in his work of generosity in the world. He turns us from a stagnant pool that collects and hoards blessings to be a mighty river from which his generosity flows to others. And one of the most tangible ways, although certainly not the only way, is to be generous with our money. The Bible reminds us that money itself is not bad. It makes for a wonderful servant but an awful master. Generosity is a constant practice of reminding ourselves of this truth. This is why wealth is not antithetical to the kingdom of God. It is only antithetical when it rivals God for the throne of our hearts.

God calls us to generosity out of sacrifice, not out of abundance. This is the pattern of God’s own giving in John 3:16. He gave his one and only Son for us. This is not just a verse about God’s love but his generosity. He gave to the point where it hurt him even when we didn’t deserve it. In the same way we can then give in a way that hurts a little. The grace that the early believers experienced is the same grace at work in our own lives. We can begin to be generous in four ways:

1. Giving tithes and offerings to the local church to support its work of kingdom advancement according to our core values.

2. Volunteering locally in acts and areas of mercy and justice that is generous in all forms of currency (money, time and energy).

3. Personally supporting and giving to various missionaries, church plants, organizations and institutions according to God-given convictions.

4. Meeting the personal needs of our community through intentional acts that seek to serve others.

As difficult as grace marked generosity is, God doesn’t call us to do anything that he doesn’t also empower us to do. We must remember that his grace will be our fuel to give when we don’t want to and it’ll be our comfort to give when we are scared to.

Group Discussion Questions

1. Share something you found either interesting, memorable, convicting, confusing or challenging about the passage/sermon. 
2. What are some of the enemies of radical, sacrificial generosity? Which do you struggle with most? Jonathan Edwards said the difficulty with generosity is not that you can’t do it but that you can’t do what God says while keeping what you want. Can you identify an instance of this?
3. What is your general attitude toward money? Have you ever experienced how money makes for a good servant in your life? What about an experience of money as an awful master?
4. God calls us to be rivers that channel his generosity to others, not a pool that collects it for ourselves. Can you recount an experience of receiving somebody else’s generosity? Are there ways you can begin to cultivate practices of generosity in your own life?

“Jesus is the Good News”  Acts: To the End of the Earth

Scripture: Acts 2:22-41

Sermon Summary

What was most characteristic about Peter’s sermon at Pentecost were two things. First his sermon was radically Christ-centered. This means the sermon found its focal point on Christ, rather than simply mentioning Jesus a few times. Second his sermon was radically Bible-grounded. The sermon was not just inspired thoughts by the preacher but preaching that came from the inspired Word. The unique content of Peter’s sermon was the gospel: God’s saving message of Christ’s life, death, resurrection and exaltation. The gospel message is the good news of Jesus. Or put another way, Jesus is the good news. Jesus himself, not the benefits we derive from him, is the primary blessing of the gospel. This is important to affirm because it keeps Jesus front and center in the Christian faith. Jesus never falls into the background hidden behind the benefits that we receive from him. This keeps our focus on loving, honoring and worshiping Jesus.

#1: Jesus’ Life (2:22)

Peter’s sermon begins with Jesus who came to us in full humanity and full humility. As a man from Nazareth, Jesus identified himself as one of us. But his life was full of mighty works and signs that pointed to the work he came to do. He would restore the brokenness of the world and fix every wrong. His miracles were all glimpses of his power and his promise to one day do exactly that. Jesus’ life is good news.

#2: Jesus’ Death (2:23)

Jesus died in order to fully pay for man’s sins and take the punishment that we deserved. There’s a mystery involved in his death. How do we balance the mystery of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility? Although this is a question for us, it neither bothered nor mattered to the original audience. They were so cut to the heart about Jesus that their concerns were how they should respond. Peter tells them that repentance and faith in Christ will lead to the forgiveness of sins. Trusting in Christ is the only way their sins will be dealt with. The same is true of us today. Christ’s death as our substitute was sufficient for us that we don’t need to any anything else to his death. Jesus’ death is good news.

#3: Jesus’ Resurrection (2:24-32)

Death did not have the final say over the Author of Life. He was raised from the dead three days later, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies. As the holy, innocent and righteous One, God could not leave him for dead. He was raised in a glorious resurrection as a vindication and verification of all that he claimed. His resurrection was the seal that all who trust in him will also share in his eternal life and bodily resurrection. Without the resurrection, the Christian faith would all be in vain. Jesus’ resurrection is good news.

#4: Jesus’ Exaltation (2:33-35)

Now Jesus is exalted in heaven as the reigning King. His enemies are made his footstool as he rules and protects his people. Jesus does not leave his people unprotected and defenseless. He continually subjects evil to himself until he will vanquish evil forever when he returns in his final judgment. Jesus saved his people as a compassionate and loving lamb but he protects his people as a strong and mighty lion. Jesus’ exaltation is good news.

