In our last series, we talked about loving our neighbours, and stepped through six shifts. From stranger to neighbour to acquaintance to partner to friend to becoming “like family”.
It’s possible to become like family with a focused group of people, where you practice loving your neighbours within that small group, and see that spill over to others outside.
This series looks specifically at this stage of being “like family” with other followers of Jesus. It’s called the church, believe it or not. Important that explore what church means as we prepare to launch a new church in Ajax in 2014.
You probably have all sorts of preconceived notions of what that word means. Attached you’ll find a video of some people on the street who were asked about what they think of when they hear “church”.
You can find the video here:
Question: When you hear the word “church” what do you immediately see, or think? Make a list, there may be several. What experiences have informed you?
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CloseRyan Sim - May 21, 2014
Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer People
We read an important passage yesterday, and today we’ll focus on just the ending. Here it is again: Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:32-41 ESV) The audience were “cut to the heart”. Peter’s words transformed them, not into a state of sadness, but into action. They asked, “What shall we do? How do we make this right?” Peter has three steps: Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit. Repent means to turn. This is the first step of change and transformation. If you’ve been heading the wrong way in life, away from God, then the moment of regret and decision to turn around and head back to God is the moment of repentence. Being baptized is a sign that God is washing away someone’s sins. By washing that person on the outside, we show the invisible washing on the inside that only God can do. It’s a public act of having sin washed away from your heart, and having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Receiving the Holy Spirit speaks of continued transformation, well beyond the moment of repentence and baptism, and into the future. The Holy Spirit enables Christians to keep going that new direction, even when it’s hard. What did the Holy Spirit do for disciples? We saw last week that he enabled them to speak of Jesus in every language. These brand new disciples, too, will be sent by Holy Spirit to proclaim good news to everyone in the world. Their numbers are growing, and this good news is meant for everyone of all ages and around the world. 3000 people took on this challenge in one day. They became pioneer people – some of the first members of the church, the global phenomenon of people following Jesus and being transformed by him. Next week, we’ll see what they did, their practices when they gathered, and how their actions changed. But first, Question: What do you think changed for those 3000 people? Internally, spiritually, but also relationally?
Related Topics: Early Church, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Pioneer, Spirit, Transformation | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Pioneer Story"
We read through the Book of Acts as a Pioneer Story for the church.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Thursday - Act On It - Becoming Like Family | October 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Becoming Like Family | October 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Becoming Like Family | October 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Becoming Like Family | October 21, 2013 | Interviews | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Friends to Family | October 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Friends to Family | October 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Friends To Family | October 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Friends To Family | October 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Friends To Family | October 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Partners to Friends | October 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Partners To Friends | October 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Partners To Friends | October 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Partners To Friends | October 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Partners To Friends | October 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Acquaintances to Partners | October 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Acquaintances to Partners | October 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Acquaintances to Partners | October 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Acquaintances to Partners | October 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Acquaintances to Partners | September 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours to Acquaintances | September 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Strangers to Neighbours | September 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Strangers to Neighbours | September 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Strangers to Neighbours | September 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Strangers to Neighbours | September 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Strangers to Neighbours | September 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Neighbours Matter | September 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Neighbours Matter | September 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Neighbours Matter | September 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Neighbours Matter | September 10, 2013 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours Matter | September 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Originality | July 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Originality | July 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Originality | July 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Originality | July 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Originality | July 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Foundations | July 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Foundations | July 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Foundations | July 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Foundations | July 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Foundations | July 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Knowing | July 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Knowing | July 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Knowing | July 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Knowing | July 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Knowing | July 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Influences | June 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Influences | June 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Influences | June 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Influences | June 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Influences | June 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Golden Rule | June 21, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Golden Rule | June 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - The Golden Rule | June 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - The Golden Rule | June 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - The Golden Rule | June 17, 2013 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Friday - Reflect - Needs | June 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Needs | June 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Needs | June 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Needs | June 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Needs | June 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Judgement | June 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Judgement | June 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Judgement | June 5, 2013 | Short Film | Watch | Listen | |
Tuesday - Study It - Judgement | June 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Judgement | June 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Worry | May 31, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Worry | May 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Worry | May 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Worry | May 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Worry | May 27, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Priorities | May 24, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday- Act On It - Priorities | May 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Priorities | May 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Priorities | May 21, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Priorities | May 20, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Forgiveness | May 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Forgiveness | May 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Forgiveness | May 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Forgiveness | May 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Forgiveness | May 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Self Denial | May 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Self Denial | May 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Self Denial | May 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Self Denial | May 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Self Denial | May 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Pompous Prayer | May 3, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Pompous Prayer | May 2, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Pompous Prayer | May 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Pompous Prayer | April 30, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Pompous Prayer | April 29, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Generosity | April 26, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Generosity | April 25, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Generosity | April 23, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Generosity | April 22, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Perfection | April 19, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Perfection | April 18, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Perfection | April 17, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Perfection | April 16, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Perfection | April 15, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Neighbours | April 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Neighbours | April 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change - Neighbours | April 10, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Neighbours | April 9, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Neighbours | April 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Retaliation | March 15, 2013 | Listen | |||
Thursday - Act On It - Retaliation | March 14, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Retaliation | March 13, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Retaliation | March 12, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Retaliation | March 11, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Truth | March 8, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Truth | March 7, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Truth | March 6, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Truth | March 5, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Truth | March 4, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - The Look | March 1, 2013 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - The Look | February 28, 2013 | Watch | Listen |