Come Change the World

“The churches of today are so subnormal, that if one of them gets normal, everybody thinks it’s abnormal!” Vance Havner

Back to the future – our calling is found in our origins.

Introduction:

• Luke – Beloved Physician (Col. 4:14) – Luke/Acts - Wrote more of NT than any other writer including Paul.
• “Most Excellent Theopholis” (Luke) -possibly a Roman official
• All that Jesus began to do and teach
• Jesus – work finished (on the cross) but still unfinished
• Key verse: 1:8 – serves as an outline for the book

Jesus Gave His Followers

1. A _______________ (2,8)

“and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:46–48, ESV)

2. _______________ (3)

“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:12–19, ESV)

3. _______________ (3,6-7)

When it comes to the disciples understanding about the promised Kingdom, they were right about the __________ of it, but not the _______________ of it.

4. The _________________________ (4-5,8)

“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”” (Luke 24:49, ESV)

Excitement and enthusiasm alone will not do it!

The Holy Spirit:

• _______________
• _______________
• _______________

Three Marks Of A Powerful Witness

• _______________ - The Word of God

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16, ESV)

• _______________ - Who we are

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23, ESV)

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

• _______________ - Passion

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” (Romans 10:1, ESV)

“I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.” (Romans 9:1–4, ESV)

“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:14–15, ESV)

The Church is called to be a _______________, not an institution!

You Were Made For A Mission!

Making It Personal:

• Am I genuinely part of the body of Christ through repenting of my sin and placing my faith in Christ alone as the forgiver of my sin and the leader and Lord of my life?
• Do I see the church and my involvement in it as more of a movement or an institution?
• How am I living out my calling as one who was made for a mission?
• Pray that God will show you anything in your heart and life that hinders you from living a “sent life” - joining God on mission to the people around you.
• Ask God to grow in you a love for God and for others.
• Who can I share these truths with?

Ready to take your Next Step?

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