On Mission Together.…

There is an old story about a lighthouse keeper who worked on a rocky stretch of coastline.

Once a month he would receive a new supply of oil to keep the light burning so that ships could safely sail near the rocky coast.

One night, though, a woman from the nearby village came and begged him for some of his oil to keep her family warm.

Another time a father asked for some to use in his lamp.

Another man needed some to lubricate a wheel.

Since all the requests seemed legitimate,

the lighthouse keeper tried to please everyone and grant all the requests .

Toward the end of the month, he noticed his supply of oil was very low.

Soon it was gone, and one night the light on the lighthouse went out.

As a result, that evening several ships were wrecked and countless lives were lost.

When the authorities investigated, the man was very apologetic.

He told them he was just trying to be helpful with the oil.

Their reply to his excuses, was simple but to the point: “You were given oil for one purpose, and one purpose only—to keep that light burning!”

In this story..

The lighthouse Keeper seemed to be doing the right thing… and we could say that he did some great things .. He help people who had real needs… people who were desperate..

but problem is that ..The light house keeper forgot his main mission…His purpose…the reasons why he existed…

As the church we are just Like the lighthouse keeper -

Before Jesus ascended … He gave the church mandate

in Mat 28.19—20 To go into the world make disciples of all nation..

He then sent the oil of the Holy Spirit— to keep us empowered for the mission and keep our lamps trimmed..full and burning for Christ in a dark world.

The problem is the longer a church exist ..the easier it is to get distracted from our mission and purpose..

Robert Coleman, longtime professor of evangelism and discipleship at Gordon-Conwell, said:

“The Church is not called to hold the fort, but to storm the heights.” Robert Coleman.

In other words—our mission is more than just keeping things running. It’s about mission —

discipleship and evangelism… it is about.

knowing Christ and making him known..

This morning, we’re wrapping up our series on Sharing Our Faith in the book of Acts— and we’re looking at  our mission together.

The early church was a living organism. —it was a movement.

Christianity began as a Messianic movement within Judaism—

It was a movement that followed Jesus....

They were known as those of the way… those who lived and followed the teachings of Jesus..

… …and as they were scattered through persecution …Their message get alive through their lives ..

and the gospel spread.. From Jerusalem toJudea, to Samaria, throughout the Roman Empire..

Along the way, God raised up three strategic churches—

that played a powerful role in advancing the gospel:

The Jerusalem Church – where it all began.

The Antioch Church – a missional sending church.

The Ephesian Church – a discipling multiplying church.

Why does this matter?

Because these churches serve as models. They help us see what God intended His Church to be.

They teach us how to think about spiritual formation—

how to approach evangelism in our own community.

They help us discern where we are as a church—and where God might be leading us next.

So let’s take a closer look at each of these churches…

 1. Jerusalem: The Groundbreaking Church

The Jerusalem — church began on the day of Pentecost with with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit —

God breathed on the 120 in the upper room, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit fell, it caused confusion at first—because the disciples began in tongues (languages)that the visitors in Jerusalem could understand..…

And as you can imagine

There were many question about what just happened …

and so Peter stands up with the 11 disciples and and preaches his first sermon..

— Peter connects the dots.. that what they had just witnessed was the fulfillment of the prophecy from Joel:..

“In the last days, God would pour out his Spirit on all people.”

The first thing we learn about the Jerusalem Church -it was founded upon biblical preaching..

biblical preaching… engages the heat and the mind.

Martyn Lloyd Jones worship preacher… called preaching logic on fire…Eloquent reason! our preaching of sharing needs to he relevant… ...our homeltics professor used says that every preacher needs go have Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other..

Why because it’s relevant…to every issues we face today..

Peters preaching is Christ centered

He tells the crowd that.

Jesus—was attested by signs and wonders…and was crucified, and raised by God—this Jesus is who is both Lord and Messiah..

Again…David Martyn Lloyd-Jones ( said that

The chief end of preaching..

Is to give men and women a sense of God and His presence.

This is exactly what happened toThose listening to Peter sermon - were cut to the heart..

and —3,000 people believed, repented, were baptized, and added to the Church.

This was the beginning. Of the first church in Jerusalem—

It began with the Out Pouring Spirit-and the proclamation of the Word of God…

But it didn’t stop there…

After Pentecost, this new community devote themselves to the gospel and each other.

lets read our text.

Acts 2:41–47 ESV

41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Jerusalem church becomes this thriving Spirit-Filled Community ..

They followed in the footsteps of Jesus—attending temple and then breaking bread together , prayed together, and lived out their faith in their homes..

What’s fascinating about this passage is that..

Each of the verbs describing the church is written in the imperfect tense in Greek.

The imperfect tense speaks of a continuous action. Not something they did once—but something they kept on doing.

They kept on devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching.

They kept on gathering—to worship, to pray, and to break bread.

They kept on sharing their possessions, meeting needs with joy.

They kept on serving with generous hearts, day after day.

And the result?

The church had joy. It grew in depth, unity, and favor with those around them.

