THE SPIRIT LEADS THE THE SPIRIT LEADS THE DISCIPLES IN NEW DISCIPLES IN NEW

DIRECTIONS DIRECTIONS

Biblical Portrait of a Church Biblical Portrait of a Church Missionary by Nature: The Missionary by Nature: The Church doesn’t have a Church doesn’t have a mission, but the mission has a mission, but the mission has a Church.Church.

BEFORE PENTECOST (Acts 1): BEFORE PENTECOST (Acts 1): DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISAPPOINTMENT AND

EXPECTATIONEXPECTATION

Jesus did not explicitly plan to found a church distinct from Judaism or to Jesus did not explicitly plan to found a church distinct from Judaism or to establish a full-blown mission to the Gentiles.establish a full-blown mission to the Gentiles.

Jesus was committed to heralding the imminent in-breaking of the reign of Jesus was committed to heralding the imminent in-breaking of the reign of God.God.

The eventual understanding of mission and church were founded on the The eventual understanding of mission and church were founded on the vision, person, and mission of Jesus.vision, person, and mission of Jesus.

The establishment of the 12 apostles, the appointment of Peter as leader, The establishment of the 12 apostles, the appointment of Peter as leader, and the command to celebrate a meal in Jesus’ memory provided the initial and the command to celebrate a meal in Jesus’ memory provided the initial post-Easter community with a sense of identity and structure.post-Easter community with a sense of identity and structure.

The disciples returning to Jerusalem after the Ascension expected the The disciples returning to Jerusalem after the Ascension expected the return of Jesus to initiate the imminent coming of God’s reign on earth.return of Jesus to initiate the imminent coming of God’s reign on earth.

They remained in Jerusalem with a sense of emptiness, awkwardness, and They remained in Jerusalem with a sense of emptiness, awkwardness, and expectation.expectation.

PENTECOST (Acts 2-5): PENTECOST (Acts 2-5): RECEIVING POWER TO BEAR RECEIVING POWER TO BEAR

WITNESSWITNESS The disciples The disciples

experienced a fulfillment experienced a fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, but of Jesus’ promise, but not what they expected.not what they expected.

It was not the second It was not the second coming of Jesus, but an coming of Jesus, but an outpouring of the Holy outpouring of the Holy Spirit.Spirit.

The disciples bore The disciples bore witness to the Jews, not witness to the Jews, not to the Gentiles.to the Gentiles.

The early Christians The early Christians were held in high were held in high esteem and saw esteem and saw themselves in continuity themselves in continuity with the faithful to with the faithful to Jewish religious-cultural Jewish religious-cultural tradition.tradition.

STEPHEN AND THE HELLENISTS STEPHEN AND THE HELLENISTS (Acts 6-7): JEWISH DISCIPLES (Acts 6-7): JEWISH DISCIPLES

PUSHED BEYOND THEIR COMFORT PUSHED BEYOND THEIR COMFORT ZONEZONE

The Greek-speaking disciples The Greek-speaking disciples complained to the Hebrew-complained to the Hebrew-speaking disciples that Hellenist speaking disciples that Hellenist widows were being overlooked in widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. the daily distribution of food. Steven and six others were Steven and six others were appointed by the Christian appointed by the Christian community to attend this need.community to attend this need.

This issue reflects an underlying This issue reflects an underlying linguistic, cultural and social linguistic, cultural and social diversity among the followers of diversity among the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem.Jesus in Jerusalem.

The Greek-speaking Jewish The Greek-speaking Jewish Christians held a less traditional Christians held a less traditional view of Judaism which allowed view of Judaism which allowed them to place the significance of them to place the significance of Jesus over Moses. Hebrew-Jesus over Moses. Hebrew-speaking Jews held a more speaking Jews held a more traditional view of Judaism.traditional view of Judaism.

Stephen, articulate and wise Stephen, articulate and wise spoke with power before the spoke with power before the Sanhedrin and began a shift away Sanhedrin and began a shift away from traditional Judaism. from traditional Judaism.

