Crossing The Line

Scripture Passage

^{Acts 10:34-43}

³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism ³⁵ but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. ³⁶ You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. ³⁷ You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

³⁹ “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, ⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

 

Sermon Script

In life, we hear people say things like— You crossed the line. Do not cross the line.

The expression “crossing the line” usually carries a negative tone.

It suggests a boundary that should be respected. If we cross that boundary, then we are warned not to.

If we are rude to someone, we are told we crossed the line. If we intrude on someone’s personal space without permission, we are told we crossed the line. Even when I’m on the highway, I see a lane to the left that has a sign: “Do not cross”.

These boundaries, of course, should be respected. We should not cross those lines just because we feel like it. They are there for a reason.

They help govern our relationships with others. They even help regulate the traffic. So it is important to know where the line is.

However, I believe there are also lines that must be crossed. There is a time when we just need to cross the line. They are the lines that keep people divided and apart.

I am referring to lines created by prejudice (racism, sexism); Inequality (rich/poor); Hostility and hatred (violence); Darkness, shame and guilt (self-isolation).

They are boundaries that isolate people and do not allow them to connect, grow, and flourish in relationships. These are the lines that we cannot afford to maintain. We need to cross them.

Crossing the line – this best describes Jesus’ life and ministry. Jesus came to cross the line. I mean it in a positive sense.

Jesus did not come just to maintain the status quo. He came to challenge and cross the hard lines of injustice that people had created.

At the start of his ministry, he proclaimed his calling clearly using the words of prophet Isaiah:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
     because he has anointed me
     to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
     and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18, 19)

And that was exactly what he did.

He shattered the rules that kept certain people apart from others. He reached out to the poor, the widow, and the sinners. He sought to bring unity in humanity that was broken and divided.

Jesus lived the life of crossing the line – and even died for it.

Crossing the line that must be crossed is not easy. It stirs up all kinds of fear within us.

Because it requires us to go beyond our comfort zone. We’d rather play it safe than doing what is right. Without courage and boldness, we cannot cross the line.

Last week, we reflected on our church theme for this year: Be Bold In The Spirit.

We reflected how being bold is not about having no fear. Being bold is about doing what we need to do despite our fears.

The source of our boldness is not in us, but in the Holy Spirit. The courage to cross the line comes from the power of the Spirit.

That is how Jesus lived his life. He said the Spirit was on him. He did everything by the power of the Spirit.

When he entrusted the responsibility to his disciples later on, he said they would carry on what he did also by the Spirit:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

At first, the disciples did not really understand what Jesus meant. It was only when they started crossing the lines themselves that they realized what God was doing through them by the Spirit.

That is – bringing all people into relationship with God, and with one another.

Peter, for instance, thought a Jew like himself could not associate with a Gentile. He believed he could never cross that line. His understanding of who belonged to God and didn’t was based on this kind of thinking.

But one day, he had this vision of being told to eat animals that he saw as impure and unclean. What he saw and heard confused him. It challenged his thinking.

Then this happened—

While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” (Acts 10:19, 20)

Even though Peter did not fully understand what was happening, he still went as the Spirit led him. This simple act of faith led him to a man named Cornelius – a Roman centurion who had a strong desire for God.

It was at this eventful meeting that Peter heard Cornelius’ side of the story:

Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” (Acts 10:30-33)

How would you have felt if you were Peter? It was way more than what he could have thought or imagined.

In meeting Cornelius, a Gentile, everything clicked for Peter.

The meaning of the vision became clear. He understood what it means to cross the line by the power of the Spirit.

The passage we read today is largely Peter’s confession following this encounter:

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. (Acts 10:34, 35)

Through the Spirit, all those who were gathered – Jews and Gentiles – experienced the beauty of being one in Christ.

Peter, Cornelius, and the others witnessed God’s ongoing ministry of crossing lines and bringing people together.

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. (Acts 10:44, 45)

The Spirit has not stopped working since the days of the early church. The Spirit is still working today in our midst.

The Spirit is still crossing the lines and reaching out to others. The Spirit still seeks to work through each one of you.

I shared this during our Genesis Bible study last fall.

The church is not a static community. It is a nomadic community. We are always on the move. We do not remain comfortable just the way we are.

God often challenges, stretches, and transforms us – especially through the new people he brings into the community.

But here is the thing.

God does not just bring people together automatically. God brings people together into his community by his Spirit. The Spirit crosses the line and reaches out to others through you!

You are all here because you have experienced something wonderful. Before you were just drifting aimlessly on your own.

Then somehow, through a seemingly random chain of events, you came to know God and his people in a context like this. Some of you were actually invited to come to this church. Now, you see this community of faith as your own.

When you experience something wonderful, don’t you want to share it? Don’t you want the people around you to experience it too? Especially your friends at school?

If that’s the case, then I encourage you to reach out to them. Talk to them. And invite them. What would be the harm in doing so?

Too often, we shy away from crossing this particular line. But it is a line of our own making.

We don’t want to ‘offend’. We don’t want to ‘look silly’. We don’t want to be ‘rejected’. It is all driven by our fears.

However, it is a line that we need to cross at times.

I came to faith because someone dared to cross the line for me. That is what we call ‘evangelism’.

Evangelism is not conversion.

Evangelism, in its true meaning, is the sharing of good news. Good news that we can live in JOY with God and with each other.

In other words – evangelism is invitation to a life of connectedness.

See how the first disciples brought each other to Jesus:

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“Come and see,” said Philip. (John 1:46)

You don’t have to talk to every person you see. That’s not what I’m talking about.

Be attentive to how the Spirit leads you. Who among your friends are seeking or interested? Those are usually good signs.

The Spirit will often nudge or tug at your heart. Even if you don’t understand why, follow it. You never know what will happen. You may meet a Cornelius.

The Spirit will give you the courage to reach out. The Spirit will give you the words to speak.

If you get turned down, that’s okay. Carry on. Pray for your friend. There will always be another opportunity.

I pray that 2026 can be the year we experience the Holy Spirit working powerfully in our life. I pray that Hi-C can continue to blossom as God’s community.

In order for that to happen, we need to be open and awake. Do not be afraid or asleep. Let the Spirit work in you and through you.

Cross the line with boldness!