Introduction: Checkup Time

Suppose you are feeling fairly well, but go see your family doctor for a routine physical examination. Along with perhaps running a few tests, checking your vital signs and making some general observations, your doctor is very likely to ask some questions to determine your state of health.
This morning I want to ask some specific questions for check up time regarding primary issue to our church health. As I do this I also remind you of our coming 40 Days of Purpose during Lent.

While we consider the health of our church which was established about 120 years ago, the scripture text we read this morning is a narrative from the church of our Lord just beginning in the first century. The time is following the first Pentecost after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.

In the previous chapter we have an account of God healing a lame beggar through Peter and John. This, along with their preaching of the resurrection of Jesus disturbed the religious leaders, and they had Peter and John thrown into prison. The narrative we have already read is basically their defense as they are brought to trial.

The questions I am suggesting we use to consider the health of our church are not raised for the church in this passage, but I believe they are answered here. They are primary issues of church health.

I. Who Is Our Master?

My friends, I believe that we must be extremely clear as we ask and answer this question for ourselves and our church. While we need to have a clearly professed response, we must also answer it by living for our Master day by day.

Peter knew who his Master was and boldly told it to his accusers. He told them that it was in the name of Jesus Christ whom they had crucified and whom God raised from the dead that the lame man had been healed.

A little later we see that the Jewish leaders observed the confidence of Peter and John, realizing that they were common uneducated men. However, it was obvious that they had been with Jesus. It seems to me that the unbelievers realize who Peter and John's Master is. He is Jesus.

In the children's time Sue mentioned that Peter and John were told not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. However, Jesus was their Master, and they said they could not stop speaking about what they had seen and heard.

What about us? Do we profess that Jesus is our Lord and Master? If we say that, we might consider whether or not we are really allowing Jesus to be in control of our personal lives, our family, our church. We need to carefully think about who our Master is as we make decisions as individuals and as the body of Christ.

II. What Is Our Message?

This is indeed a primary issue regarding the health of the church. In our account from the early church the question concerning their message was very explicitly spelled out. Peter and John told of Jesus Christ who was crucified and risen from the dead. He is the corner stone rejected at first by His own Jewish people. Then they continue to tell the message, leaving no room for doubt about what they are saying. There is salvation in no other person. There is no name under heaven by which anyone can be saved except Jesus.

This remains the answer to "What is our message?" today. Certainly we ought to learn more of Jesus and the teachings of the Scriptures, but this is our central message. We may communicate this fantastic message in fresh and exciting presentations. We should strive to grow in Christ and live demonstrating this message. We should be open to the Holy Spirit guiding us to use relevant methods to communicate this message so be understood. We should help others come to know the salvation Jesus offers to us.

Albert Einstein once lamented that one of the great weaknesses of the twentieth century was that we habitually confused the means with the end. This has the tendency of being very dangerous for us in the church. While we realize that we are now in the 21st century, most of us have spent the majority of our lives in the twentieth century. The early Methodists were very methodical and willing to use whatever methods God provided for them that produced Godly results. However, the methods were only the means to the end. The message of salvation through our crucified and risen Christ is central.

III. What Is Our Motive?

Again, as we look at this story of Peter and John in the early church I believe another answer is given for a primary issue of church health. Some well meaning people, even some Christians are looking at their faith and their church in terms of what is in it for them. Certainly, I think there should be something in our faith and our church for us, but that is not primary issue.

Look at this story. What do you think Peter and John's motives were? Why were they doing what they were doing? Why were they thrown into jail? Was their motive to selfishly receive huge amounts of money?

No! These servants of Jesus Christ were risking their lives to tell the message to Christ. In compassion they told the lame beggar that they did not have money, but they gave him what they had. In the name of Jesus Christ they told him to walk. What did these guys do when the leaders got disturbed and put them in prison? They told them about Jesus. When told to not speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus they responded that they could not stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.

What were Peter and John's motives? The answer I see in this narrative is that they were living to tell others about Jesus. That was their motive. It was not for personal gain or recognition. It was purely to tell about their Master Jesus. He was their Master. His salvation was their message. Telling others this great life changing message was their motive.

Conclusion

How do we answer these questions for ourselves and for our church. An honest, thoughtful inquiry may reveal our church health. Check up Time. Who Is Our Master? What Is Our Message? What Is Our Motive?

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