Rethink Church - Expect the Unexpected
Notes
Transcript
Expect the Unexpected
Expect the Unexpected
Ever make plans - that don’t happen
Be prepared - ready for anything - adapt overcome
truth is we get into patterns and comfort
Jump back into Acts -
Roman occupation, Synagogue becoming less important,
Today - Church is less relevant, Declining in US (%45 attend church monthly)
We need a fresh witness
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The plan and message has never changed
How we carry it needs to Flex
The Expected
We all have traditions that become hindrances
Peter had gone to Cornelius - Gospel to the Gentiles
The apostles and the brothers and sisters who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. When Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
The Expected
“That’s not how we have done it”
They added a step - Saved by grace
We have those traditions - dress the right way, sing this many songs, - the normal
Even when we come up with “fresh ideas” we make those the normal -new music - pastor wear skinny jeans and tattoos
Normal isn’t working - the way things were pre-covid wasn’t working - need something fresh
The Expected
We have a hard time making the transition
Now those who had been scattered as a result of the persecution that started because of Stephen made their way as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.
The Expected
They were scattered - remember the plan - they got comfortable in Jerusalem
They did the same ol’ same ol - spoke only to Jews
But there were those who were willing to step out of comfort
Those who engaged the culture instead of hiding from it
Took full advantage of this unexpected opportunity
The Unexpected
When doing the unexpected, expect transformation
The Lord’s hand was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.
The Unexpected
Despite the persecution they trusted
Despite being uncomfortable - they did it
“A tiny group of believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the salvation story.” -K.P. Yohannan
Stop sheep swapping
We don’t want to replicate - See transformation
Not me - - To reach this culture - it will take some unexpected people
Then he went to Tarsus to search for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught large numbers. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.
The church persecutor - become Apostle
Called - Christians - this was derogatory - look just like the guy we killed -
Goal to look just like Him - transormation
The Unexpected
When doing the unexpected, expect trials
Even when we are following with all our hearts and actions - we live in a broken world
Hard things are going to happen
In those days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and predicted by the Spirit that there would be a severe famine throughout the Roman world. This took place during the reign of Claudius. Each of the disciples, according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers and sisters who lived in Judea. They did this, sending it to the elders by means of Barnabas and Saul.
Disaster struck -Believers stood up and helped
Haiti earthquake - still there, Katrina - still there
Pandemic - what will be said of the church
The witness of the church is causing and will cause issues
Expect the Unexpected
Expect the Unexpected
The church needs to step up and out today
We need to see where God is working and join Him
Experiencing God - find out together
Sept 26 - prayer event the Return - not His but ours - live streamed
We need to do it God’s way
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We don’t want the OLD NORMAL - We want a new experience with God