What is a Christians Purpose?
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewGod called the church — all believers — to lead the charge in evangelism. How well are we doing at it?
Notes
Transcript
Two elderly couples were enjoying conversation when one of the men asked the other, ‘Fred, how was the memory clinic you went to last month?’
‘Outstanding, they taught us all the latest psychological techniques: visualization, association, etc. it was terrific’, replied Fred.
‘Sounds unreal, and what was the name of the clinic?’
Fred went blank. He thought and thought but couldn’t remember. Then a smile broke across his face, he’d put into practice some of the techniques he’d learned, ‘What do you call that flower with a long stem and thorns?’
‘You mean a rose?’
‘Yes that’s it!, a rose’.
He turned to His wife and said, ‘Rose, what was the name of that memory clinic?’
Why are we here?
Why does the Church exist?
This is a question we need to wrestle with… We need to answer… as we look at replanting this church…
Why Are We Here?
I think sometimes we are like Fred. we know the answer, but we have trouble remembering…
Look at Acts 8:1-8. This is the tail-end of Stephen’s story:
1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.
6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.
7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
8 So there was great joy in that city.
Why did Luke put this story about Stephen’s death in his gospel? What was his purpose?
Was it even necessary?
The answer is “YES!!!”
There are two themes found in this passage, What are they?
Verses 1-3 — Persecution
Verses 4-8 — Evangelism
This passage is primarily about Evangelism. Think about it:
What is the Church?
What is persecution?
What is evangelism?
Last week, we talked about the early church being built on three primary tenants, or treatises: Patient Endurance, Prayer, and Worship…
Today, I want you to see that the Church’s primary purpose was/is Evangelism.
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Look at Acts 8:1-3
1 And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him.
3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.
What two people are mentioned in this passage?
— Stephen and Saul/Paul
Two men, worlds apart… One willing to die for his convictions — the other willing to kill for his!
One man dedicated to Jesus — the other dedicated to God, though severely misled in his thinking…
Stephen was passionate about furthering Jesus’s Kingdom — Saul was set on destroying it…
Look at what Luke tells us about Saul… (reread 1-3)
Do you see what Luke is saying?
There is nowhere in here where Luke tells us that Saul was not a Faithful man… In fact, he tells us that Saul was “zealous for God”… Yet, while “Godly men mourned” the loss of their brother, Stephen — a fellow Jew… Saul’s own countryman — “But Saul…”
This is still very much about Stephen.
Acts 6:9b-10 tells us that the “educated religious” men attempted to argue with Stephen, but they couldn’t win… So they dug up false witnesses and false charges… And, What did Stephen do?
He Preached!!!!
The Holy Spirit convicted them!
They couldn’t stand it, so they killed him!
Do you see what happened there?
— Evangelism — The gospel was preached!
Presenting Jesus, began the persecution of the Church!
What would have happened if Stephen hadn’t? What would have happened if he had just placated them to avoid persecution?
Now, I’m going to say this: Persecution is necessary for the health of the Church.
Hear me out here…
What has been the fastest growing church in the world for decades now?
— China —
It’s not now, What is?
— Middle East —
WHY???
Severe persecution forces a choice…
Persecution is a catalyst for the spread of the Gospel.
Think about it…
What were the disciples doing before this moment? What were they experiencing?
— Joy
— Growth Acts 6:1
1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.
— Comfort
— the disciples just rested in the comfort of the Apostles teaching and work
What had Jesus told them they would be — what they would do?
— witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth
8 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.”
But… Where were they?
— Jerusalem
What were they doing?
— nothing
(devotion from Our Daily Bread, Aug 24, 2000)
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, has a guard 24 hours a day. Every hour on the hour, 365 days a year, a new soldier reports for duty. When the new guard arrives, he receives his orders from the one who is leaving. The words are always the same: ‘ORDERS REMAIN UNCHANGED’.
The same could be said of the orders that Jesus gave to His disciples.
