Are you “Pentecost Ready?” 07/14/12 Highland Hope UMC Acts 2

Acts 2:41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. So begins the “perfect” church. But how do you cope with 3000 new Christians?

Jesus worked with the disciples for three years to get them ready for ONE day: They were Pentecost ready! preparing 120 committed disciple makers to watch over a growing Church of new believers.

Ralph Neighbour’s Crying Member Parable: Sunday school class has started. About ten minutes into the lesson, class members begin to notice that a woman in the back row is crying very softly.

When her weeping becomes obvious to everyone, the class leader gently asks what is wrong. She shares that her boyfriend left her the night before and continues to cry inconsolably. What would happen next in your class?

Is it this kind of class?

Or this kind of class?

Two basic types: what sort of leaders? Task oriented: Programs & events Directive Leaders Relationship oriented: Conversations & families Loving Leaders

Acts 2:41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. 42 And they devoted themselves to (1) the apostles' teaching and (2) fellowship, to the (3) breaking of bread and (4) the prayers. JethroActs 1000s The Pentecost Problem Exodus 18:14-23

Acts 2:46 And day by day, (1) attending the temple together and (2) breaking bread in their homes, (3) they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, 47 (4) praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved new Christians met in homes, watched over by 120 disciple makers trained by Jesus to do this (2 groups each).

As most churches grow larger, they become more structured and business like to prevent chaos … until structure becomes the problem by stifling dialogue & initiative. <100 … 300+ … … 25,000+

The smallest and the largest churches focus on growing stronger believers in small groups that function like spiritual families. These small groups continually ask: “What do you think we should do?” “What did Jesus say about this?” <100 … 300+ … … 25,000+

You are attending a church – a great tool for growing beautiful Christians. But the goal is for you to bloom like a flower, not endlessly improve the efficiency of the flower pot.

One advantage of the church of Acts: Task oriented: Programs & events Directive Leaders Relationship oriented: Conversations & families Loving Leaders Other people ran the temple... all the church of Acts had to do was be a church.

One advantage of the church of Acts: Relationship oriented: Conversations & families Loving Leaders Other people ran the temple... all the church of Acts had to do was be a church.

The Church of Acts is a nurturing network. Relationship oriented Conversations & families Loving Leaders When churches encounter problems, it's often due to relational problems in the network. Few churches intentionally work to organize “fellowship” – which is the relationship network in a church.

Network leaders trained by ↓ Jesus for three years.

In The Church of Acts People Are Connected in a nurturing network. Relationship oriented: Conversations & families Loving Leaders

In The Church of Acts People Are Connected “I am the vine, you are the branches.”

The Church of Acts is a nurturing network. Relationship oriented Conversations & families Loving Leaders As in every genuine church today, in the Jesus model everyone has someone connected to them in a spiritual network. T he question is whether you know who that person is or not.

If the pastor was gone to Annual Conference for a week … - who would you turn to with a question about spirituality or the bible?

If the pastor was gone to Annual Conference for a week … - who would you turn to with a question about spirituality or the bible? - who would you turn to for emotional support?

If the pastor was gone to Annual Conference for a week … - who would you turn to with a question about spirituality or the bible? - who would you turn to for emotional support? - who would you team up with to serve God together?

If the pastor was gone to Annual Conference for a week … - who would you turn to with a question about spirituality or the bible? - who would you turn to for emotional support? - who would you team up with to serve God together? Who Are you Connected To?

Hint: connecting usually involves food.

and it usually involves fun. Who are you connected to?

Don't just stand there! Love one another! Present Day Pentecost