Stephen claimed Jesus as the Just Stephen claimed Jesus as the Just One, the Lord, as the one means One, the Lord, as the one means necessary for salvation. This led necessary for salvation. This led to his being stoned to death. Like to his being stoned to death. Like Christ, he forgave his persecutors.Christ, he forgave his persecutors.

SAMARIA AND THE ETHIOPIAN SAMARIA AND THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH (Acts 8): TO THE EUNUCH (Acts 8): TO THE

ENDS OF THE EARTH?ENDS OF THE EARTH? Philip was bold enough to Philip was bold enough to

preach to the Samaritans.preach to the Samaritans. The crowds that heard Philip The crowds that heard Philip

and saw his miracles attended and saw his miracles attended closely to what he had to say.closely to what he had to say.

Peter and John went to Peter and John went to Samaria to see for themselves. Samaria to see for themselves. They approved what was They approved what was happening and laid hands on happening and laid hands on the newly baptized Samaritans the newly baptized Samaritans so that they could receive the so that they could receive the Holy Spirit.Holy Spirit.

Philip encounters the Ethiopian Philip encounters the Ethiopian reading from the prophet reading from the prophet Isaiah. He was the chief Isaiah. He was the chief treasurer of the queen of treasurer of the queen of Ethiopia.Ethiopia.

Philip explains to the Ethiopian Philip explains to the Ethiopian the scripture and proceeds to the scripture and proceeds to tell him about Jesus. He then tell him about Jesus. He then baptizes the Ethiopian.baptizes the Ethiopian.

The Ethiopian goes his way The Ethiopian goes his way rejoicing, back to Ethiopia, to rejoicing, back to Ethiopia, to the ends of the earth.the ends of the earth.

CORNELIUS AND HIS HOUSEHOLD: CORNELIUS AND HIS HOUSEHOLD: (Acts 10:1--11:18) PETER AND THE (Acts 10:1--11:18) PETER AND THE

GENTILE MISSIONGENTILE MISSION

The conversion of Cornelius and his The conversion of Cornelius and his household is considered the most critical household is considered the most critical phase of the expansion of God’s people.phase of the expansion of God’s people.

Cornelius was a Roman centurion living in Cornelius was a Roman centurion living in Caesarea.Caesarea.

Table fellowship becomes the central issue Table fellowship becomes the central issue in the encounter between Peter and in the encounter between Peter and Cornelius. This story indicates a turning Cornelius. This story indicates a turning point for Christianity. Could Jewish point for Christianity. Could Jewish Christians share a common mean with Christians share a common mean with Gentile Christians?Gentile Christians?

The story of the Conversion of Cornelius and The story of the Conversion of Cornelius and his household is also the story of Peter’s his household is also the story of Peter’s conversion. Peter experiences a dramatic conversion. Peter experiences a dramatic reversal in the cultural-religious world. He reversal in the cultural-religious world. He shares the good news of Jesus Christ who is shares the good news of Jesus Christ who is Lord of all. The Spirit comes down upon all Lord of all. The Spirit comes down upon all gathered.gathered.

Peter’s table fellowship is a symbol and Peter’s table fellowship is a symbol and concrete sign of the universal scope of concrete sign of the universal scope of God’s mission.God’s mission.

The world view of Peter and the Jerusalem The world view of Peter and the Jerusalem community was challenged by Jesus’ gospel. community was challenged by Jesus’ gospel. The good news demanded repentance and The good news demanded repentance and promised new life for all. The circle of promised new life for all. The circle of believers widens.believers widens.

ANTIOCH (Acts 11:19-29): ANTIOCH (Acts 11:19-29): MISSION MATURESMISSION MATURES

Some Hellenists who usually proclaimed Some Hellenists who usually proclaimed the message to Jews went to Antioch the message to Jews went to Antioch where they preached to the Gentiles. A where they preached to the Gentiles. A great number believed and were great number believed and were converted to the Lord.converted to the Lord.

We now find an explicit and intentional We now find an explicit and intentional mission to the Gentiles, and Jewish and mission to the Gentiles, and Jewish and Gentile converts live side by side.Gentile converts live side by side.

