Asbury Church

Over the summer, it just hit me: Jesus is really bullish about the future.

Imagine if someone told you to “plant a tree.” The implication would be that that person believed that the long, slow work of tree planting and cultivation was a worthwhile endeavor. It would be a really hopeful instruction, since tree-planting is a hopeful act.

That’s what hit me over the summer: right there in his final instructions, Jesus lets on that we should have hope for the future.

“Make disciples” is about as hopeful a command as there could be. It means that Jesus isn’t finished yet! No matter how bad things look, there is a future that God believes in.

One thing we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history. What was true in ancient Israel was equally true in the Roman Empire - idols were everywhere. On Paul’s missionary journeys, he would have encountered idols of every kind. In Acts 17, he visited Athens, where he would have seen numerous temples, altars, and statues dedicated to various false gods. He was deeply distressed by what he saw.

Idolatry is when something or someone becomes a rival to God’s exclusive glory. We are surrounded by it in our culture today. When we see it, are we deeply distressed like Paul was? Do we defend the name of the Lord and want idols in our culture erased? Or have we grown comfortable with them, tolerating them with very little resistance.

And what about you? Is there anyone or anything in your life that has become a rival to God’s exclusive glory?

When we open the Book of Acts, we are entering a world saturated with religion. Every city had its temples. Every household had its idols. Every culture had its gods. Worship and devotion were prominent in the first-Century. However, the people were not worshipping the One who could offer them forgiveness. They were not devoted to the One who had victory over death. They had settled for spiritual imitations–gods that could not save them. When the apostles preached about Jesus, they weren’t introducing another religious option. They were proclaiming that the real King had come, lived among them, died, and resurrected. And that changed everything. Every person had to answer the same question: is Jesus the real deal? The message of the apostles is now our message, and there are people all around who are wondering if Jesus is the real deal. Will you tell them?

You've likely heard Pastor Andrew say, "God has more for you." But what does that really mean? Experiencing the fullness of God isn't just about receiving more blessings; it's about becoming more like Christ and being prepared for His purposes. Throughout Scripture, God develops His people through seasons of formation, discipleship, and intentional relationships in the local church.

After Saul's dramatic conversion, God didn't immediately launch him into ministry. Instead, He used mentors such as Barnabas to encourage, equip, and prepare him for what lay ahead. Later, Paul would do the same for Timothy, passing the faith and leadership to the next generation. If we truly desire more of God, we must embrace His design for spiritual growth through mentorship. The question is: Are you allowing God to prepare you for more, and are you ready to invest in someone else's faith journey?

Acts 9 recounts Saul’s conversion. The Holy Spirit speaks to Saul and Ananias. Acts 9 shows some of the reasons God speaks to us today. 

Relationship requires communication. And communication requires speaking and listening.

In some ways, it is like going from noticing that a bird is singing to being able to identify a particular bird’s song.

This sermon will help you learn to tune in to the distinct sound of the Lord’s voice in your life.

The Apostle Paul was a Roman citizen from birth, and he used the rights and privileges of that citizenship for the purposes of the gospel.

American citizenship is a gift from God. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of America, we would do well to remember the tremendous privileges we American Christians have received by virtue of that citizenship. Will we use it for the glory of God and the furtherance of the gospel?

In Acts 15, the Jerusalem Council makes a fateful decision: Gentile Christians do not have to become Jewish before they can be saved. Rather, the Council realizes that all along God’s plan was to save the nations through Jesus.

The reason this matters is because it means that the church will be made up of lots of different cultures, each bringing their best to God.

In other words, heaven will be a lot like the World Cup….

In the book of Acts, the church continues to grow as the Lord adds to the number of those being saved. But growth creates new challenges. As more people come to faith, the need for leadership, service, and shared responsibility increases.

In Acts 6, we see a pivotal moment in the life of the church. Rather than allowing the demands of ministry to overwhelm a few leaders, God raises up others to serve. These new leaders bring unique gifts and strengths that complement the ministry of the Apostles, creating space for the gospel to continue advancing.

The mission of God has not changed. The Lord is still drawing people to Himself today. The question is: will you be part of what He is doing? What gifts has God entrusted to you? Where might He be calling you to serve? And what could happen if you stepped into the role He has prepared for you?

Jesus told his followers exactly what their mission was - GO and make disciples and teach them everything He commanded. After such clear instructions, why did Jesus then tell them to WAIT and not depart just yet? What were they waiting on?

I would like to set out a challenge for Asbury this summer:

By the end of the summer, I would like every single Asburian to have a personal testimony of the power of the Holy Spirit for mission and ministry.

Jesus told the apostles that the Father was going to give the Holy Spirit to empower them for ministry. The Holy Spirit is not for special Christians only, but for all Christians, because all Christians are meant to be in ministry.

Where might the Holy Spirit might want to empower you for mission this summer?