Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Why Are You Here Today?

What is the point of the church?

Why are we doing what we are doing right now?

Is it just to gather with friends and enjoy each others company?

Is it to sing songs, listen to an inspiring message, be entertained, analyze if the preacher did good or not?

Is it to come and announce the upcoming events, so we know what our options are for our social life this week?

Or is it to commune with God, grow in His presence and be encouraged by others in community, to be empowered to be witnesses to the world through the power of His Spirit and His Word?

Church attendance has dropped drastically today.

It’s just not a priority in peoples lives, including believers.

For many attending church, being active in the life of the church just isn’t their top priority.

So what is the church for?

Why do we meet together like this each week?

Why isn’t church peoples top priority?

In this sermon series we are going to journey through the meaning of the church.

What is it the church should be doing?

We are going to take a look at the early church in Acts and find out from the scriptures what the church’s purpose really is, and what practices we should be doing as a church when we gather, and when we are going about our daily lives.

The Disciplines that Shape Us for Mission

The Lord’s Table

Reconciliation

Proclaiming the Gospel

Being with the “Least of These”

Being with Children

The Fivefold Gifting

The Kingdom Prayer

These disciplines are essential practice for the church in order to live the mission God has given us.

But today we need to talk about what under girds everything we do as a church, as believers.

Today we need to talk about what makes us different from the world.

Instructions from Jesus

Luke gives us details about the final conversation the apostles had with Jesus.

The instructions He gives them as He leaves their presence.

He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Repentance and Forgivness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to ALL the nations beginning at home.

We are His witnesses.

Wait for the Holy Spirit before you do these things.

Luke opens Acts again with the ascension of Christ.

Jesus Gives Clear Instructions to Wait.

What is Luke Stressing Here?

To Wait for the Spirit, the promise of the Father.

They are to wait to be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

Of course the disciples what answers, will you restore the kingdom?

We are so inpatient.

It’s not for us to know.

You need to receive the Spirit first!

Then you can be my witnesses to all the earth.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit

The Spirit comes like a rushing wind, and changes everything!

After Peter explains what happend, and himself being empowered over 3000 people come to faith, and repent, receiving forgivness.

It’s is exactly what Jesus said it would be!

Called to Be the Living Presence of Jesus

The disciples, the church is called to be the living presence of Jesus in this world.

We are called to share the good news with everyone.

The Spirit empowers us to do this, we need the Holy Spirit in order to be the church.

Henri Nowen Quote

Being the living Christ today means being filled with the same Spirit that filled Jesus.

Jesus and his Father are breathing the same breath, the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the intimate communion that makes Jesus and his Father one.

Jesus says: "I am in the Father and the Father is in me" (John 14:10) and "The Father and I are one" (John 10:30).

It is this unity that Jesus wants to give us.

That is the gift of his Holy Spirit.

Living a spiritual life, therefore, means living in the same communion with the Father as Jesus did, and thus making God present in the world.

Henri Nouwen

The church must live in complete communion with God in order to be His witness to the world.

The only way to do this is by receiving the Holy Spirit, and allowing the Spirit to transform our hearts.

Big Idea: The role of the church is to be the faithful presence of Jesus in this world through the power of the Holy Spirit