Witnesses, Zealots or Stargazers ?

The Trinity: Separate personalities and roles Relational and working together to achieve a common purpose

Witnesses, Zealots or Stargazers ? Our mission, should be all about reaching people... To show the Father’s love, especially those in need To communicate the gospel of Christ to disciple people To demonstrate the Spirit’s power To ensure all God’s people are released to mission To reach beyond Abingdon itself

Witnesses, Zealots or Stargazers ? My Aim: Not to ‘guilt trip’ Not to add another ‘burden’ But to inspire us to be Christ’s witnesses

The Ascension So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Witnesses, Zealots or Stargazers ? Christ’s teaching: The Kingdom The Spirit Two extremes: Over zealous Don’t overdo the stargazing

Jesus Cleanses the Temple And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

Witnesses, Zealots or Stargazers ? De-cluttering our Temples: We are temples of the Holy Spirit What have we cluttered our temple courts with ? We need to de-clutter as individuals & as a church

Jesus heals a woman While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Jesus heals a woman And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went through all that district.

Witnesses, Zealots or Stargazers ? Jesus and the woman in the crowd (Matt 9 v18 – 22) Isaiah 6 ‘The train of God’s cloak filled the Temple Woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment Jesus was: Amongst people Alert to people’s needs Available So should we !!

Witnesses, Zealots or Stargazers ? Strike the right balance between even over or under active in our role as Witnesses To ‘de-clutter’ our lives to be available for relational opportunities We need God’s Father Heart love and availability for people To be Missionally oriented

Witnesses Go and do likewise !