Crossing Over Purposefully (2)

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1:

A pharmacist, Dr. John S. Pemberton, invented Coca-Cola in Atlanta in 1886. He concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a brass kettle in his backyard. He mixed his formula with carbonated water and it was deemed excellent by those who sampled it. Coke was basically an American drink until the company got serious about global expansion in the 1970s. The executives set a goal of making Coca-Cola available to every person on the planet. The Hilltop Singers performed:

“While at the beach in Jacksonville, Florida, one summer, I saw a lifeguard suddenly jump to his feet in his tower. He took the Red Cross flag out ot its standard and waved it frantically so they could see him at the main life guard station. He then threw it to the ground, jumped down, grabbed a life buoy and rushed out into the water. With strong strokes he swam toward a man waving for help. In a few seconds an ambulance came up and three other guards swam out to help." “They rescued the man. The same scene was repeated several times that day, for the undertow was unusually strong. Late that afternoon I went to the main station to say thanks for the dedication of these lifeguards. When I walked into the station I was struck by a sign on the wall in large red letters which read: IF IN DOUBT, GO! It struck me that this ought to be on the wall of every church and on the table of every heart as we see the multitudes around us.”

What about Heritage’s legacy? menton this here and we had to go so not a dark spot on the map. Our other SBC church is moving. The Central and East is theirs for the taking.

A pharmacist, Dr. John S. Pemberton, invented Coca-Cola in Atlanta in 1886. He concocted a caramel-colored syrup in a brass kettle in his backyard. He mixed his formula with carbonated water and it was deemed excellent by those who sampled it.

Coke was basically an American drink until the company got serious about global expansion in the 1970s. The executives set a goal of making Coca-Cola available to every person on the planet. The Hilltop Singers performed:

I remember the Hilltop Singers performing the song:

“I’d like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love, Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves. I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony, I’d like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company.”

Then in 1979 there was the “Have a Coke and Smile” commercial with a young fan giving Pittsburgh Steeler “Mean Joe Greene” a refreshing bottle of Coca-Cola. In the 1980s there were memorable slogans such as “Coke is it,” “Catch the Wave,” and “Can’t Beat the Feeling.” And who can forget the series of animated commercials featuring polar bears with the “Always Coca-Cola” catch phrase? From the early slogan “The Pause that Refreshes” to the current “Taste the Feeling” - Coke has dominated the soft drink domain for decades.

And who can forget the series of animated commercials featuring polar bears with the “Always Coca-Cola” catch phrase? From the early slogan “The Pause that Refreshes” to the current “Taste the Feeling” Coke has dominated the soft drink domain for decades.

Coca-Cola is the most recognizable brand in the world and remains an industry leader in both product sales and marketing. The Atlanta-based company is close to reaching its global goal. A recent survey revealed that 97% of the world’s population has heard of Coca-Cola. Seventy-two percent of the world’s people have seen the Coca-Cola logo, and 51% of the world’s population has tasted a Coke. Every day, there are 1.6 billion servings of Coke. Their vision of reaching the world with the Coca-Cola name is almost there.

The church of God has a worldwide mission as well. it is a mission that has eternal consequences and impact. Our mission is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person on the planet. It’s global in scale and eternal in difference. The church is to grow in number and mutiply all across the world. And it all begins with 1. Each one of us must cross over to reach our 1 so the gospel can spread to all people on this earth. This morning we are going to look at . In this passage we notice the roots, or the beginning start of the worldwide Christian mission movement.

But over the years it hasn’t grown like Coca-cola. What happened? Mission drift. The church has forgotten why he exists - to reach the nations. The church is no longer crossing over to reach 1 and then world. We need to get back to this mission so we see a movement of Christ occoring - to see a mighty move of God. is the picture of how a movement can start. It begins with a few, like Peter and Cornelius last week and grows to a small group as the Spirit moves.

So this morning stand with me and turn in your Bibles to as I read aloud. Thank you, you may be seated. This episode marks the midpoint of the book of Acts. The goal of Jesus’ worldwide commission to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth has now been reached. The church is crossing over together as one to reach their 1 with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each one crossing over to reach 1 means you first off....

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Intro is what? Describe a church crossing over?

a short length of track joining two adjacent railroad lines.A crossover is a pair of switches that connects two parallel rail tracks, allowing a train on one track to cross over to the other. ... A crossover can also join two tracks of the same direction, possibly a pair of local and express tracks, and allow trains to switch from one to the other.

