A Church On Mission: Mission City Church
Acts 2:41-47
BORING. Even the word sounds drab. Boring. Nobody likes boring. We don’t like it in our work. We don’t like it in our play. It is the one thing that we dread in any circumstance in life. Boredom.
It is a word used to describe many churches today. Statistics are overwhelming us, indicating that people view the typical church as boring. Even worse than BORING, are words like IRRELEVANT to my life – the Bride of Christ… even the word DEAD is used to describe many churches today. Dead means without life. Think about this.
Jesus said that He came that we might have life, but His church – His bride is described in most instances as dead, without life.
Recent statistics from Barna indicate that most people believe in God and are open to hearing and learning about Christ- they are just not interested in the Church. The church has actually become a turn-off to people coming to Christ!
Pretty sad.
Well regardless of the statistics. Regardless of the adjectives used to describe many churches, there is hope. There is a blueprint for a church that is not dead. A church that is anything but boring. A church that is alive, life giving! Last week we talked about The Church, specifically God’s People on Mission – This week we want to press in on our church, Mission City Church. An example of what church should look like is given to us in God’s Word.
We read about it in Acts 2:41-47
41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayers.
43 Then fear came over everyone, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. 46 And every day they devoted themselves [to meeting] together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
This sounds pretty amazing. Definitely not a church that was boring or dead: as a matter of fact quite the opposite. Here was church empowered by the same Holy Spirit that we have today.
A group that if it grew and reached people like that today, would be on the cover of every Christian and church magazine that there is. They probably would even have been on the secular news! Things like this just don’t happen anymore.
But could it?
I believe God still wants to transform this world and His tool to carry out this mission has always been the Church. Churches in other countries are experiencing this kind of movement of the Spirit: seeing thousands of lives transformed. Awesome!
This morning, I want us to all reflect on the opportunity we have and the mission God has called us to!
Mission City Church….Life Giving Church, Specifically, How Mission City Church Can Be That Type of Church…
Mission City Church Needs to Be…
A Church Passionate About God’s Word
42They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching…
A church that God can use and be honored by focuses on God’s Word, period. It doesn’t matter how many people gather together in a building for what some may call church, if the Word of God is not central, it is not a true fellowship of believers.
The reason that this new church thrived and reached was that the central focus was the Apostles teaching. God’s Word reveals the truth about who He is. It puts our focus and attention on Him. This God centered message is what brings about maintained and sustained Christian Fellowship. Its what differentiates the church from a Country Club or any other organization. God Word was central and brought about …fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer…
A Church That Is Together
Everyone likes to be a part of a group. To feel included. To truly thrive in life, we need other people. That’s why gangs are so popular in the inner city. Who cares if we do things illegal? At least I belong!
Most professional athletes will share upon retirement that the thing they miss most about sports is not the game, but the locker room, being with the other athletes.
God created in us the need to be together, but He meant it for His definition of “true togetherness.”
44 Now all the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 So they sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as anyone had a need. 46 And every day they devoted themselves [to meeting] together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.
Let me be clear that church attendance is not community. One hour a week is not community.
Church attendance is like a jar of marbles. We may be in the same jar, but we are not together! We need to be like gummie bears in a jar. We mold to one another and get a little sticky together. We come together!
As part of this togetherness we develop encouraging, GODLY RELATIONSHIPS and a sense of RESPONSIBILITY for one another. Others needs are brought to our attention and we actually care. We want to do something.
The people in this early church could not bear to have too much, while others had too little. They gave of their resources and gave of themselves.
So many of our churches today may have a lot of people, but they are not together. That’s why there is so much conflict in many churches. We want to discuss and worry and argue about everything that doesn’t matter because we don’t want to focus on what does matter!
When saved people are focused on God, His Word and true community (which brings togetherness)… the other stuff fades away! Togetherness!
Next Week… Connection Sunday – Life Groups
A Church That Worships
“46 And every day they devoted themselves [to meeting] together in the temple complex, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God…”
God doesn’t want from you in worship, God wants all of you in worship – your very lives is worship
Romans 12 – we are a living sacrifice!
So in their worship there was
At the heart of our corporate and individual worship is the CELEBRATION OF GOD!
No discussion of styles here, just a focus on God!
Their Worship was EMOTIONAL. (Praising God) THANKFUL for the supreme blessing they had found in Christ! Being in the presence of God in corporate worship should be overwhelming to us.
(UTSA Football Game) – our response. Emotional
A Church That Is Purposeful About Seeing Lives Transformed By The Gospel
47b…having favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved.
Purposeful , intentional , real (life-style) – appealing – people wanted it!
Key: “all the people” – we minister to every socioeconomic, racial. ALL
The early church changed the world because the Church and the people were so different – in a good way!
We do our part, God does His… “The Lord added…”
Results: Transformed Lives
Transformed Families – Transformed City – Transformed World
The Holy Spirit is calling you to something greater! He’s calling us as Mission City Church to something greater – Mission City Church is a Name – an identity – it reflects who we feel God has called us to be… God is calling you, calling us to join Him on Mission and being a Life-Giving Church.
Pastor Matt Surber discusses God’s mission for the Church and what it looks like to live life on mission for the gospel.
Read More /
Pastor Matt Surber reminds us of what it looks like to be on mission for the Gospel.
Read More /
Missions & Connections Pastor Donnie Anthony reminds us that missions are the heart of God and that we do not need to be theologians in order to share how God has transformed our lives with those around us.
Read More /