Farsighted
2020 Vision • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
From a book “His Mysterious Ways”
Donnie Martin (pastor) Henry Gardner (pilot)
Flying from Texas to Asheville
Stopped in Mississippi for radio
Fog was thick - better head to Greenville
Declare emergency - sputters
Pull up! Overpass
Directions - landing
"I don't understand," he said. "I lost contact with you after I told you to make an emergency landing. Your radio sputtered and you were gone."
We all need God’s direction
Without it, we crash
Sometimes we get off course, we need to listen correct
Explain series:
Explain series:
Every church is doing 2020 Vision
2 weeks (New Year)
1 long term (what)
2 short term (how)
Church in California called “Church Two42”
Explain the name
Here’s where the church is...
Here’s where the church is...
Acts is continuation of Luke
Luke studied under Paul
Maybe met disciples like Peter and James
Luke tells about Jesus’ life
Jesus did ministry for 3 years
He was crucified and ressurected
Taught for 40 days
Then Luke writes Acts about everything afterwards
Mostly about the birth of the church
Jesus ascends to heaven (Ch. 1)
Holy Spirit comes
Rushing wind, tongues of fire, speaking in tongues
Peter gives an awesome sermon
3,000 people are saved
Now the church is rolling!
Today we look at them, to see what we should be doing!
YouVersion “Farsighted” in
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
The Church Should:
The Church Should:
1. Make Disciples
1. Make Disciples
Word, baptism, souls
Why? Jesus said!
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Explain the discipleship process (D1, D2 and D3)
Then he tells us the result...
2. Be Ready for God to Move!
2. Be Ready for God to Move!
3,000 people were added from about 120!
That is our situation as well!
How would you feel going to 3,000 people?
They went to megachurch (2,000+) overnight!
“That’s too big for me...”
It’ too big for me too, but there’s a HUGE problem with that...
It’s not about you!
12 Jesus, overhearing, shot back, “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? 13 Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”
matthew
13 Go figure out what this Scripture means: ‘I’m after mercy, not religion.’ I’m here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders.”
We exist to reach outsiders, not coddle insiders
Stop thinking about what we want
Start praying about what He wants to do!
The disciples waited and waited
And then God moved, and they jumped in what he was doing
Be ready to jump when God says it’s time
I’m not saying God wants us to be 3,000
I’m saying He wants us to be ready for Him to do whatever He says
Here’s what they did:
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
3. Be Devoted Followers
3. Be Devoted Followers
Called Christians, but not disciples...
Not acceptable!
A true Christian MUST BE a disciple
15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.
Jesus doesn’t have time for wishy washy “Christians”
Francis Chan says, “Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin.”
I don’t believe you can lose salvation BUT
There are millions who are not really saved
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
Belief is important
That should be followed by change in heart and action
Works don’t save you, but they are evidence you have been saved
God wants you to be sold out (elaborate)
What then should we be devoted to?
A. Devoted to Teaching
A. Devoted to Teaching
We already know we teach in church (right now)
But are we devoted to it?
Thomas Jefferson cut out the stuff he didn’t like
Seems crazy, but we just ignore it anyway!
The Bible is what philosophers call “absolute truth”
People say truth is “subjective”
Frank Turek asks, “Is that absolutely true?”
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
says the same thing...
prov
Seems wrong, we change it
Women’s roles in marriage and church
Gay marriage
People going to hell
Will you devote yourself to what the Bible says, or will you make up truth?
Jesus says:
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
He doesn’t say, “I am A way, A truth and A life, and you can come to the Father through Me, or some other way if it’s better for you...”
This ain’t Burger King, this is the gospel
You can’t just “have it your way”
You have to trust Scripture COMPLETELY!
To do that, you have to do a few things
Read it
Meditate on it
Memorize it
Ask questions!
Then USE IT!
B. Devoted to Fellowship
B. Devoted to Fellowship
James Frey: “And as ridiculous as it may sound, sometimes all any of us needs in life is for someone to hold our hand and walk next to us.”
Chreasters...
I love Jesus, I just don’t like church...
Full of hypocrites, out for money, I’ve been hurt
If you find the perfect church, don’t go there!
27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
Imagine if your toe was like “Peace! I’m out of here!”
it would die!
