God of 2nd Chances - July 31st, 2011

Date: July 31, 2011

Speaker: Pastor Kevin Snyder

Title: God of 2nd Chances

Text: 12:25, 15:37 - 41, 2 Tim 4:11

Introduction

I was watching a professional track meet one day. It was a qualifying heat. One of the favorites jumped the gun and was disqualified. New rules they said was there were no 2nd chances. You jump too soon you are done as far as moving on. And so his chance at the final was over by the flinch.

I remember feeling – that’s harsh….unfair. but it’s the new rules.

And it is often the rules of the world around us , isn’t it?

You fail to produce – you’re gone
You fail to follow-thru – you aren’t given any more responsibility.
You mess up – it’s over
You do me dirty once – I will never give you a 2nd chance
You wrong me – I’ll never forgive you
You fail to make a payment – you owe it all now.
You fail to meet expectation – you aren’t trusted
You jump the gun- you’re disqualified
You make a bad choice - you’re labelled forever.

We live in a world of “ungrace”. A world where often one doesn’t get a 2nd chance.

Well, today we want to look at the story of a man who failed and got a 2nd chance with a guy named Barnabbas.

Text

Let me introduce you to a young guy named John Mark. In just a few verses of Scripture, we are able to put together the main events of his spiritual life history

Acts 12:12 – grew up in a godly praying home

When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

Acts 12: 25 – Paul & Barnabbas saw potential in this young man & mentored him and took him along with them on their 1st missionary journey

25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from?a? Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

Acts 13:13 - John Mark goes home

Not told why – is he overwhelmed, thot ready but wasn’t….not sure

From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

Acts 15: 36 – 41 – John Mark is the focus of a disagreement between Paul & Barnabbas

36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” 37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Paul – doesn’t want to take John Mark along because he quit the 1st time. For Paul the task /mission was too important to be jeopardized by some unreliable person. Can’t risk mission on hope he has changed.

Barnabbas is on other end of pendulum. Training other leaders is our task. It is about raising up others , not just what we can do. Barnabbas showed that. He was the one who took Paul under his wing and brought him to the disciples. Barnabbas was willing to risk the mission on people. Investing people was the mission.

See contrast this way:

Task Training

Paul Barnabas

Which is right?

We struggle with that all the time.

Every employer wrestles with the risk of taking on a young inexperienced person. It is often the wrestle between “now” and “later”. We would love them to be ready made now. Wrestle with if I invest now will it pay off later.

Hard to know.

Well, this contrast in philosophy led to Paul & Barnabbas going separate ways. Paul got on with the task. Barnabbas got on with mentoring John Mark. He gave him a 2nd chance. Barnabbas believed in him. Maybe because Col. 4:10 indicates Mark was his cousin… little more reason to believe in him.

What was result of Barnabas investing in John Mark? Giving him a 2nd chance.

Who has heard of the Gospel of Mark? 2nd gospel.

John Mark is the author of that book. Has the church benefitted from someone not giving up on this kid…absolutely.

And even Paul came to recognise and value John Mark. In 2 Tim 4:11. Paul’s last letter he wrote….shortly before his death. Who does he ask to come and assist him? John Mark .

Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

John Mark is poster child of someone who failed and because of a 2nd chance made good.

The story of John Mark has some important lessons for us.

1. REMINDS US OF THE DANGERS OF LABELS.

John Mark was a deserter. Paul was quick to label him that way. But Barnabas wouldn’t. He continued to believe in him.

We are so quick to label people. And once we have them labelled it is hard for them to crawl out of the box.

i.e.

Ponder for a moment the people in history who failed before they succeeded. What would happen if they would have believed the label….if there hadn’t been a Barnabas who still believed in them?

Henry Ford: While Ford is today known for his innovative assembly line and American-made cars, he wasn't an instant success. In fact, his early businesses failed and left him broke five time before he founded the successful Ford Motor Company.
Soichiro Honda: The billion-dollar business that is Honda began with a series of failures and fortunate turns of luck. Honda was turned down by Toyota Motor Corporation for a job after interviewing for a job as an engineer, leaving him jobless for quite some time. He started making scooters of his own at home, and spurred on by his neighbors, finally started his own business.
Akio Morita: You may not have heard of Morita but you've undoubtedly heard of his company, Sony. Sony's first product was a rice cooker that unfortunately didn't cook rice so much as burn it, selling less than 100 units. This first setback didn't stop Morita and his partners as they pushed forward to create a multi-billion dollar company.
Bill Gates: Gates didn't seem like a shoe-in for success after dropping out of Harvard and starting a failed first business with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen called Traf-O-Data. While this early idea didn't work, Gates' later work did, creating the global empire that is Microsoft.
Walt Disney: Today Disney rakes in billions from merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself had a bit of a rough start. He was fired by a newspaper editor because, "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas." After that, Disney started a number of businesses that didn't last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure. He kept plugging along, however, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.
Albert Einstein: Most of us take Einstein's name as synonymous with genius, but he didn't always show such promise. Einstein did not speak until he was four and did not read until he was seven, causing his teachers and parents to think he was mentally handicapped, slow and anti-social. Eventually, he was expelled from school and was refused admittance to the Zurich Polytechnic School. It might have taken him a bit longer, but most people would agree that he caught on pretty well in the end, winning the Nobel Prize and changing the face of modern physics.
Winston Churchill: This Nobel Prize-winning, twice-elected Prime Minster of the United Kingdom wasn't always as well regarded as he is today. Churchill struggled in school and failed the sixth grade. After school he faced many years of political failures, as he was defeated in every election for public office until he finally became the Prime Minister at the ripe old age of 62.
Oprah Winfrey: Most people know Oprah as one of the most iconic faces on TV as well as one of the richest and most successful women in the world. Oprah faced a hard road to get to that position, however, enduring a rough and often abusive childhood as well as numerous career setbacks including being fired from her job as a television reporter because she was "unfit for tv."
Harrison Ford: In his first film, Ford was told by the movie execs that he simply didn't have what it takes to be a star. Today, with numerous hits under his belt, iconic portrayals of characters like Han Solo and Indiana Jones, and a career that stretches decades, Ford can proudly show that he does, in fact, have what it takes.
Steven Spielberg: While today Spielberg's name is synonymous with big budget, he was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times. He eventually attended school at another location, only to drop out to become a director before finishing. Thirty-five years after starting his degree, Spielberg returned to school in 2002 to finally complete his work and earn his BA.
Michael Jordan: Most people wouldn't believe that a man often lauded as the best basketball player of all time was actually cut from his high school basketball team. Luckily, Jordan didn't let this setback stop him from playing the game and he has stated, "I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

