Making the Connection: Making the Connection to the World

Making the Connection

Making the Connection to the World

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Acts 1:8 NIV

1. By living in God’s power

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Acts 1:8 NIV

2. By living for God’s purpose

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Acts 1:8 NIV

Making the Connection:

You were made for a mission! Have you made the connection to your mission?

According to the surveys of George Gallup, the number one need people have is "the need to believe that life is meaningful and has a purpose."

People want their lives to count.

Someone said, "The great purpose of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it."

In attempting to recruit John Sculley, the 38-year-old President of Pepsi-Cola, Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computer, issued a tremendous challenge to Sculley.

He asked: "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?"

In a Peanuts comic strip, there was a conversation between Lucy and Charlie Brown.

Lucy said that life is like a deck chair.

Some place it so they can see where they are going; some place it so they can see where they have been; and some place it so they can see where they are at present.

Charlie Brown’s reply: "I can’t even get mine unfolded."

Many people today are afraid that their lives will be lived without any real sense of fulfilling the real purpose God has for them.

People everywhere feel this dissatisfaction, this uneasiness about the way in which their lives are unfolding, or not unfolding.

Today many young people feel it.

Somehow they know that there is more to life than merely going to school, getting an education, finding a job, marrying the right person, raising a family, gathering the usual security symbols and settling into the ruts of routine.

Deep down within us we all know this is true.

The thought of working all your life only to retire and do nothing  just somehow doesn’t seem like enough.

Shouldn’t there be some overriding purpose and significance to our pilgrimage on this earth?

Surely God is up to more than this.

Well, God is up to more than this.

Unfortunately, we miss the connection…

What is God up to?

As I conclude the series today…Making the Connection…I want to share what God is up to…at VBC

The Vision:

To build bridges to people in our community in order that, together, we may become fully devoted, passionate followers of Jesus Christ.

Bridges are made to connect…not to collapse

God has called us to build bridges to this community…to build bridges that connect…not collapse!!!

God’s vision for our church is to build:

1. Bridges to Christ

2. Bridges to others

3. Bridges to ministry

4. Bridges to the world

Today I want to talk about:

Building Bridges to the world

Making the connection to the world

For some of you last week was the first time you’ve ever heard:

Every member is a minister!

This week I want to stretch you a little bit more…

Every member is a missionary!

What do you think of when you think of a missionary?

{give stereotypes}

The English word mission comes from the Latin word for “sending”.

Being a Christian includes being sent into the world as a representative of Jesus Christ.

Show Simon Birch????

Or other video clip…CP video clip

The question is how can I be a missionary?

How can I connect to God’s mission for my life…to be His representative?

The answer is found in: Acts 1:8

We need to become an Acts 1:8 Christian…

We need to become an Acts 1:8 Church…

HOW????

Making the Connection to the World

1. By living in God’s Power

As the book of Acts unfolds, several important things have happened.

The Lord has been crucified and raised from the dead.

He has appeared to many of His disciples.

He has spoken to them about the Kingdom of God.

And He is about to be taken away from them into Heaven.

In Acts 1:8 He says to them…

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Acts 1:8 NIV

The promise of Jesus to His followers was the promise of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a major theme in Luke and Acts and is the major point of continuity between the life of Jesus and the ministry of the church.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

God is three persons in one—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

God became a man in Jesus so that Jesus could die for our sins.

Jesus rose from the dead to offer salvation to all people through spiritual renewal and rebirth.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, his physical presence left the earth, but he promised to send the Holy Spirit so that his spiritual presence would still be among mankind (see Luke 24:49).

The Holy Spirit first became available to all believers at Pentecost (Acts 2).

Whereas in Old Testament days the Holy Spirit empowered specific individuals for specific purposes, now all believers have the power of the Holy Spirit available to them.

Power…GK word Dunamis…from which we get our English word…dynamite….explosive power.

As a believer if we have this kind of power then it ought to make a difference.  Why doesn’t it?

Part of the answer is illustrated in a story about a lady who had a small house on the seashore of Ireland at the turn of the century.

She was quite wealthy but also quite frugal.

The people were surprised, then, when she decided to be among the first to have electricity in her home.

Several weeks after the installation, a meter reader appeared at her door.

He asked if her electricity was working well, and she assured him it was.

“I’m wondering if you can explain something to me,” he said.

“Your meter shows scarcely any usage. Are you using your power?”

“Certainly,” she answered.

