The following are my Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon. You are invited to watch, listen, and worship with us here.
If you live in the same region as me (north Georgia), 6 out of 10 people do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ. That's the statistic my pastor gives us in the video above and I want to stress here that we live in the heart of the Bible Belt. Growing up here in the deep south, I never would have believed that 6 out of 10 people would not have a relationship with the Lord. If you ask, most people might say they are Christians, but it is heartbreaking to me that so many people don't what the difference between attending Sunday morning services and having a real growing relationship with Christ. There is a big difference.
And I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. - Jeremiah 32:39
We need a singular focus, a singular mission to point people to Jesus.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. - Acts 1:8-10
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Love Where You Live
Our mission has a history.
Let's look at Acts 1:8 again.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." - Acts 1:8
We are to be His witnesses right where we live. We exist for the glory of God. Th mission began in Genesis. God did not give up on Adam and Eve.
“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“And My servant whom I have chosen,
So that you may know and believe Me
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
And there will be none after Me. - Isaiah 43:10
Isaiah 43:10 speaks of the same mission in the same language. We are His witnesses. We are to go and lead others to Jesus.
Our mission has a strategy.
The strategist is the Holy Spirit. The strategy is you and me. We no longer have to journey to a temple to be close to God because the Holy Spirit lives within believers. We are the temple.
For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. - 2 Corinthians 4:6-7I am a "jar of clay." So are you. God uses weak and simple people. The Holy Spirit speaks to us. We need to listen and have the courage to obey.
Our mission has a geography.
Scroll back up and read Acts 1:8 again. Multiple places are mentioned. God says to spread out and serve others. Sometimes we have to stop outside our comfort zone in order to serve others and lead others to Jesus.
Our mission is Acts 29.
Did you go there? Go ahead. Look it up.
Did you find it?
There is no Acts 29. Our mission is to go beyond Acts 28. Spread out. People are lost. Go tell them the good news of the gospel of Jesus.
We need to be on a mission.
We can curse the darkness or we can turn on the light.
Our mission has a victory.
Go meet your neighbors. Lead them to Jesus. Love them. Invite them to go to church with you. The most important person in your church is the one who is not there yet. Go out and find him or her.
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