1. Eldersa) Jesus is the Senior Pastor- head, founder, builds, teaches, shepherds, disciplines, appointsb) Elder/Overseer/Shepherd-Pastor- character, called, appointed, recognized, teamc) Free to lead under God- serving... guard, guide, govern2. Apostlesa) Historically- Jesus, the "Twelve", New Testament, modern timesb) Apostle's role/function (Ephesians 4:11-13 )- plant, foundations, build, appoint, father, correct, known, teamc) Apostles Today?- needed to plant, build, equip, send out!

1. Discipleship: Fix Me or Follow Jesus?v 22 "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations (hardships) we must enter the kingdom of God."a) Disciples = Health/wealth/prosperity?- Close personal relationship between the disciple and the teacherb) Following Jesus- War and Peacec) Jesus is our Example- Obedient... tempted/betrayed/stripped/flogged/mocked/crucified2. Discipleship: Easy or Hard?v 19 "But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead." a) Paul's calling- "I will show him how much he must suffer for my name"b) Paul's life - Go, preach, model, persecution, escape... repeatc) We are in a battle- Expect it... physical/verbal/social/character/persecution3. Discipleship: Audience or Army? v 21 "When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they had returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch..."a) Spectators or Followers- Local Church is vitalb) Encouragement is key- Strengthened by personal and corporate devotionc) Sacrifice and Obedience today- A Cost and a Reward

1. The Gospel: Starting Points (v 1)a) The Gospel never changes- But how we share to gospel does! b) Church Culture Background?- Can use church/Christian terms to communicate c) Non/Un/Post-Christian Background?- Need to listen and find new ways to engage2. The Gospel: Building Bridges (v 15a)a) One size fits all?- Paul's example... relevant connections b) Our Culture- Authentic, Love, Community, Freedom, Significance, Justice...c) Contact Points- Family, Co-workers, School, Neighbours, "Change and Pain"3. The Gospel: Signs and Wonders (v 3)a) Signs and wonders- "Starting Points" for the Gospel b) Signs and wonders- "Confirmation" of the Gospel c) Today...- Good news for everyone, God's help to live and share well!

1. Called to proclaim a grace message on the power of the Spirit... (v 38b-39)a) To the nominal believer... Galatians 3 & Hebrews 10b) To Christians hungering for a true expression of the Gospel...c) To the lost...God has always been intent on building faith based communities which embrace the power of the Holy Spirit, founded on the truth of the Word of God as Godly, called and submitted leadership devoted to the outward message of Jesus2. Called to be faithful and submitted to the Word of God (v 48)a God's word is the truth. It holds up to all scrutiny. Andrew Wilson and others http://whatyouthinkmatters.orgb) The Gentile believers schooled the Jews with the assent to the authority of God's Wordc) We have a truth that weathers the storms of life.3. We are called to "Go" (v 49)a) The truth spreads through those who are convinced by itb) The filling of the Holy Spirit always has a missional motive at it's corec) And... this brings great, supernatural joy (v 52)The "going" is sometimes in the "staying"!

Antioch: A Model ChurchActs 12:24-13:51) Antioch: A Model in Worshipa) Put a priority on enjoying the presence of Godb) Open to the Holy Spirit leadingc) Word & Spirit2) Antioch: A Model of Sendinga) The priority of prayerb) Obedientc) Commission3) TMP Today?

1. Good relationshipKnowing God personally"A personal relationship with the Father, the Son and the Spirit is the greatest of all blessings of Christian life." - GrudemThrough prayer (Isaiah 40:31 )Through being filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)2. Good TheologyWe must base our thoughts and feelings on Scripture -- the truthWe will all sufferBy his grace alone! God doesn't owe us anything!"My power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12 )Suffering can glorify GodSanctifies usBrings us closer to God; increases our dependence on Christ – this is God's will for our lives! 3. Good community"... but earnest prayer was made to God by the church." (v5)"When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many we gathered together and praying."(v12)Suffering can bring us into closer communityA good community helps us get to know God moreCorporate prayer is powerful!Get stuck in! 4. Good VisionEternal vision1 Peter 1:3-7 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ."This lifetime is but a drop. Only temporary.Eternity is perfect, glorious paradise, with No Suffering!This gives us a deep rooted, constant reason to rejoice – even in our suffering!“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” Romans 8:18ConclusionWe can rejoice in our sufferingRomans 8:35-39 "... we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."Do you rejoice on your suffering?Do you let it sanctify you?Do you turn away from, or to God?

1. A bit of history for perspective...- "Christendom"- People Christianized but not converted- The evangelical age- Advantages and disadvantages- On an accelerated slide since bid 20th century- 'Evangelism' as one ministry among many- The "shrinking market" - The alternative?2. The nuts and bolts of being missional...- A relatively new "buzzword"- We need to be clear on what we mean- Means different things to different people...- Individual and Word-based- Individual and Deed-based- Corporate and Deed-based- Corporate and Word-based- In our definitions, we would aim to encompass all of theseA missional church speaks of a community that doesn’t see the church meeting as the main connecting point with unbelievers, rather we meet people within their culture by expressing the gospel through the way we live. It is about living out a Christian counter-culture and not retreating from the culture around us, but bringing the gospel to it in a way that is contextual through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.3. Scriptural connections?a) The promise to be missional... Acts 1:8 b) The missional nature of the Holy Spirit... Acts 2:4-11 c) Missional in lifestyle... Acts 2:44-45 , 47d) Missional in meeting needs... Acts 3:3-6 e) Ordinary people - missional in the power of the Spirit... Acts 4 f) Missional in their concern for the poor... Acts 6:1-3 g) Missional in meeting people where they are at... Acts 8:29-31 h) Missional in obedience and taking risks... Acts 10:34-35 , 45i) Missional with a growing global vision... Acts 11:20-21 4. An exhortation to be missionala) We have the promise of the holy spiritb) Being missional in in our (new) nature!c) Our lifestyle matters... It speaks volumes d) We meet people's unperceived needse) On all levels we are filled with boldnessf) We will be asked by the holy spirit to help the poorg) We begin where people are and not where we think they should beh) We take risks; to the holy spirit it is a sure thing!i) Encouraging to know we are together in this!