HOCF SERMON 2023

BE A RELIABLE WITNESS OF GOD

Luke 1:1-4 BE A RELIABLE WITNESS OF GOD

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[] among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3 With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

1-3 Talahuron nga Teofilus:

Madamo na ang mga nagsulat parte sa mga butang nga nagkalatabo sa aton. Ginsulat nila ang parte kay Jesus nga ginsaysay man sa aton sang mga tawo nga nagbantala sang Maayong Balita kag nakakita mismo sang mga nagkalatabo halin pa gid sang una. Gin-usisa ko gid ini tanan halin pa sang una, kag naisipan ko nga isulat man ang nagkalatabo kag isaysay sing maathag sa imo 4 agod masiguro mo nga matuod gid ang mga butang nga ginsugid sa imo.

Tonight, we are going to do our Bible study in a different way.

SERMON:

Good evening Church! Tonight we are already on the first chapter of Luke. Although Luke chapter 1 is a long chapter composed of 80 verses, the passage that was highlighted has only 4 verses. 1-4. And this pretty much sums up the whole chapter.

In verses 1-4, Apostle Luke was writing to Theophilus. And you might ask who Theophilus is. It is unclear who really is Theophilus but what is interesting about this name is the meaning of this name.

If we are going to divide the name it would break down into two Greek Words. Theo and Philo. In Greek, the word "theo" can be translated to or refer to "God" and the word 'philo' means or refers to "loving". So the name Theophilus can literally mean God-loving.

So we might not know who truly is Theophilus in the Gospel of Luke but we can imply that this person is someone that is dear to Luke. And most likely to be someone that Luke has been ministering to as what we can see on how Luke relayed the message that Theophilus is being taught and he wants to make sure that Theophilus would be assured that everything that he is taught is the Truth.

And because we are reading this gospel, all of us, can be considered as Luke's Theophilus. A person being taught by the Gospel of Christ and now is being assured that everything we have been taught is true and we can depend on it. We can rely on it and it is guaranteed.

And so Luke made an orderly account of all the things that he has heard and witnessed. Take note, he did it in an orderly manner to make sure that when Theophilus reads his account he would be able to understand better, and his faith will get even more stronger.

We have to take note that the gospels are the testimonial accounts written by the Apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They were witnesses during the time when Jesus spent his time on earth. Their testimonies could be considered like that of a testimony given to the court. It is a declaration of the Truth what one believes that truly happened and it is subject to cross examination and investigation.

In court, before giving a testimony, they are being taken under oath, with one hand on the Bible, and another hand in pledge to tell the truth and nothing but the truth because if one is caught giving a false testimony, he or she can be accused of perjury or lying under oath. And it is punishable by law because what you say in court can affect the verdict of those who are under trial. What one says in testimony can affect the lives of people.

And so Luke is being careful of what he was writing to Theophilus that whatever he is going to write into account would be clear and orderly. He also did not just believe the things that he heard and seen from the beginning even from people who had claimed as witnessed from before, but he made sure, even to himself that what he is going to tell Theophilus is not just hearsay, but the Truth.