God is calling us to go to the next level—to follow him into his desired future for us. He is calling us to be an Apostolic People. What does this mean? How radical is this? What changes would be required for us to move to this level?

Matthew 28:18-20, All authority in heaven and earth is mine. Go, therefore, and make disciples of the nations…I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
This is Jesus’ marching orders to the church.
An apostle is “one who is sent.”
Jesus gave this commission to common people.
Jesus compared the sending of his followers to his being sent by the Father.
John 20:21, In the same way the Father sent me, I am sending you.
The book of Acts is not an account about spiritual superstars.
It’s the account of common people who did extraordinary things because they believed they were sent. The book of Acts is an account of the normal Christian life.

An apostolic ethos birthed an apostolic community.
Ethos is a corporate, intense mental state that is shared by the whole group.
It is the emotion that the entire community feels. It is the fuel of our passion and the fire of our caring.
Acts 2:42-47; 4:23-31; 8:1-4; 28:31 demonstrates this apostolic ethos. Characteristics of an apostolic ethos:
It is a movement, not an institution. Survival is not the goal, serving is. There is a forsaking of a theology of safety.
They are people of passion and action.
An apostolic community is a people who are willing to submit to the Lordship of Jesus no matter what the implications. The world called these people Christians (Acts 11:46).

Acts 1:8, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will become my witnesses…”
The Holy Spirit is an apostolic Spirit.
He was sent by the Father.
His anointing is an apostolic anointing.
An apostolic people are people of the wind…People who have had an undeniable experience with the living God…People who are consumed by the Spirit.