Turn with me in your Bible and as I read aloud from . Thank you, you may be seated. This episode marks the midpoint of the book of Acts and is the goal of Jesus’ worldwide commission to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. It marks out how the gospel crosses over to the 1 who are trying to reach. As we look at the passage this morning we see four ways you cross over to reach 1.

The gospel here crosses over to the 1 who are trying to reach. As we look at the passage this morning we see four ways you cross over to reach 1.

This episode marks the midpoint of the book of Acts and is the goal of Jesus’s worldwide commission to go to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Live Daringly

. Already about doing the Lord’s work / business. They risked going to the Greeks and Gentiles. In persecution they risked it all.

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Live expectantly

Antioch’s Witness (11:19–30).

The church of Antioch in Syria was established by some of Stephen’s fellow Christian converts who had fled the persecution in Jerusalem. When they reached Antioch, they predominantly witnessed to the Jews of the city - ignoring the large number of Greeks who lived there. But eventually a few individuals dared to risk it all. They turned their evangelistic attention to the Gentiles. records what happened. Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord. Notice what word begins verse 20. It is the word but. The word BUT negates or cancels everything that goes before it. It signals that the really important part of the sentence is coming up. When you use it, you must give more attention and more weight to what you say after.So, what do we read after the word but in our passage? We read there were some men who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also. Here we have a major turning point for the Christian movement.

No longer are Christ–followers only sharing the gospel message to Jews, but now they are sharing to Greeks also, they are sharing with the Gentiles. A few individuals dared to risk their Jewish reputation, identity and community to share with people different than them. They lived daringly. They refused to embrace the nominal way of Christianity, keeping the gospel to themselves, and dared to share to others when no one else would. A. W. Tozer said, "God works as long as His people live daringly. He ceases when they no longer need His aid."It is truly heartbreaking how often the church keeps the gospel to themselves and refuses to live daringly. Christ-followers often has their priorities in the wrong place. I hear Christians say how they “want an excellent children’s program. They want Awana. They want a playground. That want a good student and young adult ministry having multiple events with pizza at each of them. They want a good lifegroup. They want a modern facility to meet in.” Now none of this is wrong or bad. It’s okay to excel in each of the areas. What’s wrong is if your desires for a good quality program rises above God’s mission to make disciples. As a church then we need to ask ourselves if we’ve become too comfortable and if so then will be dare to live differently.

The word BUT negates or cancels everything that goes before it. And is generally accepted as a signal that the really important part of the sentence is coming up. When you use it most people listening to you will give more attention and more weight to what you say after you say BUT.

We see a movement begin here with a few people who dared to take the gospel to new people - to the Greeks, to the Gentiles. Verse 20 begins with the word “but” or “however.” Whenever you see these two words in the Scriptures you need to take a pause, because a big contrast and principle usually follows. What do we have here? We see a contrast between what the nominal normal Christians are doing - just preaching the gospel to the Jews with a daring movement of a few individuals risking it all to share with the Greeks. And because they dared to share to others whom no one else would, the spirit blessed their efforts and the gospel spread to all Greeks and gentiles. The Antioch church was the first Christian congregation to undertake a Gentile mission. Had the audacity to speak to Gentiles.

There mission was so successful that is

A. W. Tozer adds, "God works as long as His people live daringly. He ceases when they no longer need His aid."

who had fled the persecution in Jerusalem. Antioch was a city of Greek culture and language. The Christian Hellenists witnessed to the Jews of the city first but eventually turned to the Gentiles. They were the first Christian congregation to undertake a Gentile mission. That is probably why the name Christian was first used there. “Christian” is a Latinized formation and was undoubtedly used first by the Gentiles whose attention had been drawn by the Christian outreach.

is highly consumer driven - appealing to the desires of Christ–followers who say, “” None of this is wrong or bad, but when your desires / wants come before the Great Commission of making disciples then priorities are misplaced. If we act like we have it all together. We have all the programming we need. We have the best Sunday School teachers, best facilities, best crafts, best preaching then we refuse to live daringly and God ceases to work. We have placed credit upon ourselves when credit is to be given to God.

They were the first Christian congregation to undertake a Gentile mission. That is probably why the name Christian was first used there. “Christian” is a Latinized formation and was undoubtedly used first by the Gentiles whose attention had been drawn by the Christian outreach.

