Why Church?: Ordinary People

Why Church?: A Heavenly Vision

June 26th, 2022 | Casey Middle School

Who is this for? This series is for the believer. Those that would say “I follow Jesus!” There has been a radical departure of the church from her identity, functions, and mission! The goal of this series is to come back to the Word of God. Who is the church called to be? What’s the church to do?

Title: A Heavenly Vision

In Acts 26 the heavenly vision is the risen Jesus appearing to Paul and sending him. Here’s how I’d apply that: God is calling the church back to her Heavenly Vision.

Recap: We are called to Be, Gather, Serve, Equip, and Send!

We believe in seating & sending capacity! We make room for more, believing that God wants to do a great work in our city, but we also send out believing that the mission of God was that all nations, tribes and tongues would hear the Good News and be saved!

We look to God’s Word, the life of Christ, and church history for our cues! We don’t look at culture. We don’t analyze our preferences. We don’t take a poll. God has spoken. His last words are to be our first work!

Today we’re going to be talking about A Heavenly Vision and the mission God has called His church to participate in.

Question: Have you ever had a vision from Heaven? A moment of calling and purpose?

Story: Alter at an old baptist church camp

“15 “I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.” - Acts 26:15-19 CSB

Background on Paul:

Paul is accustomed to having his plans wrecked for a heavenly vision. He was a religious leader that persecuted Christians and approved of their deaths. In Acts 9 you can read about Paul’s radical and supernatural conversion. In those days he went by his Hebrew name, Saul. On his way to persecute more Christians, Jesus steps in… and everything changes.

“Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”” - Acts 9:1-4

Saul persecuting the disciples and the people of The Way was a direct offense toward God! When people come against God’s church, they come against God. Notice, “why are you persecuting me?” Be careful. Be aware. I don’t know about you, but I do not want to come against God!

God can take someone who has incredible prejudice, personal bias, and hatred, and in a moment change their heart toward love and compassion. YOUR PAST DOES NOT DEFINE YOUR FUTURE. Let the testimony of Paul be an encouragement to you this morning!

• I’ve made too many mistakes
• I don’t have a christian heritage
• I don’t have a lot to offer
• You don’t know my story!

Don’t discount what God has ordained! Don’t subtract where God has added. You may not be where you want to be, but thank God you’re not where you used to be! There’s more to your story! There’s more to His story through your life!

One encounter with God will change everything in your life. Paul went from hating a group of people, to loving everyone and preaching the Good News of the Gospel! God took Saul and gave him a heavenly vision, a new heart, and a new purpose… and He can do the same for you!

Paul would then go on to fulfill the mission that was assigned to Him by God. We see 3 extensive missionary journeys that took him through Syria, Cyprus, modern-day Turkey, and Greece. His strategy was simple, his passion was radical, and his mission was clear!

Paul knew his assignment, because He was listening to the Father.

Illust: The Noise In Your Head

Don’t let earthly voices drown out your heavenly vision. God is speaking to you! God is leading you, guiding you, and lifting your perspective today!

Pattern of Paul:

1. Engage A City
2. Make Disciples
3. Plant Churches

It is impossible to evangelize people you don’t engage.

History on Philippi:

• The Roman colony of Philippi was located in northern Greece. Romans in Philippi took great pride in their citizenship, heritage, and colony.

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey:

• Paul first came to Philippi on his second missionary journey. This was the first Christian church in Europe.
• Paul’s first visit to Philippi is told in Acts 16. There is a series of stories told that I believe help set a backdrop for our conversation.
• The stories center around three people, Lydia, a slave, and a Roman jailer. Three people with different nationalities and socioeconomic status. Lydia was from Asia and she sold purple cloth (Wealthy), the slave girl was owned by others and treated as property (Poor), and the jailer was a Roman citizen and would have been among the middle class (Middle Class). Paul’s first recorded experience in Philippi is one of the best examples of the all inclusive, all embracing, and all encompassing GRACE of God!
• Through Paul, the Gospel was crossing the social lines of the day to reveal that there is a heavenly vision. One that does not hinge on someone's gender, social status, nationality, or political affiliation. Paul’s agenda was to fulfill the mission and calling of God to bring the Gospel to ALL PEOPLE!

Mission of Pinewood: Meet people where they are and point them to Jesus.

Pattern of Paul:

1. Engage A City
2. Make Disciples
3. Plant Churches

“You, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” - 2 Timothy 2:1-2

Here we see Paul instructing his disciple to reproduce. To be about the heavenly vision! Timothy, I taught you so that you might now go teach others!

“18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples (Active Imperative) of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20

This text is known as the Great Commission. This is the final command of Jesus before He ascended into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Jesus had already died, was buried, and then rose from the dead. He then appeared to the disciples and over 500 other people. These are the final instructions to the disciples on how Jesus wanted them to carry the Gospel forth into the rest of the world. This is the how and the why. Jesus gets really practical and outlines exactly what the disciples must do to advance His Kingdom.

