Jesus’ Business Plan THE EARLY CHURCH

INTRODUCTION Recap Part 1 – Jesus the Founder Our entire purpose and mission hinges on who Jesus is and what he started, the church Part 2 – Jesus’ Business Plan

IF WE DO NOT PLAN, WE PLAN TO FAIL One of the first instructions Jesus gave to the ones he entrusted to carry on the gospel was to go and wait for the gift of the father found in Acts 1:4-8

Acts 1:4-8 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (5) For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." (6) Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" (7) He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. (8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

They started asking him questions about the future kingdom He said it’s not for them to know the day or time God has set.

He goes on to say you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. This portion of scripture is about getting equipped. It is about being prepared. Jesus told them to go and wait for the gift of the Father They needed to be ready They needed to be equipped for the tasks that were going to unfold before their eyes It reminds me of the Boy Scout motto, Be Prepared

PAUSE VIDEO AND DISCUSS Can you recall a time when it was a good thing you were prepared for something that happened? What would have been different if you hadn’t been prepared?

They returned to Jerusalem and went to the upper room and started praying and waiting. Acts 1:12-14

Acts 1:12-14 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. (13) When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. (14) They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Nothing happens without prayer The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 1:17 to pray always In all that we do, we need to be praying. We need to be committing our plans to the Lord As we pray the Lord will instill in us what we need to complete what He has called us too

He has uniquely created and gifted each one of us for a particular place in the Body of Christ and in service to mankind in the name of Jesus We need to find that unique gifting and purpose and work within that God has already created all of the necessary pieces and parts, we just need to work out our place and step in and fulfill it

SUBMARINE JOBS We can’t do someone else’s job, and someone else can’t do ours Submarine jobs. Everyone has a place and purpose. One person doesn’t do their job and do it to their best, people can die The Body of Christ is the same way, only people’s souls lie in the balance

PAUSE VIDEO AND DISCUSS Can you recall a time where someone thought they could perform a task you were trained, equipped and chosen to perform? How did that work out? What would have been different if they stayed within their own realm of responsibility and training?

Jesus’ ultimate business plan is for each of us to work within the giftings and equipping that come from God through the Holy Spirit. If we don’t the whole mission is slowed.

The big part of that plan is each of us knowing our part and then carrying it out to the best of our ability

PAUSE VIDEO AND DISCUSS Have you ever known someone who performed a task with less than 100% enthusiasm? Does it seem like things take longer when you aren’t putting your all into them?

We need to be enthusiastic about our place in the Body of Christ and carry out our tasks with everything we have. When we face Jesus’ plan this way, it is amazing what can be accomplished in Jesus’ name and the number of people that can be introduced to Him.

When we spend more time meeting people right where they are at and serving them in the name of Christ, we do a whole lot more for His cause than we do by judging people according to a big list of dos and donts and waiting for them to come to church.

NEXT WEEK Next week we’ll be sharing and talking about Part 3: The Grand Opening! You don’t want to miss that discussion! Watch our website, Facebook and Twitter for update, local Cell Site locations and times and Google hangout times to discuss this and other topics