It is truly heartbreaking how often the church keeps the gospel to themselves. The church is highly consumer driven - appealing to the desires of Christ–followers who say, “we want a good children’s program. We want Awana. We want a playground. We want pizza. We want a good lifegroup.” None of this is wrong or bad, but when your desires / wants come before the Great Commission of making disciples then priorities are misplaced. If we act like we have it all together. We have all the programming we need. We have the best Sunday School teachers, best facilities, best crafts, best preaching then we refuse to live daringly and God ceases to work. We have placed credit upon ourselves when credit is to be given to God.

Antioch’s Gentile mission was so successful because they lived daringly. Greeks heard the message and believed - a large number in fact. It was so large that it came to the attention of the Jerusalem church, which sent Barnabas to check it out. Barnabas quickly determined its authenticity and joined in the outreach himself. He then remembered Paul, who was himself a Greek-speaking Jew of the Dispersion, someone perfectly suited for a ministry to Gentiles. Barnabas went to Tarsus, found Paul, and brought him to Antioch and the two witnessed for a whole year. The Antioch church continued to grow in number because it was a church full of people who lived daringly for the sake of the gospel.

The Christian life is a daring lifestyle. Christ-followers are risk-takers. Though today’s culture tells us to take it easy, enjoy life, do what you want, have fun, drink, and be merry. Christ call us to a higher purpose. He calls us to dare to be different. Christ calls us to live a holy life that honors Him and also to be His witness wherever we go. We are called to risk everything the world holds dear, even our life, and follow Him.

John B. Polhill, “Acts,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 512.Note the word - however - they went against the norm and God blessed them for this.

Connect the risk Peter took and now the Antioch is doing the same.

Parable of the Talents? Each of us are chosen, called, and commissioned to take the gospel to 1. Greek word for oikos.

Risk

There is a great biblical legacy of loving risk-takers. Joab, facing the Syrians on one side and the Ammonites on the other. He said to his brother Abishai, "Let us be courageous for our people . . . and may the LORD do what seems good to him" (). Esther broke the royal law to save her people and said, "If I perish, I perish" (). Shadrach and his friends refused to bow down to the king's idol and said, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us . . . But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods" (). And when the Holy Spirit told Paul that in every city imprisonment and afflictions await him, he said, "I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course" ().

The biblical legacy of risk takers is extensive - it spans over generations, centuries, decades. Risk-takers are found throughout the timeline of Christian history and are found in generations to come. Turn with me in your Bibles to Acts 29: 14. When someone gets there please read the verse to us. Anyone find it yet? Nope. Exactly! There is no Acts 29 in the Bible. There is no Acts 29 in the written Word of God. Acts 29 is rather the living Word, Jesus Christ working among His people to live daringly for Him. Acts 29 are the risk–takers of today. Acts 29 is you. When each one of you cross over to reach your 1, you live daringly as the Antioch Christian did. And you also live expectantly.

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Live expectantly

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Live Expectantly

In we find the church leaders of Antioch gathered together to worship the Lord. Five men from all walks of life purposefully came together to seek God’s will for reaching the lost. Two from North Africa, one from Cyprus, one from Cilicia, and from Palestine. One raised in royalty, one wealthy, and one a rabbi. One an encourager and one a previous persecutor of the church. These 5 men gathered in worship expecting to hear from God. They prayed and fasted expecting God to direct their future initiatives, intersections, and appointments with the lost. They were asking God what are our next steps? How do we continue to reach the Greeks all around us?

. Empkying their gifts of service and God speaks. Fasting - deep spiritual concern and for them this was the lost - next steps on how to reach them. i. Racial and social diversity. Direct their efforts to the Gentiles.

to hear from the Lord and give him praise. In worship they expected to hear from God and have him direct future initiatives, intersections, and appointments. Empkying their gifts of service and God speaks. Fasting - deep spiritual concern and for them this was the lost - next steps on how to reach them. i. Racial and social diversity. Direct their efforts to the Gentiles.

- leaders from every nook and cranny of society. People from all walks of life. Barnabas, the encourager; Simeon from Nigeria Africa, Lucius from Cyprus, Manean - a foster brother of King Herod in the high courts, and Saul - a Jew and persecutor of the early church. These 5 men gathered in worship to hear from the Lord and give him praise. In worship they expected to hear from God and have him direct future initiatives, intersections, and appointments. Empkying their gifts of service and God speaks. Fasting - deep spiritual concern and for them this was the lost - next steps on how to reach them. i. Racial and social diversity. Direct their efforts to the Gentiles.

