Inauguration: Introducing The Church

We starting a new series

Acts not a detailed history, but a specific communique from one government to another

Luke writing to Theopholis (a Roman official who is a a follower of the way or interested -

Christian or Christian Curious)

We will look at Acts, not as a history,

a theological and diplomatic presentation of the early Church's identity, purpose, and role in society.

Acts offers the Church a blueprint for living with purpose and clarity in a complex and often hostile world.

As we study this book, our goal is to rediscover our purpose as God’s people and learn how we should “show up” in the world.

We will begin today looking at Acts chapter 1 and 2 together.

Its a little long for a reading

I wrote this synopsis:

After His resurrection, Jesus spends forty days with His disciples, teaching them about the Kingdom of God. Before ascending to heaven, He instructs them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit, who will empower them to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. As the disciples watch, Jesus is taken up into heaven, and two angels assure them that He will return in the same way.

The disciples return to Jerusalem, where they gather with other believers in prayer. They choose Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot, restoring the group of apostles to twelve.

On the day of Pentecost, as the believers are gathered, the Holy Spirit descends upon them with the sound of a mighty wind and tongues of fire. They begin to speak in different languages, proclaiming God’s wonders. Devout Jews from many nations, in Jerusalem for the festival, hear the message in their own languages and are amazed, though some mock the disciples as being drunk.

Peter stands and addresses the crowd, explaining that this is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy: God has poured out His Spirit on all people. He proclaims Jesus’ death, resurrection, and exaltation as Lord and Messiah, urging the people to repent and be baptized. About three thousand people respond, joining the newly inaugurated Church.

The believers devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. They live in unity, sharing possessions and meeting daily in the temple courts and homes. The Lord continues to add to their number, demonstrating His power and presence among them.

Tomorrow is Inauguration day in America.

As we begin a study in the Book of Acts, it takes us back to the first inauguration of a U.S. President…the establishment of a new government.

It is worth looking back to the founding moments of a nation.

What was it then?

What was it supposed to become?

How far away from that vision have we drifted?

I confess to you today that it is my belief that in many ways, we as the church have lost the plot.

But, I am also convinced that we can recover the vision our King had for His kingdom at the beginning:

Our King has not gone anywhere

He is greater than any President of the United States.

His throne is more enduring than the Resolute Desk or the Oval Office

And there has never been a transition of power…because his government has no end.

He’s just waiting for us to get with the program.

Luke speaks to Theopholis first about the establishment of the Kingdom of God and Christ because the Romans knew a thing or two about conquest.

When they would take over a nation or territory, there would be a kind of coronation of ceremony to set the new government in place.

This is picture we get in Acts 1 and 2

Specifically, Luke addresses three key questions that would have been in a Roman’s mind.

Looking at these questions and how Luke answers will give us great clarity about the founding of the church.

And I believe that from that we can begin to understand what has been lost and begin to take steps toward recovering it.

I want to preach a sermon called: Inauguration: Introducing The Church

PRAYER

Question #1: Is This A Takeover?

The disciples’ question: “Will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”= Is this a takeover?

They had a particular thing in mind:

In the 160 BC, Judas Maccbeus overthrew the Syrians and established an independent Judea for about 100 years.

Herod the Great began his extensive rebuilding project in 20–19 BCE

Jesus answer: It is not for you to know the time and season which the Father has placed in His own authority. But you will receive power…and you will be my witnesses…

Many have interpreted a “not yet” pointing to the second coming of Christ.

I see a “yes, but”

Redirecting the disciples from consummation to inauguration.

You don’t need to focus on how it ends, but understand how it begins

With You

My Kingdom and the restoration that it brings has been established in the earth.

And you are my formal, legal representatives (AMBASSADORS)

Consummation will not take place a quick flourish of glory…but it will be no less remarkable.

Question #2: Where Is The Temple?

Once you know that it is a takeover, the next question is where is the temple.

In ancient times, a big part of a ruler's legitimacy was based on the fact God (or the Gods) favored their leadership.

They built temples to demonstrate their connection to the divine.

Without access to a temple, a ruler’s claim to divine favor could be questioned, undermining their legitimacy.

The temple was the meeting point, where the God could connect with humanity…

Have communion

Provide guidance and wisdom

Offer protection

Don’t think we’re more sophisticated than Theophilus!

