Sermon Notes
“Mission: Sent to Speak & Respond to God’s Work of Redemption”
- This is fulfilling the Great Commission.
Slide- Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
- Acts 1:8 defines 3 areas of focus; our local content, our neighborhood, our county, the 805 and to the ends of the earth.
- Our main point this morning is “working together”
- Introduce our leaders
- Deacons, Dana who is our head Deacon & Paul: Serves us weekly by helping his wife Jhing make some pretty amazing food. Both these men lead a community group.
- Treasurers, Fred- Teaches our adult education class every Sunday, Mike, oversees our sound, Justin, on staff as our church administrator and oversees grounds keeper. Sandy, on staff cleans every week, leads our hospitality and kids ministry.
- Curt, on staff as our worship leader. Leads a community group.
- Deaconesses – Carol, oversees our e-mail prayer chain, visitations, helps with worship, Jhing, oversees our kitchen, & Trina, Children’s director and full time job as my wife. Janet, who stays involved with 40 days for life, prayer ministries.
- Helen, Mikes wife who is the backbone of all things purchased as our accountant and our historian. Janet, Rick Spitzer, starting a greeting ministry. Parking lot to the pulpit.
- This is who makes our church happen. As I said earlier, “working together” is our title this morning, you are invited to serve.
- Community group leaders, if you are not in one, join one. (Include Fred’s Sunday school)
- Areas to serve that need help.
- Kids ministry, greeting, sound,
- And know my job for the rest of the sermon is to convince of why that’s a not only a good idea, but a God idea…
- Please turn to Acts 6:1-7, pg. 914
Review of last week, we went over this area of scripture and focused on Stephen. Full of… the Spirit, faith, grace wisdom & power. Like Stephen, we can walk as him since the same Spirit who dwelt in him dwells in us!
Working Together
Kent Hughes in his commentary on this section of Acts tells this story…
When a certain church decided to split, each faction filed a lawsuit to claim the church property. A judge finally referred the matter to the higher authorities in the particular denomination. A church court assembled to hear both sides of the case and awarded the property to one of the two factions. The losers withdrew and formed another church int he area.
During the hearing, the church courts learned that the conflict had all begun at a church dinner when a certain church leader received a smaller slice of ham than a child next to him. Sadly this was reported in the newspapers for everyone to read. Just imagine how the people in that city laughed about that situation! This brought great discredit not only to the church but to Jesus CHrist!
1. Work Together- Attacks will come. vs. 1-2a
- Sneeze and Infections in “the body”
- We have 100 trillion cels in our body and when 1 cel from a sneeze enters our body, it duplicates into millions and then the body goes into “fight mode”
- In Acts life was good
- Partiality towards “Greek speaking Jews” know as Hellenists.
- This could have not just damaged the church, but destroyed their witness to the neighborhood.
SLIDE- A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35
- The Apostles gathered & summoned the disciples.
- Explain “Church”. Made up of individuals (Spirit filled believers) who are a part of something bigger than ourselves.
- Inward AND outward thinking. Not either or…
- Inward health SO THAT we can reach others.
- GREAT COMMISSION / We are Historical
- There is no room for “lone soldier” Christianity. Life is meant to be done with “one another”.
- Like a body, we fight together. Imagine if your lymph nods decided, ehh, I don’t feel apart of the body.
- We all have a part, there’s no “small unnecessary parts.
- “But I feel like the tonsils. I had a part but I got infected and removed.” That’s not how things work in the Body of Christ
SLIDE- The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable… But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 1 Corinthians 12:21-26
2. Work Together- It’s who we are. vs. 2b-6
- Identity in Christ.
- GOSPEL, Holy Spirit
- Individual gifts for the collective whole
SLIDE- Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
- Vs. 5, Have we forgotten that he calls you by name? I believe names are important in the bible, not just for us bible nerds who like to study the context of each, but for us to realize these are real people, like me and you, and God calls people BY NAME.
- vs. 6, Anointed, It’s who you are… you have the Holy Spirit, he has gifted you.
SLIDE- Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27
3. Work Together- to be on Mission to our Neighborhood
- When we understand attacks will come but God is on our side
- When we understand who we are in CHrist We grow. We reach our neighborhood
- Read vs. 7- Lead into Communion
- GOSPEL- As believers, if you have failed at this… Unbelievers invited to faith!
- Repentance / Communion, prepare your heart (Time of silence)
- Pardon, Come to the table and we will take it together.
Sermon Slides
