The Way Forward - Acts 2:46

The Way Forward
September 22, 2013
Acts 2:46
INTRODUCTION
. There was a famous evangelist some time ago, who used to preach up a storm
. He toured the length and breadth of the country, and thousands were won to Jesus
. He had a warm and compassionate heart, especially when he saw the hurting people who came to his revival meetings
. In his meetings he preached the full gospel, he believed in miraculous healing by the power of God
. He believed in deliverance, in the form of casting out demons
. And he preached good news of the soon-coming Kingdom of God
. Thousands followed this man!
. He had an enormous reputation
. And yet, there came a time when many left his ministry
. This was as a result of his getting up close and personal in some of the things he said
. It was toward the end of his ministry in this country
. people left in droves
. But this did not say that his ministry was bad, wrong, or not of God
. It just said that people left!  They did not agree with what he was teaching.
. John 6:60-69
. This is saying, that numbers are not the important thing.
. On the other hand, numbers do have a role to play in ministry
. For example, we are to go out into all the world to preach the gospel and make disciples
. Today we are going to take a look at the future

DONT LOOK BACK
. Luke 9:62 - don't look back
. When we look back, we are focussed on things that cannot be changed,
. When we look back we are comparing the present with the past
. God wants us to be moving forward, not thinking backwards
. The Israelites were continually comparing the past with the present
. The result was that they became dissatisfied and grumbled and upset the God who freed them
. We too can look at our present situation and think I wish I was back there
. But God has plans for us which are yet future
. These are the tings to be focused on, not the good or bad days of the past

THE FUTURE IS BETTER
. God's plans for us are good!
. Jer 29:11 Gods plans are to prosper us
. He gives us hope and a furture
. In our approach to life we need to be moving in synch with what God has planned
. God's intention for the church is to reach the whole world with the good news of the kingdom of God
. This kingdom was embodied in Jesus
. This kingdom's reign will bring healing into all parts of our life
. Mat 13:33
. We can look forward to the future

OUR FUTURE
. God's future for this church is good!
. He has called us to be his instrumnents in reaching this hurting society
. Just like Jesus reached his society, with compassion and love
. Next week we are going to start our training for the Billy Graham event in November
. As you came in you were handed a Matthew leaflet
. In your bulletin there is a sheet with a few questions. 
. Please take out a pen and fill out your answers to the questions
. This will be helpful information for me in encouraging us into the future
VISION
. Our vision for the future is that these Matthew groups will bear fruit and people will be drawn to Jesus
. These Matthew groups will form the nucleus of small groups
. As time goes on, our friends whom we invited to the group, will themselves invite their own friends
. This will be the start of a growing small group movement
. This is our vision, and a plan for the future
. We pray for God to guide and lead us on this journey
. Prayer will be the basis for this movement
. Come along next week to learn more about prayer!