Lord we thank you for another opportunity to worship you Father Son and Holy Spirit
to worship you that you are the one true king our creator and that you are in the Lord Jesus
Christ also our great savior and we worship you Father for that plan of salvation established
before the foundation of the earth now we worship you Lord Jesus for coming to accomplish
the plan of salvation in your perfectly obedient life in your sacrificial death and then in your
victorious resurrection we praise you Holy Spirit for applying the work of salvation to the hearts
and lives of men and women and boys and girls all around the globe the fact that anybody confesses
Jesus as Lord is completely a work of your grace and so we thank you we thank you that we have good
news to share we have news of a God of covenant love a God who is faithful to his promises and
faithful to his people a God of great grace who delights to save those who do not deserve it
delighting to love the unlovely Lord we thank you that our good news is not just for some but Jesus is the
savior for all peoples now we remember that throughout your word there is that call to all the peoples to
praise you and so as we particularly focus on mission as we find it in the book of acts as we think
about the importance of mission in a local church we thank you that we can pray towards the great goal of
mission of seeing people become worshipers of you their father through Jesus the son and by the spirit
Lord we think of those agencies who are involved in translating the Bible and we know that people
need to hear the gospel to hear the good news of salvation as it's found in the Bible for them to be saved
and so Lord we pray for every translation project that's happening right now give all skill and wisdom
to those who are busy doing that in different parts of the world so that people would have the Bible in
their heart language to be able to hear from you Lord we also pray recognizing that there are so many
people groups who are as yet unreached that there are billions of people living today who have never heard of
Jesus who will never have the chance to meet a Christian who will never have a Christian church established
in their village or town or city unless you work powerfully by your spirit and so we pray for those who are
unreached asking that you would put it on the hearts of a Christian people all around the world and put it on our
hearts too to be ready to pray and to give and even if you would call us to go to make Jesus known
Lord we recognize that our great calling is to glorify you and to enjoy you and we know that that's an
enjoyment that is to be shared and so we pray that you'd help us locally now we pray that you'd help us
individually to be about the business of mission while we also pray for what you are doing around the
globe father tonight we pray especially for the nation of India with over 1 billion unreached people
and Lord we ask that from the the Christians in that country and from out with you would lay it on
people's hearts to learn those new languages to engage with those different cultures to be able to make
sacrifices for the sake of taking the gospel to where it's not gone yet and Lord we pray for some of the
unreached peoples in Sri Lanka and we pray the same that by your spirit you would bring openness where at
the moment things are closed Lord we pray too for those parts of the world where our brothers and
sisters in Christ are persecuted so severely we think of North Korea and Iran and Afghanistan we think of
Yemen we think of attacks in places like Nigeria and Pakistan and Lord so many live in fear so many are
imprisoned for their faith so many are watched as they go to a church service or are denied the privilege of
worship Lord as much as we want to be more and more thankful for what we have we also pray for our brothers and
sisters that you would refresh them in their chains in their limited freedom may they continue to persevere with
hope and with joy and may you use their lives and their witness to bring others to bring their oppressors to
bring their captors to faith in the Lord Jesus so we pray that you'd help us as we spend time in your word
and that you would guide us by your spirit we pray in Jesus name amen so we have two readings from the book of
Acts both are on the screens but you can also use your device or a church bible so we'll be in Acts chapter 1
and the first 11 verses so Luke's introduction to this book and then Acts 13 and just the first
five verses where we will consider the church in Antioch and mission there
so let's hear God's word
in my former book Theophilus I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach
until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen
after his suffering
he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive
he appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God
on one occasion while he was eating with them he gave them this command
do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my father promised
which you have heard me speak about for John baptized with water
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit
then they gathered round him and asked him Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel
he said to them it is not for you to know the times or dates the father has set by his own authority
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
after he had said this he was taken up before their very eyes
and a cloud hid him from their sight
they were looking intently up into the sky as he was going when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them
men of Galilee they said why do you stand here looking into the sky
this same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven
will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven
and then in Acts chapter 13 and the first five verses
we read this
now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers
