January 18th, 2026 - Live On Mission: Part 3 (10:30 AM)

The teaching calls Christians to live on mission together, rooted in Acts 1:8’s commission. It frames faith not as a private ornament but as a light meant to be shared — costly, sacrificial, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. The central charge is to be witnesses: people who testify to what God has done in their lives, not to carry the burden of conversion but to faithfully present evidence of Christ, trusting the Holy Spirit to work in people's hearts. Witnessing is practical and relational; it begins in the local context (the city), extends to the surrounding region, crosses cultural and social barriers, and reaches to the ends of the earth.

Practical outworkings of that mission are emphasized: planting a new campus in Desert Hot Springs to reach the greater community, supporting global missionaries through partnerships, and mobilizing volunteers to serve in the ministries that make evangelism and discipleship possible. The Holy Spirit’s presence is presented as both word and power — providing the encounters, the words, and sometimes tangible demonstrations (healing, dreams, changed lives) that accompany faithful testimony.

Finances and stewardship are taught as integral to mission effectiveness. Giving is portrayed not as optional overhead but as a spiritual discipline that directly funds outreach, church planting, and pastoral care; generosity is a means by which the church can expand its reach. The teaching urges faith-filled giving, anchors that practice in biblical precedent (the early church’s sharing and Old Testament tithing), and highlights that financial choices form the desires of the heart. Spiritual maturity is measured, in part, by willingness to invest in the mission — to support staffing, facilities, and ministries that multiply witness.

The call concludes with an appeal to move from decorative faith to sacrificial, communal witness: give time, gifts, and money; serve together; and allow the Holy Spirit to use ordinary testimonies to bring people to Christ. The posture encouraged is faithful, generous participation in a church that seeks to be a multiplying presence in its city, region, and the world.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Mission framed by Acts 1:8 Jesus’ final commission defines the church’s scope: begin locally, move outward, and persist until the ends of the earth. That structure resists small-minded mission and insists on both neighborhood care and global witness, reminding believers that local faithfulness and international concern are inseparable. The task is communal — the plural “you” in Acts points to the gathered church as the vehicle for testimony and advance. [40:39]
• 2. Witnessing depends on the Holy Spirit Testimony is not merely human persuasion but Spirit-enabled encounter; the Holy Spirit provides words, opens doors, and sometimes accompanies testimony with tangible signs. That reality removes the pressure to be an expert and reorients witness toward honest testimony paired with prayerful dependence. Expect vulnerability, not performance, and expect God to supply the power for the encounter. [44:28]
• 3. Together the church multiplies effectiveness Individual zeal is necessary but insufficient; coordinated effort — shared gifts, volunteers, and strategic planting — multiplies reach beyond what any person can do alone. Unity enables focused impact across neighborhoods, counties, and cultural boundaries, transforming scattered efforts into sustained, systemic witness. Collaboration also cushions risk and sustains long-term discipleship work. [50:09]
• 4. Giving funds gospel expansion Financial sacrifice directly fuels church planting, missionary partnerships, and ministries that carry the gospel to unreached places. Money is not merely administrative; it is strategic fuel for outreach, training, and pastoral support that enables sustained, reproducible fruit. Decisions about resources reveal priorities and determine capacity for mission. [51:10]
• 5. Generosity reveals spiritual maturity Willingness to give — sacrificially and cheerfully — marks growth in trust and reorders desires toward eternal investments. The practice of proportionate, consistent giving shapes the heart, aligns affections with kingdom aims, and cultivates reliance on God rather than resources. Mature discipleship shows itself in both service and stewardship. [58:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [37:06] - Living on Mission Series Overview
• [38:04] - Candle Illustration: Decorative vs. Light
• [39:43] - The Final Moments of Jesus
• [40:39] - Reading Acts 1:6–11
• [43:08] - Power through the Holy Spirit
• [45:16] - Witnessing: Testimony Not Saving
• [48:45] - Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, Ends Explained
• [51:10] - Desert Hot Springs Campus Announcement
• [53:30] - Volunteers, Budget, and Mission Needs
• [58:21] - Tithing, Generosity, and Faith
• [64:09] - Prayer, Benediction, and Next Steps

Bible reading

Acts 1:6–11 (ESV)
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

2 Corinthians 9:6–7 (ESV)
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Observation questions

1. In Acts 1:6, what was the primary concern of the disciples, and how did Jesus redirect their focus in verses 7 and 8?
2. According to Acts 1:8, what is the specific source of power promised to the believers, and what are the four geographic areas they are called to reach?
3. A witness in a legal setting is someone who testifies to what they have seen and heard firsthand. How does this definition change the way we think about our "assignment" to tell others about Jesus? [46:00]
4. When a candle is lit to provide light, the wax begins to drip and it no longer looks like a "perfect" decorative ornament. What does this physical change represent regarding the cost of being a witness? [38:50]

Interpretation questions

1. Jesus tells the disciples that it is not for them to know the "dates and times" set by God’s authority. Why is it often easier for Christians to get distracted by end-times predictions or politics than to stay "laser-focused" on the mission of making disciples? [41:21]
2. The Holy Spirit’s power is described as something that accompanies a witness, sometimes through dreams, healing, or providing the right words. How does relying on the Spirit’s power remove the pressure to be an "expert" or an "apologist" when talking to others? [44:28]
3. The call to be witnesses is given to the church as a whole—the plural "you." Why is a coordinated effort, such as planting a new campus in Desert Hot Springs or supporting global missionaries, more effective than trying to fulfill the Great Commission individually? [50:09]
4. Spiritual maturity is often marked by moving from having one's own needs met to supporting the needs of the "family of God." How does the practice of consistent, proportionate giving reflect a person's growth from a "spiritual child" to a "spiritual adult"? [56:36]

Application questions

1. A "decorative candle" looks nice on a shelf but never fulfills its purpose of providing light. In what areas of your life has your faith become more of a private ornament than a light meant to be shared with others? [38:04]
2. Witnessing is simply sharing what you know to be true about God's work in your life. If you were asked to give a "testimony" today, what is one specific way you have experienced the peace, forgiveness, or love of Jesus recently? [48:15]
3. The mission starts in "Jerusalem" (our local city) and moves to "Samaria" (places or people we might naturally avoid or dislike). Who is your "Samaria," and how can you begin to pray for or serve those people this week? [49:29]
4. Financial choices reveal the priorities of the heart. When you look at your spending habits, do they reflect a heart that is "storing up treasure in heaven" or a heart that is primarily focused on things that "moth and rust destroy"? [01:02:10]
5. Stepping out in faith to give the "first 10%" can be intimidating when the math doesn't seem to add up. Have you ever experienced a time when you gave generously and saw God "pour into your lap" a blessing or provision that you didn't expect? [59:45]
6. Reaching our region requires "volunteers and resources" to move the mission forward. What is one practical step you can take this month to move from being a consumer of ministry to a participant in the mission—whether through your time, your gifts, or your finances? [53:30]