Good morning everyone. It is so great to be here today. I am excited right now to welcome our kids back to their class in the back where they will get to learn about the Scriptures in a way that makes sense to them. We are so blessed to get to have such amazing teachers who love your kids and want them to understand the truth of Scriptures. I also want to welcome those of you joining us online this morning. I know many of you would rather be here in person, but we are so grateful for the technology that allows you to be a part of our extended spiritual family this morning.

I want to share something with you this morning. We are in the middle of a series called Be the Church 2022. Last week we talked about serving others and having a heart of a servant. We talked about how Jesus modeled serving for us and that as beleivers we were called to serve others. Really we have been looking over the last few weeks at our heart motives for various things. We have looked at the heart of a worshipper, and the heart of growth. Everything that we have been looking at through this series has been our heart attitudes. We even saw that God is more concerned about your heart, than about your actions, and that a right heart will be followed by right actions. Well, that was all pretty cool, but last week I asked you to make a commitment to serving others. I asked everyone to write down how many hours you would commit on serving this week and place it in the connect card basket in the back. Well, many of you did just that, and as a church last week we commited to 42 hours of serving others. That is amazing, and I would love to hear any stories of what God did in your life as you served. Now a followup question I have for you, and you don’t have to answer this right now, but are you willing to serve those hours again this week, or was that a one time deal for you? I want to challenge you guys that are serving to keep this attitude of a servant and continue serving on a regular basis, with a humble heart of a servant.

Now, I want to tell you about another church this week. We will call this church New Community Church. Well, New Community Church was planted as a church for the community around the mid 80’s In fact this church was planted as part of a plan to reach a new community. In God’s sovereignty there were a few families that already lived in this community and they would be able to be the core focus of this new church. Now, New Community Church was a great addition to the community and very quickly they were able to purchase land and build a new building to meet in. New Community grew relatively quickly and within 10 years those few families who lived in the community grew to around 250 people who were faithfully attending and serving at New Community. However, something happened…You see, some of the growth the church had experienced was due to another church that was struggling in the area. Slowly those that came from the struggling church went back to their church, and then others began to slowly leave New Community. The once vibrant community of 250 people became a group of around 50 faithful beleivers.

What happened to New Community Church? Well, New Community Church was growing fairly well in the beginning…all churches do. However, after a few years that growth seemed to plateau…then the growth began to go in a downward trajectory, but why? Why did New Community experience this type of growth? Well, New Community basically opened the doors and let the community know they existed. They would occasionally do something out in the community, like a Bible School or a Sports clinic. They would occasionally help out in a community even by sponsoring something, but for the most part New Community relied on people coming to them instead of New Community going to the people. New Community likely would have continued growing had they been intentional about “going”, but the members of New Community were content with a “ya’ll come” attitude of growth. You see, New Community never really developed a DNA of going into the community God put them in. Over time the members became more inwardly focused that outwardly focused. Sure, they said they wanted to reach the lost around them, but they were just a bit more focused on what was inside rather that who was outside. This was evidenced through the budget of the church. New Community loved missions and had a heart for the lost around the globe, but they seemed to have forgotten about the mission field in their back yard. Just like last week I told you that those were real churches, New Community is a real church as well. I have changed the name and even exaggerated some of the details in order to protect those involved, but New Community is a very real church that I have served in. While New Community’s focus was a bit off, their hearts were largely focused on the Lord, but they had forgotten their primary purpose as a church.

This morning we are going to look at that primary focus, and again I hope you will be challanged and encouraged by the words of Scripture as we look at the

Attitude of Going

Yeah, the attitude of going, as in going outside of your walls…going outside of your comfort…going outside of your normal…the attitude of going. You see, while the story of New Community is a real story, it is also a story that is common in churches around the world. Frankly it is also a story that is common among you and me. While this story was a story about a church, it is more a story about you and me. It’s a story of a group of beleivers who made a decision to let church be about them. Sure a few members would invite coworkers or friends, maybe a couple would share the gospel with those they met in the community, but most would not. The reality is that New Community, like many churches and Christians around the world, had become a religious country club rather than an obedient Great Commission focused community of beleivers.

