OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.

Churches are designed for ‘church people’ The gravitational pull of every local church is toward ‘insiders’ So how do we bridge the gap with people who are far away from God? If the church is for ‘church people’… then that means Christianity must be for 'church people'

Christ didn’t come for ‘church people’ Who is the church for? John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The first church division is over “who is the church for?” Acts 15:1 Certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers: ‘Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.’

The first church division is over “who is the church for?” Acts 15:2 “This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.” “…go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders…” Division and questions plagued the very first local church

Using a Star Trek analogy Pharisee's = Klingon’s The Church = The Starship Enterprise Acts 15:3-4 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, ‘The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses.’ The Pharisee's were behind Jesus’ crucifixion The Pharisees were the ultimate insider’s

Jewish people believe that the Holy Spirit was reserved for Jewish people Acts 15:7-8 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: ‘Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles should hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. The ultimate insider’s don’t want the gates to be opened too wide This AGM is turning into a disaster

The Pharisees’ developed over 600 additional laws besides the 10 Commandments Acts 15:8-11 He (God) did not discriminate between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of Gentiles a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.’ Who was James? James was the brother of Jesus

The mission of the church: Don’t make it difficult for those who are turning to God Acts 15:19-21 It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For the law of Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath.’ Church should be characterized by such an environment As Christians we should not entertain sexual immorality

The mission of the church: Don’t make it difficult for those who are turning to God 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” Church should be characterized by such an environment As Christians we should not entertain sexual immorality

“What are we doing that’s making it difficult for people who are turning to God?” Acts 15:30-31 So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. Let us be a generation that decides to not make it difficult for those who are turning to God. Christianity is for 'everybody'

OUR MISSION: To guide those far from God into the new start found in Jesus Christ.