Pentecost: The Establishment Of The Church Series

PENTECOST: ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CHURCH

(FOLLOW-UP TO CHRIST'S GREAT COMMISSION)

Good Morning Family,

I’m praying that everyone is doing well. I know that you, even as I am, are anxious to be at the church building worshipping together as a family. But, sadly, we will still be home again next Sunday on May 3rd as our governor is slowly lifting the “stay-at-home” order, but we are hoping and praying to be back together again on Mother’s Day; with safety protocols still in place. The elders will make that decision very soon, and I will let you know as soon as I know by email and Facebook—so stay tuned.

It was good to see and speak to some of you last Sunday at the Drive-thru communion service. And, remember, the communion is being offered again this morning from 10:00-11:00, if you want to venture out to the church parking lot.

Next Sunday on May 3rd Ben Noll, our youth minister, will delivering the video sermon. You have been able to see and hear me preach, and for the last two Sundays to see and hear Don and Bonnie Marter lead us in praise and worship. So, this will be a great opportunity for you to also see and hear Ben share a message from God’s Word. As I have been doing, I will send the link to the sermon by email.

Let’s get to our lesson. Turn your Bibles to Acts 2.

A. Last Sunday as we concluded the Gospel of Mark, the apostles witnessed Jesus ASCEND into Heaven,

and 10 days later the CHURCH of Jesus Christ was BORN.

1. The church was ESTABLISHED in AD-33 on the Jewish holiday known as “SHAVUOT,” which is the Hebrew word for “WEEKS” signifying the Jewish holiday (HOLY DAY) of “The

Festival of Weeks.”

a. The New Testament refers to this day as “PENTECOST,” which means “FIFTY”—the 50th day

after the JEWISH PASSOVER, and, on this day in HISTORY, 50 days after the CRUCIFIXION

of Jesus Christ.

COMMENT:

Originally the Day of Pentecost or Shavuot was the CELEBRATION of “the first fruits of the

wheat harvest” as recorded in Exodus 23:16 and Leviticus 23:16.

However, by the time of Christ it had become a commemoration of the giving of the Law to Moses (The 10 Commandments), which took place on Mt. Sinai FIFTY DAYS after the original

PASSOVER and EXODUS from Egypt where the Israelites were held in bondage- Exodus 20:1-17.

b. So, for the Jew it was the celebration of the LAW and the renewal of the Mosaic Covenant.

2. Now, it was no accident of HISTORY that this was the DAY that God chose to send the HOLY

SPIRIT upon the Apostles and to ESTABLISH His church.

a. The contrast between the Law (the OT covenant) and Christ (who is the fulfilment of the Law)

and the NT covenant is sharply focused on the day of PENTECOST.

b. Under the old covenant the day signified the coming of the LAW, but under the new covenant it

signified the coming of the HOLY SPIRIT upon the church of Jesus Christ.

c. PENTECOST was always CELEBRATED on the “FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK”—Sunday.

B. In Acts 2:1 we see “the apostles together in a house on the Day of Pentecost.”

1. Over the last 50 days the apostles had been RIDING an emotional ROLLERCOASTER.

a. They had witnessed the brutal CRUCIFIXION and then the magnificent RESURRECTION of their

Lord and Savior.

b. They WALKED with the resurrected Lord and TOUCHED Him and LISTENED to His Words.

c. They watched as Jesus left them alone as He was taken up into Heaven to be with His Father.

2. Ten days had passed since Jesus’s ASCENSION, and the apostles are waiting for the PROMISE that

Jesus made to them before being taken up into heaven.

a. Acts 1:8- “…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.”

b. Although the apostles as faithful Jews celebrated PENTECOST many times before, this day was

going to be different.

COMMENT:

The events on the Day of Pentecost AD-33 were going to change the COURSE of mankind for all ETERNITY. On this day the church of Jesus Christ will be BORN, and the “followers of Christ that numbered only 120 at the ascension of Jesus”- Acts 1:15, will grow over 3,000 in just one day.

MESSAGE:

I. THE COMMOTION OF PENTECOST- Acts 2:1-13

A. Thousands of Jews traveled to Jerusalem from all over the world to celebrate Pentecost—the giving

of the Law of Moses. Many would come for the PASSOVER and stay through PENTECOST.

1. Historians estimate that during PENTECOST Jerusalem would swell to over 2 million people.