Just before He ascended to heaven, He told His followers, ‘You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth’ (Acts 1:8). He also said, ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations’ (Mt 28:19).
Much has changed in the almost 2,000 years since Jesus chose His first disciples and started the church. But regarding the command to spread the good news of Christ, these words can still be said: ‘ORDERS REMAIN UNCHANGED.’ ≈
OUR ORDERS REMAIN THE SAME!
Up to this point, the Apostles and the disciples hadn’t moved from Jerusalem, but…
In Acts 8:1, we see the gospel spread IN THE EXACT WAY that Jesus described!
From Jerusalem to Judea to Samaria, and later beyond to the world…
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
This spread was “fanned” by the ‘great persecution’ that broke out against the church.
Saul, along with Stephen, actually contributed to the first missionary movement of the church!
Let me tell you: “God will use what the enemy means for harm, for good!”
Look at Acts 8:4-8
4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.
5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.
6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said.
7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.
8 So there was great joy in that city.
How awesome is that?!?
These people, who just faced severe persecution for sharing the Word, continued to share the Word!!!
Isn’t that insane?
What should we do when the enemy gets in the way?
— share the Gospel!
Now, check this out… (verse 5)
Who does Luke name here?
— Phillip
Who was Phillip?
— one of the 7 lay men chosen to “serve the tables”
Do you see the significance?
— these were just your ordinary “garden variety” believers… They weren’t Apostles… They weren’t preachers… They weren’t pastors… They were just “regenerate believers”…
— They were ordinary people who were dedicated to Christ and had received the Holy Spirit
These were people who were motivated by Christ’s desires!
They weren’t special!
They simply shared Christ…
What did they share?
Their testimony!
And they shared it everywhere they went!
I want you to see something here… Look at Acts 21:8
8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven.
While we are all called to share our faith, Phillip is the only one in scripture who is named an evangelist… WHY???
Because he proclaimed Christ to the Samaritans. He knew that only Jesus has the strength to deliver people from the powers of darkness… Only He has the authority to forgive sins… Only He took our death on Himself… Only He is our life!
Phillip and those scattered believers were convinced that: Acts 4:12
12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Are you convinced of that truth?
Have you been living in a relationship with Him?
John Stott tells a story of when he lead the children’s church at St. Peter’s… There was a little girl named Jillie who was about 10 at the time…
They had been studying Matthew, so they gave the children a written exam at the end of the book study… He decided to add a personal question: “Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Phillip brought Nathaniel to Jesus. Who have you brought to Jesus?”
“Who have you brought to Jesus?”
Do you want to know what Jillie’s answer was?
— “I brought myself to Jesus.”
Have you?
You can’t bring anybody else to Jesus until you’ve brought yourself!
Our purpose as Christians is to share the Gospel — To share our faith — To bring ourselves to Christ, and then to bring others to Christ…
James Hewett tells a story of Jesus’s return to glory…
Even in heaven, [Jesus] bore the marks of His time on earth… Gabriel approached Him and said, “Master, you must have suffered terribly for the men down there.”
“I did.”
“And do they know and appreciate how much you loved them and what you did for them?”
“No! Not yet.”
Gabriel was perplexed, and asked, “Then what have you done to let everyone know about your love for them?”
“I have asked Peter, James, John, and a few more friends to tell others about me. Those who are told will tell others… My story will be spread to the farthest reaches of the globe. Ultimately, all of mankind will have heard about my life and what I have done.”
Gabriel frowned… “Yes, but what if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the 20th century people just don’t tell others? Have you made other plans?”
“I haven’t made other plans. I’m counting on them.”
The Church exists to point people to Jesus.
How well are you doing that?
We do that by bringing ourselves to Him… By sharing our faith… By talking about what He has done for us WHEREVER we go… By bringing them to church… By praying with them… By being there for them… By loving them as Jesus loves us!
Jesus told them, Mt 28:19-20
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
OUR ORDERS REMAIN THE SAME.
We cannot replant this church if we do not embrace our purpose!