April 24, 2005

Girls Rule

Consider the Cost

Acts 16:11-15

Opening Words: Today you will hear sermon number three in an eight part sermon series I have called “Girls Rule.” We are going to look at eight different women in the Bible. Sometimes their model is quite outstanding. Sometimes their model is not. So far we have looked at the woman at the well and Sapphira. Today we are going to look at the story of Lydia in the sixteenth chapter of Acts. Let us call this message “Consider the Cost.”

Lydia was a woman of influence. Perhaps this poem from an unknown author best fits her life.

          My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done;

          Leave countless marks for good or ill, ere sets the evening sun.

          This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray:

          Lord, may my life help other lives it touches along the way.

Let us hear this morning’s scripture lesson together.

Introduction

This is my question for you today. Do you understand the cost of discipleship?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was the professor of theology at Berlin University during the 1030’s. It was a time when the church, herself, was divided over Adolph Hitler. Some in the church saw the insanity but others wanted a pure German race. Bonhoeffer joined an underground church, which opposed the Third Reich. It was dangerous and in 1937 the theologian fled to London. Two years later Bonhoeffer would be forced to make a decision. He had been offered a teaching position at precious Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Or he could return to Germany to help teach young pastors for the underground church. He decided to return to Germany and saw the insanity first hand. He decided something had to be done so he got involved in a plot to assassinate Hitler. When the plot failed Bonhoeffer was arrested and on April 9, 1945 the Nazis executed Bonhoeffer.

The German Christians of his day disturbed Bonhoeffer. He had many questions about them. How could people claim the name of Jesus Christ and worship in a church that banned Jews? How could Christians claim the name of Jesus Christ and support Hitler? For Bonhoeffer outward religiosity was not enough. It was really quite simple. It is not how we are in church that really matters. It is how we are in the whole life. Dietrich Bonhoeffer understood the cost of discipleship. Lydia understood the cost of discipleship. Do you understand the cost of discipleship?

Body

This morning’s scripture lesson comes from the sixteenth chapter of Acts. Paul is on his second of three missionary journeys. He is in Philippi. It was a Roman colony filled with retired Roman soldiers. Roman patriotism ran high. However, it was also the place where Paul met Lydia.

According to the scripture it is the Sabbath. Paul goes outside the city gate to pray and encounters some women. One of those women is Lydia. The spirit opens her heart and she accepts Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Lydia’s story is a story of true discipleship. On the day that Lydia accepted Jesus into her heart everything changed. On the day you accepted Jesus Christ into your heart everything should have changed. Lydia knew the cost of discipleship from the very first day. I hope you can say the same.

Today we are going to look at three characteristics of Lydia’s life. Each one reveals to us her understanding of true discipleship. Two we will look at in detail. The other we will run through briefly because we have visited this concept recently. What a surprise! All three characteristics begin with the same letter. The letter is M. So if you are ready to look at this model of discipleship then say, “Amen!”

Lydia was a minority. According to verse thirteenth Paul met Lydia outside the city gate near the river. That is a significant piece of information. They were outside the city gates because they were not welcomed in the city. The Jewish population in Philippi must have been small. The law required that only ten Jewish men were required in start a synagogue. They didn’t have ten Jewish men so they worshipped out of the city gates by the river. Being in a world filled with Gentiles, Lydia was a minority. If you truly want to be a disciple of Jesus Christ then you must be prepared to be a minority.

Several years ago I visited Mason Funeral Home down on Rayen Avenue. A relative of my wife’s student intern had died tragedy. The building was filled with all kinds of mourners. When Kathy and I walked in with our white faces the room grew strangely quiet. To be honest with you it was the first time in a long time I was part of the minority. Webster defines the minority as, “a small part of a much larger group.” True disciples are a small part of this big world.

Let me say this clearly. A disciple is one who acts and thinks like Jesus would act and think. Jesus made other people more important than himself. So disciples must make others more important than themselves. That is a radical concept in our world and it will not make you popular! If you are going to live like Jesus lived then you are going to be a minority in this world. Let me give you a few examples.