Barnabas Simeon called Niger
Lucius of Cyrene
Manan
who'd been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch
and Saul
while they were worshipping the Lord and fasting
the Holy Spirit said
set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them
so after they'd fasted and prayed
they placed their hands on them and sent them off
the two of them
sent on their way by the Holy Spirit
went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus
when they arrived at Salamis
they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues
John was with them
as their helper
and we will leave it there
we'll consider some other texts from Acts and other places
but as we continue thinking about habits of a healthy church
here's habit four
a healthy church cares about God's glory
and global mission
and one of the things I hope is that we'll see that those two
absolutely belong together
let's begin thinking about motives for mission
perhaps the most striking or sobering statistic that I came across this week
is this one
consider this for a moment
as we look around
our small church gathering this Sunday evening
there are more Christians in this building
than there are in the whole of North Yemen
a place with 8 million people
there are still 7,400 unreached people groups
an unreached people group
an unreached people group is one where
there are so few Christians
that the church will never be
until the spirit moves
strong enough
to evangelize the rest of the group
455 of those unreached people groups
have over 10 million people in them
India has over 1 billion people today
who are still unreached
and so quite often when we think about
the motives for mission
we go straight to need
and the needs are evident
we don't need to go far
we can just think about
our own streets
the reality of people facing a lost eternity
without knowing Christ as Savior
need is there
but the primary motive
that we find in God's word
for mission
is the glory of God
listen to Romans 15
in fact you can turn to Romans 15
this is a point where
Paul is explaining his desire
to take the gospel
to places where nobody else has taken it
so he wants to keep traveling
and as part of that
so Romans 15 is all about that
and from verses 9 to 12
he quotes from four different
Old Testament texts
so his desire is that the Gentiles
might glorify God for his mercy
as it's written
therefore I will praise you
among the Gentiles
I will sing the praises of your name
this is motivation
again it says
rejoice you Gentiles
with his people
book of Deuteronomy
that stated intention
of God's desire
that the Gentiles
would be worshippers
with the Jews
and again
this time from Psalm 117
praise the Lord
all you Gentiles
let all the peoples
extol him
then Isaiah 11
the root of Jesse
will spring up
one who will arise
to rule over the nations
in him
the Gentiles
will hope
and so Paul recognizes
Jesus is this king
Jesus is both king
and hope
for the nations
and so his desire
was to go to new places
so that more people
would recognize
and know
Jesus as their king
but the glory of God
is the primary motivator
in scripture
for mission
John Piper famously put it
missions exist
because worship doesn't
we support mission
because God deserves honor
and we want to see people
being worshippers of him
so a healthy local church
then cares about local
and global mission
but if you know anybody
who has been involved
in mission
or if you know anybody
who organizes mission conferences
you will probably
recognize
that it's typical
that support comes
from those who are
more elderly
perhaps people who are
on the mission field
for a long time
those who have been faithful
and praying for decades
whereas people
would recognize
mission agencies
organizations
would recognize
that for a younger generation
there's that sense
well mission's not really my thing
I don't really do
the mission thing
but one thing that I hope
that we can see
from the word of God
is that if we care
about God being glorified
in the world
so if we care about God's honor
then we will care about
God's global mission
and how we get involved
in that will look different
but we should
at very base level
care about it
we should care about
all people
enjoying the gospel
and praising Jesus
and so it's really helpful
to look at Acts
which is the great
missions book
first half
which focuses so much
on the apostles
as they testify
to the Lord Jesus
even as they face
opposition
even as they find
themselves having to scatter
from Jerusalem
and then the second half
which focuses principally
on Paul's missionary journeys
so tonight we're going to look at
Luke's introduction
to the book of Acts
which in a sense
gives us some principles
and also sort of
make some observations
of how that sort of
worked itself out
in the local church
in Antioch
in chapter 13
to help us all consider
what's my part to play
in God building
his global kingdom
so let me
by way of
I guess defining
where we're going
let me
sort of spell it out
and then break it down
so a healthy church
will care about
God's mission
to continue
the work of Jesus
depending on the Holy Spirit
and bearing witness
to Jesus
in the world
and I think we can see
all of that
in the first 11 verses
of Acts
so the first thing
to notice
is that a church
on mission
continues
the work
of Jesus
and we're just going to
think about the first
four verses
to help us with that
as Luke begins
his book
he says
in my former book
Theophilus
I wrote about
all that Jesus
began to do
and to teach
and it's been recognized
that if
the gospel of Luke
is what Jesus
began to do
then we should understand
the book of Acts
is what Jesus
continues to do
now through his church
and by the Spirit
the gospel of Luke
speaks about
the birth of Jesus
the life of Jesus
including his teaching
and his miracles
his suffering
his death
the victory
of his resurrection
and his ascension
it is the record
of Jesus' ministry
on earth
and what do we have
in the book of Acts?
