Gospel-Centered Church (Acts 13:1-4)

how important is it for a church to stay focused on the transforming work of Jesus?

consider what happens if not gospel-centered

become social clubs w/no transforming power in one generation

become museums w/no relevance in the next generation

*forget where transforming power comes from

*forget that Jesus changes lives

transforming power is in gospel of Jesus Christ

gospel = good news

Jesus is our only hope

Jesus can radically change your life

at FCC we want to be a...

Gospel-Centered Church (Acts 13)

pew Bible page 1095

vital that a church hears and acts on the words of Jesus

make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19)

leads us to think outside of our church

you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8)

can even be our strategy

A gospel-centered church is...

a whole lot like Antioch

Acts 11:19-26

map

men far from home

speaking???

Roman empire = Koine Greek

Acts 13:1-4

to be a gospel-centered church, the church must be...

full of gospel-centered members

church basics

a church is not its

building

pastor

leaders

attenders

a church is ALL of its members (1 Cor 12)

ἐκκλησία = called out ones

ALL members (leaders AND members)

in the church … 5 leaders (13:1) and they (13:2)

church is about God’s glory

it is the people He has set apart in Christ

we DO NOT WANT TO HOARD the gospel

to be gospel-centered

responsibility of us ALL to center on the gospel

not a few

not a FCC thing

but each. and. every. member

we believe in the transforming power of Jesus

we live it out (NOT A SUNDAY THING)

2 questions

1. are you a member of a local church?

if not, prayerfully consider joining FCC

if not sure, give us a call in the office

next Sunday, noon, membership class

2. if you are a member of FCC, are you gospel-centered?

evaluate your life

where does God want to grow you???

to be a gospel-centered church, the church has to be...

sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit

while they were worshiping the Lord and fasting (13:2)

what kind of worship do you think this was?

not perfunctory (carried out with minimum effort)

not dead worship

no empty prayers

no half-hearted singing

no boring sermon

no obligation — heart fully engaged

real/authentic worship

music wasn’t polished

hit wrong notes

no words on screen

but lost voice in abandonment

sermon never long enough

couldn’t get enough of God’s Word

when’s the last time you worshiped like that???

when’s the last time WE worshiped like that…together?

that’s not it

fasting (depriving to focus and pray)

not dutiful

but asking what does the Lord want?

it was in this kind of worshiping and fasting…the Holy Spirit said

who did the HS speak to?

leaders? church?

most likely the members as a whole

it is the church’s responsibility to hear collectively how HS is leading

priesthood of the believer

congregationalism

seems mysterious but let me give fresh example

Brad Woodard chair of worship pastor search team

asked to pray about adding 1 more

over week with no clarity

Tuesday in truck with Mark @ 1p

what do you think about Jeremy Brittain?

Brad comes to house for ac @ 2p

I’ve been praying, and God keeps bringing a name to mind

I’M ALL EARS

then Jeremy prayed about it and sensed the same thing from the Lord

we don’t have to be creative, but seek the Lord through His Word and prayer

to be a gospel-centered church, the church has to be...

serious about the Great Commission

some things we don’t need to pray about

like what does God want us to do with our life

make disciples of all nations (Matt 28:19)

our prayer needs to be how should we make disciples and where

all nations applies to FCC

are you serious about fulfilling our part of the Great Commission?

are we serious about fulfilling our part of the Great Commission?

we must do our part in Nacogdoches

but we cannot think that is it

Antioch church was serious about Great Commission

formation built on disciples sharing gospel

HS guided them to expand past Antioch

to send out Barnabas and Saul

I think HS was guiding them to do something they were open to

taking gospel to all nations

how many churches has the HS spoken to & the church wasn’t open, so they didn’t act in obedience?

let not FCC be one of them

to be a gospel-centered church, the church has to be...

daring enough to step out in faith

HS decided on Barnabas and Saul

not Barnabas and Saul

they are our best teachers/leaders

church in Antioch had to decide to let them go and trust that God would provide in their absence

are we gospel-centered?

do we believe Jesus is building His Church outside of FCC?

are we willing to raise up leaders to send them out?

other churches?

plant churches?

mission field?

I’m talking about some of our best

it is not about our little kingdom here

but Christ’s worldwide kingdom

will we believe that God will raise up other leaders?

vacancies give opportunities for new leaders

how is the Lord challenging you to think differently?

passionate about reaching people through evangelism

Antioch was formed by people passionate about telling people about Jesus

now they are sending Barnabas and Saul with the same purpose

laser-focused on evangelism (telling people how Jesus can change their life)

ever been on a foreign mission trip?

laser-focused on evangelism

never fails to come back and be...laser-focused on evangelism

foreign missions fuels local missions

and

local missions fuels foreign missions

we want to be a church of local and foreign missions

because believe we have a part in fulfilling the Great Commission

Kindness Outreach/MissionNAC are ways we can love on people AND share Jesus

clean up a yard

fix a roof

wash a car

being a gospel-centered church doesn’t happen by accident

member, how is God preparing your heart to be more gospel-centered?

prospective member, how is God stirring in your heart to join in the mission at FCC?

unbeliever, how is God drawing you to see the need for Jesus?