The unfinished story

Whichever way you look at it, the story of the early church seems incomplete at the end of the book of Acts. Even Paul acknowledges that although he is compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, he doesn’t what will happen as a result of going there. He just knows that trouble is ahead. And what of Peter and the other apostles and leaders? Is their story over, or is it still unfolding, just not recorded.

But maybe there is a more subtle message in the incompleteness of the story.

There is always more to do.

There is always more to do than there are resources to meet the need. There is always more to do than there are people to do it. There is always more to do than there is time in which to do it. There is always more to do.

There is always more to do because the story isn’t finished. The church is still here, and Jesus is still in the business of building the church he began. The story did not finish with Paul arriving in Rome, and won’t be finished until he says it’s finished.

There is always more to do because God is not finished in this place.

The problem is that sometimes the job seems to be too much, too overwhelming, too big.

What to do?

What to do when the task looks too big

#1 Remember God’s plan: Acts 1:8 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth
When we can’t, God can and does: When we get to the end of our resources, we have a God who has more resources at his disposal than we can imagine.

#2 Jesus builds the church

As we’ve looked at the early church we’ve thought about its foundations: continuity, promise, power and purpose. We’ve thought about what it means to build a great church characterised by: Devotion to Biblical teaching and standards, devoted to God, devoted to each other and that has great outcomes. And we said that in the end great churches are: Passionate about God; Passionate about each other; Passionate about the world.

But let’s not forget: Jesus builds the church not you and me. We’re involved, we’ve been invited to play a part, but we are not the master-builders.

Three questions to ask:

#1 What is Jesus doing, how can we be involved?

I know it actually two questions, but let’s ask it as one question in two parts!

Where do we see God actively at work in our community? And then ask how can we be involved.
#2 What are the “God given” opportunities before us?

This is closely linked to the first question, because if God is at work in our communities then that surely presents opportunities to us. But I’m thinking here about future things that we can see coming our way. The Wixams and Shortstown building projects; the village care scheme; being a school governor, a parish councillor. There are all sorts of ways to be involved in our communities. No treading water while we wait for new homes to be built.

#3 What is our mandate?

1.Go and make disciples: A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission makes great Christians.

2. Preach the gospel (Luke 24)

3. Love each other

4. Be personally transformed

5. Be encouragers

When the task looks big, we need all the encouragement we can get!