Reset
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 37:22
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1 Saul agreed with putting him to death. On that day a severe persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the land of Judea and Samaria.
Last week Ray Jones preached about the 4 lepers in the OT who decided, we can’t stay here or we will die, we can’t go back or we will die, we must go forward, and we must tell someone. It was a great day for sure.
Today we will continue on in that thinking as we consider what God has planned for the church in this season.
The Church was healthy in most areas
The Church was healthy in most areas
If you read the 1st 6 chapters you will discover
The Church saw numerical growth
The Church saw miracles
The Church faced issues
The Church grew from the issues
The Church was inadequate in one big area
The Church was inadequate in one big area
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Have you noticed that there is something in human nature that likes to huddle with our group?
I mean we even have the “Huddle House” where on most mornings its the same people huddled.
Think of the tower of Babel. God had told mankind to spread out over all the earth, instead they are building a city for themselves.
Youth groups get tight and then they cluster.... they don’t make room for more.
Sunday School Classes do too. We forget that our mission is to go.
And yes churches can have a come and see rather than a go and tell attitude as well.
The Church experienced a reset
The Church experienced a reset
4 So those who were scattered went on their way preaching the message of good news.
Our whole world has experienced a “Reset”
There are people who have blamed this on the Devil, and there are people who see a vast Government Conspiracy, but I want us to remember that God is never caught off guard.
Think of some of the good things that have happened with Riddles Bend Baptist during this time.
For instance, there were 500+ who watched last weeks worship service online. (Plus 87 in house)
There have been 15,000 views of the online messages and devotions I have done.
I’ve been able to talk about mental health to people on the other side of the globe. I’ve been able to share one on one with relatives who are not yet followers of Jesus.
Deacon ministry has been happening at a greater level.
Tim has stayed in contact with the kids and done devotionals from time to time.
Carrie has kept us singing one way or the other. And has shared numerous songs online.
Karen Thompson has been right on top of children’s ministry, along with our teachers, staying in touch with as many of our kids as she could.
Each of our adult teachers and classes have tried to stay up with each other.
While I was sick about 6 weeks of all this, we never missed a beat. I was the receiving end of such kindness and ministry, so I know you all have worked hard to BE THE CHURCH.
I just want to brag on you for all of this. Because all of this points to Jesus, your love for him, and your love for others.
We have experienced a reset that I believe should guide us into what we do, how we do it, and when we do it going into the future. We had to bring everything to a full stop. Some of those things need to be restarted stronger than ever. But maybe others don’t. You can’t get anywhere riding a dead horse.
The persecution the early church experienced and the death of Stephen were awful things. The effect of this COVID have been awful too. BUT God used that to sharpen the focus of the church, to move them outward and onward. They might have been flustered, but they were no longer clustered, and with all they could muster, the best was yet to come, BUSTER. God used the death of Stephen to push the church out.
No doubt they had to stop doing some things the way they had in order to do what was before them.
Henry Blackaby, in Experiencing God, said that we have to find where God is at work and join him in that work.
Because of the persecution, the Gospel went forward, It went to Samaria, it went to Ethiopia, it reached the Romans through Peter to Cornelius, and through Paul it went to the known world.
2 questions
What impact has the Gospel had on your life especially in these last days?
What can Riddles Bend do going forward to continue to BE the church in a greater way?