Keep Going

This past Sunday, Blake opened up the scriptures and led us through the mission that God has in front of us. Using the life of Paul in Acts 19 and the book of Ephesians, we saw the mission of God and the purposes of God for our lives unfolded in a very clear way. Are you discipling anyone? Are you leading anyone towards a life-changing connection with Jesus? We saw God using the church to accomplish God’s purposes as the church was in its infancy. God’s mission prevailed in the life of the early church. Here we are today, nearly 2,000 years after the church started, still celebrating and living out this vital mission. The charge from Paul to the Ephesians still holds true today. Ephesians 1:9-10 says, “God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.” God is working through Christ to bring everything together under the authority of Christ, and He accomplishes this through His church. You and I are the church that God uses to glorify Him. We preach and teach Jesus Christ in a passionate and loving way each week to the glory of God. 

This Sunday, in the “What’s Next?” series, we’ll look at what happens when you get interrupted. The early church was off to a great start with 3,000 people being baptized into Christ when the church began. What happens next? The early church experiences opposition to the mission of God. Shouldn’t they expect this? After all, Christ told them, “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith.  For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God.” (John 16:1,2) So the early Christians should have expected turmoil. How do you deal with opposition? How do you deal with it when people in life threaten you? Do you stop doing what you know to be true and trustworthy, or do you keep going? We’re going to look at the early church leaders and how they dealt with opposition this Sunday.  

Looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday. It would be a great Sunday to invite someone to come to hear the word of the Lord, and for them to experience God’s church singing praises to the Lord. Be on mission! Invite someone to encounter a real experience with our church that is sold out to Christ. I’ll see you Sunday. 

- Scott