Life in the Radical Middle
Phil Schaefer
August 24, 20008
Key Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
Introduction:
As leadership, we’ve been in the process this year of exploring who we are as a church and wanting to come up with a new vision statement that helps us all to clearly understand what we are about. We’ve received input from many of you on it. Older mission statements were good but too lengthy.
In one of our meetings, Aaron Williams said, “Basically, my vision for CF would be that we would be an Acts 2:42-47 church. I have a dream that we as a local community of believers would devote ourselves to following the teachings of Jesus and His apostles, building deep relationships with one another, breaking bread together, having communion and community, and praying together. That we would give to all in need and remember the poor, that we enter into and establish the Kingdom of God locally and globally; reaching into the culture locally and globally. (Acts 1:8)
Early in our existence as a church, an apostolic man, whom we greatly respected, named Dick Iverson, came to our church and spoke these same verses to us, saying that this is what we were to give ourselves to. So, there is a historical, apostolic/prophetic type of direction that we have been given through two different generations, saying this is the dream I see of who and what we are called to be.
Acts 2:42-47 “And they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
So we took this passage to create our vision statement:
“Our vision is to be a people devoted to the Apostles’ teachings, to fellowship, to breaking of bread, and to prayer, calling all to salvation through Jesus Christ.”
What I like about it is this:
- It’s scripture. It is God’s word directing us into the very activities and lifestyle of the first century church.
- We can remember it. You can look it up and be reminded.
- This is what a Spirit-filled church and Spirit-filled believers look like.
Acts 2: 38-40 “ And Peter said to them, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of 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 afar off, whom the Lord our God calls to Himself. And with many other words he bore witness and continue to exhort them, saying, save yourselves from this crooked generation.”
What were these words? They were the direction and lifestyle of the Spirit that we read about in Acts 2:42-47. This is Spirit-filled church life.
1.This is life in the radical middle:
- Where Christianity is not lived on the edges, but it is lived in the very center of our lives and our world.
- Where the Word and the Spirit are lived not in tension but in harmony.
- Where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are demonstrated by the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
- Where the church isn’t condemning the world, but is showing the world a new and living way forward.
- Where God’s sovereignty and our responsibility is not a thing in tension but a thing in harmony.
- Where there is a wholehearted devotion to the Lord and a total freedom in each person’s life.
- Where I am taught the perfect ways of God and yet live in a setting where I can fail over and over, and still be accepted.
- It is a lifestyle of generous giving and grateful receiving.
- It is gathering together corporately and gathering in homes- not one or the other but both.
- It is being a part of something bigger than myself, and yet my needs are integral to it all.
- Where both corporate prayer and private devotion are both a part of everyday life.
- Where the Lord adds to our numbers and yet we lay down our lives to see people saved.
- Where both mercy and truth are lived out.
2. Our reframed mission statement:
“Our mission is to receive God’s love freely that we might give His love graciously.”
“Vision is where we are going, where we want to end up, a place on the horizon.
Mission is the means to get us to our vision. It is why we exist together and what we are called to do.” Clay Spencer
This is a constant reminder: it’s all from God and it’s all through us. We can only walk in the vision of Acts 2, if we are continually in the posture of receiving.
- Receiving God’s love to us
- Receiving His unconditional acceptance because of what Jesus has done
- Receiving through worship
- Receiving through prayer
- Receiving through one another
Matthew 10:8 “Freely you have received, freely give.”
We can not give what we have not received.
But when we live in the place of receiving forgiveness, we can give forgiveness.
When we live in the place of being loved by God, we can give love.
When we live in the place of acceptance, we can accept others.
When we are continually receiving mercy, we can give mercy.
Acts 3:6 “ Then Peter said, “Silver and gold, I do not have. But what I do have, I give to you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”
John Stott calls these verses a picture of the church in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It is the place for learning, loving, worshipping, proclaiming, and demonstrating the seed of God’s Kingdom in the earth.
Discussion Questions:
Name four characteristics of a Spirit-filled church that are of great importance to you.
What does the phrase ‘the radical middle” mean to us as a community of believers?
How well do you think that we, as a church body, demonstrate our commitment to the harmony between the Word and the Spirit?
Why is it so important to be continually receiving from God/ What are some areas where you need to learn to receive more?
How well do you think that CFC is fulfilling our Vision Statement and our Mission Statement? Do you see any areas for improvement?
What are some ways that you, as an individual believer, can help us fulfill our corporate vision?