we have a record
of Jesus'
ongoing ministry
from heaven
through his apostles
now it's through
their sermons
now it's through
the signs and wonders
that they are doing
that the church
continues to grow
and expand
one example
to see that
in Acts chapter 3
and 4
we have that story
of Peter and John
going up to the temple
to pray
and meeting the lame beggar
who asks them
for money
and Peter turns
to him
and says
in verse 6
of chapter 3
silver or gold
I do not have
but what I do have
I give you
in the name of Jesus
Christ of Nazareth
walk
so they are
healing people
in the name of Jesus
Jesus
is continuing
his work
through them
and then the rest
of chapter 3
and chapter 4
bring us
Peter
boldly testifying
that Jesus
is Lord
he is
the Christ
that while
they killed
as he says
the author of life
God raised him
from the dead
and they declare
there's no other name
by which
we must
be saved
and so
mission
is about
testifying
that Jesus
is Lord
and continuing
the work
of Jesus
how would the
apostles
do this
ongoing work
we find in the
first four verses
of Acts 1
four important
realities
first in verse 2
we're told that
Jesus chose
the apostles
so we think about
the apostles
that we meet
in the book of Acts
they are
chosen and appointed
by Jesus himself
in verse 3
we're told that
Jesus showed
himself
to them
and that's
going to be so
important for the
first church
because here
they are
qualified
to bear witness
they have been
with Jesus
all through his
ministry
there when he died
they saw him
risen
they are qualified
to bear witness
they are qualified
to write the
New Testament
thirdly
we discover here
that Jesus
commissioned them
verse 2
he gave
instructions
through the
Holy Spirit
to the
apostles
in verse 8
they're called
his witnesses
so by the
Spirit
empowered by the
Spirit
they would be
ambassadors
they would be
witnesses
they would take
that instruction
and they would
live it out
and fourth
and very
importantly
Jesus promised
them
the Holy Spirit
so in verse 4
do not leave
Jerusalem
but wait for
the gift
my father
promised
which you
have heard
me speak
about
so they would
continue the
work of
Jesus
once Jesus
had sent
the gift
of the
Holy Spirit
which is
in itself
a fulfillment
of Old
Testament
promises
so we have
here four
specific
qualifications
for these
first apostles
how were they
able to
turn
the world
upside down
because they
were chosen
Jesus revealed
himself to
them
he commissioned
them and he
gave them
the Holy Spirit
but at the
same time
when we think
about our
ongoing
ministry
we need to
recognize
that in a
secondary
sense
these things
are all true
of us as
well
if we are
Christians
we have
been chosen
by God's
grace
we've been
chosen by
Jesus
Jesus has
revealed himself
to us
by his
spirit
and through
the word
to be
our
Lord
and
Savior
and when
we are
followers
of Jesus
we are
commissioned
we are
sent out
into the
world
as his
followers
to make
Jesus
known
and we
too
have the
Holy Spirit
we have
God
with us
we have
that power
within us
and we'll
think a
little bit
more
about that
so here
we discover
Jesus
the all
powerful
Savior
and King
who could
have chosen
any means
for world
mission
deliberately
chose
the church
is how
Jesus
is going
to continue
his work
in the
world
and that's
why we read
from Acts
chapter 13
because Acts
chapter 13
shows us
one example
of how that
works out
in practice
so here is
the Antioch
church
and the Antioch
church was
hugely
significant
for the
early
missionary
movement
so we're
introduced
in the first
couple of
verses
or the
first
verse
to their
local
leadership
and notice
how international
their leadership
is there's
at least
someone from
North Africa
there's people
from very
different
backgrounds
and they are
taking the
lead
they are
seeking
God's
face