Jesus is the good news that we celebrate. The Giver is always better than the gifts, the Benefactor better than the benefits, the Person better than the prizes. When we thank God for the gospel, we don’t thank him for the things he gives us. We thank him for Jesus – his life, death, resurrection and exaltation.

Group Discussion Questions

1. Share something you found either interesting, memorable, convicting, confusing or challenging about the passage/sermon. 
2. How do you define the gospel? Everybody should share their working definition.
3. If you ask ten different people to define the gospel, you will most likely get ten different answers. Do you think Christians should have a uniform answer so that our answers aren’t contradictory? What are the pros/cons of having a uniform answer? What are the pros/cons of having a diversity of answers? How do you think an unbeliever would interpret the fact that he/she would hear as many different answers as people that he/she asked?
4. No one part of the gospel is more important than the other (life, death, resurrection, ascension/exaltation). Why do you think Christians focus and emphasize on one more than the others? Which do you tend to neglect the most? In what ways does this imbalance affect your Christian life? How would your faith be improved if you paid more attention to the other emphases? 

“A Greater Response of Love”  (Paul Yu)

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Sermon Summary

Jesus is invited over to Simon the Pharisee’s house. Everything seems normal, until a scandalous woman interrupts the scene uninvited by affectionately anointing Jesus’s feet. After this dramatic act, the scene sharply shifts over to the Pharisee’s self-righteous, judgmental attitude against the sinful woman and Christ. Jesus then rebukes the Pharisee by applying a parable of a lesser and greater debtor. In Jesus’s rebuke, we are challenged to see our self-righteous attitude exposed. The moral of the story condemns the Pharisee and commends the sinful woman. The woman is then declared forgiven, while Christ’s divine authority to forgive sin is displayed. All in all, this passage teaches us how a self-awareness of sin draws us to a greater love for our Savior. 

#1: The Setting (7:36-38)

As Jesus performs many mighty deeds, everyone starts to notice him as a great prophet and his popularity grows like wildfire. Simon is curious about all this hype and throws a banquet for Jesus at his house. What seems like a relaxed party suddenly becomes a conflict as soon as a sinful woman approaches Jesus. This provocative woman stands before Jesus pouring special ointment she brought, while weeping and wiping her tears with her hair as she continually kisses Jesus on his feet. This peculiar act is deemed inappropriate as it breaks all social norms. The story then shifts to the Pharisee’s judgmental reaction. 

#2  The Self-Righteous Judgment (7:39-43) 

Simon’s hateful judgment targets both Christ and the woman. For Simon, the woman’s acts were not viewed as a genuine act of love, but a scandalous act of lust. Simon’s hardened heart was unmoved by the woman’s tears, which reveals his contemptuous attitude that stems from self-righteousness. It becomes clear that Simon invited Jesus to judge whether Jesus was the great prophet everyone claimed he was. In Simon’s eyes, what was more scandalous than the woman’s act was that Jesus received this inappropriate act without stopping it. Simon strongly believed that if you associate yourself with sinners, you condone their sinful lifestyle. Thus, Simon denies in his heart that Jesus is a true prophet for being morally lax by accepting sinners. 

Like a metal detector that detects metal objects from afar, we have sin detectors preinstalled in our hearts that detect defects in others. We are all prone to have a natural inclination to detect other people’s wrong doings, but for some odd reason our sensors malfunction whenever it tries to pick up signals of our own blind spots and shortcomings. We resemble Simon as we fail to recognize our own sin, while finding fault in others. By failing to see our sinfulness, we deem the gospel unnecessary and reject Christ like Simon. 

#3 The Self-Awareness of Sin (7:44-50) 

Where the Pharisee misjudges Jesus by denying him as a prophet, the sinful woman correctly identifies Jesus to be her Savior in her self-awareness of sin. The woman’s acts of greater love are contrasted against the absence of love in Simon. We see here how self-righteousness blinds us from seeing who we truly are and who Christ truly is. It is only when we recognize our great need that we can truly see the great deed of the Savior and respond in love. The climax of the story is reached when Christ authoritatively declares the sinful woman forgiven. People immediately question Jesus’s authority to forgive sins. Knowing this in their hearts, Jesus says to the woman again, “your faith has saved you; go in peace (v. 50).” Not only was Simon’s denial of Jesus being a prophet completely mistaken, but Jesus vindicates himself to be far greater than a prophet as he possesses divine authority to forgive sin. 

Jesus not only reveals his divine authority, but he also reveals himself to be a friend of sinners and an enemy of the proud. At the end of the day, who do you see yourself to be? Are you the self-righteous Pharisee or are you the sinful woman? You can only be a friend or an enemy of Jesus, for there is no such thing as neutrality. Whether or not you admit it, there is a Simon in us all. In light of this reality, God calls you to humble yourselves and see Christ’s tender heart towards sinners, so you too can walk in the sweet assurance of the sinful woman that “your sins are forgiven.”

