1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,766 Christ is risen. 2 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:03,900 He is risen indeed. 3 00:00:04,433 --> 00:00:05,166 Alleluia. 4 00:00:06,966 --> 00:00:15,033 As a chaplain, one of my responsibilities is briefing my command on the impact of religion on the operation. 5 00:00:16,333 --> 00:00:23,033 Now this briefing includes all types of data, such as the religious makeup of the unit itself, 6 00:00:23,633 --> 00:00:28,066 the religious makeup of the people we're interacting with in operational environments, 7 00:00:28,066 --> 00:00:37,366 and other things such as holy sites, holy days, holy events, and holy history as it pertains to that area of operations. 8 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:46,033 The point in briefing all this information to the command is to answer a question. 9 00:00:47,066 --> 00:00:50,600 That question is, so what? 10 00:00:52,666 --> 00:00:53,400 So what? 11 00:00:53,400 --> 00:01:03,266 Now the so what is not really an Army doctrinal term, but it is an expectation when briefing any information from any section of the commander's staff. 12 00:01:03,833 --> 00:01:07,733 The commander needs to know why this information is important. 13 00:01:08,433 --> 00:01:12,633 How does this information impact his or her decision making? 14 00:01:13,633 --> 00:01:19,566 How does this information shape and form the overall operational picture? 15 00:01:21,433 --> 00:01:29,266 And this so what is important for every section of the commander's staff to answer, not just chaplains. 16 00:01:29,833 --> 00:01:43,366 There must be a so what concerning the weather, or road conditions, or movement plans, or personnel location, or communication status, or fuel usage, food supplies. 17 00:01:43,366 --> 00:01:54,200 All of that that goes into making an operation successful has to be briefed in order to obtain a so what. 18 00:01:57,166 --> 00:02:10,733 Well we're in the second week of Easter, and we have received a whole host of data, and facts, and figures, and information about Jesus. 19 00:02:11,533 --> 00:02:13,600 Especially in these last two weeks. 20 00:02:15,333 --> 00:02:26,133 We've been briefed that He entered into Jerusalem, that He was betrayed, that He was handed over, that He was tried, that He was punished, then He was crucified. 21 00:02:27,966 --> 00:02:36,433 We've been briefed also by some women that when they went to the tomb after He was buried, they found the tomb empty, and that He is risen from the dead. 22 00:02:37,866 --> 00:02:49,566 We've been briefed by the witness of the apostles that this man is now the, He has proven to be the Christ, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Lord and God as Thomas told us yesterday. 23 00:02:51,633 --> 00:02:58,933 We've been briefed that He has conquered sin and death, and that He has revealed the new creation. 24 00:02:59,933 --> 00:03:07,133 That He has revealed what the new creation will look like, what we people will look like in resurrection. 25 00:03:09,100 --> 00:03:16,933 All of this information has been given to us in sermons and services that we've experienced over the last two weeks. 26 00:03:17,133 --> 00:03:22,700 But now the question is, so what? 27 00:03:24,900 --> 00:03:29,966 Why is this information important for us? 28 00:03:31,766 --> 00:03:37,566 What bearing does this information have on us here and now? 29 00:03:38,633 --> 00:03:44,233 How does this information shape our decision making processes? 30 00:03:45,933 --> 00:03:51,333 How does this information shape and form our daily operations? 31 00:03:53,533 --> 00:03:59,200 Christ is risen from the dead, so what? 32 00:04:02,866 --> 00:04:09,233 Now that might seem like a very simple question, or maybe a cheap way to build a sermon outline, 33 00:04:10,466 --> 00:04:18,966 but the reality is that question is the most important question. In fact, it's the only question that matters. 34 00:04:19,966 --> 00:04:27,233 As Jaroslav Pelikan once said, and you've probably heard this, if Christ is risen, nothing else matters. 35 00:04:28,900 --> 00:04:33,000 If Christ is not risen, nothing else matters. 