they are
involved
in worship
they're seeking
the Lord
and as they
do so
they're led
by the
spirit
to appoint
Barnabas
and Saul
so two
of their
leadership
are then
sent
to go
on their
missionary
journeys
this
church
is a
very young
church
just recently
established
but from
the beginning
God's
design
for a
local
church
is that
it would
be central
to his
purpose
of global
mission
so that
means one
clear
priority
for our
church
and for
every
church
is
spreading
the
gospel
to be a
community
in the
first instance
truly know
Jesus
we love
Jesus
and where
we're ready
to proclaim
Jesus
for the
sake of
God's
glory
and we'll
also support
others
in different
ways
who are
doing
likewise
in different
parts
from us
so the
church on
mission
continues
the work
of
Jesus
and perhaps
it's important
for us
to ask
well how
can you
how can
I
support
global
mission
here's
four ways
that we
can certainly
do that
and there
are more
one we
support
global
mission
when we
speak
to spread
the gospel
locally
when we
are obedient
where we
are
sharing
the hope
of Christ
where we
are
secondly
when we
pray
for the
spread of
the gospel
because we
believe that
just as much
as it was
God's
design
to use
the church
for mission
we also
know that
it was
God's
design
to use
prayer
for mission
and his
kingdom
and so we'll
do that
at the end
of our
service
we can
also give
for the
spread
of the
gospel
that was
one reason
why we
decided to
establish
our mission
support fund
we wanted
to put this
principle
into practice
to give us
a weekly
opportunity
to be
supporting
the church
plant in
Galashios
and to
support the
Reannels
in
Colombia
but we
can give
to support
mission
agencies
and
organizations
involved
in different
works
and we
can go
for the
spread of
the gospel
all of us
in a sense
are called
to be on a
journey as
missionaries
but that
journey will
be different
for all
of us
for some
of us
maybe that
will just
take us
across a
room
to be
sharing
our
faith
within the
context
of our
family
perhaps it
will take
us
across the
city
and we'll
be called
to live
as Christians
in a
workplace
and maybe
that's
our
particular
challenge
some of
us
will maybe
be called
to take
the gospel
across
the globe
and we need
to be ready
to hear
and to
respond
in faith
and obedience
why
because of
Jesus
Jesus has
arisen from
death
saviour
there is
no other
name by
which a
person can
be saved
other than
through
the person
and work
of
Jesus
so the
church on
mission
continues
the work
of
Jesus
secondly
the church
on
mission
depends
on the
Holy Spirit
verses 4
and 5
of Acts
chapter 1
and then
verse 8
bear that
out
so again
to read
verse 8
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
to read
verses 4
and 5
and verse 8
you realize
the same
truths
are brought
together
Jesus promises
he's going to
continue to
build his
church
and he's
going to
do that
through his
disciples
and he's
going to
do it
by his
spirit
and we
need to
remember
that
it's crucial
to mission
it's crucial
to our
Christian lives
the work
of the
Holy Spirit
to think
about Jesus
and his
own ministry
you know
his baptism
of course
was the
beginning
of his
public
ministry
and what
happens
as he
was about
to begin
his public
ministry
the spirit
descended on him
like a
dove
Jesus
is the
spirit
filled
man
and the
book of
Acts
and the
history
of the
church
represents
Jesus
ongoing
ministry
mission
is his
work
done
in his
power
Jesus
working
in and
through
us
by
the
promised
Holy
Spirit
we saw
a different
aspect of
that in
Acts
chapter
13
the spirit
leading them
in mission
so as the
church prayed
as they were
seeking God's
wisdom and
direction
the spirit
led them
to commission
to in
particular
Barnabas
and Saul
to go
for Christ
into the
wider
Roman
empire
and it's
amazing
to read
through the
