Staring Down Death In Evangelizing-Based Upon Acts 7:55-60

“Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” These are the words familiar to Christians around the world, as they are some of the final words spoken by Christ while he was dying on the cross. Jesus became a martyr for the cause of eternal salvation, as would many of his followers trying to spread the word. So what exactly is a martyr? A martyr is someone who quite simply cannot keep their mouth shut, and willing to die for a cause that they not only believe in, but live for. In the scripture, Stephen is the very first martyr in the New Testament. He is convicted of false charges and is stoned to death. However, we should look at his life with great intensity, because for all intents and purposes, Stephen was an everyday person (just like you and me). There have been a lot of other martyrs since Stephen, but would we be martyrs if necessary?

The word "martyr" has become a tainted word since the terrorist attacks of 2001. The terrorists claimed to be martyrs for the faith, while killing others. True martyrs die so that others may in fact live. Many martyrs die due to the fact that they are so open with their faith that they make people in power very uncomfortable. Many young men who were prisoners of war in World War II, Korea and Vietnam used their faith as a way to strike out at their captors, so much so that some men were killed in prison. Recently, there was the case of the young woman in Atlanta who was taken hostage by a man who was in the midst of a killing spree. She witnessed to him and was able to escape with her life. She took a stand for Christ and was able to help a man end his life of crime.

Some people believe that they should be seen and not heard throughout their lives. In countries where religions are restricted, most notably China and Cuba, you will find martyrs in action. In these countries, churches are supposed to register with the government in order to remain in good graces, and yet other faiths practice in defiance to these laws. They face death on a daily basis. When you push the governments buttons, you face punishment, anger, and the possibility of becoming a martyr.

In South Africa during the 1970s, a young man named Steve Biko was killed for standing up against the racist government which established apartheid. Biko was so bold that he wrote a book entitled “I Say What I Like.” He was asking for trouble, and yet his death inspired even more people to join the cause of fighting a racist and oppressive government. Biko’s death made him a martyr in the long history of expanding Christian ideals of peace and equality.

Another important example of a martyr in the modern world is the example of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador. Romero was an outspoken critic of the government run by the government during the 1980s, because they would systematically kill thousands of people at a time with no real rhyme or reason. If Romero would have been like everyone else, he would have kept his mouth shut about what was happening in his home and possibly stayed alive. For Romero, the pulpit was the position for advocating change within his community and around the world. One Sunday morning, while delivering mass, the door of his church was thrown open and he was assassinated in front of his congregation. What amazing imagery of not only his death, but his blood and body joining Christ’s on the alter! He could have kept Christ to himself, but decided to share Christ’s love even with his enemies.

The final example of a martyr actually lived, but was never quite the same. Pope John Paul II was almost martyred for speaking against the atrocities occurring in his homeland of Poland by the Soviets. The Pope was almost assassinated at the hand of a young Turkish man with the assistance of the Bulgarian government and the KGB, which was headed by future Soviet premier, Yuri Andropov. As we all know, Poland gained freedom from the Soviet style government, and John Paul II continued to minister to those without a voice in countries with similar style governments, until those governments collapsed a little over a decade ago. The Pope was never the same as well, after taking a bullet for Christ.

These examples create a vision for our church and how we are able to grow. We should be able to walk tall in this world with confidence and proclaim the word of God. There will be those people who hurl stones at you for proclaiming your faith, but you have Christ by your side as protection. As a martyr, you must be willing to point fingers at others and tell them what they should be doing, even if it makes them uncomfortable. Nobody said it would be an easy position to be in, but it is absolutely necessary. Prophets and leaders had the guts to move out of their comfort zones and convict others to take action. It is the prophets and martyrs who attack our sinful, slimy side of life.

