Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Sermon Outline: Acts 2:1-21a...The essential ingredient for mission...the Holy Spirit

The essential ingredient for mission....the Holy Spirit
God calls us to be in mission @ locally, to our neighbours, to people in other towns and states, to people overseas....to the ends of the earth...EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE

When we are involved in mission we will be mixing with and interacting with people who are:
  • different from us,
  • who see life differently,
  • who we might not understand!!!
To be able to do God's mission, we need His Spirit....(Acts 1:8)
The Spirit changes us from our natural way of living which is self focussed to seeing life differently....that it is about loving God and loving others (despite their differences)...

Accessing God's Spirit....
Spirit is given to us at our baptism
God's Spirit continues to come to us through His word....so being involved in prayer, bible reading and study, small groups, worship and Christian relationships will help us be renewed by God's Spirit. 

Also God's Spirit brings together as a community to be active in mission...
Mission is primarily a community thing (involving not just one but numerous people)...


This week:
  • Spend time in prayer, worship and with other Christans talking about scripture
  • Take notice of the many people you are interacting with...(God has placed you amongst them so you can bear witness to him).
  • Make an effort to interact with people who are different from you...
  • Over the next month build a bridge to someone for the sake of the Gospel....think about how your friendship can link them to Jesus not just through you but also other Christians (the church).

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

2011 June 5....John 17:1-17 Jesus' prayer for us.... sermon notes

Jesus' prayer for us....
  • Is a prayer for His Father to be glorified....John 17:1
  • Is that we may have eternal life......John 17:2
  • Reveals that eternal life is knowing God and knowing Jesus....John 17:3  (How much time are you investing in knowing God and Jesus?)
  • Reveals that glorifying God, for Jesus and us, means doing the work He has given us....John 17:4 and 17:10
  • God's work for us includes:
    • Loving God first then loving others (those in and outside the Christian community)  in a Godly way (Matthew 22:37-40)...
    • Making disciples of EVERYONE (Matthew 28:19-20)
    • Being God's witnesses EVERYWHERE  (Acts 1:8)
    • Being active in receiving and sharing reconcilliation (forgiveness) (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
  • Is not to be removed from the world but to be protected in the world.......John 17:11 and 15
  • Is that we be joyful as Christians as we carry out God's work (God's work is our purpose not a hinderance to our lives)....John 17:13
  • Is that in ALL areas of our lives we rely upon and live according to God's Word.....John 17:17