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Writings on Christianity

Acts 1:6-11 “Church’s Mission”

Here’s the sermon notes from my sermon on Acts 1:6-11 “The Church’s Mission” preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville.

“The Church’s Mission” Acts 1:6-11

Intro: Moon mission, space race.               
        -What about us as Christians? Do we have a mission here on Earth?
                     Part of faithfully following Jesus including being faithful to mission Jesus gave his church.
TODAY: We see the mission Jesus gave his church before he left Earth and ascended into heaven.
        -The mission is this: be his witnesses in the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.
                    -It is a mission of love for God’s glory, that we participate in through the power of the Holy Spirit.
                                -It was the mission of Christians in the Early Church and our mission today!
CONTEXT:
    *KIDS: Is the Book of Acts a Sequel? What was part 1?
                    -Gospel of Luke is part 1 (Life, death, resurrection of Jesus). Luke 19:10 “Son of Man came to save…” GOSPEL!
                                -Acts is a continuation of all that Jesus began to do in Luke, continued through Church by Spirit
        -Last week: Intro, 40 days after resurrection, speaking about kingdom of God, wait for baptism of H.S.
TODAY: Last scene of Jesus with his apostles before his ascension to heaven.
        Mission is clearly given, along with a promise of God’s help through the Holy Spirit.
                    Part of faithfully following Jesus including being faithful to mission Jesus gave his church!

I. FINAL CONVERSATION OF JESUS WITH HIS APOSTLES BEFORE HIS ASCENSION (6-8)
-Apostles’ question to Jesus (6):
“Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
       
-They have understood that Jesus is the Messiah, heard him speak about kingdom of God, recognized his resurrection,
        read lots of OT prophecies about God renewing his Israel.
                    -Probably still wanted an Earthly political restoration (freedom from Rome) and expected this.
         –STOTT, shows how their question was misguided:
                                –Timing: “NOW”: kingdom expansion was going to be gradual, not sudden
                                –Scope: “RESTORE”: kingdom of God was more than just a return to David-like rule
                                –Narrow Vision: “kingdom to Israel”: kingdom of God was just Israel, but included Gentiles
                                            -Apostles STILL do not quite understand the nature of Christ’s kingdom!
-Jesus’ Initial Response (7): 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
                    -It is not for the disciples to know WHEN God will bring fulness of kingdom on Earth—the end.
                                -God knows and will bring it about in his power and timing: “the Father has fixed by his own authority.
                                            -The apostles had to trust God and wait on God’s timing.
APPLICATION: We too are not told the timeline of when Jesus will come back and many other things.
        -There many things in life and the future we don’t know
                    -But God does know, and He is sovereignly bringing all things to pass
                                -We TOO need to trust God with the future, and things we don’t understand.
-PROMISE AND COMMISSION (Read 8):        
Instead of answering WHEN the kingdom’s fullness will come to Earth, he tells them how they will participate in it
                    –PROMISE: you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you
                               
-This is the baptism of the HS mentioned in 1:4-5 (takes place in Acts 2)
                                            -God will grant his people the power they need for the mission Jesus gives by HS!
                                                        -This is what we need to be on mission
                                                                    -This is better than a great team, or resources, or knowledge.
                    -COMMISSION: you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
                               
-Jesus’ followers will be witnesses of Jesus
                                            -They will tell others about what Jesus, and how they can experience his salvation.
                                                        -An act of LOVE for our neighbor, that might be right with God.
                                                                    -Sharing the good news of Jesus, who he is, what he did for sinners.
                                                                                 -Can be saved by faith in Jesus!
                                –Ever-expanding kingdom: in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth
                                           
-Jesus’ intention was for his kingdom to reach the end of the Earth
                                                        *Rest of book shows the start of fulfillment of Acts 1:8 over next 30 years!
 *KEY TO THE BOOK! Acts 2: Pentecost; 2-7 Jerusalem, 8-12 Judea & Samaria; 13-28 End of the Earth.
II. ASCENSION (READ 9)This verse records what Christians have referred to as the “ascension.”
        -It is a key event the story about Jesus.-Jesus was taken up to heaven: as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
       
-The time had come, and now Jesus was take into heaven.
                    -In heaven, Jesus is now on his throne in heaven: Acts 2:33
WHY DOES THE ASCENSION MATTER?
        -Jesus on his throne;
                    -Jesus is interceding for us; 
                                -Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit.
APPLICATION: When you think of Jesus now, remember him as the exalted king of kings, lord of lords, on the throne.
        -His words and mission are NOT optional: Jesus is the king. He orders are authoritative, wise, good and kind!

WHAT HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THE ASCENSION (10-11)
-Arrival of two angels (10): 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
       
-The apostles are staring up into heaven, and 2 “men…in white robes” show up
                    -Clearly these are angels. (see Luke 24:4)
                                -This is the world we live in: angels, demons, unseen world.
-A “gentle rebuke” (11a):  11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?
       
-One commentator calls this a ‘gentle rebuke’
                    -Why are you standing around staring up into heaven?
-A PROMISE (11b): This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
       
-Jesus will one day RETURN!
                    -They were not to despair, but hope in the future return of Jesus.
APPLICATION: We too wait for Jesus to return. One day it will happen, and then it will be the end: the Day of Judgment, the new heavens and the new Earth. It will happen and no one will miss it. Every day is one day closer to it happening.

*BIG IDEA: The apostles, and the Early Church, were left with a mission from Jesus: to be his witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus commissioned them with this mission and expected them to carry it out in the Holy Spirit. The book of Acts shows how Jesus enabled his people over next 30 years to take part in this!

QUESTIONS: Is the mission Jesus gave the church still relevant today?
        The mission Jesus gave to his Church in Acts is same we are to take on today: be his witnesses in power of the H.S.
                    Part of faithfully following Jesus including being faithful to mission Jesus gave his church!
        *2 TIM 3:16: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for: teaching, rebuke, correction, training in righteousness.”
1. TEACHING: Christians today have a mission: be faithful witnesses of Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit.
        -NASA
                    -Our mission is given clearly here (and also passages like Matt 28:18-20).
2. REBUKE: How have you and I lost sight of this mission? How have we gotten off track?
        -Have other priorities risen up and taken place? Our own comfort, kids programs & activities, busyness, work, hobbies
                    -How is God calling us to REPENT in this area?
        -A solider is called to carry out the mission of his commanding officer (2 Tim 2:3-4)
3. CORRECTION: How does this passage CORRECT us?
        -If we are setting our hopes and priorities in Earthly comforts and pursuits, this passage corrects us
                    -What is God calling me to do? Part of it is be on mission to the lost around us.
4. TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: How does this passage call us to live differently today?
-How can we get back on mission, individually and as a church?
        –PRAY. Confess your weakness and ask for Help.
                    -We don’t do this in our own strength, but in the Spirit
        –TESTIFY. A witness testifies to the person of Jesus. We don’t have to have all answers.
        –PRACTICE HOSPITALITY. Open your homes and lives to those around.
        –INVITE. Invite people to church or out for Bible study. EASTER worship service.
                    *Part of faithfully following Jesus including being faithful to mission Jesus gave his church!

By Tom Schmidt

Christian, husband of Rach, Church Planter,musician,

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