We are all here because someone obeyed the final command of Jesus and made disciples. Therefore it is critical that we take the time to look at what a disciple is, and how we can all be equipped in how to make disciples.

Main Points: A disciple maker is...

1. Relational

   1. We see from the text that this is not an isolated mission. There are many people involved. Jesus is always with you. You are to go to all nations, baptize THEM, teach THEM. Every part about making disciples is in the context of relationships.
   2. This is why we say that spiritual growth is not found in isolation, but in community. It is impossible to make disciples apart from relationships.
   3. “The Gospel flies best on the wings of relationships.” - Ps. Shodankeh Johnson
   4. “The Gospel run on the rails of Relationships.” - Vance Pitman

   5. Definition of Discipleship: “Making disciples is helping people take their next step on their faith journey.”

      1. Story: Harry (Ed) Elberson
         6. Nobody Grows On Their Own.

2. Scriptural

   1. We believe that the Word of God, illuminated by the Spirit of God, is enough to produce the people of God.

   2. All of our disciple making tools and practices will be centered on the Word of God.

      1. “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” - Psalm 119:105 (Song)
      2. “so my word that comes from my mouth will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please and will prosper in what I send it to do.” - Isaiah 55:11
      3. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,” - 2 Timothy 3:16
      4. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12
         3. It is the Word of God that transforms lives, not human effort or creative methods.
      5. Accountable
         1. Studying the Word is important for growing in the knowledge of God and for deepening your relationships with God, but the Bible clearly tells us to not just read the word, but do it!
         2. “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” - James 1:22
         3. Nobody wants to be held accountable until it’s too late.
      6. Accountability is not meant to slow you down, but to propel you.
      7. Think of your heavenly, certain goals you want to achieve, habits you want to have for your personal life and family, think of the legacy you want to leave behind…. Now who’s holding you accountable to those things?
      8. Gospel accountability in your life should not condemn or shame you, but encourage and inspire you to be the man or woman God has called you to be.
         4. It’s easier to walk in faithful obedience to God when you consistently walk in accountable relationships with others.
      9. Prayerful
         1. There has never been a great movement of God where there wasn’t first a movement of prayer.
         2. We believe that God can do more in a second of prayer than we can do in a lifetime of our own efforts.
         3. Prayer is not a part of the work, prayer is the work. We pray, and God works.
         4. Story: Lorena Valdez (Person of Peace)
         5. “Anything that doesn’t first begin with prayer and fasting is flawed from the beginning.” - James Forlines

      10. Missional

          1. “Go therefore and make disciples.” That means disciples who make disciples.
          2. We are always going to have a passion to reach the lost and a focus to send to the nations.
          3. Earlier I mentioned how people have a desire to be in relationships and to have someone walk with them on their spiritual journey, but oftentimes don’t know where to find it? This is why we meet people where they are.

      11. Your mission field is where you go

      12. Your mission field is the people in your home
      13. Your mission field is the city you live in
      14. Your mission field is your gym
          4. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE! God is with you! He will guide you! He will show you the way!

Invitation:

My wife and I attended a conference in Nashville where Louie Giglio was the headlining speaker. I was sitting in one of the higher sections in the back just taking in every word. I couldn’t tell you the details of the message, but I remember that he kept referring to a rope. He said that someone here tonight is still holding on to the rope thinking that this is what God has for you, but if you were to let go of the rope and trust him, He would take you farther than you could ever imagine! It had nothing to do with the rope, it had everything to do with trust.

I sat there recounting all of the stories, all of the moments that I could see God at work, all of the lives changed, and I struggled to let go. At the time I had no idea of the future. I had no idea what that thing was that was so much farther and grander than I could ever imagine. All that I knew was that I sensed God speaking to me and telling me that I needed to start letting go and to start trusting Him for more.

One Sunday morning at church during the worship I felt the Spirit speak to me so clearly. He wanted me to let go of the current movement that I had been a part of for several years and embrace a new season. I struggled to step out, but I knew that there was no other choice. If you’ve walked with Jesus for any period of time then you know, God’s way is always the best way.

I stepped out that morning and I walked down the aisle and opened up my palms and said “I surrender all.” I cried like a baby on that altar knowing full well that I couldn’t go back. Jesus spoke so clearly to me at that moment. I felt His comfort, His peace. Very shortly after that moment a vision was born. Pinewood Church. And already God has done more than I could have possibly imagined.

How many of you know that God’s plan is best?! And that when you let go of the rope, you can trust that He’s got you!

Pattern of Paul:

1. Engage A City
2. Make Disciples
3. Plant Churches

You never arrive at church and boom, mission complete! We are called to live in the pattern of the mission. To always be engaging our city, making disciples, and sending people out to plant more churches!

“I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 1:6