“So Easter Is Passed, Now What?”

Given that I only have the sermon today and next week to tell you all that I want to say. I find it a difficult task to choose my words carefully. I feel like the man who joined the monastery where he was only allowed to say two words every two years. When had been there for two years the abbot came to his room and said, “My son, you a change today to speak your two words. What are they?” The man looked around his room and said, “Bed hard!” The abbot went away and in two more years returned to the man’s room to allow him to speak two more words. The abbot said, “My son, choose your words carefully.” The man put down his soup bowl and said, “Food cold!” So, finally six years had passed and the abbot again returned to the man’s room. He said, “My son, again you have the opportunity to say to more words. The first time you said, “bed hard.” The second time you said, “food cold.” “What do you have to say today?” The man sat there and thought for a moment. He looked straight into the eyes of the abbot and he said, “I quit!” The abbot said, “Well it’s about time. All you’ve done since you’ve been here is complain, complain, complain.” My desire is to leave you with challenging words, but also, positive words.

After the Resurrection Jesus appeared for forty days to His apostles and disciples. He instructed on the importance of His death and Resurrection, as well as, their on-going mission until He returns to establish God’s Kingdom on Earth. He had left them with the Great Commission but they muddled around until persecution pushed them out of Jerusalem. However, it was the little multi-cultural church of Antioch that was truly obedient to call of Christ and the Holy Spirit directed them into the great mission adventure. I think by following the development of the early church the Christian can also, see a challenge of sp. growth.

I. The Apostles Were Filled and Equipped (Acts 1:4,8)

A. The new Church like the new Christian needs to yield to the Holy Spirit’s word of change in their life and recognized that they are being equipped for God’s purposes.

B. The Lord Jesus gave the church their mission in Matthew 28 to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.

C. They were to wait in Jerusalem until they were empowered by the Holy Spirit on Pentecost then, they were to systematically take the message of Christ into all the world.

D. Christ equipped and called them to make committed followers.

E. It is impossible to do the Lord’s work rightly without the Holy Spirit’s guiding and empowerment.

1. In our day because of the misuse of the Spirit’s activities many believers are afraid to talk about His role in our lives.

F. We need to realize that the message of Christ needs to affect every area of our lives and every relationship.

II. The Church Grew In Unity and Number (Acts 4:32-37)

A. The New Christian after coming to Christ is to grow in grace and in connections with other believers through the church.

B. The early church experienced a beautiful spirit of unity as people were continually being saved as they trusted in Jesus.

C. Jesus desires that there should be spiritual growth in our lives and in the church. If that is not occurring something is wrong.

1. Dr. Chuck Swindoll told a story about a young minister had been called to a little church in Oklahoma. The church had been there for many years. He had great hopes of reviving it but, no how hard he preached and prayed nothing changed. Finally, he put an ad in the newspaper that the church had died and the funeral for the church was on Saturday. For the first time years the church was filled to capacity. Some people were even standing outside looking through the windows. to see this most unusual funeral for a church. There was a casket down front and it was covered in flowers. The young pastor told the eulogy of the church which recounted great things that had happened in the past. The pastor opened the casket and then, slowly people were allowed to pass by the casket. Everyone after they looked in the casket ducked their heads and hurried outside for you see inside the casket the pastor had placed a mirror. When they looked in they had seen the church that died. Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes p.87

D. Acts mentions the role of Joseph or as we know him, Barnabas.

1. The church needs people like Barnabas who was a giver and an encourgerer.

2. Someone who helps us see what God wants to do with us.

E. Yes, at first the church in Jerusalem grew at a phenomenal rate and people were getting saved every day but, as the people got comfortable they began to linger in Jerusalem.

F. However, they struggled to get out of their comfort zone.

G. Jesus did not call us to be comfortable. He called us to be “more than conquerors”.

III. The Church Was Called To Be Multi-cultural (Acts 11:13-18)

A. The new Christian should realize the deep spiritual bond to the spiritual family which may be stronger than blood kin and is called to dispel racism, prejudice, caste and the things that separate people.

1. Sin separates us from God, and sin separates people from each other.

2. The great purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection was to bring us back into a right relationship with God and with each other which is reflected in the two great commandments.

B. All along the church had been instructed to be multi-cultural but the people were slow in obedience to God’s plan. The languages the apostles spoke on Pentecost were Gentile languages.

C. Racism and prejudice has too long been a great stumblingblock to the message that God wants to bring about Jesus.

1. I never will forget Dr. Tony Evans saying when he went to seminary in Dallas that he and his wife attended a prominent church in Dallas and after the service some deacons called to the side and thanked him for attending but said we’re not ready for your kind yet. If in 2,000 years they weren’t ready then when?

D. Only Jesus can produce the kind of unity and oneness that’s needed.

E. It is still a barrier to the Gospel and ministry today.

F. BCI has been called by God break down the “wall of hostility”.

1. How wonderful last it was last Sunday. The diversity of people and the unity of love that was in the room was evident.

a. When BCI is focused on the Lord’s business this is a great New Testament church.

2. BCI is a model for the 21st century church because it is based on the first century mandate.

3. Pastor Sonny took the ministry model of BCI refined and implemented it in Canada and Virginia. He has taught that it can be done in the power of Christ.

4. Even Pastor David has gone to the church at Hypoluxo with this can be done in the power of Christ.

G. It had such an impact because it chose to be obedient to the plan and command of Christ to “make committed followers of all nations.”

H. Would you be willing to be a disciple or a disciple-maker this year? (A committed growing faith-sharing, people-loving follower of Christ)

I. Do you have a vision of this your church getting out of its comfort zone and intentionally reaching your world for Christ?