THE EARLY CHURCH
Expanding Our Territory
RECAP
• Jesus the Founder – The son of God proclaimed to Peter that upon him,
Jesus would build his church. Jesus then commissioned all believers to go
into all the world and preach the Gospel to all people.
• Jesus’ Business Plan – The disciples were told not to leave Jerusalem until
they received the expected gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift, Jesus had told
them about would give them power from on high.
• The Grand Opening: The awaited gift of the Holy Spirit to came to man and
the church started to explode!
INTRO
As we continue to look at the early church and compare it
to a business model, the next piece to look at is
expansion. During this discussion, we’re going to talk
about expansion and the unending call to that expansion
until every ear has heard and every eye has seen the love
of Jesus Christ.
WAL-MART
Imagine what the world would look like if Sam Walton had
never decided to expand from his original 5 and dime
store. I can’t tell you the number of times Kelly and I have
run to Wal-Mart for something. They are everywhere! If
you are traveling and need something, chances are good
that there’s a Wal-Mart nearby.
STARBUCKS
Starbucks started as a small independent coffee bean
roaster in Seattle, WA. By expanding their territory, they
launched an entirely new branch of the food industry tree,
the espresso shop. You would be hard pressed not to find
an espresso cart, drive through stand, or espresso shop in
nearly every city and town in the United States.
Both of these examples from industry have been very
successful when evaluated from a business perspective.
Both have grown worldwide, and each has really launched
a new version of their respective industry.
PAUSE THE VIDEO AND DISCUSS
Can you think of any examples of business,
industry, or service that have revolutionized their
industry and grown nationally and maybe
internationally?
What was different about them?
HERE ARE SOME YOU MAY NOT HAVE THOUGHT
• McDonald’s
• Microsoft
• U-Haul
• Amazon.com
THE CHURCH IS NO DIFFERENT
When Jesus founded the church there were many factors
that were in play. Factors that all had to be right for
success to be achieved. You have to have a need, you
have to have a viable solution to the need, and most
importantly your timing must be right.
When god knew the time was right, and that man’s sin
and plight had hit an all-time low, He sent His son to bring
salvation and start a movement that would forever change
history and split time.
God knew the problems, and He knew man’s needs, but
there were a couple of timing issues that needed to be in
place. Man had to realize where he was at and
understand his need for a savior. There also had to be a
way to spread the good news of Jesus.
The Romans took care of this by conquering the known
world and creating passable and relatively safe roads
throughout the known world. All of this came together for
the perfect launch and subsequent growth of the church.
There was one problem though, people. Mankind is an
interesting bunch, aren’t we? We get something the way
we like it, and we keep it that way. It’s comfortable, there’s
no surprises, we know what to expect.
Yes, there are some exceptions, but by in large most of
our miscommunications and disagreements with other
people fall into a category of preferences and thinking if
everyone else would just do things and see things the way
we do, life would be much more interesting.
PAUSE VIDEO AND DISCUSS
Take a few moments in your group and talk about
some of the things that you find yourself saying, “If
people would just see it my way, or do it my way,
or be my way, life would be better for everyone.”
I’ll bet that was a discussion! God created each and every
one of us individually. I like to say, “You are unique; just
like everyone else.” How boring life would be of we were
all the same. God didn’t create us to be the same.
The early church really struggled with this. They started
with the mindset of being a sect of Jews like the
Pharisees or Sadducees. This was not what God had
intended, nor what Jesus instructed or exampled. But, we
as humans often tend to get on a path and stick to it.
ACTS 10:9-16
About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching
the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. (10) He became hungry and
wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into
a trance. (11) He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being
let down to earth by its four corners. (12) It contained all kinds of fourfooted animals, as well as reptiles and birds. (13) Then a voice told him, "Get
up, Peter. Kill and eat." (14) "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never
eaten anything impure or unclean." (15) The voice spoke to him a second
time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." (16) This
happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
ACTS 10:24-35
The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them
and had called together his relatives and close friends. (25) As Peter
entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence.
(26) But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man
myself." (27) While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large
gathering of people. (28) He said to them: "You are well aware that it is
against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has
shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. (29) So when
I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you
sent for me?"
ACTS 10:24-35
(30) Cornelius answered: "Three days ago I was in my house praying at
this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes
stood before me (31) and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer
and remembered your gifts to the poor. (32) Send to Joppa for Simon
who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who
lives by the sea.' (33) So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of
you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to
everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." (34) Then Peter
began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show
favoritism (35) but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and
does what is right.
ACTS 10:44-48
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all
who heard the message. (45) The circumcised believers who had come
with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been
poured out even on Gentiles. (46) For they heard them speaking in
tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, (47) "Surely no one can
stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received
the Holy Spirit just as we have." (48) So he ordered that they be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a
few days.
Peter had to learn what Jesus had intended when he said to go
into all the world and preach the gospel and make disciples. The
initial thought was more than likely one of we need to spread this
gospel message to the Jews around the world. But Jesus said it
was for everyone. Paul reminds us of this later. He says the good
news of Jesus Christ is for everyone, first for the Jew and then for
the Gentile. We have all been created in the image of God for the
purposes of God, in a relationship with God.
Through this vision and subsequent witness with the Roman
Centurion and his household, Peter realized that the gospel was
not just for the Jews. It is for every one! This was revolutionary!
This was new! This opened the world up! The early church spread
like wild fire. Yes, some of the expansion was forced by
persecution, but they never lost sight of their mission or who they
were in Christ. Look at the roots of our languages. How much of
our language is based on Latin and Greek? What does that tell
you? The church spread over much of the world.
Today we are tasked with the furtherance of this same
mission and expansion. The commission hasn’t changed.
It has been handed down from generation to generation to
reach each generation the world over. There is no one
solution, and no one group it is meant for. God is calling
and equipping people from every tongue and tribe to
reach every tongue and tribe using every means possible
to spread the gospel and be a witness to the love, grace,
and mercy of Jesus Christ.
The Internet today is the same as television was 50 years
ago and radio was 80 years ago. Technology does not
take the place of person to person sharing, serving,
fellowshipping, and loving. The church will be won and
lost one person at a time on front porches, at kitchen
tables, in coffee shops and taverns, in airplanes and
buses, and in state houses and work places.
Are you ready to expand? Are you ready to push forward?
There will be growing pains and it won’t be comfortable.
You will need to stretch and it may pull you a little too
taught at times. That’s okay. God is with you. Go love
someone in the name of Jesus Christ with absolutely no
ulterior motives or expectations. It’s fun!
PAUSE VIDEO AND DISCUSS
Discuss ways you can expand the Kingdom
of God by loving people.
CONCLUDE
• Expanding our territory is a part of Jesus’ plan. How
can we do that? We need to be ever watchful of
opportunities to serve in the name of Christ and give all
of the glory to him.
NEXT PART
Next time we’ll be discussing part 5 of the Early Church
titled Franchising. You won’t want to miss it.