A Messy Church

1. Holy Spirit-inspired Leaders (Acts 13:1-2)

2. Holy Spirit-led “Sent-Out Witnesses” (Acts 13:2-3)

3. Holy Spirit-empowered Ministry (Acts 13:4-11)

4. Holy Spirit-convinced Believer ((Acts 13:12)

5. Holy Spirit-guided Supporters

* Prayer (Rom 15:30; 2 Cor 1:10-11; Phil 1:1)

* Partnership (Phil 1:4-5; 4:14-20)

* Reporting Back (Acts 14:26-28)

The Cambray Baptist Church Basis of Faith paragraph 9 says:

‘The Church of Jesus Christ is composed of all those who, confessing their repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, have been born again by the Holy Spirit.’

1. The Birth of the Church.

2. The Message of the Church – content and challenge.

3. The Life of the Church – fellowship, trouble inside, opposition from outside.

4. Who can be included in the Church?

A question to answer: what is God telling me to repent of now?

1. When the going gets tough

2. God gets going:

* But why the wait?

* And what about the peace?

3. Prayer meeting expectations

4. Evaluating a good prayer meeting!

1. Old Testament promise (Joel 2:28-32)
2. New Testament experience (Acts 2:1-47)
3. Jesus introduces �THE GIFT� of the coming Holy Spirit:
(John 14:1-16:33)
* To be another Counsellor

* To be with you forever

* To teach you and remind you of all things

* To guide you into all truth

* To convict of sin, righteousness and judgement

4. A personal Pentecost: The filling of the Holy Spirit

[7 NT references: Matt. 3:11; Mark 1: 8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; Acts 1:5; Acts 11:16; 1 Cor. 12:13]

1. Going out, not staying in (Acts 11:19-20)

2. Multicultural, not mono-cultural (Acts 11:20-21)

3. Risk takers, not comfort seekers (Acts 11:22-26)

4. Equipping, not dawdling (Acts 11:26)

5. Sending, not hoarding (Acts 11:27-30)

Two ordinances of divine institution are observed:
1. Believers� baptism by immersion as a confession of faith and an act of obedience. Matt.28:19-20; Acts 2:38
2. The Lord�s Supper as an act of remembrance and fellowship Luke 22:19-20; 1 Cor. 10:16; 1 Cor. 11:23-28

1. Eating together

2. Proclaiming together:
* Looking back to the Lord�s death (1 Cor. 11:26)
* Looking forward to the Lord�s return 1 Cor. 11:26b)
* Looking inside (1 Cor. 11:27-32)
* Looking around (1 Cor. 11:33-34)

3. Enjoying the Lord�s Supper together?

1. Pentecost 2: just when you thought it was safe

2. Availability not ability

3. Merry Christmas, law is over

1. The Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ

* Expressions to note
* Note the postition Jesus has
* More about the ministry of Jesus

2. The Personal Return of the Lord Jesus Christ

* What does all this mean for us?
* What are we to do then?

Guest speaker for the 166th Church Anniversary

Guest speaker for the 166th Church Anniversary

1. God moving people

2. God hearing prayer

3. God removing prejudice

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; And you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1: 8

‘Breakfast’ at Galilee!

1. Further evidence for Christ’s resurrection (John 21: 1-13)

2. Full restoration (John 21: 15-17)

3. Future work (John 21: 17-19)

EASTER 2009