page 1 townhead church – maintenance and mission?

Townhead Church – Maintenance and Mission?

•Background to Acts•Author•Doctor•Gentile•Travelling Companion•Not one of the Twelve•Evangelist

Mission to Jerusalem Acts 2,3,4

•Written to Theophilus [one man]•Lawyer, defense counsel or judge•Luke not an eye witness BUT Interviews eye witnesses•Carefully researches the facts• Two Main characters: Peter & Paul•Paul is depicted as a Roman Citizen•Paul takes two thirds of the book •Abrupt end: Paul awaiting trial in Rome!

Mission to Jerusalem Acts 2,3,4

•Ananias & Sapphira behaviour•Simon’s desire to profit by receiving the Holy Spirit•Apostle Paul has a sharp disagreement with Barnabus•Gamaliel described as a fence sitter•Saul of Tarsus opts for the aggressive stance, rather than the wait & see approach.• He endeavours to stop the church until his Damascus experience.

Mission to Newmilns:Copy the early church?

• Power-Dynamite

• Jerusalem – Why?

• Old covenant – New Covenant

• Jerusalem will be destoyed


Even Jesus wept over Jerusalem; "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you will not see Me until you say, 'Blessed is He [Jesus Christ] who comes in the name of the Lord!'" (Matt23:37-39)

"Go to this people and say, 'You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.'" (Acts 28:26-27)

• Raises his voice- large crowd• Quotes the scriptures which explains what has happened-scripture of Joel fulfilled-Spirit will come on all men and women and they will have the authority to prophesy. Young men will see visions, old men dream dreams, show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth. + other things and finally in verse 21 Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.


•He now speaks of Jesus, ‘accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs’. You have seen all that.•Now he turns to their own state (all have sinned) you crucified this Jesus But God raised him from the dead. In his presence is fullness of joy. You have all witnessed his resurrection.


• People ask what they should do. Vs 38• ‘Repent and be baptised’ and you will receive forgiveness of sins AND you will receive the Holy Spirit.• Vs 39 this is for everyone even the far off i.e. us!• VS 40 He ‘warns’ them & he ‘pleads’ with them


• 3000 added to the church

• Devoted themselves to Teaching, Fellowship, breaking of bread, prayer

•Community pleased to have the church

•New Converts everyday!

RESULT of BIG Mission Evangelism

•BIG MISSION to

Personal evangelism

Mission to Newmilns

• 5000 men [church could be about 10000]

• Prison for Peter & John

•Responses to Sanhedrin are ‘Holy Spirit BOLD’ & true.

•Shares Gospel in a nutshell Vs12

RESULT of Personal Evangelism

Acts 4:12 ‘Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.’

Dwight L. Moody wrote: ‘The only religion which I have heard people ashamed of is the religion of Jesus Christ’. I preached in Salt Lake City, and I did not find a Mormon who was not proud of their religion, I never met a Mohammedan who wasn't proud to be a follower of Mohammed. But many, many times I have found people ashamed of their religion of Jesus Christ,- the only religion which gives power over affections, lusts and

sins."

•Sanhedrin Bowled over by BOLDNESS

• Stand for GOD or go with men?

•Community praising God.

More Results from Personal Mission

Mission to Newmilns. Next steps – Back in the church!

You will be my

witnesses in Newmilns!

You will be my

witnesses in Newmilns!

I will identify my gifts,

I will use my gifts

‘I will go’

How is it a Challenging Church?

page 1 townhead church – maintenance and mission?

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