The Vision for Newlife Church

— What did Jesus intend the church to look like?

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Andrew Fountain — Sept 19th, 2010

Today I want to talk about a vision for Newlife Church
- Its important to have a vision. If you don’t, then you could end up with anything:

No Vision

Upside Down Church

Last week we looked at design principles
- If you don’t have a fundamental design, you drift
- This has happened in the church!!
- What were Jesus’s design principles for the church?
- Can anyone remember any of them (John 17)

Design Principles from John 17

We do not belong to the world, but we are to live as part of the world
We are sent into this world, just as Jesus was
- dedicated to showing God’s character and love
- transformed by “truth”
The world will believe us when they see supernatural love and unity between us
This love has a second purpose: Our destiny, united with Jesus

Will we ever own a building—I don’t know
I would rather rent the Skydome than own something like this:

For some people, their vision of a church is something like this

Notre-Dame Basilica, Montreal

So did Jesus give us any plans for how to build a church?
- He actually gave us a whole book as a blueprint
- The book of Acts was intended to be taken as a pattern for us
  - except in the places where it was clearly an unrepeatable event
- The first church that was planted in Antioch, just up the coast from Palestine

The planting of the church at Antioch

The Stoning of Stephen

The very first person to die because they followed Jesus was Stephen
- who was stoned to death
- There was a postive result, instead of staying in Jerusalem, the Christians went out
We are going to look at Acts 11:19-30 and 13:1-3

1. Evangelism and Growth by God’s grace

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.
But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.

1. More Evangelism and Growth

The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch.
When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose,
for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.
And a great many people were added to the Lord.

2. A foundation of excellent teaching

So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

3. Strong in all the supernatural gifts

Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch.
And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).

One of the five-fold giftings
- Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers
- we see them all here (pastors not explicit, but Barnabus was an encourager)

4. Social Justice

A church that cares about and responds to social needs

So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.
And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

The Kingdom
- Of course not just physical needs
- But that is a picture of what the kingdom does spiritually
- Yet if we ignore physical needs James condemns us!
Interlude in ch 12 where Herod persecutes the church
- follow Barnabas and Paul down the coast to Jerusalem, then the camera follows them back
- focus at this point shifts to Antioch
- (finally Rome)

5. Diversity

A church whose people and leadership are diverse in culture and social position

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers,
- Barnabas,
- Simeon who was called Niger,
- Lucius of Cyrene,
- Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch,
- and Saul.

Different ethnic backgrounds
- and different strata of society
Ethnic:
- From Cyrene
- Niger means dark-skinned
social:
- nobleman
- Discipes were similarly very varied
no accident that Luke mentions this

6. God’s Presence

A valuing of God’s presence as a source of their strength

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting,…

Eden: life of God
- to be thrown out of Eden is to be cut off from life

7. Missions

A church that has missions at it’s heart and is a strong sending and resourcing base

(cont’d) …the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

I want to see this
- Quebec?

Vision for Newlife Church

Evangelism and Growth by God’s grace and favour
A foundation of excellent teaching
Strong in all the supernatural gifts
A church that cares about and responds to social needs
A church whose people and leadership are diverse
A valuing of God’s presence as a source of strength
A church that has missions at it’s heart and is a strong sending and resourcing base

Are you up for this?
- Is this what you have signed up for?
We need everyone!
- “Spiritual Stones” —what if you buy a lego building kit and something is missing?

Updated on 2010-09-20 by Andrew Fountain