Group Discussion Questions

1. Share something you found either interesting, memorable, convicting, confusing or challenging about the passage/sermon. 
2. In what ways do self-righteous attitudes and tendencies manifest in your life? Do you tend to detect other people’s faults, while ignoring your own blind spots? Where do you think your self-righteousness stems from?
3. How can you grow in a greater awareness of Christ’s love as you simultaneously grow in a greater self-awareness of your sin?  What’s the result of not having this balanced? 
4. How does the gospel confront your self-righteousness and grow you in repentance? What are some instances when God’s amazing grace came to you when you were Pharisaic?  How did you respond?
   

“Call Upon the Name”  Acts: To the End of the Earth

Scripture: Acts 2:14-21

Sermon Summary

When Peter preached his first sermon at Pentecost the Holy Spirit anointed his preaching so that three thousand souls were saved.  This was not the result of Peter’s eloquence or abilities but the Spirit working powerfully through him.  Today the same Holy Spirit indwells and empowers believers to share the hope of the gospel with others.  Christians live in the reality that Christ will return one day so we should call upon the name of Jesus and be saved.

#1: The Promise

Peter explains what’s happening at Pentecost by declaring it is a fulfillment of Joel 2:28-32 found in the Old Testament.  Joel prophesied that the Spirit would fall on all flesh, meaning all kinds of people without discrimination and distinction.  Gender, age and social class would no longer be dividing markers.  The Spirit wouldn’t distinguish people the way we do.  In fact, the Spirit falls on those whom he chooses by his will, not by our qualifications or preparations.  When the Spirit fills a person, he regenerates their heart giving them faith and repentance so that they are saved in Christ.  If the Spirit can fall on anybody and bring them to Christ, then we must not lose hope on those we think would reject the gospel or have rejected it in the past. 

The book of Acts records case after case of the most unlikely people coming to faith in Christ because the Spirit was at work in them.  This encourages those of us who are frustrated when loved ones seem to want nothing to do with the gospel.  We should not give up, lose heart or become cynical, deciding in our hearts that there’s no way they would ever believe.  It’s not our job to save, only to share.  We trust the Spirit will convict and call people to Christ.  Then everybody who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. 

#2: The Urgency

Peter reinterprets Joel 2:28 by telling us that the last days have come upon us because the Spirit has come.  We now live in the last days.  But we live sandwiched between two times.  The last days have begun and we are anticipating the day of the Lord, the day of Christ’s return and final judgment.  That day is described in Acts 2:19-20 as a day of blood, fire, smoke and darkness.  On that day all humanity will have to give an account before God.  Those who call upon Christ will be honored as they are forgiven and justified.  They will receive a crown of glory because of their Savior.  Those who have not called upon Christ will be humiliated as they stand guilty before God.  They will receive a righteous judgment because of their sins.  This is why for believers it’ll be a great and magnificent day but for unbelievers it will be one of dread and terror. 

The difference is accounted for by Christ.  In Luke 23 we see the darkness of that final judgment falling upon Jesus as he’s crucified.  This is a sign that God’s future judgment has broken into the present and Jesus takes on God’s judgment for those who look to him in faith.  This is why on the day of the Lord believers who call upon Jesus’ name will be saved.  But for those who don’t call upon his name, God’s divine wrath and anger are still awaiting them in heaven.  Because we don’t know when the day of the Lord will be, our lives are filled with urgency.  We may be prepared to face that day but how many in our lives are not prepared for it? 

If we live with that urgency we should begin sharing gospel hope regularly.  Peter spoke and shared and the Spirit used that to bring people to faith in Christ.  He saved people by using Peter’s witness.  God wants to do the same with us.  This is why Jesus sent us his Spirit, so that we would have power to be his witnesses in this world (Acts 1:8).  Would we believe that the gospel promise really is wonderful: call upon the name of the Lord and be saved.  Would we also believe that this promise has an expiration date as the day of the Lord is coming.  Until then we should share gospel hope with those in our lives that they might call upon the name of Jesus and be saved.

Group Discussion Questions

1. Share something you found either interesting, memorable, convicting, confusing or challenging about the passage/sermon. 
2. Is there somebody you have shared gospel hope with before and they rejected it?  How does that make you feel sharing the gospel with them again?  What are common excuses you make to not share the gospel with certain people? 
3. How do you balance feeling the urgency of the day of the Lord while trusting in God’s sovereignty and timing?  What errors/dangers should we be aware of by emphasizing one over the other?
4. Is there a particular sermon or book or talk or verse or quote about the gospel that you could share or have shared with others?  What is it?  Would you be willing to share it this week?

