© 2010 - 2012 Openwater Church - Odessa, FL 33556 - (813) 920-9922
Sunday Service : 9:30 & 11:00 AM
Celebrate Recovery : 7:00 PM Tuesdays
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OVERVIEW OF OPENWATER CHURCH’S "ACTS 1:8 PRINCIPLE" FOR OUTREACH
Openwater Church follows the New Testament pattern of missions given by Jesus Christ to his apostles as he ascended to heaven. It is found in Acts 1:8. Jesus said,
Acts 1:8
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
As you look at this passage you see that at conversion you receive power as the Holy Spirit dwells within you. Jesus knew how inadequate his chosen apostles were. He also understands that many of us feel the same way today. He understands that we must be filled with his love and power before that same love and power can flow out of us. Here is a simple fact; none of us has the power to be Christ’s witness on our own. Just like the apostles, we need to be filled by God’s love in order to outflow His love to others.
Outflow: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;”
It represents your personal relationship with God.
After the apostles were filled to overflowing with the love and power of Jesus at Pentecost, they were able to be Christ’s witnesses. Acts 1:8 describes the pattern that God still uses to flow into us so that His love can flow out of us and into the world. The book written bySteve Sjogren and Dave Ping entitled, “Outflow,” uses a four tiered fountain to illustrate this outward flow. We take a slightly different approach to their concept but the overall idea is still the same; as you grow in your love for God, that love will outflow to others.
In a fountain there is a water source that comes deep from within and flows out from the top of the fountain. That water source is the power of your personal relationship with Christ. Jesus Christ is the “spring of living water.” Everything begins with and depends upon a relationship with Him. So your first job is to be filled with so much of His spirit that you can’t contain it. At the moment of salvation the scripture says that God the Holy Spirit indwells you and begins to fill you with His love.
Tier #1: Jerusalem
It represents people living in Tampa Bay
Just like in a fountain, when the water source overflows the top it trickles into the first tier, Jerusalem. Back in the day Jerusalem was the place most Christ’s followers thought of as home. These are the people closest to you; family, friends, neighbors and co-workers, and all those you don’t know that live in the Tampa Bay area. We place in our mission’s budget ways to help you invite people to church and lead them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Below are the ways that Tampa Bay (Jerusalem) is reached by you through Openwater. Openwater also helps take care of some of the basic needs of OWC members who find themselves in financial distress. We also support other Christian organizations in the area that desire to reach the Tampa Bay area with the good news of Jesus Christ. We can’t do it all alone and by partnering up with other organizations we can have a larger sphere of influence in Tampa Bay. Jerusalem represents the top tier of the fountain and as it fills up and overflows with God’s love it trickles into the second tier which represents Judea.
Tier #2: Judea
It represents people living in America
Back in the day Judea was a district around the city of Jerusalem. Today, our Judea is the United States of America. Below are ministries at Openwater to reach the nation together with the organizations that OWC currently partners with to reach America with the love of Christ. America represents the second tier of the fountain. As you continue to seek God, His love fills you so much that your love overflows into the third tier, that is Samaria.
Tier #3: Samaria
It represents the people from other language groups living in America.
In the days of the apostles, Hebrews avoided Samarians because they were different. For our purposes Samaria represents the different language groups living in America. Jesus was saying to the apostles back in the day that their love must reach out to those different from them. God wants to see your love relationship with Him fill you up so much that you will spill over to those who speak a different language. People from others language groups living in America represents the third tier. As your love for God continues to grow it spills on to the base of the fountain which represents the ends of the earth.
Tier #4: The ends of the Earth
It represents people in every country around the world.
For our purposes this represents every country outside of America. God mandates that we reach people with His love around the world.
This is “The Acts 1:8 Missions/Outflow Pattern for Openwater Church” that will help to keep the church outward focused, enhance good stewardship practices (giving of their time, talent, and treasures in both budgeted donations through the tithe and direct missions giving through gifts and offerings above the tithe not processed through the church budget), and develop the right priorities of loving God and loving others through service.
Tier #1: JERUSALEM It represents people living in Tampa Bay
**(Budgeted) This is money given to support the mission effort or organization directly from the OWC budget. **(Direct) This is money or donations collected during the year for a mission effort or organization outside of the OWC budget.
Tier #2: JUDEA It represents people living in America
Tier #3: SAMARIA It represents the people from other language groups living in America.
Tier #4: THE ENDS OF THE EARTH It represents people in every country around the world.
**(Budgeted) This is money given to support the mission effort or organization directly from the OWC budget. **(Direct) This is money or donations collected during the year for a mission effort or organization outside of the OWC budget. |