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21 st Century Acts – Foundations for Church Growth

21 st Century Acts – Foundations for Church Growth. Centred on Christ. Acts 1:1-5.

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21 st Century Acts – Foundations for Church Growth

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  1. 21st Century Acts – Foundations for Church Growth Centred on Christ

  2. Acts 1:1-5 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.

  3. 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 withthe Holy Spirit.”

  4. 1. All that Jesus began to speak and do • Tom Wright’s ‘5 acts’ model • Creation • Fall • Israel • Jesus • The Church

  5. The pattern of Jesus’ ministry • (i) good news to the poor; sight to the blind; freedom for the prisoner and the oppressed; the favour of the Lord (Luke 4: 18-19) • (ii) healing the sick • (iii) delivering the oppressed • (iv) challenging self-righteousness; hypocrisy and religious legalism (Sabbath keeping; fasting) • (v) praising humility and denouncing pride • (vi) denouncing materialism and the pursuit of wealth; particularly denouncing economic injustice

  6. The pattern of Jesus’ ministry • (vii) love your enemies • (viii) faith, prayer and the Fatherhood of God • (ix) lost sheep and Prodigal Son • (x) receiving the outcast and sinner (Matthew, Zacchaeus) • (xi) watchfulness – be ready for His coming; future coming of God’s kingdom • (xii) repent or perish – the first shall be last and the last first

  7. A snapshot of Christian TV • i) Praise Bible-thon teleshopping programme • (ii) I went to this new church and I received deliverance every day for a week • (iii) Jewish voice • (iv) World miracle outreach – ‘if I were you I would take my miracle today’ • (v) Your drought is coming to an end. More money is coming your way. Take steps of faith to end the drought in your life; call to receive your packet of miracle mixture.’ (twice) • (vi) there’s never a moment in your life when your guardian angel is not with you.

  8. A snapshot of Christian TV • (vii) how would you like to be blessed a thousand times more than you are? • (viii) Worship / people lying on the ground • (ix) Jesus is coming, alleluia • (x) speech by Benjamin Natanyahu – Israel regards Iran with nuclear power as an existentialist threat and will not stand by and do nothing about it. • (xi) If we’re going to get the gospel out we’ll need to help the poor and needy • (xii) Christian stand-up comedians

  9. The pattern of your life / the life of Witney Community Church?? • i) • ii) • iii) • iv) • v)vi) • vii) • viii) • ix) • x) • xi) • xii)

  10. 2. Jesus spoke to them about the kingdom • Tom Wright ---- ‘the missing middle’ • Salt and Light statement of belief • (e) The incarnation of God’s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ – born of the virgin Mary; truly divine and truly human, yet without sin. • (f) The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God. • (g)The bodily resurrection of Christ, the first fruits of our resurrection; his ascension to the Father, and his reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world

  11. ‘How God became King’ • Jesus said: ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.’ (Luke 4:43) Key ideas: • the Kingdom of God is breaking back into planet earth.... • This is act 4 in God’s big plan for the world – an act of salvation • Jesus is God’s executive agent in his salvation plan for the world

  12. ‘How God becomes King’ Key ideas (cont): • ‘Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ .... Looks like all that Jesus began to do and to teach. • And what about Isaiah 61:2b? ‘to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour and the day of vengeance of our God.’

  13. ‘How God becomes King’ Key ideas (cont): • There is a gap between Isaiah 61:2a and 2b • Today is the day of the Lord’s favour • But judgement will eventually come • We need to know our part in the plan

  14. Points 3,4 and 5! • 3. Many convincing proofs that he was alive • 4.Eating with Him • 5. Wait ... for the Holy Spirit

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