The Role of the Church

Faithful Presence  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  45:38
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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.
Luke 24:44–49 ESV
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
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.
Acts 1:1–8 ESV
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
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

Acts 2:1–13 ESV
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
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!
Acts 2:36–41 ESV
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

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
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