This morning we are going to look at a passage that you are all familiar with. We are going to look at Jesus’ final physical presence with the apostles. Turn with me to

Acts 1:6–8 (ESV)

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

And after Jesus said these words, he ascended into Heaven to be with the Father. That means that these are Jesus’ final words while on Earth. Clearly these are important words. I could spend an entire sermon series on this passage alone, and 1 day I probably will. However, today is not that day. Today I want to spend the day talking about one word...

Jerusalem

Now, I don’t want to minimize missions in other nations or int he US. However, I want to focus in on this one word. What is Jerusalem? Now, I know you have all heard this sermon before. You have heard or even taught lessons on this passage and focused on each of these places, but this morning I want to just take a moment and look at our heart attitude when it comes to Jerusalem. Why is that? Well, becuase in order to make sure we are functioning as a healthy church with the right heart, we need to look at all of the areas of our church and all of the areas of our heart. One of those areas that we need to address is our own belief. Do I actually believe that the Gospel is true? I mean, do I actually believe that those without Christ are going to spend an eternity in a real place called Hell? You see, if I don’t believe that then I will never feel compelled to share my own faith. I read an extreme example this week and so Im going to steal this example.

Suppose you see someone walking on a dry lake bed. There was once water there, but its just dry, hard, and dusty now. Would you try to save them from drowning by diving in that dirt? Of course not! You know that they are not drowning, so they don’t need saving.

What about this,

Suppose you see someone walking out towards Mount Morris road out here. You see them walking and there is a semi driving down the road pretty fast. You see there is no way for that semi to stop, and this person is still heading for the road. You yell at them, but they don’t believe that there is really a truck driving towards them. Would you run and tackle them to keep them from getting run over? Of course you would! They are about to be hit, so they need saving.

You see, these are two extreme examples to prove a point. Do you believe that those who are without Christ are lost? If you do, then this next passage should be our guide. Look at

Luke 19:10 (ESV)

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

But who are the lost? What does it mean to be lost? Well, it means that you don’t know where you are, or how to get where you want to go? You know in the days before Google if I didn’t know where I was going in Puerto Rico, we used to print out pages worth of maps and directions from a site called Mapquest. Back before that when I was in Dallas and growing up we used a giant book called a Mapsco. You see, we needed these things because streets were always changing back in Dallas. One year there would be a street, and the next year it was gone. We would have to buy new books all the time in order to make sure we knew where we were going. I used to sit in the passenger seat with my dad and give him turn by turn directions as I found where we were in these map books. It was my job to make sure we didn’t get lost.

Whose job is it today to make sure someone doesn’t get lost? Where do we look to find the way? Well, Jesus actually answered that question for us, but I want us to see the whole context. Turn over to

John 14:1–6 (ESV)

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

So, the most important thing for us to settle is if this is true? Do you believe that? Do you actually believe that Christ is the only way for salvation?

Acts 4:12 (ESV)

And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

If I believe that this is true, then the next question I have to settle is, do I have a

Heart for the Lost

What does it look like to have a heart for the lost? Where do we see an example of a heart for the lost? Well we see in Luke 15 a picture of a good shepherd looking for the one last sheep that got away. That example shows us Jesus’ heart for the lost. We also see in

Ezekiel 33:11 (ESV)

Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

and

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

We see God’s heart towards the lost, we see that the Lord does not desire that any should be lost…but what about us? What is your heart for the lost? Ok, so let’s say that you truly have a heart for the lost. Like you really do want to share the gospel with those around you…in your Jerusalem, but… you don’t know where to start. How do you put your

Heart into Action

Well, thats a great question. Let me introduce you to a couple of guys. We will call them Peter and John. Well Peter and John found themselves in jail one day. They were placed in jail becuase they were kind of causing a scene in the area and a bunch of people were starting to gather around which was blocking the road and making things a little difficult for those in charge. Well, the next day they went to the judge and the judge told them that he would let them go if they just promised to stop causing a scene and stop doing what they were doing. What were they doing? They were telling people about Jesus…and this is a true story

Acts 4:19–20 (ESV)

But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

In other words, these men would rather be in jail that stop talking about Jesus…that is belief in the gospel…that is a putting a heart into action. So what can you do to put your heart into action?