missionary
journeys
of Paul
and to
recognize
how much
he was led
and directed
by the
spirit
so one
great
example
let me
read
Acts
chapter
16
you can
turn
there
verses
6
to
10
we
read
there
Paul
and his
companions
traveled
throughout
the region
of Phrygia
and Galatia
having been
kept by
the Holy
Spirit
from preaching
the word
in the
province
of Asia
so they
wanted to
go into
Asia
but the
spirit
said
no
and so
they went
elsewhere
when they
came to
the border
of
Mysia
they tried
to enter
Bithynia
but the
spirit
of Jesus
would not
allow them
to
so they've
been really
sensitive
to the
leading and
guiding of
the spirit
and perhaps
we're asking
why in the
world would
the spirit
tell them
not to go
and speak
of Jesus
perhaps they
were asking
that we don't
know
but we do
know
that they
passed by
Mysia
and went
down to
Troas
during
during the
night
Paul
had a
vision
of
a
man
of
Macedonia
standing
and begging
him
come over
to
Macedonia
and help
us
after Paul
had seen
the vision
we got
ready at
once to
leave for
Macedonia
concluding
that God
had called
us to
preach the
gospel
to them
and what
we find
after that
is that
Lydia
has
converted
the
Philippian
jailer
is very
dramatically
converted
the church
in
Philippi
has
its
beginning
and that
was the
spirit's
design
for that
time
in Paul's
missionary
journeys
and so
the spirit
was leading
and directing
and to
broaden that
and move
that away
from just
Paul's
missionary
journeys
and Paul
the apostle
we need to
recognize
that whenever
Jesus
through his
spirit
is giving
his people
power to
do his
work in
the world
it's a
spiritual
gift
that's why
God gives
us those
spiritual
gifts
so that
we can
work for
him in
the world
to make
Jesus
known
and so
it's
absolutely
fundamental
that we
are depending
on the
Holy Spirit
now three
ways and
there are
more but
three ways
at least
that we
are called
to depend
on the
Holy Spirit
when we
think in
the context
of mission
and let's
think about
our Bibles
and we are
called to
believe that
the Bible
has been
inspired
by the
Spirit
that this
is the
one
message
that people
need to
hear
and we
also believe
that it's
the Spirit
who gives
us
understanding
of that
word
and it's
the Spirit
that will
give someone
else the
understanding
of the
word so
they're able
to understand
their sin
and their
need and
Jesus as
Savior
one of the
things that's
so important
about the
ministry of
the Spirit
what did
the Spirit
delight to do
the Spirit
delights to
glorify
Jesus
so if
the Spirit
inspired the
Bible
and if the
Spirit
loves to
glorify
Jesus
then we
should
expect
our
Bibles
to be
testifying
all over
the place
to the
glory of
Jesus
and that's
what it
does
and the
Spirit
loves to
open
people's
eyes
so they
can see
the glory
of Jesus
in
his
word
so sharing
the good
news must
involve the
word of
God
and it
must also
involve us
asking the
Spirit
to help
open hearts
and minds
to the
truth
to help
us
if we want
to communicate
it
to help
the person
that we
want to
speak to
so we
need to
rely and
depend on
the Holy
Spirit
when it
comes to
the Bible
and our
sharing
of it
also
when we
think about
our
conversations
we're called
to depend
on the Holy
Spirit
even in
the context
of our
conversations
Jesus said
to his
disciples
slightly
different
context
where
they
were
going
to
face
persecution
and
opposition
and
Jesus
said
to
them
don't
worry
the
Spirit
will
teach
you
in
that
moment
what
you
are
to
say
and
there's
a
really
important
reminder
there
for
us
that
we
should
be
alert
to
the
opportunities
that
we're
being
given
and
we
be
trusting
the
Spirit
to
guide
conversations
to
guide
our
words
to
trust
the
Spirit
for
those
divine
appointments
those
meetings
that
God
has
already
planned
for
us
I
remember
years
ago
I can't
remember
who the
missionary
