The Continual Movement of the Church on Mission

[Various passages in Acts]

{Rev. Dwight Yoo}

I will be wrapping up this series today. We've basically covered chapters 1 through 9. We felt this was so we could see God's heart. That the gospel is not something for ourselves, but it is something we devote our lives to. It not only encounters us and blesses us, but it should go out and bless others.

I would like to share some concluding thoughts...

Movement

This book is about a movement of God. That God is moving though his people. He is moving to redeem & restore this world. He is making this world more like it way it should be. Justice. Love. I think of how a drop of water hits the water and then the waves spread across the water. How the waves spread outward from that one drop. This reminds me of how the church moved outward from one small group of people. Not to say it expanded smoothly, but it kept moving outward. There were obstacles, but it kept moving.

Consider our vision statement - "To ignite a gospel-spreading movement through multiple local congregations in the greater Philadelphia area and the world, so that individuals, communities, and cultures are renewed in Christ."

How can we as a church and as individuals avoid becoming stagnant, but rather stay aligned with the movement of God?

1) Gospel-driven: We need to make the Gospel the engine. It should be what motivates us and moves us.

2) Spirit-empowered: How did the church move? A group of uneducated men. The Holy Spirit came and then they started moving with God.

Don't waste your life - John Piper

{Luke Woo - STM Taiwan}

Just came back from a missions trip to Taiwan. The land of Boba tea & scooters. Dal Shung is where I was. 95% of the people have a proclaimed religion. While you are in church service, you can hear the temple services and rituals going on outside. There is much spiritual battle there. I served as a tentmaker there. I taught the kids. Overseas, I learned about mobilization. There is no pastor Dan or pastor Dwight to tell you to do stuff. You have to stop sitting around and get out there. Get people excited and get christians together. I learned alot about what church is about.

http://www.omf.org/taiwan
Dead Women Walking - Jennifer Su

{Jen Kim - STM China}

Psalm 100:5

I've been in the city of Harbin. I've been basically at Siberia. The coldest was -45 degrees Fahrenheit, not adjusting for wind chill. Harbin is the location of the snow & ice festival. There is also a tiger park where you get on a bus and drive through a park with tigers. I've been teaching at North East Forestry University. I was a "foreign expert." I have not been able to evangelize, that is not allowed. But I have been able to share hope, teach them about Christmas & Easter. We cannot share but when we invite students into our homes and they ask us questions about living for God, we can answer their questions.

Matthew 28:18-20
Luke 4:18-19

(Personal Thoughts)

What does it mean for praise time to be Gospel-centered?
Are our songs too focused on our emotions and personal reactions and not God-centered enough?
How does the praise team engage those who are not musically gifted?