As they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, God spoke. God asked them to set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. The Greek word called is proskaleo and it means to announce for a special work; to assign a special job. God gave both Barnabas and Paul a unique one-of-a-kind job assignment. He sent them out to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. God called them to pioneer a new work.

When a church prays, God shows up. When a church lives expecting to hear from God, God speaks. When the people of God pray, the Spirit of the Lord directs. The Spirit of the Lord shows us how to cross over into new territories and new places to reach not just 1, but 2, then 3, and then 4 with the gospel. The problem though is that a lot of us today are operating in a comfortable place bordering on complacency. Like the early Christians in Jersualem who were content to stay in their city and only minister to the Jews and not share the truth of Jesus to anyone else, so we are completely content in our Christian bubble doing the exact same things we have done for many years. My friends, this is a far cry from what God desires from His people. God wants His people, He wants you, to move to a posture of expectancy and pray for the lost. if God was to give you all of your prayers from the past week, how many new people would he have in His kingdom? Zero, one, several? Are you living expecting God to show each of you your 1. Are you living expecting God to reach your 1?

God answers and His Spirit moves. ----- another verse here? Sensed a need for God’s direction in the work. God told the leaders He had a specific assignment for both Barnabas and Paul. God called them to a unique role, special job He prepared for in advance for them

I feel in my spirit that there are a lot of us operating in a comfortable place bordering on complacency that need to move to a posture of expectancy and allow God to do His great work.

I feel in my spirit that there are a lot of us operating in a comfortable place bordering on complacency that need to move to a posture of expectancy and allow God to do His great work.

Antioch church coming together in prayer and fasting. In worship they expected to hear from God and have him direct future initatives, intersections, and appointments.

Prayer and fasting and worship - how combine here? What about the virgins?

Note: 5 leaders praying in Antioch and 5 at the Haystack Prayer Meeting. Crossing over to reach 1 requires leaders to expect to hear from God for the flock. We have prayerflly done so for a year plus asking what impact does God want for us in El Paso County.

When the church lives prayerfully, God will then He answers and a movement begins. When the people of God pray, the Spirit of the Lord directs. There are a lot of us today operating in a comfortable place bordering on complacency. We are like the early Christians in Jersualem who were content to stay in their city and not share the truth of Jesus. We are good with our routine and schedule. This is a far cry from what God desires from His people. His people, us, need to move to a posture of expectancy and allow God to do His great work. We need to expect God to show us our 1 and live knowing there are many more out there who need to hear.

Called = proskaleo - set apart and announce for a special work

In five men gathered together in Antioch asking God to reach the lost. And then in1806, there were five more men who gathered together asking God to reach the lost. Five college students from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, came together on a hot Saturday afternoon in August for a prayer meeting. They were going to discuss William Carey’s missionary manifesto, An Enquiry Into the Obligations of Christians To Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens, a manifesto that initiated the world missions effort.

These five students of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, had come together on a hot Saturday afternoon in August for their prayer meeting. They were going to discuss William Carey’s missionary manifesto, An Enquiry Into the Obligations of Christians To Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens.

On the way to their prayer meeting, a major rainstorm began that was filled with wind, lightning, and thunder. They ran to seek shelter, and noticed a large haystack, which would provide them an opportunity to seek shelter underneath from the wind, rain, and lightning. It was in that setting after discussing Carey’s missionary manifesto they went before God in prayer. These five young men prayed for the lost. They prayed for the church to live daringly and go take the gospel to all nations. In 1810, after they had graduated, they requested that a group send them to India as missionaries. June of 1810 the first official missions organization was created and they were sent out. Many historians would tell you that all mission organizations in the US trace their history back to that day; to that prayer meeting now known as the Haystack Prayer Meeting. Yes, these men turned the world upside down. And it all began in a prayer meeting under a haystack. It all began with 5 young college students expecting to hear from God. The movement in Asia minor began with a prayer meeting as well - five men in Antioch seeking the Lord. That is the power of prayer.

Mills proposed they would go on mission to India. While three of the five agreed with Mills to focus on reaching Asia, it was Harvey Loomis who believed deeply they must focus on reaching America first.

