The Church - 2024 Pt 2 On a Gospel Centered Mission - Empowered by the Holy Spirit

GREET EVERYONE-

If I have not had a chance to meet you; My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship.

LETS GRAB OUR BIBLES IF YOU HAVE ONE AND

Open it to Matt 28:16-20  today as we Continue exposing what Jesus says our annual series on THE CHURCH.

As 2024 starts and we look to what 2024 can be and we make resolutions and promises and we set goals for the coming year that we hope to accomplish.

ENGAGEMENT

Ever get to the point in your life when you ask the question:

Why am I here?

Why do I exist?

What purpose do I really have?

You Ever faced with the “Crisis of Why”

Ya know, life can get pretty boring.

We live in the same place for years.

We see the same people for years,

We go to the same Job for years,

We do the same thing for years.

We go to the same places to eat for years.

We drive the same route to work and to familure places day after day and week after week.

We might even execute the same menu over and over again for years and never really try anything new when we cook at home.

I remember when I was single, I cooked almost every night at home and I had the Bachelor 6.

Sunday - Pot roast

Monday - Meatloaf

Tuesday - Tacos.

Wednesday - Spaghetti

Thursday - Pork Chops

Friday - Maked Chicken

Saturday - Grocery Shopping and eating out.

The grocery list was easy - The budget was relatively fixed and all was comfortable and predictable. I did this for years.

Think about how boring that was. I was board pretty quick but it was easy and comfortable.

BUT YA know when we were early in our adult hood all the first things exciting.

Marriage, First home, First Job, First Car, First Child, First Appliance, first cook book, first homemade meal, First big eat out at big resturunt,

Ya know all the firsts are exciting.

But ya know, Over time, All of those shinny pennies first can really loose their luster.

and become routine and boring.

Here is the funny thing - When life gets routine and boring -

Most of us if not all of us then fall into one of two camps.

Camp one - Comfort Camp.

This is the camp that says - Yea it boring but its predictable and so no changes ever to anything, if there is one thing I hate its change.

The Other camp is - Camp Chaos.

Camp Chaos says - Not if it gets boring but when it gets boring - I'm changing it out. House, cars, furniture, family, job, church, company, career, food, future, fantasies, family, finances it matters not -

When it gets boring - Camp Chaos says I’m gonna change it.

I think that usually when we go into camp comfort and we live life over and over again and it get boring but comfortable for the most part are like an airplane in the air at cursing altitude or on a slow decent until er die.

Just get to where there are no turbulence and pull back on the power and just cruise.

The Other thing that happens when we find ourselves in camp Chaos is we are trying and wanting to have all the power. To live life at full throttle and not let anything or anyone be in control.

TENSION

Well let me ask this - What about your relationship with Jesus?

You might say: Pastor what do you mean my relationship with Jesus?

Yea - you relationship with Jesus?

Do you find it getting boring? Mundane?

Here is why I ask -

Cuz I think if we take the take the wrong Idea of the Church we can so easily find our selves in a place where our relatinship with Jesus is dry and boring and lacking anysort of sence of abuundance.

HEre is what can so easily happen to us.

We love without thankfulness,

We have no adventure

We pray and pray for the smae things and sometimes nothing seems to get better or change.

WE ask for God to do the work and our requests can go on silence.

We spend time in the Bible and we dont really know why it was written.

And you might say - Pastor that might be some people but that is not most people.

Every looke around and thought to your self “something doesn't match up”

60-70% of the population of the united states claims to be Christian - Yet our cultural immorality is off the charts -

WE see more abortions than any other part of the world, and we are actually despised on the world stage becasue of our immorality.

Something is OFF -

I wonder if it is that we love the Gospel of Jesus who gives us eternal life in heaven but we do not love the person of Jesus who says - Now Go and Do.

BACKGROUND

In this sires we began by understanding that the Church - The Assembly of the Called out ones - Is a People - A gospel centered people that are regenerated, renewed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

and In general I think that really hits home with us and brings a lot of Yes and Amen's becasue culturally we think church as a place or a series of events that we attend and go to.

I mean when you got us this morning and a friend or relative of your would call you on the phone and said “hey whats up what you doing”

You and I both would have been culturally training to say “I getting ready to Go to Church”

In in that very response that we don't even think about saying we take the idea of a worship gathering of the Church and reduced it to a location that we go to and an event that we attend.

Sunday morning is a worship gathering.