was
but
reading
of
one
missionary
who
in a
fairly
rural
context
had to
go to
the
market
every
day
for
their
supplies
and
then
go
on
to
their
work
now
you
can
imagine
having
a
constant
to-do
list
you might
want to
bash
on
and get
it
done
but
this
wise
missionary
added
at least
10
minutes
to
those
market
trips
to
have
that
margin
for
any
conversations
that
might
come
up
giving
herself
the
space
to
speak
to
people
to
engage
them
on
questions
of
faith
so
Bible
conversation
and the
third
one
where we
depend
on
the
Holy
Spirit
is
of
course
in
the
context
of
prayer
and
we
thought
about
this
not
that
long
ago
prayer
is
the
engine
room
mission
and
the
spirit
helps
us
as
we
pray
it
was
William
Carey
and I
really
like
the
image
I'm
going
to
share
it
again
it
was
William
Carey
the
famous
missionary
to
India
who
said
to
his
friends
I
will
go
down
the
mine
by
which
he
meant
I
will
go
to
do
the
hard
work
of
mission
with
all
its
sacrifice
I
will
go
down
the
mine
if
you
will
hold
the
ropes
prayer
is
taking
the
strain
to
support
ministers
missionaries
pastors
and
teachers
as
they
go
to
share
the
good
news
of
Jesus
will
we
take
the
strain
depending
on the
spirit
praying
for
missionaries
that we
know
and
missionaries
that we
don't
know
places
that we
are
familiar
with
places
we're
not
familiar
with
and
lastly
the
church
on
mission
bears
witness
to
Jesus
and
that's
there
in
chapter
1
verse
8
you
will
be
my
witnesses
in
Jerusalem
and
all
Judea
and
Samaria
and
to
the
ends
of
the
earth
it's
been
recognized
that
Jesus
had
what
sometimes
called
a
catch
and
release
strategy
with
his
disciples
by
which
it
meant
that
he
brought
them
in
and
they
spent
considerable
amounts
of
time
with
him
to
listen
to
watch
to
learn
to
help
him
in
ministry
but
then
he
sent
them
out
and
we
read
that
in
Luke's
gospel
sending
them
out
two
by
two
to
preach
to
announce
and
show
the
kingdom
was
near
and
so
here
in
Acts
1
we
find
Jesus
one
last
time
gathering
the
disciples
to
himself
before
he
returns
to
heaven
and
he
gathers
them
before
sending
them
out
as
witnesses
to
the
world
and
even
here
in
this
last
time
on
this
earth
that
they
would
be
gathered
together
he
has
there
are
really
important
realities
for
them
to
learn
about
the
Lord
Jesus
that
will
really
help
them
and
would
help
us
in
mission
as
well
so
one
thing
is
a
necessary
correction
for
them
so
in
verses
6
and
7
we
had
their
question
Lord
are you
at
this
time
going
to
restore
the
kingdom
to
Israel
they're
thinking
well now
that
Jesus
has
risen
from
the
dead
well
surely
the
kingdom
is
now
and
they
also
the
kingdom
must be
the
kingdom
is
unknown
and
he
tells
them
there'll
be
witnesses
to
the
ends
of
the
year
reminding
them
the
church
will
be
much
bigger
than
you
think
the
kingdom
will
be
full
of
people
who
will
take
you
by
surprise
their
mission
was
to
the
ends
of
the
earth
and
that's
what
we
see
in
the
book
of
Acts
the
message
of
the
apostles
to
the
world
that
God
sent
Jesus
and
Jesus
by
the
deliberate
plan
of
God
died
for
you
and
is
alive
for
you
and
he
invited
the
apostles
invited
people
to
be
saved
and
to
know
God's
grace
whoever
they
were
as
they
began
to
recognize
God's
plan
had
always
been
to
bring
blessing
to
the
nations
so
they
were
being
reminded
by
Jesus
that
he
is
a
global
king
and
all
the
people
should
praise
him
but
then
there's
also
the
message
from
the
angels
in
verse
11
reminding
them
that
Jesus
is
also
the
returning
king
so
important
for
them
as
they
saw
him
depart
men
of
Galilee
why
do you
stand
here
looking
into
the
sky
this
same
Jesus
who's
been
taken
from
you
into
heaven
will
come
back
in
the
same
way
you
have
seen
him
go
into
heaven
while
the
book
of
Luke
records
the
first
coming
of
Jesus
and
we
see
much
of
the
weakness
and
humility
of
Jesus
the
servant
king
