snapshot of a church recommissioned
Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 28:30
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· 32 viewsGod’s people are given a mission. The stories in Acts show us how that mission takes shape in the church; it is a mission that still takes shape in the church today.
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We are sort of picking up where we left off last Sunday. Over the past several weeks we have been reading through the book of Acts together as a church. And last week I began highlighting a few of the themes we see woven throughout the stories in Acts. Last week we looked at all the ways that community is so vital to the identity of the church in Acts; that the church is essentially about people in relationship—relationship with one another and with God. Today we are looking at another theme we see throughout Acts; that the church has a purpose—a mission given by Jesus. We are going to pick up on the theme of this mission in a few different places in Acts, and elsewhere in scripture as it comes forward into Acts. But I want us to start at the very beginning of Acts because Luke gives a nod toward this mission theme in the very opening words to Acts.
Acts 1:1–11 (NIV)
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Mission. I imagine some of you are familiar with the Apollo 13 mission. In the 1970s NASA launched several missions to the moon using the Saturn V rocket. The Apollo 13 mission was significant because of the mechanical failure that occurred along the way. The commander of the Apollo 13 mission, James Lovell, wrote about it in a memoir entitled “Lost Moon” which was made into a movie starring Tom Hanks in 1995.
The Apollo 13 mission never made a landing on the moon’s surface. When one of the rocket’s oxygen tanks exploded on route to the moon, the astronauts worked quickly to stabilize the damage and shut down the Odyssey before any more damage occurred. The astronauts then closed themselves into the lunar lander and used the guidance rocket engines on the lander to redirect course. They maintained a course toward the moon coming into an orbit around the moon, and then used the moon’s gravity to slingshot the rocket around and back towards earth. Upon approaching the earth, the crew was able to restart just the essential instruments in the damaged capsule to make reentry back into the earth’s atmosphere and successfully splash down in the ocean.
The Apollo 13 crew never successfully landed on the moon. But when President John Kennedy first commissioned the Apollo moon program through NASA, he said it this way in a speech to congress in May 1961, that the US “should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth.” For Apollo 13, the moon landing was out of the question. But the question that remained was whether the astronauts could return safely to the earth. Everything about the Apollo 13 mission turned to that one mission goal. The tactics and procedures had to change because the circumstances surrounding them changed. But the mission of getting those astronauts safely back to earth, that mission stayed the same even though NASA had to completely reorganize the way they went about it. Even though Apollo 13 never landed on the lunar surface, the mission was considered a success because they did, in fact, send a crew to the moon and return them safely back home. The mission remained, but the way they accomplished that mission had to adjust when the surrounding circumstances adjusted.
consider what the stories in Acts show us about the mission of God’s people in the church
We talk quite a bit in the church about mission. We have certain people we appoint and support as missionaries. We have a committee here in this church called the MCC (missions and community connection). We have catchy phrases like ‘being on mission’ or being a church that is ‘missional.’ There are conferences and books about that topic for churches. Let’s spend a few minutes today considering what the stories in Acts show us about the mission of God’s people in the church. What does it mean that your life as a Christian has a purpose? That you have a mission? Like the Apollo 13 mission to the moon, I think we see a picture in Acts of a mission that keeps the same direction and directives that have always been there (in a bit I will connect it all the way back to Genesis). But the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus dramatically adjusted the circumstances surrounding that mission. The mission and purpose of God’s people remains the same as it has since the creation of the world, but the tactics and procedures adjust as the circumstances and surroundings of God’s people adjust. Let’s take a look at that in Acts, and then consider how a constant and unchanging mission remains for us today as well, but ask the question, are there adjustments we need to make because our circumstances and surroundings are changed? Same mission; different strategies.
recommissioned — disciples’ question shows they are misdirected
I am calling this message a snapshot of a church recommissioned. Recommissioned because we see the mission of God’s people being realigned and set back straight again. See how Luke points to this right here in this opening passage from Acts. There is so much packed into that one question that Luke records from the disciples. It’s in verse 6.
Acts 1:6 (NIV)
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
It is not the first time a question like this comes from the disciples. On another occasion Jesus catches his disciples arguing about who will be the greatest in the kingdom. Another time the disciples inquire of Jesus who will have the seats of power to the right and left of Jesus in the kingdom. So very often God’s people got the mission wrong. So very often God’s people have slipped into mistakenly thinking that the mission is about power—kingdom power to be specific. They wanted a Messiah who would help them overpower the Roman Empire so that they, the kingdom of Israel, could be in power.
the mission of God’s people is not about kingdom power
It's not the only time that God’s people mistakenly pursued a mission of kingdom power. The scandals of the Roman Catholic Church during the middle ages shows us the corruption that occurs when God’s people think the mission is about kingdom power. If any of you spend time following podcasts, perhaps you are aware of a rather popular podcast put out by Christianity Today over the past few years called, “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill” which documents the abuse and corruption at a Seattle megachurch whose leader promoted and embraced a mission of kingdom power. In 2016 a candidate for political office made a campaign stop at Dordt College in Northwest Iowa—a small Christian college affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. At this campaign event at Dordt College the candidate told the people there “and by the way, Christianity will have power. If I’m there, you’re going to have plenty of power, you don’t need anybody else.” A candidate for political office appealing to kingdom power as fulfilment of the mission. The highlight on this conversation in Acts 1 is not just addressing the misdirected mission of the disciples back then, it is just as much for us in the church today as well.
