2 Timothy 3:16–17 NASB95

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Acts 1:7–8 NASB95

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Future Church: 12-1=3000

Happy Easter Everyone!

Ordinarily, Easter is a day when we see lots of people we only see once or twice a year. Most of those folks are usually here out of some sense of obligation rather than a sense of joy and celebration, and impacts the way I approach preaching.

With the very strange Lent we’ve had, I doubt anyone is here today out of a sense of obligation. If anyone is here who doesn’t really want to worship Jesus, your motive isn’t likely obligation. Your motive may be as simple as taking an opportunity to see other humans in-person, and I can’t blame you one bit if that’s your main reason for being here.

But I’m going to preach as if everyone here is already committed to Jesus. If you’re here to take the opportunity to worship Jesus, give me an “amen” by honking your horn.

So, I’m not preaching to any outsiders today. I’m talking to people who want to celebrate the highest holy day on the Christian calendar. I’m preaching to fellow believers in Jesus Christ, and that will impact the way I approach preaching today.

Throughout Lent, I’ve been preaching about Future Church. I’ve been comparing Historic Church to Future Church, and I’ve mentioned several times that the shift that MUST happen is not a shift in what we do, although that may happen.

The real shift that must happen for Future Church is a shift in our hearts.

Historic Church has been driven by what the people who already come want and like. Future Church has to be driven by a desire to see people come to Christ!

Historic Church has been oriented to invite people to our buildings, and our services. This isn’t a problem, except that our motive has been to boost our numbers. Future Church must have a primary motive of inviting people to Jesus!

Historic Church has added programs when we wanted to add numbers to our congregation. Future Church will add programs aimed at adding numbers to the Kingdom of God, and we’ll recognize that many of those people may never walk through the doors of our buildings.

Last week, we talked about the way Historic Church approached growth. Historic Church was fine with trading people around from one congregation to another. Some churches have even been known for recruiting people from other churches. This demonstrates a self-focus that Future Church will not tolerate. The growth Future Church is after is NOT just grafting a branch from one tree onto our tree. That’s not real growth. Future Church knows that real growth is UNCHURCHED and DECHURCHED people discovering a relationship with Jesus Christ, while those of us already here dive deeper into our existing relationship with Him.

This week, I want to contrast the definitions of success for Historic Church vs. Future Church.

Most congregations in the Western world are experiencing a drop in attendance. St. Mark’s averages between 150 & 200 in worship weekly … or at least we did before all this happened. Who knows what kind of numbers we’ll see when this is all over.

It’s exciting to think about a new person coming into our fellowship, and because of that we’ve sold success short.

The typical Western church is satisfied with a small increase in attendance on Sunday morning, or growth in our buildings, or increases in giving, or excellent music. The typical Western church is satisfied when we experience a slight bump in numbers.

Future Church won’t be satisfied until every man, woman and child has repeated opportunities to see, hear, and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

The typical goals of the typical church are not bad goals. But we have to recognize they are not God goals. God isn’t looking for addition. God wants multiplication!

Before Jesus ascended to Heaven, he gave his disciples (and us) what we call the Great Commission. He didn’t tell us to “Invite 1 or 2 people to our congregation.” In Matthew 28, he tells us to “Go and make disciples of all nations!” ALL NATIONS!

Don’t misunderstand me, Jesus is excited about one soul who turns back toward our God. But it doesn’t satisfy his goal. HIS goal is ALL!

The early disciples believed Jesus would return in their lifetime, and they lived their life that way. A lot of time has passed since he ascended, so many of us live as if we don’t believe he’ll EVER return! But his reason for delay demonstrates his goal that ALL would come to know him.

2 Peter 3:9 NASB95

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

You see, Historic Church has been a recruiting organization, and we’ve been satisfied with people showing up, and a slight bump in numbers has been declared as success. Future Church needs to return to the approach of the EARLY CHURCH!

Let’s return to that EARLY CHURCH we read about a minute ago in the book of Acts:

Acts 1:7–8 NASB95

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

When the Holy Spirit comes, we receive power, and we’ll be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the remotest part of the earth. I rarely use this passage without localizing it: Jesus tells you and me that the Holy Spirit wants to make us his witnesses in Decatur, in Indiana, in the United States, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Why?

Because Jesus Christ isn’t satisfied with a slight bump in numbers. And those closest to him understood this.

In the book of Acts, one chapter later, the promised Holy Spirit falls on the disciples on Pentecost, and when Peter preaches the word...

Acts 2:36 NASB95

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

It says the crowd was “pierced to the heart” and asked how they should respond to this message:

Acts 2:38 NASB95

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is called the Birthday of the Church, because on that day, these 11 apostles received the Holy Spirit - they preached the Gospel, and...

Acts 2:41 NASB95

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

THREE THOUSAND SOULS!!!

I wonder how many of them showed up at the apostles’ congregation the next week. Oh, they didn’t have a congregation! Their motive wasn’t to grow their own congregation, their own fellowship, their own kingdom. Their goal, their driving force was growing the Kingdom of God, and in one day 3000 were added to the Lamb’s Book of Life.

So, if you’re part of the Church already, hear these words: We’ve been Historic Church too long. Future Church looks more like First-Century Church, Original Church, and we must set our sights on multiplying the Kingdom instead of just adding to our congregations.

If you’re here because the rest of your family dragged you here, or maybe Mom & Dad forced you to come…let me talk with you just a moment:

You are not here by accident. If you’re watching this video on Facebook, you are not watching this by accident. God has been planning this moment for you. He has been calling you to himself your entire life … even before you were born, He knew you…and he loved you.

The basic Truth of the Gospel is this:

Every one of us is guilty. Every one of us has violated God’s design of holiness.

That guilt earns us a ticket to Hell. Hell is the default, so if nothing changes, we are all destined for eternity separated from God.

Jesus was God in a human body. He came to sacrifice himself so that the debt for our sin might be paid.

His resurrection makes the sacrifice effective for the rest of time. He defeated sin in his life, and he defeated death by coming back to life.

The necessary work has already been done. You don’t have to do ANYTHING to “get ready” for a relationship with God through Jesus.

If you want that relationship, Peter’s words tell you what you must do: “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Many of you are not St. Mark’s folks, so I may never see you again. I hope that I see you again at the end of our time on earth. I hope that you receive the gift of eternal life by repenting of your sin and joining the Kingdom of God.

I will celebrate if you land at any biblical congregation. The ultimate goal is that ALL would respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ … and you are part of that ALL.

This Lent, we’ve experienced such rapid change … and it’s not over yet. I can offer you something that will remain stable regardless of what happens here on earth. God loves you so much that he sent his son to give up his own life and take it back up again so that you could be a part of God’s family.

If you’ve never repented and made a commitment to Jesus, or if you’ve already repented and want to deepen your commitment to Jesus, I invite you to pray these words. I’ll say a sentence, and pause so you can say those words. Don’t say them if you don’t mean them. Jesus doesn’t want your lip service and neither do I. Jesus wants your heart and soul.

Dear God,

I admit that I’m a sinner.

I’ve failed to live up to your idea of holiness.

From the bottom of my heart,

I repent of my sin.

In the name of your son Jesus,

I commit my life to following you,

and being your witness to the ends of the earth.

Save me from my sins,

and fill me with your Holy Spirit.

All glory and honor to you:

Father, Son and Spirit.

Amen.

God grant you the strength and wisdom to live up to your commitment. Amen.

Explain Offering in parking lot