Going Beyond the Walls
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18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
Vision = Revelation = God’s Word, Biblical Scripture…without it we all perish.
INTRODUCTION: Last week we began a new series call Vision 2020 - Asking the question What is God’s Vision for His Church?
1. To be a Learning Church
2. To be a Caring Church
3. To be a Worshiping Church
4. To be an Evangelizing Church
First three characteristics of the early church focus on the interior life of the church – all about the members – does not say anything about their mission beyond the church walls
This is the great imbalance we find in too many churches – why they struggle and eventually die – when focused on themselves. We are not to just be focused on ourselves, we are also to be mission minded. Willing to take what we learn in this place and sharing it outside these walls with others.
Turn in your Bibles to Acts 2:47 we looked at this verse last week but I want to focus on just one verse this morning notice closely what it says,
“And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
This suggests that they were engaged in mission
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
The job of the church is not to impact the church, but to impact the world.
It’s like a huddle in a football game. 67,000 people don’t pay $60.00 a ticket to watch the Dallas Cowboys huddle. What if you went to a Dallas game and for 2½ hours you watched 11 men stand in a circle and talk? That’s not what you pay for!! 67,000 people pay $60 a ticket to see what difference the huddle makes. What they want to know is, having called the play in secret, does it work in public?
The challenge for the church is not what we do when we call our Sunday morning huddle, but what we do when we break our huddle and head to our Sunday morning assignment. When Satan lines up against us, what difference does it make that we are Christians?
A). Just as Jesus went beyond the walls of Jerusalem, He has also called us to go beyond the walls of this building.
B). That’s what outreach is about, going beyond our limits.
C). No matter the excuse, it does not negate the fact that Jesus said “Go forth and proclaim (Spread) the Gospel”!
I. The Lord himself (Jesus) did it
I. The Lord himself (Jesus) did it
Through preaching of the gospel
Everyday witness of church members
Their common love of others
Jesus did it!
He delegates responsibility to us – his church – but was and remains to this day HIS ministry – he is responsible for admitting people into the church
Only the Lord Jesus through the witness of his Holy Spirit can open people’s eyes to give life to dead souls, and so to add people to his church.
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
The Second truth that we can learn from in regards to evangelism in early church
II. The Lord did two things together
II. The Lord did two things together
a. Add to their number
b. Saved them
Goes hand in hand
Didn’t add them to church without saving them – didn’t save them without adding them to the church
Salvation and church membership went together – Still does!
The Third truth that we can learn from in regards to evangelism in early church
III. The Lord did both of these things DAILY
III. The Lord did both of these things DAILY
Early Christians did not regard evangelism ‘faith sharing’ as an occasional activity...
Their witness was as continuous as their worship
The Lord honoured this – by adding converts daily
So what is our role in bring people to Christ?
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
We are to GO, Go to where the people are
WE HAVE TO GO TO WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE
Christ met unbelievers where they were. He realized what many Christians today still don’t seem to understand. Cultivators have to get out in the field.
According to one count, the gospels (Matt, Mark, Luke and John) record 132 contacts that Jesus had with people. Six were in the Temple; four in the synagogues and 122 were out with the people in the mainstream of life.
In this age whether you like it or not people hang out in Social Media platforms
Are you being a witness on Social Media like FB, Instagram, Twitter, etc...
Do you tag yourself attending Church here The Ridge. Inviting your unchurched friends and family to attend with you.
Conclusion:
Balance between NURTURE and EVANGELISM/OUTREACH.
I heard a story about a guy who applied for a job as an usher at a theater in the mall. As a part of the interview process, the manager asked him, "What would you do in case a fire breaks out?"
The young guy answered, "Don’t worry about me. I can get out fine."
That’s exactly how many in today’s world respond to a lost and dying world around them. If you asked them "What would you do if Jesus came back tomorrow?" they would probably respond, "Oh, don’t worry about me. I’d be fine."
But what is all to easy to forget is that you’re an usher! It isn’t enough just to get out yourself. You are responsible for helping others know the way.
Let us go and proclaim to the world outside these walls, that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to the Father except through Him.