Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Acts 9:36-43
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  May 6, 2018

“It’s the little things in life.” Those words are part and parcel to many a quip or quote. And interestingly, people take it many ways. Some will encourage you to focus on the little things in life, the details in life. Arguably the most successful college basketball coach ever, John Wooden, once said, “It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” Still others will tell us not to dwell on or focus on little things. The ancient poet Ovid wrote, “Little things please little minds.” Ouch. So, whether it’s focusing on the little things aor appreciating the little things or not sweating the little things; for being so little these “little things” sure come up a lot.

Now, maybe you’re wondering why we would talk about little things on a big day such as today. Today is a day when 13 of our young people will make a promise that’s a big deal. It’s not a little thing to say,  “I intend to continue steadfast in this teaching and to endure all things, even death, rather than fall away from it.”  That is a very big public promise to make. However, it wouldn’t be possible without all of the “little things” that our Savior Jesus has done for our confirmands, and in fact, for each and every one of us. To illustrate this, we’re going to look at a fascinating story of a lady named Tabitha. And it’s my prayer that we will see that Our Risen Savior Still Acts: He Still Even Raises the Dead.

“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was always doing good deeds and acts of charity.” What an introduction Tabitha receives! With an intro like that, you’d think she was a huge philanthropist, giving away thousands of dollars every day. Or maybe a miracle worker, healing the sick and curing the diseased. But she wasn’t an wealthy benefactor like Lydia or a healer like Peter, or an apostle like Paul. l Tabitha seems to have been quite the seamstress. She made robes and other clothing for the widows, who often had no means to support themselves. They depended on the kindness of others. To them, Tabitha was a saint, a hero.  

But who was Tabitha outside of that circle of widows? Would her death have made the front page? She wasn’t royalty. She wasn’t a dignitary. The things she did went by unnoticed by most, unappreciated by the masses. The things she did were little things in the grand scheme. And isn’t that sometimes how we view the good works that God has prepared for us to do? Those are just the little things!

“At that time she became sick and died. After they had washed her, they laid her in an upstairs room. Since Lydda is near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, who urged him, “Come to us without delay!” Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they led him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing him the robes and clothing that Dorcas made while she was still with them.”

It doesn’t seem fair, does it, that God would let someone like Tabitha die like this? Luke’s description of her can’t be overstated. “She was always doing good deeds and acts of charity.” This was her lifestyle. This wasn’t just something she did when she had the time. This was her time. She was constantly in the state of doing good. Why? What kept her going as she continued to use her skills in this way. What kept her motivated to keep doing the little things that often went unnoticed? It’s because God raised her from the dead.

“Now, wait a second,” you might object. “ Tabitha made all those clothes before she died!” Well…before she died physically, yes. But you see, Tabitha, like every other person born in the natural way was born dead—dead in her trespasses and sins. Even on her best day, Tabitha never stopped being a sinner. But, by his grace, God made her alive in Christ. He created faith in her heart—faith in Jesus as her Savior from sin. And through that faith he forgave her every sin, made her perfect and holy in his sight, and gave her spiritual life. Remember how Luke described her? “In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha.” Her lifestyle was the fruits of her faith.

And it was that faith in action that caused the other disciples to react the way they did. They at once sent for Peter. They urged him to come without delay. Why though? Why would they go to all this trouble? She was dead—what could Peter do? By himself, nothing. But these disciples knew that God could do something. They had confidence in the resurrection. They knew that the Spirit was with the apostles. And they knew that even in this deepest distress, the place to go for help was to God!

“After Peter sent them all outside, he got down on his knees and prayed. Then he turned toward the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her stand up. After he called the saints and the widows, he presented her to them alive. This became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”

We can’t help but think of the similar “death scenes” we have preserved for us in the Scriptures: Elisha and the Shunamite’s son, the daughter of Jairus. Like those instances, Peter sends everyone out of the room. You would think if Peter were going to raise Tabitha from the dead, he’d want everyone to see it! Instead, he sends everyone out. And the first thing he does is turn to God in prayer. And while his prayer isn’t recorded for us, you can bet that Peter was seeking God’s will for Tabitha. Was it God’s will that she to go to heaven to be with him? Or was God using this illness and this real death as an opportunity to display his glory, to give credibility to that little thing we call the gospel? So Peter prayed. And it’s clear that God’s answer was for Tabitha to be raised from the dead. So Peter very simply says, “Tabitha, get up!” And she opened her eyes and when she saw Peter, she sat up. Simple words; just a simple phrase and God did a great miracle through it. And that little thing had a big impact! “This became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.”

As you’ve listened again to this story this morning, isn’t it interesting who God chose to raise from the dead? He didn’t raise James from the dead when Herod killed him. He didn’t raise Peter from the dead when he was crucified. He didn’t raise Paul from the dead when he was executed. Instead, he raised a seamstress that we don’t hear about any other place in the Bible except here. She didn’t do anything particularly heroic. She made clothes for the poor. But that’s exactly how God operates—through the ordinary, the plain, the seemingly simple little things.

Just think about our regular worship services. How many miracles take place in that service? You can’t think of any? Did you confess your sins this morning? Of course we did. Do you realize that each time we confess our sins, we’re drowning our old Adam and each time we hear God’s word of forgiveness our new man rises up. It’s a little thing, invisible to the eye, but it’s a miracle every single time. Think about all the times you’ve watched the Lord’s Supper celebrated. It’s a little thing, just a small piece of bread and a swallow of wine. But each time it’s celebrated, Jesus is physically present with us in that bread and wine. What a miracle! And we praise God for his miracles! We praise God that he often uses the little things to bring about his greatest miracles.

We have before us today 13 miracles. 13 miracles of God’s grace. 13 resurrection stories. 13 faiths about to be publicly confessed. That’s a miracle in and of itself. And what is happening today is not a little thing. It’s a big deal. However, this is not the end of the miracles for you 13. But please understand that the future miracles in your life don’t have to be big and dramatic. They can be little things. Little things like coming to church regularly to hear again and again of how Jesus has raised you from the dead. Things like being a good student and son or daughter. Things like the kindness you show to your neighbor, the willingness to pitch in and be active in the community. These are little things, but people notice them. And those little things can have a big impact! How big a thing would it be to save someone’s life? About as big as it gets right? Little things can open the door to miracles. For those little things, those simple things can give you a chance to share Jesus with someone. And through that simple little conversation, God can create faith where none existed before. God can take someone who was dead in their transgressions and sins and make them alive in Christ. Is there any greater miracle! Is there any bigger impact!

It may not look like it, but our Risen Savior Still Acts. He’s still raising the dead. May that seemingly little thing be the focus for you 13, and for us all as we all strive to be like Tabitha, striving to always do good out of love for Jesus. And don’t be surprised when God uses those little things for his greatest miracles! Amen.