“Each evening when the sun sets, I turn on my lights just long enough to light my candles; then I turn them off.”

She’s tapped into the power but doesn’t use it.

Her house is connected but not altered.

Don’t we make the same mistake?

We, too—with our souls saved but our hearts unchanged—are connected but not altered.

Trusting Christ for salvation but resisting transformation.

We occasionally flip the switch, but most of the time we settle for shadows.

What would happen if we left the light on?

What would happen if we not only flipped the switch but lived in the light?

What changes would occur experienced the power of God’s Holy Spirit?

In a class I’m taking one of the group projects was to describe the Holy Spirit in at least 5 ways to an unbeliever.

We came up with some good ideas among the group of 15 students…

I especially liked 2 ideas we came up with…

1. SPIRITUAL GPS

One way to talk to an unchurched person about the Holy Spirit would be to use the analogy of a GPS system.

Often we need directions for our lives and we are not sure which turn to take or how to navigate our circumstances.  

A GPS system uses satellites and can see the "big picture" and provide exact turn-points, detours and "counsel" in order to get to your destination. 

Much in the same way, the Holy Spirit - who is God - can see the "big picture" of our lives.

And when we are humble enough to ask for directions, the Holy Spirit will help us and give us instructions.

The Holy Spirit, much like a GPS also helps us define and understand the destination as well as how to get there.

2. HAND IN GLOVE

Another analogy to use in communicating about the Holy Spirit is the idea of the relationship between and hand and a glove. 

One thing that all gloves have in common is that by themselves they can’t do much.

But when a hand is inserted into the glove, filling each finger, it provides shape and form, strength and power, purpose and direction.

Skilled hands can accomplish many things.

Think of the hand of a surgeon /baseball player and the accomplishments that can be achieved through their skill, experience and determination.

[demonstrate with ball glove]

A surgical glove/ball glove on its own would not accomplish such feats.

When you think about being a Christ-follower, we are somewhat like the glove.

While we can do some things in our own strength, we will not often accomplish God’s purposes or bring him glory.

We will not become more and more like Jesus on our own strength.

But God does not leave us to struggle on our own.

God not only wants us to grow and develop spiritually, he wants to help us, which takes us back to the glove.

That glove can’t do anything by itself, but with a hand inside that glove, it can do many things.

We know that it is not the glove that is acting; it is the hand that is accomplishing the tasks.

As Christ-followers we are like the glove.

The Holy Spirit is “the hand” in us, the one doing the work.

We must make room so that the hand can fill every finger in the glove, work in every area of our hearts and lives.

We must be open to His leading, responsive to His guidance, and attentive to His teaching.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to take the lead, God can do many great things through us!

That was true in the early church…

and it is true in our church!!

God-sized vision…requires God’s power to fill us and use us!!

We can’t do it in our own strength…

An Acts 1:8 Christian learns to live in God’s power.

An Acts 1:8 Church learns to live in God’s power.

We make the connection to the world:

By living in God’s power

And, We make the connection to the world

2. By living for God’s Purpose

Notice the second part of Acts 1:8…

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Acts 1:8 NIV

Jesus promised the disciples that they would receive power to witness after they received the Holy Spirit.

Notice the progression: (1) they would receive the Holy Spirit, (2) he would give them power, and (3) they would witness with extraordinary results.

Often we try to reverse the order and witness by our own power and authority.

Witnessing is not showing what we can do for God. It is showing and telling what God has done for us.

The power we receive is the power to be witnesses.

Here we are encountered by another interesting word.

It is the word for witness in Greek — the word mártus.

It is from this word mártus that we derive our English word martyr.

The martyrs for the faith were those who testified for Jesus even with their death.

In many ways God is calling us to become witnesses in this same sense.

While we may not have to lay down our lives in an arena with real lions, we must lay our lives down in terms of our privacy and schedules and become available to others to share what Christ means to us and what He can mean to them.

This is what it means to be a witness.

Let’s see the extent of that witness geographically.

Jesus told his followers, when the Spirit comes, you will receive power.

To do what?

To tell people about him.

They were to start right there in Jerusalem .

Judea was the region surrounding Jerusalem.

Samaria was Judea’s hostile next-door neighbor, a more difficult but equally important place to take the gospel.

The ends of the earth may have referred to Rome or the Roman Empire, the world power at that time.

In other words, reach it all!

