Phil started a new series looking at key events in the book of Acts.
To view Phil's slides (in PDF format), click here.
Acts – A new Beginning
We want to build a church freed from complacency and endeavouring to grow in gospel impact, faith, prayer, generosity, action and influence.
Introduction
• It's a new day
• We look back on all Gods done its brought us this far
• We love forward as there is so much to be done, vision to be fulfilled, Gospel impact to be made
Acts 11 v 19 – 30, The Antioch Church
Scattered through persecution
Gospel was only for the Jews
Here we have a gigantic step forward in the history of the church
• Used the opportunity to advance the Kingdom – Preached Jesus as Lord to the Gentiles
• Gospel impact – A great Number Believed and turned to the Lord, no one turns to the Lord without first believing
• Social Action
• Holy Spirit upon them
• Exhorted the faithful to the Lord
• Steadfast Purpose
In Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
We Must be ready for Jesus to take his Church Forward
• The early Christians were bold, daring and adventurous in doing something that had never been done before
We Must be ready to see what God is doing and do it with him
• Barnabas saw what God was doing
• Doing it with God
• Encourage new Christians who might be different from us
• Dependant on Grace
• Exhorted the young christians
• Stayed full of the Holy Spirit
We too can have the experience Barnabas had and see the Lord add to his people.
Some words of caution.
Danger of Looking back
We can get caught up with what's and be consumed with what's gone before because we don't handle change and advancement well
It's not like it used to be !
We must be careful we are where we are because
• God has lead us
• spoken to us through the prophets
• Opened doors for us
• Sent workers for the task
So to look back in
• Not looking back in nostalgia
• Not looking back in false sentiment
• When facing difficulties only have just left Egypt God’s people looked back saying it was better in Egypt and wanted to go back, We know that was not true.
Will only serve to hinder our future, just as it did for God’s people
To be complacent
to be complacent is to be self-satisfied and unconcerned. Someone who is selfsatisfied is someone who has accomplished something but is now resting on their laurels, no longer concerned about the things that once led to their success. Nobody ever plans on complacency, it just sneaks up on you, and when it does it can be devastating.
• We have good projects running
• We do lots as a church
• When you think of all we do
• Jigsaw – inc food bank, café, clothes bank, assisting with accommodation, furniture, advice
• Totzone – 2 sessions on a Tuesday full of unreached people, serving lonely mums with children in our community
• Mens ministry – men can be lonely too,
• Women's ministry
• Community bible study
• Alpha
We have done and are doing a lot of things but we can become complacent in these things
The churches described in the book of Acts particularly the Antioch church seem anything but complacent. Right from the beginning, in Jerusalem, we see a radical church growing in gospel impact, faith,prayer, generosity, action and influence. These characteristics were then repeated as new churches were started in other regions.
Looking forward - The Future Belongs to those who pray
How can we avoid looking back with longing for what's gone before and complacency?
2 Keys
Prayer
Presence of the Holy Spirit
These 2 things were key in the early church in Acts
It is Prayer invites the wind of the Holy Spirit, and It is prayer that hoists the sail to catch the power of the wind to propel us into God's mission
All that we have have accomplished has been through prayer and God speaking and leading us in those times
Wherever we see gospel impact, exploits of faith, radical generosity, social action and pervading influence, we find It's God moving