The General Association of Massachusetts formed the first official missions organization in the United States in June of 1810. It was called The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

. In 1810, after they had graduated, they requested that a group send them to India as missionaries. The General Association of Massachusetts formed the first official missions organization in the United States in June of 1810. It was called The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

From what is now known as the Haystack Prayer Meeting was the formulation of a group two years later in 1808 who became known as “The Brethren.” These five young men and others focused on praying and missions. In 1810, after they had graduated, they requested that a group send them to India as missionaries. The General Association of Massachusetts formed the first official missions organization in the United States in June of 1810. It was called The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

By the way, Adoniram Judson and his wife, as well as Luther Rice, were some of the first missionaries commissioned and sent across the ocean by this new mission board. It was Judson who became known as the father of Baptist foreign missions.

After praying, these five young men sang a hymn together. It was then that one of them said loudly over the rain and the wind, “We can do this, if we will!” That moment changed those men forever. Many historians would tell you that all mission organizations in the US trace their history back to that day - the meeting that is now known as the Haystack Prayer Meeting. Yes, these men turned the world upside down. And it all began in a prayer meeting under a haystack. It all began with 5 young college students expecting to hear from God. The movement in Asia minor began with a prayer meeting as well - five men in Antioch seeking the Lord.

Detail of the Haystack Monument on the Williams College campus in Williamstown, Massachusetts, marks the birthplace of American foreign missions. Photo by Roger S. Oldham.

Detail of the Haystack Monument on the Williams College campus in Williamstown, Massachusetts, marks the birthplace of American foreign missions. Photo by Roger S. Oldham.

At the place where the Haystack Prayer Meeting occurred, a monument stands today, commemorating this historic God moment. At the top of that monument is the phrase, THE FIELD IS THE WORLD. Underneath those words is the following statement: The Birthplace of American Foreign Missions. 1806! I Do you pray in a way that expects God to reach His world? May we all do so.

I sure hope so. God has at least one person in mind for you to reach. So as each one of us crosses over to reach 1: may you live expectantly. My prayer is that you will expect to hear from God that God will show you your one and the steps needed to reach your 1. .

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Live Willingly

When God calls, the church responds. The Antioch church confirmed the call of God on Paul and Barnabas’ life. Verse 3 says, then after they fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off. The Greek word send out means to “release from their duties.” The Antioch church released Paul and Barnabas from any current responsibilities, jobs and roles they had in order to pioneer a new work. The church was willing to obey what the Spirit said. They were willing, no matter the sacrifice and no matter the cost, to follow the Lord in reaching the lost. For Antioch this meant giving God their best and their brightest. They had to release Paul and Barnabas from what held them there so they could send them to something new. God chose probably the two most eminent and gifted leaders in the church to go to the Gentiles. It was not easy for the church. It was hard. It was difficult. It was painful, but it was good. The ministry was incredibly fruitful as the message of Jesus Christ spread across all of Asia Minor.

When God calls, the church responds. The Antioch church confirmed the call of God on Paul and Barnabas’life. Verse 3 says, then after they fasted, prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them off. The Greek word send out means to “release from their duties.” The church then released Paul and Barnabas from any current responsibilities and jobs in the church to pioneer a new work. The church sent them out, released them set them free to follow the Spirit and share in a new place and a new job. In other words, the church lived willingly. They willngly followed God’s leadership and send out their best and brightest. Paul and Barnabs were probably the two most eminent and gifted leaders in the church. Not easy for the church, but it was good! It was incredibly fruitful.

The church sent them out, released them set them free to follow the Spirit and share in a new place and a new job. In other words, the church lived willingly. They willngly followed God’s leadership and send out their best and brightest. Paul and Barnabas were probably the two most eminent and gifted leaders in the church. Not easy for the church, but it was good! It was incredibly fruitful.

God wants to use you today. God wants to use you to reach your 1. But you must be willing to follow His leading. You must be available. In we read about the time Jesus went to the Pool of Bethsaida. The pool was surrounded by a large number of disabled individuals - blind, lame, and paralyzed. They gathered there because they sought the pool’s healing powers. The first person to enter the pool when the waters were stirred up would supposedly be cured of his or her ailment.

saying yes. The leaders willing to send them. Trusting God to fill in gaps and to do great things.

Apelusan (send out) means to “release from their duties.” Send the best and the brightest. Send the willing. Use examples throughout the O.T.