A martyr is someone who does not necessarily take risks in what they say, but when and where they say it. If you talk about Christ in front of those who already know Christ, you are not making much of an impact. However, if you take that message to the street, or to kids, you will make a greater impact. At the same time, you must be willing to get hit with some stones. In some countries, you can get killed. My cousin is a missionary in China and has been for some time. He has been ministering in secret for a long time and faces the prospect of death everyday. He does not stick his finger into the air and go along with public opinion, or wherever the wind blows…He takes a stand and goes against the wind.

As for the church, we must be willing to stick our necks out for the sake of saving others. Stephen was in the midst of ministering to people who knew Jesus on the surface, but not at a deeper level. Our duty as a church is to go into the world and make disciples who make disciples, who in turn make more disciples. That means building relations with people we have never built relationships with. That also means securing and enhancing the surface relationships we already have. If we don’t minister to others, then we are failing the mission of the church and failing the mission that Christ has given to us. Fortunately for us, we are not under a quota system by which we have to save so many people. All I am asking is that you try to evangelize as you become more comfortable in your faith.

The final characteristic of a martyr is that the martyr must in fact be willing to die. I ask you this evening, how many of you are willing to die for Christ? I assume many of us would find it difficult to leave behind family or friends, let alone our possessions, but that is exactly what Christ died for. We must be willing to move out of silence and speak where it is dangerous for us to speak about Christ. Truth resounds with everyone and the truth of Christ sound resonate within the hearts and minds of the people of Christ…So much so that we are willing to lay our lives out for the one who saved us. My encouragement to you is to walk tall in your faith and seek out those who need to know Christ. Remember that one of the men who stoned Stephen would later become the greatest ambassador for Christianity and a martyr himself, and that is Paul.

Utilized “The Martyrs and St. Stephen” from Edward F. Markquart Sermons from Seattle

What Is WOW Like?

This service was started in February of 2004 as a response of the community to have a second opportunity to worship. Some of the regular church members wanted a contemporary service, but also allow for a casual atmosphere. We also wanted an opportunity to reach out to those seeking Christ for the first time. Last year, we were able to baptize 8 people in one evening. WOW is about evangelizing and reaching out to others. Community outreach is also a key component to worship.

Worship On Wednesday is a very casual worship experience geared towards a younger audience. However, a great deal of older people enjoy the upbeat music, the candlelight, and informal worship. We gather in the Fellowship Hall before the service and usually have good conversation. After a 2 song introduction to move into the worship area, the service starts. We have a welcome, sing a praise song, and enter into a time of prayer. Scripture is read and the message is given. We celebrate communion every Wednesday. Communion is open to all believers regardless of their church home. A closing song and benediction is given, and we adjourn.

Contagious Community-Based Upon Acts 2:42-47

Thirty years ago this year, a revolution was taking place in the suburbs of Chicago. A movement so historic, the effects of it are still being felt to this day, and that movement is called the Willow Creek Association. Willow Creek is the nations largest nondenominational movement with thousands of member churches and regular attendance in the 20,000 range for a typical weekend in main church located in the Chicago suburb. What is amazing, is that the very first service for the Willow Creek Community Church was only attended by 125 people. That is the approximate attendance for Dover Place Christian Church for the same time frame. Why does one church have multiple services to account for 20,000 people, while another church is barely able to see 60 people on a Sunday? Well, there is no simple answer. Vision, leadership, and age certainly figure into the equation. On the whole, Willow Creek is the embodiment of the Acts passage.

Building a contagious church is something that takes years and energy to implement at its greatest point. Being a contagious church also takes people who are willing to share their faith in an open matter with those who are willing to listen. More importantly, sharing of the faith is done in a way that shows the other person how God is moving through you. Clear communication is essential when it comes to professing ones faith. The last thing I want to hear from a Christian is this...Why do you believe in Jesus? "Because, I always have." That doesn't give the greatest insight on why you believe the way you do. This message is an exciting message filled with prophecy and hope for our future as a church.