Modern secular society is still asks this question:

We have traded the pantheon of God for a plethora cultural institutions

Academia is the patron god of wisdom (a temple in Boston called Harvard)

The internet is the patron god of fame and influence (temple in Chicago called Google HQ)

The Market is the patron god of wealth and prosperity (A temple in Florida called Mara Lago)

Luke is addressing this temple question with these two scenes (the ascension and pentecost).

At the ascension, the physical body of Jesus crosses over into the heavens.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is poured into and sits on the physical bodies of the disciples.

WHAT IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR? (A GATHERED GROUP OF JESUS’ DISCIPLES)

Luke is establishing for Theophelis that this Kingdom is backed by divine power.

And there is a temple that facilitates the connection between the God of heaven and realities of earth.

It is not a temple built of bricks and mortar

It is not a building made man’s hands

But, wherever two or more are gathered together in the name of Jesus, there is an open portal and He will manifest Himself in their presence.

Beloved, You and I are the temple of God.

This is where the realities of heaven can flow into the earth.

Not this place, but this people.

Question #3: What Are The Tenets?

Since it is intended to be a takeover and there is a real claim to legitimacy, What is the governing agenda?

How will this administration operate?

How do things get with the new administration?

In American tradition, we have the inaugural address.

Washington - The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and the destiny of the Republican model of Government, are justly considered as deeply, perhaps as finally staked, on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.

We still talk about the “American experiment” today.

We do not get an inaugural address from the new ruler.

Peter’s address in Acts is more like a first cabinet meeting with the Chief of Staff

No, what Luke provides, in order to give Theopholis an idea of how this new Kingdom operates is snapshot of the early church.

THIS IS NOT A MILITARY ENDEAVOR…

This Kingdom has 5 core commitments

Doctrine -

Deeply understand truth

Preaching & teaching

Fellowship -

Active participation and common commitment to one another and to the mission.

Breaking Bread -

Taking meals together with gladness of heart.

Eating together reminded them of the person and work of the Lord Jesus, and the relationship with Him was the basis of their fellowship with each other.

Teaching, prayer, and praise was not just a platform experience, but a mutual one.

In this way, a meal could be a sacred experience.

Prayer -

The plural form with the article in Greek suggests that the reference is to specific ‘prayers’ and not just “prayer” as a general idea.

This group adopted and expanded upon the Jewish practice of set times of prayer or specific prayer rhythms.

The radical elimination of lack.

They were selling goods and services

They ensured that no one was in lack

The outcome of this kind of community was profound:

Reverence and awe filled the hearts of the people.

The power of God flooded the zone.

People outside the group liked what they saw.

God kept adding to their number (the movement was growing)

For about 350 years, the church has been under increasing attack of modernism and secularization.

In that battle, We fought for the Sunday morning preaching experience.

We fought primarily for our physical building…our preachers and their preaching…

This is what we fought for and this is what we have.

AS WE ARE BECOMING AMBASSADOR CHURCH, WE HAVE TO BE GUIDED BY THIS QUESTION: HOW DO WE RECOVER THE REST?

The Fellowship

The Breaking Bread

The Prayers

The radical elimination of need

God’s Kingdom comes, one gathered group at a time.

We are His witnesses

We are His temple

We demonstrate how His government works

My heart burns with passion when I begin to imagine what could happen if a group of Christ followers devoted themselves to Kingdom work that Jesus started 2000 years ago in Jerusalem

The gospel work of forming people and communities to carry forward the Kingdom of God

Not just evangelism, but Kingdom community

Then I remember that I lead a church.

We’re not large…but I love our size right now.

We’re about the size of that first gathering in Jerusalem

That small congregation of 120 of disciples, is the reason that there are 2.4 billion believers worldwide in the world today.

And I don’t think God is done yet. I think He wants to fulfill the vision of vision of His glory covering the earth like the water covers the sea.

If you believe this, I want to ask you today to commit to kingdom community.

Give your heart to Jesus…repent and believe the gospel

Join this community.

Let’s go for it…

Becoming An Ambassador Course

This sermon series

Devote yourself

Doctrine

Fellowship

Breaking Bread

Prayer

Radical elimination of lack

We cannot be the Kingdom of God…but we can be one heck of a gathering…and that’s how the Kingdom expands in the earth.