And we are told.

Acts 2:47  ... And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”

The Jerusalem Model is what we could call the Attractional Model—a church filled with Spirit-empowered vibrancy:

Healing and miracles were happening regularly.

Signs and wonders confirmed the message.

Testimonies of lives being transformed were everywhere.

Needs were being met, and people were drawn to the joy and generosity of the community.

It was the kind of church where people said, “You’ve got to come and see what God is doing!”

This is where we can get involved..

Friends, family, neighbors weren’t invited to here message and  encounter the living God.

Today we think of attractional church.. we think in terms…of performance..…talent…giftedness.

In The early church..It was the community that was a.. the beauty of the life of Christ seen with in relationships ..

We see that…Together the church..

Overcame Obstacles..

They faced cultural tensions between different groups (Acts 6).

They dealt with integrity issues like Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5

They endured intense persecution, especially after Stephen’s death (Acts 7).

And they were  scattered.

And here’s what’s remarkable:

Those who were scattered kept on sharing their faith.

Those who remained kept on ministering to the church.

And

The church grew stronger in the face of opposition. It was resilient, adaptable, and still anchored in Christ.

T/s The Second Model of Discipleship and Evangelism.

2. Antioch: The Sending Church

After the stoning of Stephen, the church scattered from Jerusalem.

to Antioch…

Antioch was really as far as you can get from the persecution .. It was Seaport city with a melting pot of cultures…

At Antioch the Gentile church is established and… where disciples were first called Christians…. The church at Antioch represents the church as we know it to day..

It was a multing pot of culture.. we need to embrace our divercity…

Stott says…

The church as a multi-racial, multi-cultural community is like a beautiful tapestry.

John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)

Luke tells us how this happened..how the church Jumped from Mono culture to multi culture..

Acts 11:19–26 ESV

19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

What’s fascinating about this text.. is that the church was not started by apostles.

..it began with ordinary believers—followers of Jesus from Cyprus and Cyrene—who,  simply shared their faith…

They reached out—not just to fellow Jews—but to the Greek-speaking Gentiles around them.—

Gods hand was up on them

—- and this church begins to thrive..

…

And when the church in Jerusalem heard that something unusual and powerful was happening in Antioch— They sent Barnabas—the Son of Encouragement…

Acts 11:19–26 ESV

22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

One thing I have noticed is that God uses different personalities in different situations..

A couple of weeks ago we saw God did through Philip…in SAMERIA..great revival … the church sent Peter and John…

Key leaders to affirm the work of that Lord was doing.. after seeing what Gods grace at work.they

lay hands on People and they received H.S..

Now - in Antioch they sent Barnabas Son of encouragement… is sent and he stays…and helps with the work.

Notice .. Barnabas send a for Paul… to help him.. maybe he thoughts that his Greek background would be helpful..

God uses each us in our uniqueness…

When I was in Bible college, we had a legendary professor—Dr. Lundstrom. He taught Eschatology—Daniel and Revelation—and let me tell you, he was a character. Brilliant man. Intellectual. But absolutely unforgettable.

One time, he was preaching in chapel, passionately explaining something about end-times prophecy… and suddenly—his false teeth flew right out of his mouth.  I kid you not—they went sailing like a frisbee and landed in the offering plate—a giant golden bowl at the front of the church. And do you know what he did? He didn’t miss a beat. He calmly picked them up, popped them back in, and just kept on teaching—like nothing had happened!

Another time, a student asked a really off-base question, and Dr. Lundstrom looked at him and said,

“Son, you are anointed… but you are stupid.”

He was a character.. but he had such a heart for teaching..

— I remember arriving early to a lecture… and there was Dr. Lundstrom on his knees praying throughout the attendance sheet…pray ing for each student by name…

God sends Barnabas…

the right man for the right moment.

He showed up to cheer them on.

To encourage the new believers. To affirm the work of God happening in unexpected places.

And through his encouragement, the church thrived.

God used this Church — to be the launch Pad for the Third missionary Journey…

After a year of ministry… God spoke to the people.. to the church… and set aside Paul and Barnabas for mission work..

Acts 13:2–3 ESV

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

God use the church…in mission…Notice that it does t come out of a committee room but the prayer room..

Antioch becomes the model for a Sending church..

When you compare Antioch to the Jerusalem church..

the

Jerusalem church had the posture of “Come and See” attractional model..

Where as the

Antioch church was missional Church - “what is God doing next”

Both these questions are important.. But..

When you ask what is God doing next. You seeking God for those who need to hear the gospel..

The result of the first missionary Journey…

Paul and Barnabas are sent… notice the order is changed.. Paul taking a leadership role in mission..

the Gospel reached Syria, Cilicia, Galatia, Asia Minor, Macedonia, Greece, and eventually Rome—the heart of the empire..

Antioch was a mission church

They were always looking places to serve..--

Later.. when a major drought happened in Jerusalem — it was church at Antioch that sent financial aid to help their brothers living in Judea... 

T/s The third…model

 3. Ephesus: The Multiplying Church

The church in Ephesus can be traced back to Paul’s  second missionary journey.