The world says our country has a special relationship with God. Disciples understand that God loves all people. The world says you must take care of yourself first. Disciples understand that we must care for the weak and the unknown. The world is concerned with the number 10,000; the Dow Jones average must stay above 10,000. Disciples are concerned with the number six. Every six seconds someone in this world starves to death. The world is consumed with the word, “ME!” Disciples are consumed with the word, “THEM!” Discipleship is not just showing up on Sunday morning to hear the choir and sit through another boring sermon. Discipleship is taking Jesus’ opinions and priorities and making them your own. And if you do you will be discarded by this world because people will think you are a nut. You will be in the minority.

Lydia was used to being in the minority. Are you prepared to be in the minority? Do you understand the cost of discipleship? If you are prepared to be in the minority in this world then say, “Amen!” Lydia was a minority.

Lydia was a woman of means. She was at the top of the social scale. According to verse fourteen Lydia was a woman who sold purple cloth from the city of Thyatira. It was a city known for its dying expertise. The most valuable color used was purple because it was collected from certain shelled fish. It was a time consuming process so to say that one sold purple cloth meant they had money. Lydia could buy whatever she wanted but the one thing she really needed she couldn’t buy, spiritual peace. She was a worshipper of God but she didn’t know Jesus as her Lord and Savior. There is a million miles of difference between believing in God and believing in Jesus. The world has always told us our possessions are the key to happiness. Disciples know the key to happiness and contentment is Jesus Christ. Are you ready to tell the world that money is not enough?

Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless until we find our rest in God.” Rudolf Bultmann said, “Within everyone there is a recollection of Eden calling us home.” John Wesley called it prevenient grace. It is a kind of grace that leads us back to God. It is like standing in front of an open refrigerator in the middle of the night. You know you are hungry for something but you don’t know what it is. Everyone has a restless spirit. Only disciples will admit they can find happiness without money. Doesn’t that sound crazy to the world? Are you ready for the people in your world to call you crazy?

Do you understand the cost of discipleship? If you are ready to tell the world they are wrong, money is not the source of true happiness, then say, “Amen!” Lydia was a minority and a woman of means. 

Lydia was a model. I do not mean a supermodel. (However, that would be fun!) I mean Lydia was an example for the people in her life. She was a woman of influence in her little corner of the world. Verse fourteen concludes by saying that Lydia accepted Jesus into her heart. Verse fifteen says as a sign of her conversion she is baptized into the faith. But it is not just her but her entire household. Because of her influence on their lives her children and her servants were also baptized. There is a great amount of responsibility with holding that kind of influence. We are reminded of that all the time.

Research tells us that children who witness physical violence between their parents are six times more likely to abuse their spouse when they marry. Did you know that children who are physically abused by their parents are twelve times more likely to abuse their spouse after marriage? Are you ready to be responsible for someone else’s salvation?

Several years ago NBA star Charles Barkley told the world he was not a role model! He was just a basketball player! Like it or not Charles you are a role model and so are we. Disciples use their influence to make other disciples. You are a role model! What kind of role model will you be? Do you understand the cost of discipleship? If you are ready to be a role model for someone else in your little corner of the world then say, “Amen!”

Conclusion

Dietrich Bonhoeffer had a choice to make. He could go to New York City and teach at Union Theological Seminary, one of the most precious positions in the world! Or he could return to Germany and help the struggling underground church. He returned to Germany and on April 9, 1945 the Nazis executed Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer understood the cost of discipleship. Lydia understood the cost of discipleship.

Do you understand the cost the cost of discipleship? You may not have to face the Third Reich but you will have to face the people of your world and your world can be pretty intimidating. Are you ready to be a minority? There is a shortage of true disciples in our world. Are you ready to admit that your things can’t bring you real contentment? You are a person of means. Are you ready to be a model for Jesus Christ in this world? Our world needs some Christian examples! If you are really ready to be a disciple of Jesus Christ then say, “Amen!”