36 00:04:35,333 --> 00:04:40,566 Well Christ is risen, so what? 37 00:04:43,866 --> 00:04:54,766 And we might have our own answers to that so what, but this morning I'd like us to consider what we heard from Acts chapter 4 to deepen our understanding. 38 00:04:56,700 --> 00:05:06,533 In these five verses that we heard from Acts chapter 4, St. Luke uses the imperfect tense eleven times in those sentences. 39 00:05:07,833 --> 00:05:15,866 I'll say that again. Eleven times St. Luke uses the imperfect verb tense, and if you don't remember what that is, 40 00:05:16,066 --> 00:05:23,333 the imperfect tense in Greek has this aspect of ongoingness to it. 41 00:05:23,733 --> 00:05:27,866 And it has some flexibility in the way that it's translated into English. 42 00:05:29,333 --> 00:05:34,833 You can refer to Dr. Voelz's Fundamentals of Greek Grammar page 60 to remember all of that. 43 00:05:34,833 --> 00:05:42,866 But generally speaking, an imperfect tense has this ongoing aspect that's not always brought out when we hear it read. 44 00:05:43,666 --> 00:05:52,900 So I would like to reread those verses to you a little more woodenly, but with the aspect of this continuation, 45 00:05:53,933 --> 00:05:58,133 a durative aspect, a habitual aspect to it. 46 00:05:58,833 --> 00:06:00,666 So from Acts chapter 4, 47 00:06:01,833 --> 00:06:06,800 Now the fullness of the believing ones continued being one heart and soul, 48 00:06:06,833 --> 00:06:12,866 and not one from them continued saying the things belonging to them to be their own possession. 49 00:06:13,666 --> 00:06:18,933 Rather, they continued being to them all common things. 50 00:06:20,500 --> 00:06:26,633 And by means of great power, the apostles continued giving their witness of the resurrection of the Lord. 51 00:06:28,133 --> 00:06:31,133 And great grace continued being upon them all. 52 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:35,233 For not an impoverished one continued being in them. 53 00:06:35,633 --> 00:06:41,066 For just as many continued being already owners or continued owning land or places, 54 00:06:41,766 --> 00:06:47,500 while selling them, they continued bearing the proceeds of the things being sold 55 00:06:48,133 --> 00:06:51,266 and continued placing them at the feet of the apostles, 56 00:06:51,266 --> 00:06:58,366 continued distributing to each if ever anyone continued having need. 57 00:07:01,066 --> 00:07:04,400 Did you hear the so what? 58 00:07:07,266 --> 00:07:11,333 That's the so what of Christ is risen. 59 00:07:12,433 --> 00:07:19,133 The so what is Christ continues being faithful to His people. 60 00:07:20,133 --> 00:07:26,333 Christ continues working in His people, working for His people. 61 00:07:26,666 --> 00:07:29,500 Christ continues providing for His people. 62 00:07:29,933 --> 00:07:35,966 Christ continues using His people for the sake of others. 63 00:07:38,500 --> 00:07:47,033 The so what of Christ is risen is that Christ continues being faithful to His people. 64 00:07:48,666 --> 00:07:51,900 Christ continues being faithful to you. 65 00:07:54,566 --> 00:07:56,833 Now don't misunderstand this text either. 66 00:07:58,100 --> 00:08:02,866 What we read are imperfects or what we heard are imperfects, not imperatives. 67 00:08:02,900 --> 00:08:05,600 That is, not commands from the Lord or the apostles. 68 00:08:06,366 --> 00:08:11,233 This text is not telling you to go and sell all your things and place it at the feet of the church. 69 00:08:12,233 --> 00:08:14,033 But if you're so inclined, feel free. 70 00:08:14,033 --> 00:08:22,266 There are other sections of scriptures that give us explicit imperatives for what we are to do in our vocations. 71 00:08:23,500 --> 00:08:33,666 But this text is descriptive of the life of Christians that understand that so what of Christ is risen. 72 00:08:35,466 --> 00:08:40,166 This is a description of the life together of Christians. 73 00:08:41,633 --> 00:08:45,366 This is the so what taking hold of them. 74 00:08:47,333 --> 00:08:52,766 And this so what is Christ continues being faithful to His people. 75 00:08:54,833 --> 00:09:00,133 Christ continues being faithful to His people by making them one heart and soul. 76 00:09:01,133 --> 00:09:13,500 So that the sin that so easily separates them one from another and separates them from God is confessed and forgiven because Christ is risen. 