Francis Chan: Living Unpredictably

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is about surrendering to God's will and living unpredictably, just as Jesus did. We often get caught up in trying to figure out what God wants us to do, but the Bible shows us that true faith is not about following a set of rules or doing things a certain way, but about living with an open heart and mind, ready to follow wherever God leads.

We are encouraged to read the Bible for ourselves, rather than relying on others to tell us what it says. The early church, as described in Acts 2:42-47, was a community that lived out their faith in a way that was centered around Jesus and His teachings. They devoted themselves to prayer, fellowship, and taking care of one another's needs.

As we reflect on our own lives and the way we do church, we are challenged to ask ourselves if we are truly living out the values of the early church. Are we prioritizing community and caring for one another's needs? Or are we more focused on doing things a certain way or following a set of rules?

The Early Church

As we read about the early church in Acts, we see a community that was marked by love, unity, and generosity. They were devoted to prayer, fellowship, and taking care of one another's needs. They sold their possessions and gave to those who needed it, and they met together regularly to break bread and remember Jesus' teachings.

The early church fathers also wrote about the importance of living out our faith in a way that is centered around Jesus. In the epistle to Diognetus, we see an emphasis on the proof of Christianity being not just prophecy or archaeology, but the way that Christians live their lives and interact with one another.

Living Unpredictably

This message challenges us to think about what it means to live unpredictably, like Jesus did. We are encouraged to surrender our plans and expectations to God and trust that He will lead us in ways we cannot imagine.

We are also challenged to ask ourselves if we are truly living out the values of the early church. Are we prioritizing community and caring for one another's needs? Or are we more focused on doing things a certain way or following a set of rules?

Conclusion

This message is not about changing our external practices, but about changing our hearts and minds. It's about surrendering to God's will and living in a way that is centered around Jesus.

We are encouraged to read the Bible for ourselves, rather than relying on others to tell us what it says. We are challenged to ask ourselves if we are truly living out the values of the early church, and to prioritize community and caring for one another's needs.