The place is the Gathering Place, The Campus, The building.

The Church, The Local Church, The Historical Church, the Global Church is a people and when that is driven home our hearts say YES and Amen becasue we knew there was more to it.

This morning - We will expose through the very words of Jesus that the Church not not only a people, a gospel centered people, a regenerated, renewed indwelt Gospel people.

We will discover that the Church is a sent people. A Gospel Centered People on a Gospel Centered Mission.

A mission, and People that are Empowered by the Power of God that raised Christ Jesus from the dead to accomplish that mission.

UNPACKING

______ Read for us this morning The Commissioning of the Church our of all 4 for the Gospel accounts. The Autobiographies of the life and words of Jesus.

It is so very interesting to me that there are several things that do not appear in all 4 Gospels.

I wont give you a copious list of them all but here are Just a few -

The Virgin Birth of Jesus - TWO

Jesus Baptism - Three of the 4

The Sermon on the Mount - ONE of them - SOme say In two but many think that the second sermon that is very simular too place on a plain not a mount.

Most if - like 90 % of the Parables are found in 2 or three at best -

The feeding of 5000 is in all 4

But the parable of the sheep and goats - ONE

However - Jesus trail - Death and resurrected and the events surrounding those things - 3 or 4 in many cases.

What We heard _____ was in all 4 Gospels - In fact the mission of the church was expressed to us not only in all 4 gospels but also in the book of acts.

Here is the other interesting thing - WE can find traces and influences of it in every letter to the church from the Corinthian letters to the letter of Jude.

This morning we going to concentrated more of our time on One and bring in the mention of Others.

MATTHEW CHAPTER 28

Here is where we are in the time line -

Jesus has been crucified - He has been raised from the dead - He has Appeared to the disciples and to many others -

Ladies in the Garden - Road to Emaius - Disciples in the Uppper room -

Thomas with the Hole hand in my hands thing -

Jesus appeared t them and said to them to Meet Him later Galilee and He will meet them-

He actually used the two Mary’s to convey this message about meeting Him in Galilee.

Now we must understand. Jesus was crucified and buried outside of jerusalem -

Galilee is 92 miles away - 8 hours a say walking your taking 4 days to get there.

Jesus tells them to go to a particular mountain and when they get there Jesus Shows up.

VS17

Says “and when they saw Jesus they worshiped Him NUT some doubted”

I have often wondered what the doubting was about.

What were they doubting?

YOu might read this a s think - They were doubting was this really Jesus. Well by the time they get here most of not all of them have heard or known that by personal appearance to all of them and others.

So WHO is not the question.

So if who is not the questions than What is the question - Exactly!

What is the question? - Exactly What is the Question.

YOu see some of the disciples were doubting - Wll were worshiping but some were doubting -

I think they were doubting what do they do now?

Jesus had been with them for over three years -

Everywhere that Jesus went they went - They ate with Him they camped where he camped - They saw the miracles and even did a few them selves and then He spoke of His death and that happened and then He spoke of His Resurrection and that Happened.

I am sure some of them were thinking What do we do now?

You see some of them were so unsure as to what they would do after his death and especially after his resurrection that some of them had gone back to their old life of fishing for fish.

Remember what Jesus promises of we follow Him - He promises this to them when he called them and he promises this to us when we follow Him

Jesus’ very words - “Follow me and I will make you a fisher of men”

Here is the phenomenal part - Up and until this point , Jesus has seemingly chased more people away than he has gathered.

So far Jesus has only gathered 12 closest disciples and he actually at this point lost one - So Fishing for men is not on the top of their thinking -

So one of the conclusion that can easily be understood is “they were doubting what is next”

What are we going to do now?

What is the rest of our life going to be like?

What purpose is there to all of this?

VS18

When Jesus begins to Speak it is very interesting what He says. This type of wording is very rare for Jesus to Speak. In fact before Jesus was crucified He only used this tyoe of language only 4 other times.

3 of those times He used words Like “all things have been handed over to me by my father” Or “the father has given all things into my hands”

The Specific speech about him having authority is only recorded for us one other time before Jesus death and Resurrection.

In his High priestly prayer - He says

John 17:1–2 ESV

1 When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.

Jesus begins his commissioning of the church - His definitive purpose and mission of the Church with THE quenticental statement of His Authority.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me”

I mean think about it.

If you are wondering what you should do with the rest of your life for the rest of your life and someone shows up to tell you what to do with the one life you have it would be great to know that the person who is giving this life long purpose and mission statement to you has the authority to decide what your life should look like.

