Sermon Notes 12-31-2017

The end of another year!

So where do we go from here??

So the big question is where do we go from here in 2016??

I ask my self this question all the time, where do we go from here? What should we do next? What needs fixed, tweaked, done away with, started up. But as a church congregation, and individuals in that congregation, what do those questions look like to each one of us?

After careful thought and prayer, I have some things for you to think about in the coming year, things to consider. And the best place to start is in Acts 2. After Peter delivered a big sermon, and the church grew quickly, the way the church responded might give us a peak in to what we should do next!

Let me set this set of verses up

·      Peter had just preached a sermon of a life time

·      Proclaiming the Gospel boldly

·      And all of a sudden, a church off a 100 became a church of 3000

·      And they didn’t sit back and say, “look at us” or “we don’t want this many people”

·      They dug in and kept doing the lords work!

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)

⁴²And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

⁴³And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

⁴⁴And all who believed were together and had all things in common.

⁴⁵And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

⁴⁶And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,

⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Before we continue with Matthew we are going to explore “Where do we go from here”!

Over the next 4 weeks I am going to break down Acts 2:42-47 and take a close look at what we are doing well and look at some of the shortcomings that we have so that we can continue to further the kingdom and carry out the great commission set forth to us by Jesus!

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

²⁰teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So, what did the first church formed after Jesus ascended that was so special, so awe inspiring that lead to the making of so many disciples?  

1. They learned together

2. They had one common mission

3. They hung out and spent time together

4. They gave for the common mission

and for the next 4 weeks we are going to look at who we are, through the lens of who they were and hopefully come out the other side with a new focus and direction for 2018! It won’t be easy, there will be a lot of inward looking and maybe even some hurt feelings, but I think we will only come put the other side stronger and more focused!

 My Vision for 2018! It’s going to be a big year!

Here are a few things I would like to see us doing in the new year! And it will take us all to make it happen!

1. More learning opportunities

·      More small groups

·      More Wednesday night class

·      Specialty classes

o   Couples

o   Men’s

o   Women’s

2. infrastructure up-grades

·      Finishing the Big Barn

·      Completing the kids church

·      Investing in our kids and teens

3. utilizing our facilities

·      From weddings

·      To fellowship

·      The arena

·      To charity events

4.  A community giving program

·      Develop a program to give back to our local community

·      Hosting Charity events

·      Raising money for the less fortunate where we live

It will take us all, we will all have to follow the first church model to pull this off, it won’t be easy, you and I will have to commit, to challenge each other, to get behind a common mission, and if we do we will further the kingdom, reach more people than we ever have, will touch lives, not just give lip service. And we will make and impact!

WHO IS WITH ME???

Close

What I don’t want to become, Lukewarm!

Revelation 3:14–16 (NLT)

¹⁴“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation:

¹⁵“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!

¹⁶But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!

·      I see to many churches just getting by

·      I see to many churches never walking out their doors

·      I see to many churches just going through the motions

·      And I will not sit back and watch us become LUKEWARM!