Bill Hybels, who is the founder of Willow Creek makes this assessment of the church today. He says, "If you have an airport and planes are not coming to the airport, people assume there is a problem. If you have a business, but not receiving customers; people say there is a problem. So why is it that when no new believers are coming to church, and churches are closing their doors on a daily basis do people assume there is not a problem. There is a major problem!" Friends, that is the grim realty that we at Dover Place face on a daily basis. If we don't minister to people who are seeking out Christ, we will be one of those churches that closes its doors. At the same time, we are also needed to minister to those who have never known the wonderful power of Christ. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he left us with the great commission, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age."

So, where do we begin to become a contagious church? There are five steps I want to highlight for you and encourage each and every one of you to take note of these five steps and implement them into your own personal life of evangelism. The first step is the act of prayer. The Apostle Paul in Romans encourages Christ's followers to be "joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, and sharing with God's people who are in need." Asking God for forgiveness of your own soul is never enough, as there are other sinners in this world who need your forgiveness through God. Each week, we spend a great deal of time focused around the prayers of the community, as we have the ability to lift each other up, but also those who don't understand God the way we understand God. As a group of voices lifting many up, the miracle of life is celebrated yet again.

The second step in becoming a contagious church is the gift of caring for others. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that people should not hide their light under a bowl, instead, they put that lamp on the stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. Sharing light has been important to this service as we bask in candlelight each time we gather. At the same time, we are the light to others in darkness. Some of the easiest steps in caring for others starts with you giving them some of your personal time. Meeting somebody for coffee, or even giving them a call on the phone can break the levee of silence for some. When I was in college, I would receive one-line e-mails from Bert (my stepfather), and it made all the difference. If you don't have time, share some of your wealth with somebody by buying the person a soda and conversing, or even running an errand for them. Do all of these things out of the kindness of your own heart and don't look for anything in return.

The third step in becoming a contagious church is through sharing with others. Sharing your personal walk of faith with others is powerful stuff. Talk about how God has moved through you to others. Some of us have stories tat will change the lives of those around us. Most people maintain shallow relationships for some reason, but I am encouraging you deepen those relationships even more. Bill Hybels points out another important point in his success in building contagious community in that, "Far too many Christians have been anesthetized into thinking that if they simply live out their faith in an open and consistent fashion, the people around them will see it, want it, and somehow figure it out for themselves." People need real positive connections to other people who struggle with life themselves, but also have a strong faith.

Step four is the step dealing with compassion. You have to be able to listen to the person who is hurting or dealing with the issue of faith. Many people will ask you questions that you will not be able to answer, but don't let hem go without referring them to someone who can answer their questions. Also, you may want to seek out the answer for the question with the person who is asking it. This leads me to step five in contagious community, which is clear communication. Everyone as to be able to state what they believe in a clear, concise manner. Take a stand for Christ and explore your faith with others.

Being a contagious community of faith begins with you. Make it a regular habit of inviting friends to WOW or the Sunday service. Talk to your friends about their lives and try to help them through situations, but go the extra mile for them. Take the time to give someone a call and check up on them over the week. Step up your habits of communicating with one another through the week, whether through e-mail, or even meeting up for coffee. Spread the word of God, not only through your actions, but also through your life. Reach out to those who are seeking a different life for themselves. A life filled with love, inspiration, and peace. Set your soul on fire for Christ, and let his love spread freely over all those you come into contact with. Find peace within yourself, in order to give peace to others in your life.

Welcome to the WOW Blog!

Dover Place Christian Church has been my home church for the past 20 years, and I hope it will be my home for many more to come. My name is Glenn Barnes, and I am the Minister of Alternative Worship for this casual, yet complementary, worship service. Located in the Carondelet neighborhood of St. Louis, Dover Place has been a religious anchor in the community reaching out to people of all backgrounds. This blog is one more way we can reach out to seekers, believers without a home, or those looking for a new church home. I will post my "Meditations" on here (some call them sermons), as well as other thoughts that come to mind. I hope you enjoy the blog and please be sure to give feedback.