Together Reaching the Nations

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Together Reaching the Nations

• Acts 18 NASV
• - session five -

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• Are we occupied with satisfying the saints
  rather than looking for the lost?
• Do you believe that our church can participate
  meaningfully in reaching the nations?

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Jesus alone can determine the scope of our
ministry.

• To these He also presented Himself alive, after
  His suffering, by many convincing proofs,
  appearing to them over a period of forty days,
  and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom
  of God. Acts 13

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• And so when they had come together, they were
  asking Him, saying, Lord, is it at this time You
  are restoring the kingdom to Israel? Acts 16

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• Are we sometimes equally myopic in our thinking?
• Acts 18 is a statement of fact for the
  kingdom-centered church. Each of the four
  quadrants must be engaged simultaneously.

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2. The pattern displayed in Acts illustrates our
global mission.

• a. It all began with Pentecost the Church was
  birthed with the DNA that mandates a global
  mission.
• b. The book of Acts confirms the global DNA.

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• c. The local church is at the heart of global
  expansion.
• Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid
  their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts
  133
• This is the beginning of the missional strategy
  of sending out missionaries to reach the nations.

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• d. A four-fold strategy emerges. The
  kingdom-centered church must pray, send, go and
  give.

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3. The scope of the task mandates cooperation.

• When we work cooperatively our strength is
  multiplied and our result is magnified.
• The offering for the saints in Jerusalem was a
  task so large it demanded cooperation.

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• I Corinthians 161
• Now concerning the collection for the saints,
  as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you
  also.

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• 2 Corinthians 83-4
• For I testify that according to their ability,
  and beyond their ability they gave of their own
  accord, begging us with much entreaty for the
  favor of participation in the support of the
  saints

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• 2 Corinthians 92
• for I know your readiness, of which I boast
  about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia
  has been prepared since last year, and your zeal
  has stirred up most of them.

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• Romans 1525-26
• but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the
  saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been
  pleased to make a contribution for the poor among
  the saints in Jerusalem.

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• Cooperation is mandated by the size of our
  mission.

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