Alive, yet…
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Revelation 2-3 – 7 Letters for 7 Churches series
Wake up!
1. To the reality behind the reputation
2. To the invitation to live while you can
3. Promises
Poor, yet..
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Revelation 2-3 – 7 Letters for 7 Churches series
The knowledge of Jesus regarding opposition:
1. Afflictions
2. Poverty
3. Slander
The promise of Jesus in the face of opposition:
1. Comfort
2. Control
3. Generous reward
�Be faithful, even to the point of death,
and I will give you the crown of life�. [Rev 2:10]
Love letter straight to the heart
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Revelation 2-3 – 7 Letters for 7 Churches series
Is there a doctor on board?
1. The good news� (Rev 2:2-3)
*They have worked hard
*They have persevered
* They have refused to compromise
2. The bad news� (Rev 2:4)
* They have forsaken their first love
3. Three Instructions to rectify things:
1) �Remember� (Rev 2:5)
2) �Repent� (Rev 2:5)
3) �Do the things you did at first� (Rev 2:5)
You’ve got mail
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Revelation 2-3 – 7 Letters for 7 Churches series
What does the Lord Jesus Christ have to say about his Church?
1. I know my local churches
2. I know individuals
3. I know the past, present and future
What does the Lord Jesus Christ give his Church?
1. Power
2. Light
Handling the Disagreeable!
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Acts – Church On The Move series
1. There�s a Problem in the Church!
* Jesus+ Christianity
2. There�s a Solution:
a) A church is used in the process
b) Individuals are used in the process
* The �Judaizers� speak (Acts 15:5)
* Peter speaks (Acts 15:7-11)
* Paul and Barnabas speak (Acts 15:12)
* James speaks (Acts 15:13-21)
3. There are Practical Steps to be taken (Acts 15:20)
A Discipling Church
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Acts – Church On The Move series
The disciple’s checklist:
1) Courageous witness
2) Discernment in adversity
3) Appropriate humility
4) Good news people
5) Strengthening and encouraging
6) Reporting back
The Great Commission
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Christian Foundations series
Matthew 28:18-20 – AUTHORITY
Mark 16:15-16 – FINAL JUDGEMENT
Luke 24:45-49 – FULFILMENT
John 20:21-22 – REPRESENTATION
Acts 1:8 – GEOGRAPHY
1. WIN: “Go…”
2. BUILD: “Make Disciples…”
“Baptising them…”
“Teaching them…”
3. SEND: Disciples become disciplers
A Praying Church
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Acts – Church On The Move series
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!
The Person & Work of the Holy Spirit
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Christian Foundations series
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]
A Community Church
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Acts – Church On The Move series
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)
The Lord’s Supper
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Christian Foundations series
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?
God on the Move
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Acts – Church On The Move series
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
Jesus’ Post-Resurrection Appearance and Call
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Christian Foundations series
‘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)
SANCTIFICATION: Growing in likeness to CHRIST
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Christian Foundations series
Definitions:
Justification = Beginning of Christian life; once for all
Santification = On-going process through Christian life
1. From God’s viewpoint: SAINTS ALIVE!
(Romans 6:1-14 1 Cor 1:2,6:11 1 Peter 1:2)
2. From the Christian’s Experience: SAINTS BECOMING!
(Romans 6:11,14,18)
* The work of the Holy Spirit
* Perfectionism? (Matt 5:48)
* Our part (Phil 2:12-13)
* Taking off / Putting on (Romans 8:12f, 12:1-21 Galatians 5:13-26)
* Spiritual Breathing (1 John 1:9)
* The corporate dimension
“Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11)
Adoption into God’s Family
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Christian Foundations series
Adoption into God�s family means:
1) A new Father
a. the Holy Spirit reminds us we are no longer slaves, but sons (Romans 8:14-15)
b. the Holy Spirit enables us to pray �Abba� Father (Romans 8:15)
2) A new Family
a. our new family name (1 John 3:1)
b. our family likeness (1 John 2: 29; 3:10)
c. our elder Brother � Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29; Heb. 2:10ff.)
d. our willingness to be disciplined (Heb. 12:5ff.)
e. our future hope as heirs (Romans 8:17; 1 John 2:28)
�Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.�
Isaiah 49:15-16
Consequences of growth
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Acts – Church On The Move series
CRISIS� = danger and opportunity (see Chinese characters for Crisis)
From outside the church = persecution
From inside the church = corruption
In Chapter 6 the crisis = distraction
(John Stott)
A very positive problem: �the number of disciples was increasing� (Acts 6:1)
THE DANGERS:
1) Strained energies � �overlooked� (Acts 6:1)
2) Strained relationships � �Grecian Jews� and �Hebraic Jews� (Acts 6:1)
3) Strained priorities � �ministry of the Word� vs. practical needs (Acts 6:2)
THE OPPORTUNITIES:
1) For reorganization – how flexible are we?
2) For delegation � choosing the right people
3) For prepared people � �full of the Spirit and of wisdom� (Acts 6:3)
4) For priorities � �the ministry of the word� (Acts 6:4)
5) For prayer � �attention to prayer� (Acts 6:4)
The Gamaliel Principle
Tim Welch speaking as part of our Acts – Church On The Move series
The wisdom of God vs. The wisdom of the world
(1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5)
1. The Fight for Truth
2. The Human Referee: Gamaliel
� Precedent (Acts 5: 36-37)
� Time (Acts 5: 38-39)
� Caution
3. The Christian Disciples Respond:
�Rejoicing because they had been counted worthy
of suffering disgrace for the Name.� (Acts 5: 41)