VS19

Go, therefore…

It is interesting that Jesus inserts the word “therefore”

Some of you may have heard that the word “go”in the original language is in the passive tense.

This is true.

It is written in the voice that would directly say “as you go”

It is interesting that none of the disciples took this command in a passive way.

They all and the church that is described with in the pages of this collection of letters, prose, proverbs, history and prophecy call the Bible did not respond to the commands of Jesus in a passive way.

You read this account of what happened and you would find with in the pages of this text a powerful divine aggressive movement of God’s people by the very hand of God using his people to see and save the lost.

It is a remarkable miracle of the power of God.

The Therefor -

Here is what Jesus is saying - Directly -

becasue I have all authority to inform you what to do with your life.

Go make disciples!

Make followers of Mine from “All nation”

We have spoken of this before and maybe you have heard this - All nations does not mean geographical areas marked off by boundaries.

What it means is people groups.

Jewish people are a peole group.

Poor people are a people groups

Single mothers are a people groups.

Upper middle class, hoome owninng neighborhood dwelling american are a people group.

Foster parents and people in the foster community are a people group.

The deaf are a people group.

There are people groups all around us.

VS20

Jesus said “make disciples of his from among all of them.

and so its then a liner steps - Make a disciple - Baptize them - Teach them to do what Jesus said to do.

Then Here is the promise and it is an IF THEN promise -

You go into the world and make disciples of all people groups, you baptize them and you teach them to do what I have told you to do.

Here is the deal “I will be with you”

Now this last phrase created a sort of Paradox.

Jesus has just told the disciples there guys whom He is about to launch into this culture changing mission. That he is leaving and sending another.

So it is a great thing we have the whole council of scripture to look at.

LUKE CHAPTER 24

Repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to WHO

All nations

All people groups.

and where does this proclamation start - jerusalem!

Where did it start?

Jerusalem - some 10 or so days later.

In Luke’s autobiography - here is who Jesus will be with us.

VS49

Behold I am sending you the promise of my father upon you”

What was the Promise of the Father?

The Holy Spirit.

Here is what Jesus says - Stay in the City until you are What?

Clothed with Power -

Here is what the term means - It means to put on something.

But we cannot put on the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said “I am sending the promise o my father”

Here is what Jesus has just said -

Wait in the city until I put on you the power of the Holy Spirit.

You see loved ones - Not only are we commanded to go into the world and make disciples form among all people groups.

But Jesus said the Father in heaven, our father, sends to us and puts on us His power to do the very thing He commanded us to do.

JOHN CHAPTER 20

Jesus Breathes on them and says

AS I was sent now I send you and then Jesus breathes on them and says “Receive the Holy Spirit”

AS you read these for Autobiographies of Jesus - Matthew Mark Luke and John at the end of all of them the resurrected Jesus is still here and the Spirit has not been sent -

ACTS CHAPTER 1

Jesus told His disciples - It is better that I leave you because when I do the Father will send the Helper. The Holy Spirit.

Some 40 days after His Resurrection - Jesus had spent lots of time with His disciples and appeared to as many as 500.

At the end of these 40 days Jesus had gathered more devout people 120 to be exact-

They were in a large House in Jerusalem with the 11 who were left.

Jesus has the 11 with Him and they still didn't quite get it.

and He told them ot to leave the city becasue they will be Immersed with the Holy Spirit in a few days.

Here is what He says - Right before he goes back to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father where He was from eternity past.

VS8

He says:

You will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit has come upon you:

Power -

Not tongues - Not profetic abilities -

Not gifts -

Not iriacles -

Not healing -

You see the Holy Spirit comes with Power.

You wanna know how much of God power is in you - How powerful is your witness for Christ to all people groups.

PAstor - You mean to tell me that the mark of the Holy Spirit in me is marked by the power of my witness for Christ.

Loved one - It certainly is implied by this text of Scripture.

Jesus then said - You will receive power AND

“You” meaning “you all” will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Sameria and to the ends of the earth.

Some of your translations will say to the outer most parts of the earth.

Here is why that implies that -

Jesus didn't say You will receive power and do miracles -

You will receive power and heal people.

You will receive power and cast out demons.

You will receive power and live morally or live generously.

And love ones don’t missunderstand the text - We might see all of that happen at the hand of and for the glory of God.