At Bethsaida, Jesus notices one paralytic who had been disabled for 38 years. He could never get into the water quickly enough to be the first in and be healed. This man was now discouraged and depressed. He had all but given up on entering the pool. He was no longer willing to give it a try. Jesus sees him and asks him a question, “Do you want to get well?” Many of us today would reply, well of course he did. Who wouldn’t he want to walk again? What a strange question to ask this man. But Jesus had a purpose in asking the paralytic this question. Jesus was checking the man’s spirit. Did he still have a desire to be healed or not? Was he willing to get back up again and go to the pool. The response of the paralytic tells us he was not willing. He had indeed given up. The paralytic replied to Jesus, Sir…I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me. The paralytic had lost all hope. His response implied a lack of desire to be healed and made whole. He told Jesus,- I just can’t get to the pool in time. It’s worthless. Why even try? And yet despite this man’s desire to depressed state, Jesus has compassion on him and heals him.

Many people in churches today are just like the Paralytic. They have given up on their spiritual life. They have given up on the Lord. They have given up on the work of the Holy Spirit to heal their soul and give them victory. They have given up entering the Bethsaida pools of Scripture to receive healing. They are no longer willing to hear from God or obey. Like the Paralytic they would rather just see people get healed elsewhere and not experience God’s healing in their heart and in their church. They enjoy hearing from other people about how they led someone to the Lord. But for them they never would share. It’s too much effort to share the gospel with another. My friend, each one of you crossing over to reach 1 means you live willingly. You are ready for God to use you and to be his mouth piece for the lost to hear the gospel message.

The Healing at the Pool of Bethsaida - . We too often take for granted our salvation and don’t share it. LIke man at the pool - lost desire to go..

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Live purposefully

A one-legged school teacher from Scotland came to J. Hudson Taylor to offer himself for service in China. "With only one leg, why do you think of going as a missionary"? Asked Taylor. George Scott replied "I do not see those with two legs going.” At that moment, he was accepted as a missionary. Now that’s a wake up call. No one was was stepping up to the plate to live willingly in service to God in China .So, George Scott stood up. And he stood up one leg fully willing to be used by God wherever God would lead him. Are you willing? Do you have a blank check on the table?

A little over four years ago my wife Candice and I put our blank check on the table. At the time we were serving as missionaries with the IMB and we just found out about all the medical needs our son Elijah would need in the upcoming years after a very high-risk pregnancy and birth. We both prayed to God fervently asking for God’s guidance, asking Him what we should do. At first I was not willing to leave the mission field - I worked too hard learning two different languages and beginning a training center. How could I go back? I couldn’t leave it now. I have sense realized that was my pride speaking. I was not willing to follow God’s leading. After a few more weeks of prayer and fasting God released us from the foreign mission field to serve here in our home mission field of Colorado Springs. Again, I ask you are you willing to cross over and reach the 1 God has prepared for you? And will you live missionally?

Do you have a blank check on the table? Just over four years ago my wife Candice and I put a blank check on the table. At that moment we were serving as missionaries with the IMB and just found out about all the medical needs our son Elijah would need in the upcoming years. We prayed to God fervently asking for God’s guidance, asking Him what we should do. At first I was not willing to leave the mission field - I worked too hard learning two languages and beginning a training center. I couldn’t leave it now. That was my pride speaking. I was not willing to follow God’s leading. A few more weeks of prayer and fasting God released us from the foreign mission field to serve here in our home mission field of Colorado Springs. Again, I ask you are you williing to cross over and reach the 1 God has prepared for you?

C. Summer Wemp, professor at liberty told of an experience that impacted him deeply:

“While at the beach in Jacksonville, Florida, one summer, I saw a lifeguard suddenly jump to his feet in his tower. He took the Red Cross flag out ot its standard and waved it frantically so they could see him at the main life guard station. He then threw it to the ground, jumped down, grabbed a life buoy and rushed out into the water. With strong strokes he swam toward a man waving for help. In a few seconds an ambulance came up and three other guards swam out to help." “They rescued the man. The same scene was repeated several times that day, for the undertow was unusually strong. Late that afternoon I went to the main station to say thanks for the dedication of these lifeguards. When I walked into the station I was struck by a sign on the wall in large red letters which read: IF IN DOUBT, GO! It struck me that this ought to be on the wall of every church and on the table of every heart as we see the multitudes around us.”

Each One Crossing Over to Reach 1: Live Missionally

The Antioch church was the first to proclaim the gospel actively and send out missionaries. As a result, it became the base of operations for the Christian movement. The mission focus moved from Jerusalem and the Jews to now Antioch and the Gentiles. On Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas that the Antioch church sanctioned and blessed, God moved mightily. Here’s what we find out happened during that journey - all recorded in just two chapters.

