What Happened To Chapter 29? Series

Jesus said GO!

Nowhere does the Bible command the lost to come to church. Rather, the church is told to go to the lost!

It all begins w/ the word “Go”!

The 2nd word is…“teach”=make disciples!

It’s not about inviting people to church, even though that’s a good thing, but it’s also seeking to lead people to the Lord! (“Each one, reach one” theme)

Jesus expects us to lead people to Him

I think too many Christians are like the guy who went fishing and came back w/ an empty stringer. When someone asked, “did you catch any fish?” the guy said “no, but I influenced a bunch!”

We’re to be fishers of men, but many aren’t catching anything. The problem is that they really believe that they’re trying! They believe that they are influencing a bunch.

Here’s a little news flash for you: INFLUENCED PEOPLE DON’T GET A GET OUT OF HELL FREE CARD! Influenced people are LOST people! Just as much as being 99% sure is 100% lost.

Jesus told the disciples who were fishing, one day, without any results: “try doing it MY way!” They cast out their nets where He said and the nets couldn’t hold all the fish!

That’s what the church needs to do: do it Jesus’ way.

Now let’s look at the…

II. Personality of the church.

Every story has a personality, a main character, a hero. We know it’s Jesus…but Luke says specifically, that your hero is:

1. Alive

v. 3 tells us that there is some infallible proof: some undeniable evidence that we can examine.

Did you know, there’s more evidence to show Jesus rose again than any other fact in history!

But not only is He alive… He is:

2. Active

v. 3b every funeral you’ve mourned at…He’s been there, speaking to those broken hearts!

Every opportunity you’ve taken to witness, He’s been there, speaking.

Every conflict you’ve faced you’ve looked to Him:

When you face sickness you know I’ll try to be there, but even better, He IS there, He’s active and He’s there, speaking peace!

So far we’ve seen the purpose and the personality…of the church.

Next week we will examine The Power of the church.

Thanks Pastor Jerry Shirley for the original writing.