City On A Hill

SENT The Acts of the Apostles...

SENT The Acts of the Apostles...

To be in a relationship with Jesus and His followers, or to be the church, is to be living paradoxically. We are called together to be with Him. The word translated “church” in English literally means to be a “called out assembly” in the original language of the bible.

So we are “called out” from the world to belong to Jesus. That is a simple and powerful idea. But simultaneously, we are also “sent” back into the world to be on mission with Jesus. He makes this point to his first disciples in John 20:21, “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so am I sending you.’” (ESV) So here is our bipolar DNA as the church: we are called out of the world to be with Jesus and sent back into the world to be with Jesus.

The New Testament book labeled “The Acts of the Apostles” records this beautiful paradox as it unfolded in the early church. It is the sequel to the Gospel of Luke, and unlike most sequels, it delivers a compelling continuation of the narrative. The heart of the book is found in Jesus’ words to his followers in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” (ESV)

Join us as we seek to better understand and more powerfully live out what it means to be a people from Albuquerque called out to belong to Jesus and sent to Albuquerque to be on mission with Jesus. Come along with us as we seek to be a church in the city for the city.

SENT TEACHINGS

Healing

Recorded on: December 28, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

The last teaching of the year from Sent, the Acts of the Apostles...

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Sola Gratia

Recorded on: December 21, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

Sola gratia, latin for “grace alone”, was one of the signature beliefs of the Protestant Reformation. The conversion of Saul in Acts 9 illustrates sola gratia. Although Saul’s experience was dramatic, it is hardly unique. It is the story of how all people come to know Jesus.

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Conversion

Recorded on: December 14, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

Wayne Grudem defines conversion as “our willing response to the gospel call, in which we sincerely repent of sins and place our trust in Christ for salvation” (Systematic Theology, p. 1238). In Acts 8:26-40, we have a front row seat to the roadside conversion of a high ranking government official. In this powerful story, we see the basic elements of personal faith revealed.

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Jesus Sensitive Church

Recorded on: December 7, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

A common philosophy of church developed over the last decades has been labeled “seeker sensitive church”. The concept is that expressions in public worship should be focused on those who believe in Jesus while being sensitive in style and substance to the unbelievers who are present. I am saddened to say that much of contemporary Christianity treats Jesus in the same manner.

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Ritualism

Recorded on: November 30, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

In Acts 6:8-8:3, we witness the death of one church leader and the emergence of another. From Jesus to Stephen to Paul, the opposite of Christianity, religious ritualism, antagonizes and persecutes the church, often from within. Interesting that little has changed over the past 2,000 years.

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Structure

Recorded on: November 16, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

If Jesus is to lead the church, not only is strategy crucial, but so is structure. In the first high profile church controversy (Acts 6:1-7), we see the prototype of biblical church structure with Jesus occupying the highest place in the organizational chart.

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Focus

Recorded on: November 9, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

In a spiritually attention deficit disordered world, how do we stay focused on Jesus and His mission for the church? In Acts 5:12-42, we observe the church keenly focused on Jesus despite growing popularity and increasing persecution. What can we learn from the first followers of Jesus regarding focus?

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Change

Recorded on: November 2, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

According to the most recent CBS/New York Times poll, an all-time high percentage of Americans (89%) believe our country is on the wrong track. Now wonder each presidential candidate is the self-proclaimed agent of change. So how should we as followers of Jesus vote in this election?

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Community

Recorded on: October 26, 2008 | Speaker: Dave Bruskas

The word “community” is found in every corporate mission statement, every political stump speech, every locker room and in every church’s listing of core values. But what does it really mean? According to the description of the church in Acts 4:32, it means “they had everything in common”.

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Offended

Recorded on: October 19, 2008 | Speaker: Greg Qualls

Some people think that Christianity is suppose to make everyone happy. Life with Christ is supposed to be sunshine and rainbows. But in Acts 4 we see the opposite. Peter and John receive some stiff opposition from the Sadducees when they start preaching the gospel to the people.

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