there
is
a
reminder
to
the
disciples
here
from
the
angels
that
his
second
coming
will
be
marked
by
glory
by
him
coming
and
his
power
and
he'll
be
recognized
as
the
universal
king
and
so
to
think
about
those
realities
here
is
the
global
king
here
is
the
returning
king
that
helps
us
to
think
about
our
motives
for
mission
there's
need
there
there's
urgency
people
need
to
be
ready
and
they
need
to
know
their
savior
but
there's
also
the
motive
of
glory
he
is
the
universal
king
and
he
needs
to
be
recognized
and
honored
as
such
but
it
also
reminds
us
of
the
global
scale
of
mission
Jesus
is
good
news
for
all
he
is
lord
over
all
therefore
there is
a
mission
for
all
to
read
the
message
of
acts
and
to
think
about
the
experience
of
the
apostles
is
to
be
reminded
that
Jesus
doesn't
save
people
and
then
beam
us
up
or
translate
us
immediately
up
to
heaven
that
was
never
his
design
nor
is
it
the
design
for
his
church
that
we
coast
our
way
into
the
kingdom
of
heaven
rather
to
look
at
how
Jesus
by
the
spirit
used
the
apostles
we
discover
that
we
as
Christians
us
as
a
local
church
we've
been
created
for
mission
that
God
might
receive
glory
we've
been
given
our
marching
orders
in that
sense
and
so
it
becomes
vital
for
us
then
to
be
obedient
to
where
God
has
placed
us
and
to
how
God
calls
us
with
the
gift
that
God
has
given
us
and
the
opportunities
that
God
sets
before
us
and
that's
true
both
for the
sake
of
this
city
where
the
vast
majority
of
people
in
this
city
do
not
worship
do
not
bow
their
knee
to
Jesus
and
it's
true
for
the
3.29
billion
people
who
are
as
yet
entirely
unreached
with
the
gospel
so
the
book
of
Acts
helps
us
to
see
that
a
healthy
church
continues
the
work
of
Jesus
depending
on
the
Holy
Spirit
and
bearing
witness
to
Jesus
as
Lord
now
let's
pray
about
that
now
let's
pray
Father
God
we do
thank
you
that
Jesus
continued
and
continues
his
work
of
building
his
kingdom
often
we
are
amazed
that
Jesus
chose
to
use
local
churches
and
people
like
us
in
order
to
achieve
that
great
end
but
we
know
from
your
word
that
is
your
primary
means
for
global
mission
the
local
church
empowered
by
the
Spirit
and
so
Lord
we
pray
that
you
would
cause
us
to
desire
to
see
you
glorified
and
honoured
among
the
nations
and
in
this
nation
we
pray
that
you
would
open
our
eyes
and
our
hearts
to
see
the
great
spiritual
need
that
is
all
around
us
and
it's
all
around
the
world
that
you
would
give
us
a
willingness
to
be
sacrificial
in
our
time
in
our
money
with
our
energy
in
our
prayers
that
we
would
be
engaged
in
global
mission
however
you
would
call
us
to
Lord
we
do
pray
to
be
a
church
that
would
be
active
supporters
of
mission
again
we
commit
to
you
the
Reannos
and
their
work
in
Colombia
and
we
pray
for
Manuel
in
his
teaching
and
counselling
and
pastoring
Lord
give
him
all
wisdom
and
grace
and
Lord
we
pray
too
for
the
proposed
church
plant
in
Galashios
Lord
that
you
would
prosper it
that
there
would
be
a
strong
gospel
witness
down
there
in
the
Scottish
borders
so
Lord
we
ask
that
you
would
apply
this
truth
to
us
and
that
you
would
help
us
to
pray
help
us
to
pray
as
a
church
thank
you
for
our
prayer
resources
for
this
month
and
beyond
Lord
that
we
would
be
renewed
in
our
desire
to
see
you
be
glorified
in
our
lives
and
in
the
lives
of
the
people
around
us
and
we
would
seek
to
be
faithful
in
the
work
of
mission
we
pray
in
Jesus
name
Amen
so
what
we're
going
to
do
just
now
is
we're
going
to
sing
one
of
those
great
hymns
that
remind
us
of
the
missionary
task
facing
a
task
unfinished
and
then
I'll
close
up
and
for
folks
that
need
to
go
you
can
go
and
then
perhaps
we'll
just
break
into
small
groups
I've
got
a
couple
of
slides
about
unreached
people
that
we'll
look
at
after
that
so
let's
stand
and
let's
sing
facing
a
task
unfinished