Restore Point

Sometimes, to fix a struggling computer, we reset the computer to a date in the past when it worked (a system restore point.) The church has gotten full of viruses, bugs, spyware and is cluttered with unnecessary files. We need to do a system restore, all the way back to Jesus.

The Church is about

Most important thing for this church is that every member be highly committed to Jesus.

Jesus boldly leads his church:

1. Bold 1:3.

Notice how Jesus makes these amazing appearances, but has only one subject her wants to talk about; His Kingdom. His Church.

FF BRUCE: “We should not imagine that the intervals between His Resurrection appearances during the forty days were spent by him in some intermediate, earth-bound state. The resurrection appearances, in where he condescended to the disciples’ temporal condition of life, even going so far as to eat with them, were visitations from the exalted and eternal world to which His “body of glory” now belonged. What happened on the fortieth day was that this series of visitations came to an end, with a scene which impressed on the disciples their Master’s heavenly glory.”

2. Bold (1:4/1:8)

The Church is not left to carry out the work of Jesus on our own, but we are given the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the same power Jesus relied on to carry out his earthly ministry. He now gives us the same resource he used to carry out his mission: The Holy Spirit. Notice the Holy Spirit is not a force or an energy, He is the Presence of the Almighty.

3. Bold (1:8)

Jesus holds the view that every person on earth needs Him.

4. Bold 1:9

If you were starting a business or a company or especially a church … would you leave right after starting it?

Why did Jesus leave?

1. Increase our faith: John 20:29 “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

2. To continue his ministry through us: John 14:12 anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (The church!)

3. To send the Holy Spirit. John 16:7 It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.

5. Bold (1:6-7)

Jesus quickly corrects his disciples for getting off topic and wondering about the end times. He wants his disciples to focus on one thing: The assignment he was giving them.