Three elements point to the radical Three elements point to the radical nature of this turn of events:nature of this turn of events:

Use of the term Use of the term “Lord Jesus” (Kyrios).“Lord Jesus” (Kyrios). For the first time the gospel message For the first time the gospel message was presented in terms that moved was presented in terms that moved beyond the pale of Judaism.beyond the pale of Judaism.

Community sent Barnabas (a Community sent Barnabas (a Hellenist) who confirmed the work of Hellenist) who confirmed the work of the Lord. He went to Tarsus and the Lord. He went to Tarsus and brought Paul back to Antioch.brought Paul back to Antioch.

It was in Antioch that the disciples It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called were first called “Christians”.“Christians”. The The Jesus movement was being identified Jesus movement was being identified as a group on its own and not as a as a group on its own and not as a sub-group of Judaism.sub-group of Judaism.

With an expanding consciousness of With an expanding consciousness of mission comes and expanding mission comes and expanding consciousness of being church.consciousness of being church.

UNIVERSAL MISSION (UNIVERSAL MISSION (Acts 12-Acts 12-2828): MISSIONAL AND CHURCH ): MISSIONAL AND CHURCH

SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS SPREADSSPREADS Acts 12-28 represent the early years Acts 12-28 represent the early years

of development and challenge for the of development and challenge for the church.church.

Under the Spirit’s guidance, the Under the Spirit’s guidance, the community at Antioch sent Barnabas community at Antioch sent Barnabas and Paul on Paul’s first missionary and Paul on Paul’s first missionary journey to Asia Minor. Gentiles journey to Asia Minor. Gentiles responded favorably to the word of responded favorably to the word of God.God.

Paul and Barnabas returned to Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch to report their success. They Antioch to report their success. They consequently journeyed to Jerusalem consequently journeyed to Jerusalem to give testimony.to give testimony.

At Jerusalem the early Christian At Jerusalem the early Christian church dealt with fundamental issues church dealt with fundamental issues of the new faith. It was here that the of the new faith. It was here that the church recognized that Christianity is church recognized that Christianity is not restricted to Jewish culture but not restricted to Jewish culture but rather is inclusive of Jews and rather is inclusive of Jews and Gentiles.Gentiles.

Paul continues his mission to the Paul continues his mission to the Gentiles (Acts 15 to the end) and Gentiles (Acts 15 to the end) and concludes that the salvation of God concludes that the salvation of God has been transmitted to the Gentiles has been transmitted to the Gentiles who heed it (28:28).who heed it (28:28).

A TINY CHURCH WITH A A TINY CHURCH WITH A UNIVERSAL MISSIONUNIVERSAL MISSION

The mission of God for us and our world The mission of God for us and our world took shape in quite a dramatic way.took shape in quite a dramatic way.

It was old – a continuation and It was old – a continuation and manifestation of the mission of God that manifestation of the mission of God that has been present from the beginning of has been present from the beginning of creation and humanity, and of that same creation and humanity, and of that same mission of the Spirit and of the Word, Jesus mission of the Spirit and of the Word, Jesus Christ.Christ.

It is also something new – the Spirit was It is also something new – the Spirit was leading that small early group to continue leading that small early group to continue God’s mission in new and surprising ways. God’s mission in new and surprising ways.

The disciples now constituted a tiny The disciples now constituted a tiny ekklesia (assembly) ekklesia (assembly) with a consciousness with a consciousness that its message that Jesus was the savior that its message that Jesus was the savior of the world was destined for all humanity.of the world was destined for all humanity.

The universal mission of God now had a The universal mission of God now had a church.church.

Equality of the gift of the Spirit denotes Equality of the gift of the Spirit denotes equality of salvation, which implies equality equality of salvation, which implies equality among all believers. This equality includes among all believers. This equality includes table fellowship, for that is the heart of table fellowship, for that is the heart of Christian unity and fellowship.Christian unity and fellowship.

The church was born out of the loving and The church was born out of the loving and redeeming flow of God’s universal mission.redeeming flow of God’s universal mission.

QUESTIONS FOR QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTIONREFLECTION

What was the most interesting new idea What was the most interesting new idea that struck you from the survey of the Acts that struck you from the survey of the Acts of the Apostles?of the Apostles?

Describe the connection between mission Describe the connection between mission and churchand church