His name is Fred, Fred Ogutu. (Pic 1- picture taken 12 days ago) Fred, his wife Goretty and 3 children (including a new born) live in Kibera…one of the world’s biggest slums in Nairobi, Kenya.
· 1 million people in an area roughly the size of Hazel Del to Carey Rd. north to 161st St.
· Fred has ministered there in some of the roughest human conditions on the planet. Life crushing poverty, disease, constant transience, and murder.
Why would an intelligent man with graduate degree from Kenyan university subject himself and his family to such brutal conditions? Because of what he believes in. Fred is a pastor and he believes in the power of the church.
· 12 years ago Fred opened Tumaini church (hope) and today they are ministering to hundreds of desperate people…including 300+ children in the Tumaini School attached to the church.
2 weeks ago I spoke at a conference in Nairobi that Pastor Fred and 600 other wild eyed young men and women from 23 different countries attended. They gathered for one reason…they believe in the power of the church. They were committing their lives to planting churches world-wide.
These people…many of whom showed up wearing the only clothes they own…believe this:
The church is the most influential, powerful, life altering, soul changing, nation saving social institution in the history of the world.
· They believe that no social construct…nothing formed by human beings…comes close to matching the sheer power and potential of a local church.
· Not governments, not schools, not fraternal organizations, not corporations or businesses.
They believe what most Americans do not. Statistics of participation in church are crystal clear. Most Americans see church as just one option in a sea of options for their life. Why is that?
· Perhaps it’s because when we think of church we only think of buildings. (pics)
· Maybe it’s because we have been jaded by current images of the church in action. (pic)
· Or maybe we’re laboring under old memories growing up in church. (pics)
The fact is that every new American generation has a diminished belief in the church that is handed down to them from their parents.
Today I want to change that belief in you. Today I want to re-envision you about the church…re-inspire you…
The church is the most influential, powerful, life altering, soul changing, nation saving social institution in the history of the world.
The church is simply the hope of the world and it is the hope of your life and it is the hope of your children. Jesus said it would be and he was the one who conceived of the whole idea.
· the church is the hope for salvation of those separated from God
· the church is a hot bed of relationship for those who are isolated and lonely.
· the church is a source of healing for the deep pain of human beings
· the church is a voice for reconciliation among people who hate each other
· the church is a catalyst for repairing a decaying creation
· the church is an army that battles against the injustices plaguing mankind.
And today I am going to show you why that is all true. And at the end of this message I will be unequivocal… this is not just a sociology lesson…there is no more powerful a social organization for you and your family than the church. I am going to show you why you should choose a church, engage in that church deeply and stay there for the long haul.
But first, let’s review…
· Legacy – story line of the Bible. This summer we reach the end of the story line in the book of Acts (Epistles are letters written in the timeframe of Acts)
· Last week we saw the actual birth of the church: eye witness account.
Acts 2:40 page _________
· setting was a little less than a month following the resurrection and disappearance of Jesus
· he commissioned 120 followers to sit and wait and pray
· and as they were doing so…a mighty wind blew into the room where they were gathered…
o spoke in languages , people gathered, Peter preached
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
And at that moment the church was born.
Until that moment these 3120 people’s lives revolved around their families and their communities. But at that moment in history that all changed.
· and what was born that day …no one in the world had ever experienced…
· And over the days and weeks following the coming of the great and mighty wind the church started to take shape.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
Here is what I want you to see in this story:
There is nothing on earth that can match the life changing power of the church.
There is nothing on earth that can match the life changing power of the church…to educate in the most essential life decisions.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching
· who were the apostles? The 12 who walked with Jesus.
· what did they teach? 1. the OT 2. The lessons they learned from Jesus.
· their lessons were what led to the writing of the Gospels (“somebody better write this down”)
The apostles teaching was not arithmetic, grammar, and geography – it was in the most basic essential life issues:
· What do I do when someone hates me or hurts me?
· How do I prepare for the future?
· How can I make my marriage better?
· How do I manage my money?
· What do I do when I’m in financial difficulty?
· How can I make a difference in this world?
· How can I control my urges and temptations?
· How do I talk with God?
