The Mission

What did the WTC event do to America - local population

Got our attention - Mobilized us - brought out the best and sometimes the worst.

The mission - God’s mission precedes the church - it creates and defines the church

Follow Peter after last week -

5 Purposes of the church

Great Commandment Love God (Worship) Love others (Service)

1. Jesus’ Last words Sealed orders - marching orders - last will and testament

Great Commission Matt. 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. Go - Mission/Outreach Make Disciples - Teach Baptize - Community

Acts 1:1-5 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

Vs. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

need power - but the day of waiting is past - receive and go

2. Pentecost Sunday Acts 2

God promised this would happen - outpouring of His Spirit - on everyone

Disaster will turn hearts to God - everyone who turns to Jesus will be saved

God sent His Son Jesus - who lived a perfect life - miracles - you killed Him God raised Him. God made Him Lord and Christ - King and Messiah - listen to Him - Savior

What do we do? Repent - be baptized and sins will be forgiven - 3000 + answer call

What about you? Have you repented, turned life over to Jesus, been baptized?

3. Holy Huddle Acts 3-9

Great things occurred - in Jerusalem, but Acts 1:8 lost in the shuffle

4. God tips the church upside down Acts 10

What God created, don’t call unholy

Peter tried to be holy - kosher - clothing Sabbath, how much holiness is enough?

Holiness is separation, bleeding women, lepers first born

The holier I get the more important it seems to me that everyone else gets holy

Holiness is not external behaviors but internal grace based on a relationship with Jesus

Holy = separate - yet Jesus was anything but He blasted through the safe boundaries Jesus was a friend of sinners Jesus mixed with sinners without compromising his holy life accused of gluttony and drinking Matt. 11:19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, `Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners

Mary rubs his feet - but women were no threat to His purity

We live in terror of temptation, love God and sin boldly is what Luther said

Beyond safety, you wont make it out of here alive

Holiness is being consumed with passion for the lost - fire in the heart!

Because He is holy - all the world became clean

Jesus is proof that holiness (separation) is only a part (as in refraining from sin)

The mission begins with Incarnate - God with us not apart from us

Touching God is ultimately the most dangerous and exhilarating way to live

God’s Holiness compels us to go to a lost world - filled with sin

Go to the fringes and beyond Luke 14:21-24 Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, `Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ 22 " `Sir,’ the servant said, `what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ 23 "Then the master told his servant, `Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. 24 I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ "

How do we wed separation (holiness) and mission?