2. GOD CAN CHANGE PEOPLE’S LIVES

We develop our reputations by our actions in the past , but then our reputations pass us and go before us. They often precede us. John Mark’s reputation from this event went before him in regards to the next trip.

The good news is God can change our character…and as he does that we can change our reputation.

Where in Acts John Mark stepped out when going got tough; in Timothy he steps in when the going got tough.

God can change us. That is the message of hope.

In this church there are scores of people who had reputations in town that maybe weren’t great. Some of you were alcoholics, divorcees, unethical businessmen, greedy ambitious people driven by the dollar. But you aren’t those people anymore. God has changed you. Your life resonates with that of John Mark.

3. THE VALUE OF INVESTING IN PEOPLE

Praise God for Barnabas type people eh?

I mean if we were all Paul’s - driven by the task – going a 100 miles an hour – not having time to mentor the inexperienced, unproven, where would we be at?

Many of us are here because someone took the time to invest in us.

i.e.

Goods, Mrs Light – S.S. class, youth leaders (my age – loved us), camping in the mountains, IYC with us (13people in 12 passenger van)reunion…spent hours listening to us and investing in us.

Out of that youth group 2-3 year spread – 3 pastors(Lance, Bob, Kev), 3 pastor’s wives(Joyce, Karen, Darlene), 1 missionary(Kirk), several key lay leaders in churches…

Factors: believed in us, loved us, encouraged us, listened to us, taught us in quiet way to love God and love others.

Early ministry – I owe to 4 Seniors. 4 people who took me under their wing as a 24 year old solo pastor and loved, advised, guided, encouraged & supported me.

i.e.

Bill Peters – came and talked to me as his pastor nearing retirement – realized greatest contribution in the remaining years of his life wasn’t what he could do but what he could pass on… shifted focus….life on investing in young leaders. Spent his time taking young leaders for coffee and meals & seeking them out. Spent money instead of going to conferences for himself in paying for young leaders to go.

Friends, we need Barnabas’.

People who will see their ministry as building others. Who will go the long road and maybe invest in 1 or 2 or 3 over a long period of time.

I would love to have some “mature” men and women who would be willing to say – “I would be willing to take an interest and invest my time & love & prayers & encouragement into a young leader or potential leader. I would take them out for coffee once a month just to listen and encourage and pray for them. Be willing to do life with them.

CONCLUSION

Who is someone that you have labelled? Are you willing to drop the label and give them a new start. Believe in them, & better yet invest in them like Barnabas to draw out their potential.

Who is someone you’ve wrestled to believe God will change?

Pray for them right now.

Who is willing to be a Barnabas? Investing in the next generation? Willing to commit to taking someone under your wing and walking alongside them.
Maybe someone who is in last 1/3 of your life where the greatest contribution you can have is not in what you can do but what you can impart – your love, your life lessons, your walk with Christ, …
Maybe someone who has a heart for the young and willing to commit to helping a John Mark.

Identify person. Make a plan to start. Or tell me your willingness…email me…call me…

i.e.

Solo or video:

Thank You For Giving To The Lord – Ray Boltz

You tube – Thank you by Ray Boltz (zutiloz) version or (moondoggy 22) or (yourbrotherjames)

Thank You for Giving To The Lord
Music & Lyrics by Ray Boltz

I dreamed I went to Heaven, you were there with me.
We walked upon the streets of gold beside the Crystal Sea.
We heard the angels singing, then someone called your name.
You turned and saw this young man, and he was smiling as he came.
He said, "Friend you may not know me now," and then he said, "But wait -
You used to teach my Sunday School, when I was only eight.
And every week you would say a prayer before the class would start.
And one day when you said that prayer,
I asked Jesus in my heart."

Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.
Then another man stood before you, he said "Remember the time,
A missionary came to your church, His pictures made you cry.
You didn't have much money but you gave it anyway.
Jesus took that gift you gave
And that's why I'm in Heaven today"

Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.
One by one they came, far as your eyes could see.
Each life somehow touched by your generosity.
Little things that you had done, sacrifices that you made,
They were unnoticed on this earth
In Heaven now proclaimed.

Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave.
And I know up in Heaven you're not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure there were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand and you stood before the Lord
He said "My child look around you,
Great is your reward."

Chorus
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am a life that was changed.
Thank you for giving to the Lord,
I am so glad you gave,
I am so glad you gave.

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The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 12:12

a Some manuscripts to

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 12:25

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 13:13

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ac 15:36-41

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 2 Ti 4:11