Explosion in the Church

Introduction:  “The Kingdom of God has no limits.  The kingdom of God is not geographical, political, or social.  It knows no human or earthly limits; neither does it depend on human effort.  God has chosen to involve you and me in the advance of His kingdom, but His kingdom rests on His power, no ours.”  (Kingdom Principles for Church Growth, Gene Mims, p. 12) The work of Jesus Christ is both finished and unfinished.  His great work of providing redemption is finished, and nothing may be added to it.  His work of ministry and proclamation, however, is not finished.  That work he only started.  As the book of Acts begins, an important transition takes place.  The preaching and teaching that Jesus did on earth was primarily done by himself.  Now the preaching and teaching is about rest on the apostles’ shoulders.  From a human standpoint the apostles were in no way ready for a such a task.  The purpose of this message is to look at what it is going to take for their to be an explosion in the local church today as it was in the early church.

I. The Mystery (6-7)

·         The mystery of the coming kingdom on earth lends to the explosion in the church.

·         As they assemble with Jesus they ask him a question (v.6). It seemed to be legitimate, but inappropriate. 

·         The kingdom was coming.  Many of them remembered what Jesus said in Matt. 4:17, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

·         The mystery is the time (v.7) Jesus told them that it was not for them to know the time of the kingdom’s coming. 

·         Since the time is a mystery it imperative, even urgent that others be brought in the kingdom.  That’s why Isaiah said, “Seek ye the Lord while he may found, call ye upon him while he is near.”

II. The Motivation and Might for the Explosion (v.8a)

·         The mandate at hand is motivated by the might of the Spirit. 

·         Power (dynamis/dunamis) the word dynamite comes from this word.  This is the same power used of Jesus to work miracles.

·         This power comes via the Holy Spirit.

·         If there is going to be an explosion it will take the power of the Holy Spirit.

III. The Mission (8b)

·         To be witnesses (martyrs) of Jesus

·         His desire is that we be effective witnesses

·         Where…Jerusalem (home), Judea (neighbor), Samaria (enemy), uttermost part (everywhere else)

Conclusion:  What do you tell them when you get there?  The gospel message of Jesus birth, death, burial and resurrection.