13: 12 - After blinding the eyes of the false sorcerer the proconsul of Cyprus believed, because he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord.

13: 42 - After preaching in Pisidian Antioch, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas and the following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord.

13: 48 - After preaching the gospel to that large gathering, Gentiles rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed.

13: 49 - What happened in Pisidian Antioch was so powerful that then The word of the Lord spread through the whole region.

And then in Chapter 14:27 - At the conclusion of the first missionary journey Paul and Barnabas reported back to Antioch everything they experienced. God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles

Paul, Barnabas, and all the members of the Antioch church lived missionally. They lived their lives solely focused on sharing the gospel to as many people as possible in any way they could. Steve Timmis, author of Total Church says being missional is “ordinary people doing ordinary things with gospel intentionality.” That’s means you purposefully find ways to cross over and reach your 1 with the gospel message. You cultivate a heart for evangelism. Last November I taught the course Spiritual Influence 101 here at the Black Forest Campus. I shared with the participants my definition of evangelism and I want to share it with you today. Evangelism is the art of communicating the salvific message of Jesus Christ to others in a way they can understand and respond in faith and repentance. The essence of this definition is living missionally. Every day you wake up you ask God “Give me an opportunity today to share the love of Jesus with someone. Eyes to see it and the courage to take it.” You live each day knowing their is a mission field out there waiting for you and God has placed you there to be his voice.

it is interesting to see that Antioch church sponsored all three missionary journeys of Paul.

The Impact of Coca Cola

Several verses describe a life and ministry lived on purpose by both Paul and Barnabas and the Antioch church. Barnabas and Paul did nothing special with their outreach efforts - they just did what was normal; preach in the syngagous. That’s what it means to live purposefully - in your sphere of life intentionally find ways to transition to the gospel. My definition fo evangelism is Evangelism is the art of communicating the salvific message of Jesus Christ to others in a way they can understand and respond in faith and repentance. The essence of this verse is living missionally. You craft a message that will touch the heart of your friend and loved one. The term “missional” can be difficult to define, which may be why some churches just don’t get it. I like the simplicity of the definition from Steve Timmis, author of Total Church.

91% of the world's population has heard of coke. 74% have seen coke 51% have tasted 10% of the world's population has heard the Gospel.

craft a message that will touch the heart of your friend and loved one. The term “missional” can be difficult to define, which may be why some churches just don’t get it. I like the simplicity of the definition from Steve Timmis, author of Total Church.

Being missional is

For me, here’s what my mission field looks like:

Give my mission field:

My agnostic neighbor who lives across the street how is wondering why his seven year old son has cancer.

My neighbors down from us who are in the middle of huge marital conflict.

The Starbuck’s barista worker I see weekly and sometimes daily.

The neighbors around the Palmer Park Campus who want the church to remain there, but will not step inside.

My lost brother who is constantly battling health problems.

My lost brother

My confused father who doesn’t seem to understand his current season of the life.

My friend from Burma who is trying to find happiness in the American dream.

These people are my mission field. I live missionally with them. I live every day trying to find opportunities when I can cross over to reach them with the gospel message. Who’s your mission field? Who’s your 1? If all of us lived missionally and actively shared Jesus with others, our church would be a Great Commission church. Timothy Keller says: “God does not merely send the church in mission. God already is in mission, and the church must join him. This also means, then, that the church does not simply have a missions department; it should wholly exist to be a mission.” Today, as a church, lets be on mission together. Let’s live daringly, expectantly, willingly, and missionally.

When you cross over to reach you 1 you begin to live intentionally everyday. You live missionally and if all of us to do this together the church is truly on mission. Timothy Kelly says: “God does not merely send the church in mission. God already is in mission, and the church must join him. This also means, then, that the church does not simply have a missions department; it should wholly exist to be a mission.” Today let’s take up this call to be on mission together.

VS 42 after preaching in Pisidian Antioch, we find out many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas and that the following Sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of the Lord. As a result the Gentiles heard the gospel and they rejoiced and honored the word of the Lord, and all who had been appointed to eternal life believed. They word of the Lord spread through the whole region. (vs. 48 and 49).

And the conclusion of the first missionary journey Paul and Barnabas reported back to Antioch everything they experience and that God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles (vs. 27).

