The Church Today

Acts 29

Go ahead, read Acts 29. . . Okay, you got me, there is no Acts chapter 29.  In fact, the book of Acts ends without resolve.  If Acts were a movie you would stay seated through the credits, upset that there was no real conclusion.  What ever did happen to Paul, his followers and the church?  How does it end?!?!?

Since the time that Luke penned Acts 28, we have been living in Acts 29.  Writing new chapters of the church, taking the church to new places, and doing new things.  The church is fluid, constantly in change, led by men of God, understanding that God is always doing a new thing.  Books have been written by men who have done incredible things through the church.  Bob Russell's book, When God Builds His Church, is a great read; Rick Warren has done amazing things through his church and his book Purpose Driven Church has encouraged and driven many churches and it's leaders.  Carl George wrote his book, Preparing Your Church for the Future; Erwin McManus writes about the church in An Unstoppable Force; Jim Cymbala talks about how he turned his church around in Fresh Fire Fresh Wind.

All of these books I have read and all of these books are inspiring.  Each one had a different plan, each one a different theory, each one God used differently.  As Bob Russel says, 

The methods we have implemented at Southeast Christian Church may or may not work at your church.  You can't fight Goliath wearing Saul's armor.  You can't minister with someone else's style.  You have to be yourself and adapt to the culture around you.

He also says,

I don't know what monumental challenges lie ahead in this new millennium.  But I know we're still playing the same game.  It's the same Bible we are teaching, the same truth we are proclaiming, the same Lord we are exalting.

When God speaks of the church we are never given a list of "how to's."  There is no list of things we have to do in the way of music, preaching, communion or offering.  As the Restoration movement, we as a church try to reflect the church in the book of Acts as best as we can; yet we cannot forget that the overall pupose of the church is to bring others to a knowledge of Jesus.

Erwin McManus in his book says:  "God has a lot on his mind, and it is through the church that he makes it happen."

This week's challenge:  Spend some time praying about the church this week, take some time to encourage others in the church and those outside of it.  Next Sunday, purposefully encourage 3 people before you do anything.