· How will I know if I’m succeeding in life?
For over 2000 years the church offered an unparalleled life curriculum that comes from the mouth of God himself.
Where else can you get that comprehensive of a life education?
The church is the most influential, powerful, life altering, soul changing, nation saving social institution in the history of the world.
Let’s go on…
There is nothing on earth that can match the life changing power of the church…to bring together diverse people into fellowship.
· 42 They devoted themselves …to the fellowship (communion, participation – lit. having in common)
From day one the church was diverse – and it only got more so in the days ahead
· men and women, slaves and free, rich and poor…nationalities of all kinds jew and gentile
· people who had nothing in common now had a lot in common
42 They devoted themselves … to the breaking of bread
· could represent the Lord’s supper or a regular meal or BOTH (which is most likely)
Their commonality wasn’t rote or routine it was passionate:
46 They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts
· Together – the same passion
· with joy and sincerity
The church was a diverse community happily united around a common Christ, kingdom and Spirit.
There is nothing on earth that can match the life changing power of the church…to unleash the power of God
43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
· Healings (some by shadows), deaths, earthquakes, conversions, transportation over miles, prophecies, dreams…and the biggest…the collapse of the wall between Jew and Gentile.
And apparentrly this all happened because Vs. 42 - They devoted themselves …to prayer.
· they asked – God answered.
God unleashed their innate power…remember they were all filled with the Spirit!
The church innately possesses the power of God!
· The federal/state/local government does not innately possess the power of God.
· No school system innately possesses the power of God.
· No fraternal organizations innately possesses the power of God.
· No corporation or business innately possesses the power of God.
Only the church innately possesses the power of God. Which is why…
The church is the most influential, powerful, life altering, soul changing, nation saving social institution in the history of the world.
We go on…
There is nothing on earth that can match the life changing power of the church…to create and sustain a needs-meeting social network
44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
Talk about a sudden life shift… upon the birth of the church…
· people started noticing the physical needs of others
· they started looking at their stuff differently and renounced a claim on their possessions
· they shared with one another
And there is no sense that the apostles forced this on them. this was the Holy Spirit giving them new eyes and new passions.
Finally…
There is nothing on earth that can match the life changing power of the church…to save lives.
47 … enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
· fascinatingly, at least at first, Jerusalem loved them! (that changed in time as religious leaders realized the threat the church was to politics and organized religion)…but people dug them…and joined them!
· people were getting saved from all over the world and filled with the holy spirit
o Acts 2:41 – 3000
o Acts 4:4 – 5000
o Acts 5:14 – more and more were added to their number
What were people getting saved from?
· Peter suggested it was from a corrupt generation
· …but we know from Jesus teaching …sin, separation from God, selfish lifestyle, life of destruction.
The first church was a mega church. Full of wild-eyed, miracle experiencing, passionately praying, possession sharing, Kingdom minded totally transformed people from every walk of life.
No other social organization can affect that kind of change.
The church is the most influential, powerful, life altering, soul changing, nation saving social institution in the history of the world.
Caveat: What about para-church organizations? Like our 35 partners?
· they are subsidiaries or extensions of the local church
· they would not exist without the local church nor could the local church get the job done completely without them.
· I speak of the church and para-church in the same breath.
So then, what should you do about this? Some very pointed suggestions:
1. Drop your misconceptions and biases about the church. Whatever your past experiences…drop them once and for all. It doesn’t matter anymore how you grew up with or without the church.
2. Take church seriously. Stop treating the church like a mall in which you shop for the stuff you like or need.
3. Consistently attend all the time – both corporate worship experiences and small groups. And have your kids attend all the time. Don’t miss.
4. If you are thinking of leaving your church and coming here…don’t. Go back to your church…make things right …serve and love there.
5. If you are thinking of leaving here. Don’t. Make things right. Love and serve God here for the long haul.
6. And at your church…engage in fellowship…share with one another…meet needs
7. And of course give …the firstfruits of your tithe to your church.
If indeed the church is the most influential, powerful, life altering, soul changing, nation saving social institution in the history of the world….
…then where else should we go?
…where else should we invest?
…where else should we love?
…where else should we serve?