When you’ve started a new job or a new course, maybe you’ve asked the question, “What am I doing here?”. Answering that question helps you to not only understand your purpose in that context, but also how to conduct yourself. To be honest, we ask ourselves that question in all sorts of situations. Maybe you’ve also asked it at church.

The start of a new academic year is also the start of a new ministry year at St Andrew’s. Our Growth Groups, Kidzone, and Youth ministries all resume after the summer break, and we welcome lots of new people. Therefore, it’s a good time to ask those questions, “What am I doing here? What’s St Andrew’s all about? What’s our purpose in meeting together?”.

We begin to get an answer to these questions when we look at the Book of Acts. This book is all about the proclamation of the gospel and the growth of the early church. At the very start, the risen Jesus says to his disciples, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Jesus’ command to his disciples is also his command to us. We share the gospel to the community around us. But the gospel declared must also be the gospel demonstrated. We show what we believe by living transformed lives. And that shapes everything about our church life together. Christian community is meant to show the watching world the life changing power of the gospel.

Over the next few months during our sermon series, we’re going to continue our study of the Book of Acts that we started last year, by looking at Acts 8-12. We’re calling this series, “The spreading flame”, as we look at how the news of Jesus was shared by his followers to the world around them. Like a spark that ignites a forest fire, the gospel spread as Jesus’ followers were obedient to his command to be his witnesses.

If you’re a follower of Jesus and call St Andrew’s your spiritual home in Hong Kong, you’re also called upon to be part of this spreading flame. Jesus uses his people to proclaim his gospel. That includes you. It includes you as we gather at church on a Sunday and as we scatter around our city during the week. Please prayerfully consider how you can invite people to church, or Kidzone, or Youth, or Silverzone on a Sunday. But also prayerfully consider how you share the light of the gospel in your home, your workplace, and amongst your friends and connections.

Be part of our mission as we seek to know Jesus and make him known.