We each make up ONE BODY
Think about cutting your finger
Platelets stop the flow of blood
Your mouth yells ouch!
Your eyes assess the damage
Your feet run to the first aid kit
Your other hand grabs a bandage
That’s how the body of Christ should react!
When one is hurt, all come to help
What do Sesame Street
What do Sesame Street
Washington DC
The Food and Drug Administration
And Finding Nemo have in common?
They were all created over dinner!
C. Devoted to Breaking of Bread
C. Devoted to Breaking of Bread
Sesame Street
Washington DC
The Food and Drug Administration
And Finding Nemo have in common?
They were all created over dinner!
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
Started “Red Letter” in California
Motto was “Life happens over coffee”
Meals are significant
This is a part of doing life together
Family and Children’s Center says meals...
Improve self-esteem of family members
Improve eating habits and table manners
Reduce risk for substance abuse and violence
Decrease amount of psychological conditions
I think it’s good for the church too
Are you in people’s homes? Are they in yours?
My number one goal has been to meet with people
It hasn’t helped my waistline, but it has made relationships
The other side of breaking bread is Communion
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Of course, we do this every 3rd Sunday
22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
This is also a part of doing life together
Remember what Jesus did
D. Devoted to Prayer
D. Devoted to Prayer
Corrie Ten Boom: “Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”
Is it what determines your direction, or just for emergencies?
Every week we have a time for prayer
Whether 2 or 200
Remember last week?
Tracy Ballard: Sunday was our last official Sunday with CrossPoint Church. We had been asked if we would be willing to come up and Pastor Dan would pray for us. Little did we know he would have us step down from the podium and he asked if anyone who has been touched by our family would like to come down and pray for us to come up. WOW!! Greg mumbles to me “no one will come up”. Well, I look up and most of the people are coming toward us! What a blessing this church family has been to us. They have walked thru life with us these last few years and I will miss being with them so much! But life has another adventure for us in Champaign.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.
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.
acts 2:
48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” 49 The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
john 4:
There were some AMAZING things happening in the early church...
We want to see those amazing things today too...
They are RARE
Two things to know:
Don’t just seek them
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
29 When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation. It seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.
31 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness. 35 Therefore be careful lest the light in you be darkness.
47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. 48 So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”
Jesus was angry because they wanted a sign more than Him
32 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.
You relationship has to be about God, not miracles
HOWEVER, I believe they do still happen!
But they are for GOD’S PURPOSE, not man’s
2. Notice when awe came upon every soul...
After PRAYER
If you pray, God will do AMAZING things!
Not just because you seek the amazing things...
acts 2:
4. Share it’s Blessings
4. Share it’s Blessings
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.
Tithing is OT
Well NT is selling all things and giving to the church!
Acts church shared everything!
Only took what they needed...
Would you do that?
I don’t trust you guys!
When I’d say, “In theory, XYZ
Rob used to say, “In theory, Communism works...”
That’s something to pray about...
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.
I’d say “No, you have to factor in human greed”
Communism works in the church!
Because we replace greed with God
This isn’t a command, just a report
Here’s what we can do with this:
Would you be willing to do it?
I would!
Would you?
Yeah, but I’d want to be an elders/deacons/treasurers!
If we did, I’ll bet everyone would want to be elders/deacons/treasurers!
Oh, okay! Then why not now?
Why not now?
Because there’s no money involved...
Then you only want to invest when you think it’s important
God’s not a good enough reason to invest, but money is?
I think you’d better find a way to start investing...
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.
5. Doing Life Together
5. Doing Life Together
What a beautiful picture of the church!
Everyday they were together!
Going to church
Sharing meals
Being generous with each other
Praising God together
Creating good reputations with people
Notice what happened because of this...
New people were saved everyday!
Dropbox: No commercials
Just used “refer a friend”
This is something you need, I want to share it with you
$10 billion company
I have evangelized in many ways...
Most successful = living life for God
This is something you need, I want to share it with you
This is something you need, I want to share it with you
If you have truly been a part of the church, there’s nothing better
Isn’t that something we all want to be a part of?
Next week
Next week
We will talk about how we are going to do this as a church
God-willing!