The disciples took Jesus at his word and went about their task exactly as he directed: they began in Jerusalem (1–7), spread to Judea and Samaria (8–12), then filtered out across the world to the imperial capital, Rome (13–28).

They turned their world upside down because they were excited about telling everybody they knew about Jesus.

I heard about a boy named Jeff who was twelve.

He and his best friend broke a window while playing baseball.

They looked around to see if anyone had seen them.

No one was in sight, except for Jeff's little brother.

They went over and offered him a piece of candy not to tell.

He refused it.

"I'll give you my baseball,"

Jeff said.

"No."

"Then what about my baseball and my new glove?" the friend added.

"No!"

"Well, what do you want?" they pleaded.

"I wanna tell!!!"

We should have the same enthusiasm to tell the world the Good News that this boy had to tell his parents the bad news.

How are we doing?

The plan is very simple and clear, Jesus said go in my power and be my witnesses…and yet somehow it gets lost in the shuffle.

Why?

A church consultant, once surveyed members in about a 1,000 churches asking this question "Why does the church exist?"

•    89% said, "The church's purpose is to take care of my family's and my needs."

•    11% said the purpose of the church is to win the world for Jesus Christ.

We’ve got to realize we are here to fulfill God’s mission for our lives.

AS a church we have embraced this purpose of being Christ’s witnesses in our Jerusalem and beyond.

Here is what we sense God is telling us to do in the next 3-5 years…

[Our RTV  plan…]

IV. BUILDING BRIDGES TO THE WORLD                     (Go and Tell!)

Goal: Violet Baptist Church will have 65% of active members involved in community and/or world engaging ministry opportunities by September 1, 2010.

Action Plans include:

•    Class 401: Discover my Life Mission

•    Build bridges to Jerusalem…

•    Encourage each small group to be involved in a quarterly mission/ministry project which engages the community and/or world to obey the Great Commission

Community events, Upward Soccer, etc.

•    Build bridges to Judea…

Support and or sponsor new church plants

•    Build bridges to Samara…

Participate in mission trip with North American Mission Board

•    Build bridges to the ends of the earth…

Participate in mission trip International Mission Board

Testimony/Bruce….

Josh McDowell has told the story of an acquaintance who serves as an executive hirer, or as the industry says, a “headhunter.”

This man has spent an enormous amount of time interviewing executives.

Although many words are exchanged in these interviews, his top priority is to get a clear and concise response to his most strategic question, “What’s your purpose in life?”

He’s amazed at how often this one simple inquiry throws top-notched executives for a loop.

One day while he was in the interviewing process, he got a razor-sharp answer to his loaded question.

After going through his usual routine of loosening up the prospect through several minutes of disarming conversation, he asked, “What’s your purpose in life, Bob?”

Without blinking an eye, this schooled businessman replied, “To go to heaven and take as many people with me as I can.”

Regardless of profession, that’s a mission statement every believer should embrace.

Is that your purpose?

It is God’s purpose for your life…to go to heaven and take as many people with you as you can!!

Have you made the connection to the world?

Are you living in God’s power?

Are you living for God’s purpose?

Let’s be Acts 1:8 Christians and Church…filled with God’s power and focusing on His purpose to be His witnesses to the world.

Jesus didn’t want us to forget the mission…

…so he gave us Scripture… Acts 1:8

….He also gave us His Spirit

….And He gave us a symbol…the Lord’s Supper which reminds us He died for us…and He is coming back again

Concl:

As we come to His table let’s celebrate our commission

·    Lord’s supper

Appendix:

During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, the British government began to run low on silver for coins. Lord Cromwell sent his men on an investigation of the local cathedral to see if they could find any precious metal there. After investigating, they reported, "The only silver we could find is in the statues of the saints standing in the corners." To which the radical soldier and statesman of England replied, "Good! We’ll melt down the saints and put them into circulation!" This is what may be needed today as well. The saints need to have our hearts melted with the love of God and we need to put ourselves in circulation.

There is a story told about a man who was accused of some wrongdoing and was brought before a judge.  When the judge asked if he had an attorney to represent him, the man answered, "No, I can't afford one."  The judge replied, "Well don't worry about that.  I'll appoint a lawyer to represent you, and I will choose a real good one."  "I appreciate that, Judge," answered the man.  "But if you really want to appoint somebody to help me, what I need most is not a real good lawyer, but several real good witnesses!"  (source: James W. Moore, "When You're a Christian, the Whole World is from Missouri")

A good witness is one who knows something firsthand through their experience, and who can bring the truth to the light.

