Church In The Wild

The sermon centers on the Church’s call to stay "planted" in Jesus—connected to Him daily, weekly, monthly—so that we can be fruitful and impactful. The word “planted” was given as the Church’s word for the year, with the reminder that we're not to build a church for its own sake, but to pursue Jesus deeply.

The message draws heavily from Acts 10 and 11, where Peter and Cornelius experience divine visions that break religious, cultural, and ethnic boundaries.
This moment in Acts represents one of the biggest shifts in early Church history: the Gospel clearly being extended to Gentiles, showing that no one is excluded from God’s love.

Key Points:
    1    Jesus is Already Speaking in the Wild
    ◦    “The Wild” = anywhere the Church isn’t in control or culturally dominant.
    ◦    God is already at work in people’s hearts before they enter the Church—like Cornelius, a Roman soldier seeking God.
    ◦    Our role is to join God in what He’s already doing in people’s lives—not to “fix” or “convert,” but to partner with the Spirit.
    2    Jesus Calls Us Into the Wild
    ◦    Peter obeys God’s vision, stepping into places and among people Jewish law would’ve previously excluded.
    ◦    Following Jesus means being courageous in uncertainty—obedience before clarity.
    ◦    God uses us in ways we never expect when we remain planted in Him.
    3    Jesus Gives Us Clarity in the Wild
    ◦    Through experience and obedience, Peter realizes the Gospel is for all people, regardless of race, background, or status.
    ◦    This includes people we might judge, fear, or avoid—Jesus died for them too.
    ◦    The Gospel confronts injustice and bias not by creating enemies, but by transforming hearts.
    4    Jesus Frustrates the Religious in the Wild
    ◦    Peter is criticized by religious believers for associating with Gentiles.
    ◦    True Gospel mission disrupts religious comfort zones and cultural boundaries.
    ◦    Jesus crossed the ultimate barrier—from Heaven to Earth—to save, not condemn. We’re called to do the same.

Takeaway:
If we remain planted in Jesus—His Word, His Spirit, His mission—we’ll be led into the “wild” places of our city, our culture, and our relationships. The Church isn’t meant to wait for people to come; it’s called to go—to love and reach people in bars, strip clubs, workplaces, neighborhoods, wherever the Gospel is needed.
It’s not about religion or rules, but about the finished work of Jesus, and how that love pushes us out to share it with everyone—even those the world (or the Church) might reject