But our function our purpose and our mission and the very reason God sends the spirit is to be power filled witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Proclaiming the Gospel to all creation AS jesus says in Mark

Proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of Sin as Jesus said in Luke.

filled with he very Holy Spirit that Jesus breathed on them in John.

Making disciples, Baptising and teaching them to obey.

Being HIs witnesses in every place and watchiuing the miricle of men and women being made new.

That is the Gospel Centere mission we are empowered by the Holy Spirit of God to do.

This is the Abundance of purpose and meaning that Jesus came to give us.

This is the Mission of Jesus.

Soul winners as Old Pastors like Adrian Rodgers and Charled Spurgeon would put it.

STICKY POINT APPLICATION OR IMAGINE (CONTRAST, RHYME, ECHO, ALLITERATION, METAPHOR)

I think there is a question that come to mind for us each year as we begin to plan and organize out time and evaluate our Schedules and set resolutions, goals and make promises to our selves as 2024 sets out.

Ya know I think there are reasons that we make resolutions and Goals and that is there are some outcomes for this year that we want to be different than last year.

One of those thing that I see people doing at the beginning of the new year, especially when they move is look for a new church.

man oh man was I convicted this last week.

I saw a young family ask about churches on social media and man oh man did the recommendation flow.

Come to our church we have this and we have that -

And listen those things are important to have.

Here is where my conviction came in.

One of the respondance suggested that she make a list of wants -

and they were good wants.

and it was so distasteful to me because it seemed like what he was suggesting was to make a shopping list and go to churches until you get what you want.

Like shopping for groceries - If brooks brothers doesn't have what you want go to HEB.

and what convicted me was I was at some level raising the Stoneware Flag saying we have this and we have that.

Man o man That is not what the church is supposed to be known for.

God gave me so much clarity as to how we are to be the Church

Who is the Church?

We are the church!

WE -

Collectively - you are not the church by your self - An unassembled church is not and cant ever be the church., or at least one described in the Bible.

Here is what I the spoke into on this persons post.

I left the name out in case she is here or watching.

There are several posts like yours on FB. And for the most part I have responded in general the same way as I responded to yours. I am currently doing a series on the Church and I am really convicted to just speak into some of the comments that I have read in your post and posts like yours. Church is not a popularity contest! Church is not something you attend. It is not something that you shop for with a list of wants, like what we do when we go to the grocery store. A true local Church is a People, a saved, regenerated by the Holy Spirit people. It is a people that we belong to. A People we devote to and who are devoted us and to each other. A People who believe and preach and study and desire to know the Scriptures. They are a people who are constantly being changed into the Image of Jesus and constantly and continually growing in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus. They are a people who are on the mission of Jesus, Sent into this world as Jesus was sent to make disciples of all people groups including the ones in our own backyard. A church is a people devoted to Prayer. My hope is that Stonewater Fellowship is more and more like this every day. My prayer is that I would live this way and lead others to live this way and lead a church like this. When we do live and devote to this then our whole family is changed and our culture is transformed and all that you desire as a mother for your 9 year old will have the greatest potential to come true. My Prayer is for you that you would discover and devote to a people who are striving imperfectly for all of these traits! - We ask all the time Who is the Church? We respond: We are the Church! The Church is a people, striving imperfectly to be more and more like Jesus, as revealed to us in the Scriptures, every day. Thank you for reading. I hope it helps and blesses you.

My prayer for all of us here are the very beginning of 2024 is that we set our minds and hearts and agenda and goals and efforts into becoming more and more a people devoted to Jesus.

I pray the mark of our devotion would be that we are an ever improving but always imperfect bride of our bride groom.

Obedient to our Lord, by the power that is within us.

That our obedience is out of our Love for Jesus and Marked by not only to our devotion to Him but also our devotion to each other and to prayer as we lock arms together and take the Gospel to the World. A bride Loved by her groom Jesus and responding in Love to Him with our whole life.

This is why Paul wrote to the Ephesians Church, A community racked with demonic activity, immorality and fake god worship.

Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Because the adventure the quest that the Church has been placed on together is being His witnesses, Filled with His power, To make disciples and watch as God makes men new.

Lock Arms Church, Be the Church that God had ordained - Let us be on the quest together - Assembled - together in large and in small ways and lets see the Glory of God make all things new!

For this is our purpose, This is our Value - This is where we will finds ultimate meaning. For it is in Christ and His purposes that we find life for in Him we live and move and have our being!