Pray for opportunities

This is such a simply option, but it is one that is frequently overlooked by us all (including me). Before you go to bed tonight, or as soon as you wake up in the morning and pray that God will give you an opportunity to share his love in word or deed

2. Invite people to church

This is another one that seems so easy, but we just don’t do it do we? You see, when you invite someone to church, you are bringing them into the fellowship of the Lord with those who believe. When you invite someone to church, that person will likely have the opportunity to hear the Gospel. I want to share something with you. This information is a few years old, but there were surveys showing something amazing. Eight out of ten people who do not attend church will come to church if someone simply invited them.

3. Look for opportunities

Look, if you are praying that God would give you an opportunity, then you better pay attention to where those opportunities are. You know what else is pretty cool…Whenever you start looking for something, you start seeing it EVERYWHERE. Beth’s car for instance…when we first got Beth’s car I had not seen another car that color. That is one of the things I liked about it. i don’t want a car that just looks like everyone else because I want to find it easy in the parking lot. Well, after we purchased that car, I started seeing other cars that color, all over the place. When we look for something, we tend to find it.

4. Be prepared to share

Look this is by far the most important step. You see, if you do all of these other things, and then when you have the opportunity you just stare like a deer in headlights, then you are not really putting your heart into action. Whether you give someone a tract, or a church invite card, or ask if you can pray with them, or sit-down and simply tell them why you attend church yourself, you must be prepared to step into the opportunities that God will give you.

Listen, let me remind you of that passage we read this morning.

Acts 1:8 (ESV)

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

It is a sin to keep silent about what we have when we have been commanded to speak. Now, let me remind you about New Community Church that I told you about earlier…New Community Church is Leaf River Baptist Church. Now, before you get mad at me, let me remind you that when I came here one of the questions that I asked many people was, “If LRBC closed up tomorrow, would the community even notice?” Whether you remember this or not, the answer that I got from 100% of the people that I asked was, “No”. If you look at our budget we are commited to between 10%-15% of all tithes going into missions, however up until a couple of years ago there was no money for local ministry. You see, LRBC is a church that loves the Lord and cares about people around the world…but we had forgotten our own backyard…we had forgotten our primary mission of Jerusalem. We are beginning to refocus our finances, but only you can refocus your heart…So, can you say, I will have an attitude of going?

Listen, one person can make a difference. One person who is commited to reach the lost can ignite a fire in all of our hearts for the lost in our community...One person…YOU…You can’t wait for someone else to do what God has called you to do…at home…at work…in our community. In a moment we are going to move to a time of family reflection. We are going to move into a time of communion. There will be music playing and I am going to ask you to walk around and pick up your communion elements in front of the cross. When you go to the cross I am going to ask you to repent and commit. Repent of not having a heart for the lost. Repent for missing the opportunities that God is giving you. Commit to living a life with an attitude of going, and a heart for the lost. This is the attitude that we should have. I will do anything short of sin to reach people who don't know Christ.

If you are here or joining us online and this morning you have been impacted with the gospel and realized that you have never made a commitment to Christ and you would like to explore that, then I want to invite you to write on your connect card or send me a message online. If you have or you have been impacted by something else that was said or a part of the service today, then I want to invite you to write on your connect card as well. I would love to know how to be praying for you and to hear about what God is doing in your life.

Let’s Pray

Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV)

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

You proclaim the Lords death until he comes...When you are ready, you can get up and go to the cross