The Great Invitation: Apostolic

The Great Invitation – Week 3‍

‍Matthew 11:28–30 - Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

‍3 Invitations to Disciples of Jesus…‍· “ABIDE” – To become aware of and remain connected to

· “APPRENTICE” – To learn through practical experience a trade, art, or calling

· “APOSTOLIC” – To be sent

‍“The Invitation to the Apostolic Mandate”‍Ephesians 2:19-22 - So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

‍H. Richard Niebuhr –“The great Christian revolutions came not by the discovery of something that was not known before. They happen when someone takes radically something that was always there.”

‍‍Question – What does it mean to be Apostolic?‍

‍1. To Be Apostolic Means Embracing Missional Living

‍‍Tim Keller –“In short, God does not merely send the church in mission. God already is in mission, and the church must join him. This also means, then, that the church does not simply have a missions department; it should wholly exist to be a mission.”

‍2. To Be Apostolic Means Taking Risks

‍3. To Be Apostolic Means Walking in Spiritual Authority‍Alan Hirsch – “In short, apostolic movement involves a radical community of disciples, centered on the lordship of Jesus, empowered by the Spirit, built squarely on a fivefold ministry, organized around mission where everyone (not just professionals) is considered an empowered agent.‍

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‍Closing Question – What risks might you be willing to take this week?