May 28, 2017

Readings for this week: Acts 1:6-14; Ps. 47;

1 Pet 5:1-14; Jn 17:1-19

Key verse:“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;and you will be my witnessesin Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8

Our Vision: All Saints' Anglican Cathedral invites all to grow together in the way of Jesus, developing fruitful disciples,and establishing missional communities throughout Amesbury, the Merrimack Valley, and New England.

Our Mission: We’re a Family on Missionthat: Welcomes All, Worships God, Trains Together,and Shares the Gospel . . . In the Way of Jesus.

Last Week’s focus: Developing Fruitful Disciples.

Sermon Notes for

“‘Establishing Missional Communities Throughout Amesbury, the Merrimack Valley, and New England’”

I. Jesus Established a Missional Community—So Fear Not!

See Acts 1:2-3, 14

What's a Missional Community?

  1. It's a group with afocused ministry purpose that comes out of their commitment to Jesus, to each other, and to the gospel.
  2. It’s small enough to care, and big enough to dare (between 20 and 50 people typically).

Small enough for people to know, trust, challenge and encourage one another, and to be a “non-churchy” context for non-believers to experience the Kingdom of God

Big enough to share and pursue a bold vision for lasting transformation in people's everyday lives.

  1. It's acommunitywelcoming, worshipping, maturing, and witnessing the transforming love of God in Jesus.
  2. It's growing, as disciples of Jesus make disciples, immersed in God's life, doing what Jesus says, and experiencing Jesus' power and presence.
  3. It's a contextfor the church to be the church Monday through Saturday.
  4. It’s an extension of a local church and an “incubator” for other missional communities.

II. Jesus Expected Fruitful Disciples to Influence Regions—So Live in Hope

See Acts 1:8

CityJerusalemAmesbury

AreaSamariaMerrimack Valley

RegionalJudeaNew England

GlobalEnds of the Earth(ACNA, GAFCON)

Example: Ephesus Acts 19:8-10; 20:17-21

Ephesus Colosse, Laodicea, Hieropolis

Why Missional Communities?

•Because they're a proven pattern for transformative and sustained discipleship in a post-Christian culture.

  • Longingsfor Connection—Recovering loss of “extended family”
  • Longings for Practical Implications of Spiritual Realities
  • Longings for Shared Purposes beyond Money and Entertainment

•Because they’re the context where new believers grow, spiritual gifts thrive, "every-member ministry" gets practiced, and leaders naturallyemerge to multiply ministry.

•Because they’re a down-to-earth way for Sunday celebration to find weekday application.

Why All Saints? Why Now?

A Cathedral is called to do Intensively what all churches are called to do Intentionally

All Saints Anglican Cathedral

Welcomes All — Home of Hospitality

Worships God — House of Prayer

Trains Together — Greenhouse of Disciple-Development

Shares the Gospel — Embassy of Gospel Outreach

Consecration as “Confirmation”—empowerment for character and calling

Take the exhortations of 1 Peter 5 to heart over the next 14 day especially

III. Jesus Intercedes for the Mission—So Pray with Him!

See John 17:11, 18, 20-21, 23

Home Group Questions

Connecting with Each Other

  1. What have you appreciated most about your home group this season?

Connecting with God’s Word

  1. As you reflect on last weekend’s sermon, what one idea or illustration stands out as being particularly helpful, insightful, or difficult to grasp?
  1. As you reflect on 1 Peter 5 in light of our upcoming consecration, how do you think we might need to pray?

Connecting with the Week Ahead

  1. What’s a specific area of regular anxiety or care that you can “cast” on the Lord and receive his grace for?

May 28, 2017

Readings for this week: Acts 1:6-14; Ps. 47;

1 Pet 5:1-14; Jn 17:1-19

Key verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;and you will be my witnessesin Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria,and to the ends of the earth.” — Acts 1:8

Our Vision: All Saints' Anglican Cathedral invites all to grow together in the way of Jesus, developing fruitful disciples,and establishing missional communities throughout Amesbury, the Merrimack Valley, and New England.

Our Mission: We’re a Family on Missionthat: Welcomes All, Worships God, Trains Together,and Shares the Gospel . . . In the Way of Jesus.

Last Week’s focus: Developing Fruitful Disciples.

Sermon Notes for

“‘Establishing Missional Communities Throughout Amesbury, the Merrimack Valley, and New England’”

I. Jesus Established a Missional Community—So Fear Not!

See Acts 1:2-3, 14

What's a Missional Community?

  1. It's a group with afocused ministry purpose that comes out of their commitment to Jesus, to each other, and to the gospel.
  2. It’s small enough to care, and big enough to dare (between 20 and 50 people typically).

Small enough for people to know, trust, challenge and encourage one another, and to be a “non-churchy” context for non-believers to experience the Kingdom of God

Big enough to share and pursue a bold vision for lasting transformation in people's everyday lives.

  1. It's acommunitywelcoming, worshipping, maturing, and witnessing the transforming love of God in Jesus.
  2. It's growing, as disciples of Jesus make disciples, immersed in God's life, doing what Jesus says, and experiencing Jesus' power and presence.
  3. It's a contextfor the church to be the church Monday through Saturday.
  4. It’s an extension of a local church and an “incubator” for other missional communities.

II. Jesus Expected Fruitful Disciples to Influence Regions—So Live in Hope

See Acts 1:8

CityJerusalemAmesbury

AreaSamariaMerrimack Valley

RegionalJudeaNew England

GlobalEnds of the Earth(ACNA, GAFCON)

Example: Ephesus Acts 19:8-10; 20:17-21

Ephesus Colosse, Laodicea, Hieropolis

Why Missional Communities?

•Because they're a proven pattern for transformative and sustained discipleship in a post-Christian culture.

  • Longingsfor Connection—Recovering loss of “extended family”
  • Longings for Practical Implications of Spiritual Realities
  • Longings for Shared Purposes beyond Money and Entertainment

•Because they’re the context where new believers grow, spiritual gifts thrive, "every-member ministry" gets practiced, and leaders naturallyemerge to multiply ministry.

•Because they’re a down-to-earth way for Sunday celebration to find weekday application.

Why All Saints? Why Now?

A Cathedral is called to do Intensively what all churches are called to do Intentionally

All Saints Anglican Cathedral

Welcomes All — Home of Hospitality

Worships God — House of Prayer

Trains Together — Greenhouse of Disciple-Development

Shares the Gospel — Embassy of Gospel Outreach

Consecration as “Confirmation”—empowerment for character and calling

Take the exhortations of 1 Peter 5 to heart over the next 14 day especially

III. Jesus Intercedes for the Mission—So Pray with Him!

See John 17:11, 18, 20-21, 23

Home Group Questions

Connecting with Each Other

  1. What have you appreciated most about your home group this season?

Connecting with God’s Word

  1. As you reflect on last weekend’s sermon, what one idea or illustration stands out as being particularly helpful, insightful, or difficult to grasp?
  1. As you reflect on 1 Peter 5 in light of our upcoming consecration, how do you think we might need to pray?

Connecting with the Week Ahead

  1. What’s a specific area of regular anxiety or care that you can “cast” on the Lord and receive his grace for?