Jesus places power in its proper context for the mission of God’s people
But look at the answer Jesus gives to his disciples. He calls out exactly what they are thinking about. He knows they are losing sight of the real mission and purpose with a mistaken focus on kingdom power. Jesus mentions power in his response, but Jesus places power in its proper context for the mission of God’s people. So you want power? Jesus says, you will indeed have power. But it is a power which comes from the Holy Spirit. And it is a power which is not for the purpose or mission of kingdom dominance. No, what does Jesus say in this passage that the power of the Holy Spirit is for? Look at verses 7-8.
Acts 1:7–8 (NIV)
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
power of the Holy Spirit equips God’s people for the mission of being a witness
You will be my witnesses. The mission of God’s people is not about pursuing kingdom power. The mission of God’s people is about being a witness. It is about knowing and embracing and finding identity in who we are because of Jesus, and then living in ways which give testimony and witness to Jesus. The recently retired president of Calvin University, Michael LeRoy, referenced this passage in the commencement address he delivered at Calvin University this past spring. LeRoy contrasted it against the idea of heroes. The Greco-Roman culture and mythology of the day was full of hero legends. Our television shows and movies today also largely revolve around hero stories. Everyone loves a hero. Who wouldn’t want to be a hero? The disciples in Acts 1 are asking Jesus if it is finally hero-time. And Jesus says, no. The power that I am giving to you is not power to be a hero. The power I am giving you is power to be a witness.
Greek martyres = witness, martyr
The Greek word in Acts translated into English as ‘witness’ is martyres. It’s where we get the English word martyr. It is not the mission of God’s people to be heroes. It is the mission of God’s people to be martyrs. We don’t have a mission that says look at us and what we can do. We have a mission that says look at Jesus and what he has done. Let me wrap this up by pointing us to just a few ways we see this happen in Acts, ways that give us some direction for mission yet today.
how the church is Acts gives witness to Christ
Acts 3 — healing in the name of Jesus
After the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost, Peter goes out in the days that follow and encounters a man by the temple who cannot walk. Peter calls upon the name of Jesus and the man is healed. When the religious leaders ask for an explanation, Peter responds by only talking about Jesus. Peter makes sure the focus of what has happened is not on himself, but rather he is a witness pointing to Jesus.
Acts 6 — appointing deacons
In Acts 6 it comes to the attention of the apostles that there are physical needs within the community of the church, especially among the widows. The apostles respond by appointing leaders to serve as deacons. It is the role and task of the deacons to help those in the community who have needs. They understand that serving one another is a way to give witness to the blessings we have in the Lord.
Acts 8 — baptizing in Samaria
In Acts 8 Peter and John visit a town in Samaria where they meet a sorcerer who sees the way that Peter and John are blessed by the Holy Spirit. The sorcerer wants this power too, and offers Peter money to share this power with him. Peter rebukes the sorcerer because peter can see he only wants this ability for his own power and recognition, not to give witness to Jesus and to help serve other people.
Acts 11 — Antioch sends aid to Jerusalem
In Acts 11 Paul and Barnabas take up a collection from the community of believers in Antioch to send as aid to the community of believers in Jerusalem. They do not request anything in return, they simply want to graciously provide their gift as a witness to the grace of Jesus.
Acts 15 — elders accommodate their own standards to make room for gentile believers
Let’s tie these witnessing actions together with the mission of God’s people. Way back in Genesis 12 when God called Abram, God made this covenant promise.
Genesis 12:2–3 (NIV)
2 “I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
the mission in Genesis 12 — “you will be a blessing”
It was always the intention of God for his people to be a blessing to others. Whenever we live in ways which provide blessing to others, we have opportunity to give witness to the blessings of Christ. Throughout the thousands of years and hundreds of generations that followed, the situations and circumstances of how that blessing is shared and witnessed may have adjusted and changed. But the mission and purpose of God’s people to be an overflow of God’s blessing to others remains the same.
being a good friend — working with honesty and integrity — parenting with patience and giving — faithfully caring for family, friends
How do these things change and adjust over time? Consider some of the ways. Students know that navigating friendships and friend groups at school can be tricky at times. When you live in ways that try to embrace honesty and integrity and kindness with other people—not just the people you call your close friends, but with other students that maybe you find annoying and difficult—when you do that you give witness to the honesty, integrity, and kindness of Jesus. Those of you who are parents find moments when extra patience and sacrificial giving is needed with children. And when we do that it gives witness to the patience and sacrificial giving of God. Those who live in retirement years may find themselves more-and-more caring for spouses or friends who have failing health due to issues like dementia or chronic illness. Day after day you faithfully serve those needs, and it gives witness to the faithfulness of Jesus.
these things may not seem very heroic, but we are not on a mission to be heroes; we are on a mission to be witnesses
I know none of these things sound very heroic. But after all, that’s the point—that we are not called on a mission to be heroes; we are called on a mission to be witnesses, to be martyrs who give of ourselves so that others may see and experience the love and grace of Jesus. In what ways is God calling you to be a martyr? How does your life shine as a witness to show Jesus? Are there any adjustments and course corrections you can make to be on track with the mission and purpose God is placing in front of you? Just as God’s people in those first church communities gave witness to Jesus and followed God’s mission, we continue as God’s people today be commissioned by God to be his witnesses in this world.