Acts: Life On Mission – Week 3 – Recruited

Week 3: Recruited | Acts: Life on Mission

Welcome to Week 3 of the series Acts: Life on Mission. This week, we dive into the message titled “Recruited.” This message is primarily directed at those who have already experienced salvation through Jesus Christ, but if you’re not yet a Christian, let us invite you into this rescue story. Christianity is about being rescued, like a passenger saved from the sinking Titanic. There is a lifeboat for you, and we want to extend an invitation to you to be part of this rescue story.

The Great Commission: Our Call to Action

Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He gave His followers a mission, which we call the Great Commission. It’s a mission we are to do together, a co-mission. Jesus made it clear that we are not alone in this task:

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT):
“Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

Jesus declared His authority over everything. Yet sometimes we act as if the enemy has more power. We use phrases like “the devil made me do it,” as if Satan holds sway over us. But the truth is, Jesus has all power and authority. The command is simple: go and make disciples, inviting people into a relationship with Christ and then walking with them as they mature in their faith.

At New Life Church, we often refer to a Spiritual Spectrum to help illustrate this process. As we grow in Christ, we move from being self-focused to being others-focused. At that point, we shift from being reached to reaching out.

The Book of Acts: A Movement of Mission

The book of Acts is a book of movement. It spans over 30 years and 10,000 miles, documenting the spread of the Gospel across the known world. But the most surprising aspect of the book is that it starts with a command to wait.

Acts 1:4 (NLT):
“Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, ‘Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before.’”

Before embarking on their mission, the disciples were instructed to wait for the Holy Spirit. But, they grew impatient. They decided to cast lots to replace Judas with Matthias, a decision that was more about human impatience than divine calling. As Chuck Smith famously said, “The disciples cast lots for Matthias, but God had already chosen Paul.” This moment reminds us that the early church, like today’s church, was made up of imperfect people.

Broken People, Perfect Mission

It’s important to remember that God uses broken people to accomplish His perfect plan. Every person God has ever called to fulfill His purpose has been flawed in some way. But that’s the beauty of the Gospel: God builds masterpieces with shattered pieces.

Feeling unqualified? That may be your best qualification. In fact, as Craig Groeschel says, “If you’re arrogant enough to blame yourself when things go wrong, you’re probably arrogant enough to take the credit when things go right.” The early disciples weren’t perfect, and neither are we. But God gave them everything they needed to fulfill their calling, just as He gives us what we need through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8 (NLT):
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This verse is a cornerstone of the book of Acts. The disciples weren’t successful because of their abilities; they were successful because they were empowered by the Holy Spirit. That same Spirit is available to us today, equipping us to fulfill our mission: to be witnesses for Christ in our local community and around the world.

The Church’s Mission Field

Jesus gave His disciples clear instructions, but they didn’t immediately follow them. God eventually allowed persecution to scatter the church, forcing them to fulfill His call to go beyond Jerusalem. The mission outlined in Acts 1:8 applies to us as well:

• Jerusalem: Our immediate community—Gillette, Wyoming, for example.
• Judea: The surrounding region—Campbell County.
• Samaria: The broader culture—other towns in Wyoming.
• The ends of the earth: The global mission field.

At New Life, we take this mission seriously, making strategic plans to reach people at every level—locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. Our mission isn’t just about sharing the Gospel abroad; it starts right here at home.

Four Lessons from Acts 1:8

Here are four key takeaways from Acts 1:8 that guide us in our mission:

1. Start Where You Are:
   Too often, when we hear the word “missions,” we think of overseas work. But the mission begins right where we are. We must disciple those in our own community first, ensuring we have thriving believers locally before moving outward.
2. Reach Your Community:
   It’s not enough to disciple those who are already part of the church. We must actively seek out those who don’t yet know Jesus, reaching out in love and compassion, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.
3. Engage with Your Culture:
   While ministering in foreign cultures requires learning their customs and ways, we already understand our own culture. We are not at a disadvantage. We can engage with the people around us right now, without waiting for a special calling. The call to “go” has already been given.
4. Send Out Missionaries:
   While our mission starts at home, we also have a responsibility to send people out into the world. It’s amazing to think that many nations now send missionaries to the United States! The mission field is everywhere, and we must be willing to go or support those who are sent.

The Rescue Story

Ultimately, our mission is to invite others into the rescue story. We live in a world full of lost and hurting people, and we have the privilege of leading them to their Heavenly Father. We can’t stand idly by while people are sinking without offering them the lifeboat of salvation.

One story beautifully illustrates this. While picking up his kids from school, a little boy ran out, excited but quickly grew anxious when he couldn’t find his dad. The little boy’s initial joy turned to tears as he looked around in confusion. This is the picture of a lost world, waiting for someone to help them find their Father.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for.”

We are not called to sail away safely in our lifeboats, ignoring those who are drowning. We are called to rescue as many as we can. The church is not a passive institution. It is a mission—a mission to reach, rescue, and restore the lost.

The Call to Join the Mission

As we reflect on today’s message, the challenge is clear: Will you be part of someone’s rescue story? Will you join the Great Commission? It’s never too late to start, and it’s never too late to start over. The Holy Spirit empowers each of us to fulfill our calling, no matter how broken or unqualified we may feel. Together, as a church, we have everything we need to accomplish the mission God has given us.

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This message resonates with the truth that God uses imperfect people to fulfill His perfect mission. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the early church spread the Gospel across the world. Today, the same call goes out to us: to be Christ’s witnesses in our community and beyond.

Are you ready to join the mission and make a difference for eternity? Let’s get to work and be a part of God’s grand rescue story.

 

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