77 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:23,333 Christ's people no longer hold the offenses against each other but forgive as Christ continues forgiving them. 78 00:09:25,666 --> 00:09:32,866 Christ continues working in His people by transforming them through His mercy, his grace and His love. 79 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:38,333 Bringing about continual repentance and continual faith. 80 00:09:40,900 --> 00:09:48,333 And Christ continues using his people that they would love and support each other. 81 00:09:48,433 --> 00:09:54,600 Placing the needs of the neighbor above their own. 82 00:09:57,100 --> 00:09:59,766 Christ continues providing for His people. 83 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:02,866 Providing His temporal blessings. 84 00:10:03,300 --> 00:10:06,300 Blessings sufficient for our bodily needs. 85 00:10:06,633 --> 00:10:11,833 Blessings that we can share with those who are in need. 86 00:10:14,100 --> 00:10:19,233 Christ is risen and he continues being faithful to His people. 87 00:10:21,833 --> 00:10:28,533 But perhaps what is most important to recognize in this passage is what we call in the army the main effort. 88 00:10:28,666 --> 00:10:31,833 That which gets the most attention, which drives the operation. 89 00:10:33,100 --> 00:10:43,533 And the main effort of Christ's continued faithfulness to His people is that He continues giving His word. 90 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:50,433 That's the witness of the apostles that we hear about. 91 00:10:51,100 --> 00:10:55,200 They continue proclaiming the resurrection of the Lord. 92 00:10:55,566 --> 00:10:58,233 They continue preaching the gospel. 93 00:10:58,233 --> 00:11:04,266 That was the great power that transformed the hearts and souls there, that unified the people. 94 00:11:06,233 --> 00:11:12,733 That is the great power that continued bringing abundant grace upon them all. 95 00:11:14,266 --> 00:11:20,600 Christ continues giving His word to his people. 96 00:11:22,733 --> 00:11:26,400 He continues giving His word to you. 97 00:11:28,766 --> 00:11:32,400 And that's the so what of being in this place today. 98 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:43,066 Where Christ's death and resurrection continues being preached so that it continues shaping and forming you as His people. 99 00:11:44,733 --> 00:11:50,233 Christ continues giving His word of forgiveness that you may be healed and transformed. 100 00:11:51,866 --> 00:11:57,233 Christ continues giving His word of instruction so that you would learn to live as His people together. 101 00:11:58,233 --> 00:12:03,266 To live outside of yourselves for one another. 102 00:12:04,633 --> 00:12:09,133 And so that you would share one heart and soul. 103 00:12:12,033 --> 00:12:18,566 And Christ continues giving His word that you might have sure and certain hope. 104 00:12:18,833 --> 00:12:21,600 That you might have boldness and confidence. 105 00:12:22,233 --> 00:12:26,500 That you might have purpose and meaning here and now. 106 00:12:28,233 --> 00:12:37,800 And when you leave this place, that's the so what of Christ is risen. 107 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:45,766 Life, reality, existence itself has been transformed because Christ is risen. 108 00:12:46,966 --> 00:12:51,866 You have been transformed because Christ is risen. 109 00:12:51,866 --> 00:12:58,400 Your sin is forgiven. You have an eternal hope set before you. 110 00:12:59,266 --> 00:13:02,066 And you are His people here and now. 111 00:13:03,833 --> 00:13:12,666 So let that so what impact your daily operations, your decision making and your life. 112 00:13:12,666 --> 00:13:17,000 From now until we reach that final operational success. 113 00:13:17,633 --> 00:13:22,633 When Christ returns and raises us all from the dead. 114 00:13:24,866 --> 00:13:30,366 Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia. 115 00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:38,000 Peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus until the day of his return. Amen. 116 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:39,800 We stand for prayer.