After a short time he had to leave because he being pursed by Judiazers …… he left behind a, Priscilla and Aquila, to continue the work and invest in the people there.

Then, about a year later, when I t was safe..Paul returned to Ephesus—this time on his third missionary journey

When he arrived, he came accross these  twelve men—who were disciples of Apollos..who only knew the baptism of John.

They were on this theological bridge—of straddling the old covenant and the new.

God uses Paul

to teach them the full message of Jesus… of not only Repentance from sin but also faith in the Lord Jesus..

They are then baptized  into the name of the Lord Jesus, and they received the H.S.

This is the moment the church in Ephesian church is born — with this core group.

God often works with small group in the prayer room.. the small discipleship group...

That’s what happens in Ephesus. God’s hand was powerfully with t his small group…. And from that small beginning, Paul begins to preach boldly in the synagogue.

lets read our text.

Acts 19:8–10 ESV

8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

Paul teaches in the synagogue for three months…

Paul come Boldness — he reasoned either the people.. — He provided an atmosphere of discourse.. — people could examine.. and consider… truth..

The result is that he was persuasive….

many heard and responded …but He also

got resistance from the religious crowd — and was pushed out.

But this didn’t stop Paul….

He simply shifted the strategy.

Here is the thing..

God actually opens up a greater opportunity..

Paul took a group of disciples and began teaching in the lecture hall of Tyrannus

—a more public, accessible space.

This wasn't just a short-term plan. For two full years, Paul taught the word of God—

God used this to establish the church

Acts 19:10 ESV

10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

The result of Paul’s ministry is that

Ephesus became a training hub. From this city, the gospel rippled out across the region all the residents of Asia heard the gospel

Result of training and discipleship.. was mulplecation..

3. The local ministry exploded with power. Acts 19:11 tells us,

“God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul.”

And not just through Paul—the whole church was empowered.

Believers took spiritual authority, casting out evil spirits, and the name of Jesus was held in high honor throughout the city.

We living in a culture that is longing for authenticity...

I was recently watching an interview with Carey Nieuwhof,

(hosts a leadership podcast) He was talking about Gen Z, this emerging generation in our churches, and he said:

“Gen Z desires less performance, more presence; less production, more participation.”

, they’re not impressed by smoke machines or polished platforms. What they’re hungry for is something real. They’re looking for genuine experiences of God,

They long for spaces where they can breathe, reflect, and truly connect—not just spectate, but participate.

Ephesus was that kind of church

A church where the Word ran deep, and the Spirit moved freely.

In Ephesus…we have quite a bit of Information..

Not only did Paul spent three years teachimg

But he wrote wrote a letter to the Ephesians.. we know what he taught.

Ephesians is divided into two sections .

The first half focuses on the theology of the Church—what we call orthodoxy.

Here, Paul presents foundational truths: Christ is the head of the Church, and the Church is His body, made alive through regenerated believers

This section half is practice… how to live it out…

What Paul teaches in Ephesians. is that..Doctrine and practice… .

The church in Ephesus teaches us a vital lesson about discipleship: it’s not just about making disciples,

but about creating a discipleship pipelines—a process where disciples make disciples, who then make more disciples.

Paul didn’t just gather followers; he invested deeply in a few faithful men and women, equipping them to lead and multiply the gospel work.

This is exactly what Paul instructed Timothy to do…to continue to raise leadership..

in 2 Timothy 2:2 

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

At Ephesus we have the model of multiplying leaders..

🔁 Closing Reflection:

God had called the church to he a light house..where we are filled with the H.S.. we are to light on darkness..

We have the we wonderful example a,

In Jerusalem— we see the church in its infancy. (church plant) Rooted in community, devoted to the Word,

and growing with joy and favor. It was a “Come and See” kind of church.

Antioch—the church in adolescence. Missional, bold,

Looking for where God is moving ..placed to serve.. .

Ephesus—the church in maturity. Established, multiplying, training leaders, and sending workers across Asia. a hub for deep discipleship and gospel expansion.

Here is the thing the Ephesians church..

It was combination of both Jerusalem and Antoch…

It was missional and invitational..

It knowing Jesus and making him known..

Why does discipship andevangelism matter for us?

One of the great scholars of the Renaissance, Erasmus, told a mythical tale about

Jesus’ return to heaven after his time on earth.

The angels gathered around him to learn what had happened. Jesus told them of his miracles, his teaching, and then of his death and resurrection.

When he finished, Michael the archangel asked, “But Lord, what happens now?”

Jesus answered, “I have left behind eleven faithful men who will declare my message and express my love.

These faithful men will establish and build my church.”

“But,” responded Michael, “what if these men fail? What then?”

And Jesus answered, “I have no other plan.”

Gods plan for reaching the world is us…it’s the church.. There is no other plan

I love our community…

God is doing his work in us… we living in a time where we ought to he bold.. come and see… look for place God is moving ….we need his spirit..

We need to he careful of mission drift… getting off point..