When you cross over to reach you 1 you begin to live intentionally everyday. You live with a purpose - of trying to find ways to bless your 1 and bring them closer to Jesus. What is amazing to see in Paul’s first missionary journey and the setting apart of Barnabas and Paul is the radical way the Holy Spirit moved. It is a remarkable combination of divine sovereignty and human responsibility working together that produced all of the exciting situations and climactic circumstances recorded in Acts. The first step toward making gospel impact is living for Jesus first.

a purpose - of trying to find ways to bless your 1 and bring them closer to Jesus. What is amazing to see in Paul’s first missionary journey and the setting apart of Barnabas and Paul is the radical way the Holy Spirit moved. It is a remarkable combination of divine sovereignty and human responsibility working together that produced all of the exciting situations and climactic circumstances recorded in Acts. The first step toward making gospel impact is living for Jesus first.

In verse 48 we see their first visit. This is the eternal impact you can have in your 1 and to others. A habit of missional living - living with purpose.

Tim Keller notes: “God does not merely send the church in mission. God already is in mission, and the church must join him. This also means, then, that the church does not simply have a missions department; it should wholly exist to be a mission.”1 Each of us would love to influence large crowds for Jesus. But it may be that He has called us to touch one person who will change the world.

Radicalism of the Holy Spirit: remarkable combination of divine sovereignty and human responsibility working together that produces exciting situations and climactic circumstrances where anything can happen.

Taking Action

Conclusion / Invitation:

Let’s have our worship team begin to make their way back up here this morning. And as they do you I want each of you to take out the card that looks just like this. You should have received one of these cards last week or as you entered this morning. On the card is one simple question: who’s your One? As we sing this next song I want each and everyone of you to write down the name of a loved one who needs Jesus. Write down the name of someone you will witness to in 2020. And when you’re done, while the music play, please come up and drop your card into a vase on any one of these tables up front. And when you drop it in, make sure you take a bracelet as well. Your pastoral team will pray in 2020 for all the names placed up here this morning. We serve a God of activity and action, not passivity and stagnation. So join me this morning and put your one in this vase.

Let’s pray

Coke was basically an American drink until the company got serious about global expansion in the 1970s. The executives set a goal of making Coca-Cola available to every person on the planet.

And as people come up if the Lord is telling you to trust in Him personally and receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior or to serve God in a new way in the upcoming months Pastor Bob and I will be in the front for you.

Let’s Pray - people now bring cards up.

I remember the Hilltop Singers performing the song:

“I’d like to buy the world a home and furnish it with love, Grow apple trees and honey bees, and snow white turtle doves. I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony, I’d like to buy the world a Coke and keep it company.”

We serve a God of activity and action, not passivity and stagnation. He calls us to renounce passive livinLet me compare the Great Commission to something everyone easily recognizes:

He calls us to renounce passive livinLet me compare the Great Commission to something everyone easily recognizes:

Then in 1979 there was the “Have a Coke and Smile” commercial with a young fan giving Pittsburgh Steeler “Mean Joe Greene” a refreshing bottle of Coca-Cola. In the 1980s there were memorable slogans such as “Coke is it,” “Catch the Wave,” and “Can’t Beat the Feeling.”

Who can forget the series of animated commercials featuring polar bears with the “Always Coca-Cola” catch phrase? From the early slogan “The Pause that Refreshes” to the current “Taste the Feeling” Coke has dominated the soft drink domain for decades.

He calls us to renounce passive livinLet me compare the Great Commission to something everyone easily recognizes:

Coca-Cola is the most recognizable brand in the world. Coke remains an industry leader in both product sales and marketing. The Atlanta-based company is close to reaching its global goal. A recent survey revealed that 97% of the world’s population has heard of Coca-Cola. Seventy-two percent of the world’s people have seen the Coca-Cola logo, and 51% of the world’s population has tasted a Coke. Every day, there are 1.6 billion servings of Coke.

With such amazing global expansion over the past 125 years, someone said if Jesus had given the Great Commission to the Coca-Cola Company, the gospel would have already been presented to every person on earth! But He didn’t give the Great Commission to Coca-Cola, or Apple, or McDonald’s. He gave it to us!g and be catalysts for righteousness within our culture. We're to pick up our cross (not our La-Z-Boy recliners) and follow Him. So let’s do this now as we take action with our one.

Conclusion / Invitiation:

Drop card in the vase and pick up bracelet to remember your 1.