God doesn't need a couple good lawyers defending Him and trying to prove Him to lost humanity.  But what He needs is a couple good witnesses that are willing to tell what He has done for them.  It's called "Evangelism" ... the telling or announcing the gospel or good news of Jesus Christ.

The movie Gettysburg, based on The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara, brings to life the three bloodiest days of American history. The first scenes take place a couple days before the epic battle at Gettysburg. Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain (played by Jeff Daniels) of the 20th Maine Regiment learns that his regiment is going to receive 120 Union soldiers who mutinied. Chamberlain is given permission to shoot any of these mutineers who don't cooperate.

Chamberlain tells the men that he's been told about their problem. He admits, "There's nothing I can do today. We're moving out in a few minutes. We'll be moving all day. I've been ordered to take you men with me. I'm told that if you don't come, I can shoot you. Well, you know I won't do that. Maybe somebody else will, but I won't. So, that's that.

"Here's the situation," he continues. "The whole Reb army is up that road a ways, waiting for us. This is no time for an argument. I tell you, we could surely use you fellows. We're now well below half strength. Whether you fight or not, that's up to you. Whether you come along is…" He pauses and then continues, "Well, you're coming. You know who we are. But if you fight alongside of us, there's a few things you must know."

Matter-of-factly, he states, "This regiment was formed last summer in Maine. There were 1,000 of us then. There are less than 300 of us now. All of us volunteered to fight for the Union, just as you did. Some came mainly because we were bored at home…thought this looked like it might be fun. Some came because we were ashamed not to. Many of us came because it was the right thing to do. And all of us have seen men die.

"This is a different kind of army. If you look back through history, you'll see men fighting for pay, for women, for some other kind of loot. They fight for land, power, because a king leads them, or just because they like killing. But we are here for something new. This has not happened much in the history of the world. We are an army out to set other men free."

The church is likewise a different kind of army. We are an army out to set other men free.

Elapsed time: Measured from the beginning of the opening credits, this scene begins at 25:15:00 and ends at 27:50:00. On DVD, the scene appears on side 1, chapter 8, "What We're Fighting For."

Content: Gettysburg is rated PG for language and epic battle scenes.

Gettysburg (Turner Pictures, 1993), rated PG, written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell; submitted by Andrew Miller, Wheaton, Illinois

But tragically, too many churches are not into what God is "up to."

One Christian thinker said, "The problem is that faith has been domesticated to suit our culturally conditioned lives, rather than dramatized as the ultimate purpose which gives meaning and direction to all other secondary loyalties."

He goes on to say, "I am convinced that we are living in an unprecedented time of potential blessing and power and this is God’s appointed hour to liberate the Church from being a memorial society to becoming a society of movers."

The movie Simon Birch, tells the story of Simon Birch a 12 year-old-boy who despite his physical disabilities, believes that God has a plan for his life.

Simon was born tiny and with an abnormally small heart.

He was expected to die within the first 24 hours of his life.

He surprises everyone, though, when he lives to be an adolescent.

Despite being a disappointment to his parents and the target of many childhood pranks…Simon embraces his condition and believes that God will use him in a unique way.

Because of this attitude…he is often ridiculed by his friends, family and even those in his church.

Watch this scene from the movie.

[Simon Birch video clip]

Like Simon…we need to have that conviction…that God has a plan for my life.

To be a witness means that there is not only an inflow to our lives, but that there is also an outflow.

And without such an outflow, we become like a stagnant swamp or the Dead Sea.

Our lives will become dull and dreary and devoid of vibrant life, no matter how much we take in through Bible study and teaching.

We are to be flowing channels, not holding tanks.

A free flowing river purifies itself and is alive with life.

So the Christian who becomes involved with others in sharing the gospel discovers the reason for his existence on planet earth.

Do not underestimate this point.

Becoming involved in this kind of ministry is essential to finding the fulfillment we desire as human beings.

The Holy Spirit’s power and gifts are never given to be spent on ourselves.

There are some like this — people who want a private experience of the Spirit without pouring themselves out for people or giving themselves away to touch human suffering.

They are like "Spiritual Butterflies."

They flit from one meeting to another, from one seminar to another, from one Bible study to another, sipping a little spiritual nectar here, a little there, but never becoming committed anywhere so they can give out in service as well as take in.

We are called to be witnesses personally.