"Playing Games"

Pastor Laura Guy

November 2, 2008

Here's an instant replay of what happened in worship:

We saw a map of Paul's third missionary journey, one that took him to many of the places he went on his second journey. Paul stayed in Ephesus for two years during his third journey.
We learned about the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and the city had a whole industry built around the temple and the worship of Artemis, a goddess who was thought to be the healer of diseases. This was where Paul was bringing the Good News of Jesus - the true healer.
We read Acts 19:11-20 and heard how the seven sons of Sceva thought they could heal people like Paul did. But they didn't know Jesus like Paul did. When they tried to cast out a demon "in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches", the demon looked at them and said, "Jesus I know, and I know of Paul, but who are you?"
We realized that these seven sons were playing games with the Holy. They were pretenders, trying to use Jesus for their own means without really knowing him or making any changes in their lives to follow him.
We asked ourselves if we are ever pretenders. Do we play games with the Holy, sitting through church for reasons other than worshipping God?
We heard the Good News that Jesus loves and forgives pretenders, and he invites us to truly know him and make our lives the real deal. We prayed that we would stop pretending.
We celebrated communion at the table with Jesus, remembering that he welcomed two pretenders - Judas and Peter - at the table with him. But he wants our time at the table to change us. He wants us to know the real deal.