The Church of the Future

THE CHURCH

Jesus came, paid for our sins through his sacrifice on the cross, rose from the dead to bring our salvation, and then left us with a promise for the future.

The last thing he leaves his disciples with was the mission. What the next steps were and what the church of the future was supposed to look like. And it was something different than there had ever been.

Acts 1:4–8 (CSB)

4 While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “Which,” he said, “you have heard me speak about;

5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.”

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

THE DISCIPLES WERE STILL FOCUSED ON THE WRONG THING. THEIR DESIRES WERE TO SEE GOD REIGN AND RULE. SET THINGS STRAIGHT. THEIR FOCUS WAS INWARD ON WHAT THEY WANTED.

7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.

THERE WOULD BE A DAY WHERE JESUS WOULD RETURN, SET UP HIS KINGDOM. THINGS WILL BE RESTORED TO HOW THEY WERE IN THE BEGINNING: NO SIN, NO PAIN, NO HURT, NO SICKNESS.

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

JESUS FOCUS WAS DIFFERENT. HE WAS GIVING THE DISCIPLES AND US THE MISSION. RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, THIS WILL THEN GIVE YOU THE POWER TO GO OUT AND BE A WITNESS.

BASICALLY THIS IS THE PATH FOR EVERY BELIEVER AND THE GOAL FOR EVERY CHURCH AND HOW THEY SHOULD FUNCTION:

ACCEPT JESUS, WHEN YOU DO YOU RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT, SO THAT YOU CAN BE A WITNESS:

OR AS WE SAY IT: KNOW JESUS, AND THEN FIND PURPOSE.

THE POWER HAS A PURPOSE.

THE CHURCH SET OFF AT THIS POINT.

PETER WHO HAD DENIED JESUS BECOMES THE FIRST PREACHER PREACHING THE FIRST MESSAGE OF THE CHUCH

WE SEE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ACCEPT JESUS THAT DAY

Acts 2:41–47 CSB

41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

WE SEE THIS MODEL FOR THE FIRST CHURCH. AND IT WASN’T JUST GATHERING ON A SUNDAY AND THEN LEAVING AND SAYING SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

IT WAS AN ALL IN CHURCH. WHERE THEY DIDN’T JUST HEAR A MESSAGE AND LEAVE. THEY WERE ENCOURAGED, THE CHURCH WAS MINISTERING TO EACH OTHER, THEY WERE THERE FOR EACH OTHER, THEY GATHERED TOGETHER WHENEVER THEY POSSIBLY COULD, THEY WERE SELFLESS AND THE RESULT WAS THAT MORE PEOPLE CAME TO KNOW JESUS.

THIS IS WHAT THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

THIS IS WHAT NEW PURPOSE COULD LOOK LIKE. BUT IT’S UP TO US AND THE DIRECTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

WE NEED A NEW HOME. A PLACE OF OUR OWN. SO THAT WE CAN NOT JUST GATHER ON SUNDAY BUT GATHER ALL THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. WHERE WE CAN HELP THOSE IN NEED. WHERE WE CAN HAVE WORSHIP NIGHTS. WHERE WE CAN GATHER TO PRAY. WHERE WE CAN BE CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR CITY. A HOME FOR WHAT GOD WANTS TO CONTINUE TO DO IN AND THROUGH OUR CHURCH.

BUT.... MURFREESBORO IS EXPENSIVE...

AS WE HAVE LOOKED AROUND AT PLACES TO RENT THERE ARE LESS AND LESS AND EVEN THAT IS BECOMING MORE EXPENSIVE. AND STILL, PLACES WE RENT WOULD ONLY BE AVAILABLE ON SUNDAY MORNINGS.

THE OTHER HURDLE IS THAT MOST PLACES WE COULD LEASE, AND HAVE ACCESS TO 24/7, A HOME THAT’S OURS WOULD NEED OVER $150,000 IN RENOVATIONS. AND EVEN THEN THE LEASE IS VERY HIGH IN MURFREESBORO

BUT… THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

THE CITY CHURCH. DOWNTOWN MURFREESBORO.

$10,000 A MONTH. AND ALREADY BUILT OUT CHURCH IN THE CENTER OF OUR CITY. THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT HOME FOR OUR CHURCH.