Preached by Chris Broom, 4/27/2008

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Jay Shelbrack and his family celebrate as Barb’s mom (and our sister) Irene visits the Chicago Church.

Building a Great Church, part 10 – World Missions – Outline

For the first twelve chapters of Acts, we see Peter and the beginnings of the Church in the Holy Land. Acts 13-28 shows us Paul and the expansion of the Church from Antioch to Rome. We rejoice at all the incredible miracles that happened in the first century, but in order to see miracles in our day, we must understand the amount of sacrifice it took for our early brothers and sisters to evangelize the world in their day. We will never see Bible results without Bible effort.
World Missions will cost us many tears.

In Acts 20:36-38, we see Paul’s tearful farewell to the Ephesian elders. Tears are the price of world missions. In our culture, we see people move across the world and shed many tears as they say goodbye to loved ones in order to attend a good school, advance their careers or pursue that special someone. And we will spend a lot of money to accomplish those things for ourselves. By comparison, so few are willing to sacrifice equally for God and his Kingdom.

We are so encouraged by Lee and Noni Pullen and Deborah Perry. They have answered the call and, God-willing, will be moving to Washington DC very soon to help plant that church. It is going to be difficult to say goodbye to them, as they have been such an important part of the work here in Chicago, but that’s what world missions is all about. We are not here to live a comfortable life on earth. We are here to prepare as many as possible for the judgment that will occur for all mankind.

World Missions will cost us our very lives.

In Acts 21:10-12, a prophet named Agabus warns Paul that he will be bound and handed over to the Gentiles in Jerusalem. The people pleaded with Paul, and tried to dissuade him from going to Jerusalem. In Acts 21:13, Paul said to them, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

That’s the heart of world missions … great determination! Paul was ready to go and ready to die to get the message out.

Why do it?

When we came to Chicago from Syracuse, there were some that tried to dissuade us. “Why Chicago,” they asked? That’s an easy question to answer now. All I have to do is get them to come and visit. They will see a church that God has grown from 29 to over 90 sold-out disciples in less than two years! I would introduce them to Nick and Jacque and say, “that’s why!” I would introduce them to Leonard and LaTanja and say, “that’s why!”

“So, why Washington DC,” you ask? That’s easy. All you have to do is look with eyes of faith and plan to come and visit the church there in a few months. When you do, we will be introduced to blank and blank and say, “that’s why!”

Where Next?

Theresa and I are ready to go anywhere. I could have lived and died anywhere we have lived as disciples. I resolved in my heart, after I was baptized into Christ in New York City, that I would serve the church in Manhattan with my blood until God made it clear I needed to go somewhere else. When we were called to move to Queens, I had to be torn away from the disciples in Manhattan. When we were called to move from Queens to Syracuse, and from Syracuse to Chicago, it was equally painful to leave the disciples, but we are surrendered to God’s will. Wherever God wants us to stay and wherever God wants us to go, that will be home. Now, we are ready to live and die in Chicago, but God may have a different plan. As a disciple of Jesus, are you surrendered and ready to go anywhere, do anything and give up everything for the sake of the gospel? Who knows where God will call us next … Wisconsin, Indiana, Detroit or Albania?

Good News!

In Acts 21:17-20 Paul arrives at Jerusalem, and goes to see James and all the elders. There, he tells them about all that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. They praise God, and report to Paul about the thousands of Jews who had believed, and about how they were all zealous for the law.

The New Movement!

It is incredible to see people becoming disciples all over the world! We know that there are disciples worldwide in many different churches that are laboring for the lost. Specifically, we thank God for the movement that we are a part of. A movement of churches that are worshiping today not only in Illinois, but in New York, California, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, Florida, Arizona, Oklahoma, India, Australia, the Carribean, Honduras, Africa, Ukraine, Russia, England, Chili, Astonia and Canada.

God willing, we will plant churches this summer in New York City and Washington DC, which are arguably two of the most influential cities in the modern world as Rome was in the first century.

New Member Celebration!

We met the end of January to celebrate all our young Christians, and on that night we were blessed to see Gustavo baptized. Now, just three months later, we will meet this Wednesday in Regional Midweek Services to celebrate all that have joined us since that time. In the past three months, Ted, Roslyn, Leonard, LaTonja and Baltazar have placed membership. Tiffani, Kierre, Elaine and Leroy have been restored. And Roy, Lisa, James, Nick, Jackie, Jakob, Chip, Tricia, Alex and Sherry have been baptized!

Sherry Morris celebrates with family and friends after her baptism.

Chicago International Christian Church Scholarship.

As part of our rental agreement at Whitney Young High School, we are privileged to give a scholarship to a Whitney Young Senior. Essays were written on the topic of “What Religion Means to Me,” and our Deacons chose our winner. Her name is Lonyae Thomas.

Lonyae and her mom visit services and receive scholarship.

World Missions Contribution.

The history of our churches is rich with stories of the generosity of members in giving money to missions and sending members to help plant churches all over the world, including the Chicago International Christian Church. This doesn’t happen without sacrifice.

Our church’s financial goal this year is to become self supporting by the World Missions Jubilee in Los Angeles in late July. That will mean a weekly contribution of about 3,500. Last month we averaged just over $3000 a week which has grown from around $2000 in late December. We set a goal for our 2008 World Missions Contribution of $31,395 (15 times the December weekly amount). My prayer was that we would collect $35,000.

The 2008 Missions Contribution will specifically help us to …

1. Hire a Campus / Teen Minister on January 1st to work with our Youth Ministries.
2. Purchase a sound system.
3. Send $10,000 to Help the Central New York Church of Christ plant the Washington DC International Christian Church.
4. Help with the moving costs for our new Latin Ministry Leaders.
5. Supplement our weekly budget until we become self-supporting.

I am so proud of the church and the incredible sacrifice of the missions contribution. We far exceeded our goal of $31,395 and my prayer of $35,000. After all was said and done, we collected over $48,000. But that’s not all … there’s more besides! Seth and Amy Drew have decided to give $12,000 to the church over and above their regular weekly contribution and their World Missions Contribution in order to help us hire Jay Shelbrack to work part-time in the ministry for the next six months. That brings the missions total to over $60,000, almost twice our goal! Hiring Jay was not in the budget, but because of the Drew’s sacrifice, we are able to do it. Many in the church have said that this one act of sacrifice has helped to bring the Bible to life for them. They have referred to Acts 4:36-37 where Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. The scripture I think of is Acts 18:2-5 where Paul was making tents and reasoning in the synagogue on the Sabbath, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. Verse 5 tells us, “when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” With Silas and Timothy in town, Paul could stop working and devote more time to proclaiming the gospel. Because Seth and Amy know what God can do through Jay, they have said, “Don’t get another part-time job. We will work, because you need to preach the word!”

Now that’s the heart of World Missions!

Chris Broom

Categories: Building a Great Church, Sermons
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