*In your prayer time, pray for one person specifically that they might call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. 

“Lessons from Pentecost”  Acts: To the End of the Earth

Scripture: Acts 2:5-13

Sermon Summary

Acts 2 and the day of Pentecost cannot be downplayed in its significance for the Church.  It marked a new era of redemptive history as the Spirit was poured out on all believers to indwell us.  Although there will never be nor does there need to be another Pentecost, we still need the ministry of the Spirit today.  From Acts 2:5-13 we learn that the Holy Spirit glorifies the Son of God and unifies the people of God. 

In Jerusalem a diverse, international crowd of diaspora Jews were gathered.  The Spirit came upon the disciples and supernaturally spoke through them in the language of those gathered.  The miracle was that the disciples spoke a language they did not know, not that the people heard a language that wasn’t being spoken.  The Spirit was using the disciples to witness the gospel.  In this way God was reversing the curse of Babel (Genesis 11).  In that story, mankind tried to reach God on their own by building a tower up to heaven.  In response, God judgment was not only to scatter them but to confuse their language.  But at Pentecost God sent his Spirit to overcome that language barrier.  The curse at Babel was that people were divided but the blessing at Pentecost was that people were unified by the Spirit, being called to Jesus. 

From this event we learn at least two lessons about the ministry of the Holy Spirit that we can still expect today in the 21st century. 

#1: The Spirit’s ministry is to glorify God’s Son

The Spirit’s ministry is primarily Christ-centered, not Christian-centered.  It’s about shining the spotlight on Jesus, not on us.  He fell on the disciples and gave them the gift of tongues not for their own edification or experience but to exalt Christ.  Through their utterance, many were able to hear about the mighty works of God which climaxes in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:19-20).  Jesus attests to the Spirit’s role and ministry in John 16:13-14 when he tells his disciples that the Spirit glorifies the Son.  The Spirit is honored not when he gets the glory but when Christ gets the glory.

The Spirit continues his ministry to us and in the church by constantly directing our thoughts and our affections back to Christ.  He turns our eyes to see and savor the Savior.  We should then pray and plead with the Spirit to work in our lives so that we make much of Jesus and fall more in love with him.  We should ask the Spirit to magnify and exalt Christ in our lives through our speech, actions and thoughts.  Then the Spirit will give us incredible experiences and deep emotions that are centered on Jesus and not himself or ourselves. 

#2: The Spirit’s ministry is to unify God’s people

The Spirit united God’s people not by removing diversity nor by conforming everybody to a certain culture and language.  He united people by preserving their diversity and uniting them to Jesus.  This shows that our unity is not based on uniformity.  Christ unites us by including our diversity, differences and distinctions.  The curse of Babel was division, not diversity.  So when the international crowd hears the gospel in their own language, it’s a glimpse of heaven.  Revelation 5:9-10 and 7:9 both attest the vision of the redeemed from every tribe, language, people and nation worshiping Jesus.  God is pleased with the diversity of his people.  It’s naive to dismiss this because God doesn’t.  In fact God celebrates it as he unifies his people by the Spirit to his Son. 

When we understand God’s heart, we need to grasp two truths.  First, there are no second-class citizens in the kingdom of God.  Often minority groups feel less valid to the majority, dominant groups.  As a result we may resent our status and envy another’s.  But the gospel has never been about shedding off our unique identity and adopting another one.  Rather the gospel says Christ loves the diversity of his Bride so he purchased each unique person with his blood.  This truth elevates those who think they’re second class and it humbles those who think others are second class.  Second, we are all necessary citizens in the kingdom of God.  The Spirit reversed Babel’s division, yet maintained Babel’s diversity because this was God’s plan.  He wants to display his glory through the diversity of his redeemed people.  Because God is not colorblind we should not be.  Rather we acknowledge how we’re necessary for the beautiful mural of God’s people that he is painting. 

Group Discussion Questions

1. Share something you found either interesting, memorable, convicting, confusing or challenging about the passage/sermon. 
2. How does it make you feel to say that the Spirit doesn’t seek attention for himself but drives it to Christ?  Can you think of any other part of the Bible that affirms this truth? 
   • Have you ever had a Spirit-given extraordinary experience or intense emotions of deep love and longing for Jesus?  Could you describe it?  Were you able to tell it was Spirit led?  How? 
3. In your experience do you feel like churches tend to emphasize “unity in diversity” or “unity through conformity”?  What do you think about this statement: In the church we shouldn’t see color (i.e. we should be “colorblind”) but only see each other as Christians?  What could be harmful about such a statement? 
4. Is there something from another person’s diverse background that helped you learn something new about God, the gospel, the Christian life, etc?  What do you think your particular diverse background can teach or help others learn about God, the gospel, the Christian life, etc?