The Church is a Missional People

The Church • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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- The church is a people called to mission while we wait or the return of Jesus - God provides the church with leadership

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Transcript

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Introduction:

· Covid Lessons: specifically, what have we missed about the church? (What is most important?)

· We miss: People? Programs? Maybe…nothing? SO: Who are we, what is the church?

LET’S LOOK AT THE NATURE OF GOD’S MISSION FOR THE CHURCH, AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO GET MOBILIZED FOR THIS MISSION.

I) The Nature of the Mission

A. Getting the Mission Wrong: Two Major Flaws in our view of God’s Kingdom (vs. 6)

i. Flaw Number One: “…Are YOU…”

1. An earthly administration with relatively passive positions

2. The danger of viewing church as Spectator Sport, consumer activity

ii. Flaw Number Two: an institutionalized kingdom

1. Restoring: God’s Law, protection, prominence

2. Some view/use the church to enshrine biblical principles as law of land!

B. God’s Mission, Our Calling (vv. 7-8)

i. God Empowers his Church for Mission

1. “you will receive Power:” Jesus empowers his Church for ministry

2. Why “staying home” is not (a long-term) option!

ii. God calls the church to be a witness

1. As “witnesses” we point to the GOSPEL!!

2. Freedom from guilt; freedom from condemnation; a new, re-created world

3. EXAMPLES: Why care for the poor? Why care for a refugee family? Share the gospel?

C. The Scope of God’s Mission

i. The mission of God propels the gospel across all barriers (vs. 8)

1. Local & global; “Samaritan” & pagan; religious & irreligious

2. EXAMPLE: Shape-shifters & the Christian gospel across cultures

ii. Are we spectators or witnesses in God’s Mission?

1. We, and the church can get caught up in OUR mission in life –

2. But God propels us into this world with a mission as witnesses!

AS SOON AS THE DISCIPLES HEAR THIS, THEY RETURN TO JERUSALEM.

II) Getting Mobilized for Mission

A. The Organization of the Church (vv. 12-14)

i. The Church begins as a wildly diverse group of people

1. Jesus calls & mobilizes women & men, nationalists & anarchists

2. EXAMPLE: Something far greater than social, political, religious differences existed

ii. The Church mobilizes itself for the Mission (vv. 15-22)

1. The Psalm of betrayal, sung by one who experienced a greater betrayal

2. Yet one would take his place:

iii. The Church Order:

1. Use of lots? Maybe – the church was seeking the leading of God

2. Today: Elders, Deacons – a cultural process that seeks God’s leading

B. The Coronation of a King

i. Jesus leaves his disciples? (vv. 9-11)

1. Ascension: A non-event?

2. Jesus going behind the cloud isn’t meteorological but theological

ii. No; Jesus takes his place as king, so we can fulfill our task as witnesses

1. As King Jesus remains present with his disciples in their mission!

2. As King, Jesus oversees & guarantees the success of the mission

Transition:

Conclusion

Graduation speeches, optimism, and the mission of God

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