NEW BEGINNINGS
THE STORY CHAPTER 28 / ACTS 1-12
INTRODUCTION
There is a book only 100 pages long, published by the Department of Justice, that can easily be downloaded and is a book that no parent wants to read. The title is “When Your Child is Missing.” Key bullet points and action steps are on the cover of the book, like, “You’re not alone,” “Hope is essential,” “Trust your feelings and share them with law enforcement officials,” “Distribute pictures,” “Keep your focus,” “Exercise caution,” and the final exhortation is “Never stop looking.” The book tells the stories of four year old Shelby Marie Cox and six year old Colleen Nick and the parents of Jacob Wetterling have been searching for him since 1989. They post messages saying, “We’re still searching for you and we will never quit.” Parents will spare no expense as with resolute passion they search for their missing children.
So does God. God has lost children, who have gone the wrong direction, lost their bearings, lost their place in this life, and lost their vision of the next life. God initiated a massive, three-phase search and rescue strategy to find His lost children. The first phase was Israel. We saw in the Old Testament that God wanted a nation through whom to show His character and to call people back to Himself. The second and very critical phase, which is the point of the Four Gospels in the beginning of the New Testament, was Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ declared, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). We are lost and Jesus is the way back home. By his death on the cross and His resurrection, we can be reunited to our Heavenly Father. The third phase is in The Story today in chapter 28—the church. We will be looking at the Book of Acts, beginning with Acts 1:8 which is a powerful theme for the entire third phase of God’s plan: “But 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.”
READ ACTS 2:2-8
“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?”
We see with the burst of the Holy Spirit on the scene that the new beginning promised in the church began.
I. PENTECOST- THE AWAITED TURNING POINT
The Holy Spirit was something that was promised to the disciples. Jesus had spoken in John 14 and 15 about this Counselor that would come. Jesus promised that He would not leave these men alone, but that they would have a constant companion to aid them in all their efforts for God. Acts chapter 1 records that Jesus commanded the disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for this wonderful gift. Jesus promises the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises these men “power” when the Holy Spirit is given to them and they will be powerful witnesses for Christ in Jerusalem and in the surrounding areas and in the entire world.
So, the disciples wait. It was the fiftieth day of these feasts and they were gathered together. It seems that for these Christians celebrating Pentecost together, the feasts would soon take on a whole new meaning. The Day of Pentecost would soon have new meaning to these people sitting there—they would be witnesses and participants to the birth of the Church movement… a new beginning. The Holy Spirit came so fantastically.
We find that the Holy Spirit came like a wind. The Holy Spirit has been associated with the wind before in Scripture hasn’t it? Jesus talks about the Spirit and wind in John 3:8. The Holy Spirit is like the wind. It goes wherever it pleases and you cannot see it. The Spirit, like the wind, is a powerful force… just ask anyone who’s ever had their roof torn off or a building blown down! The wind is powerful. So is the Spirit. The Spirit came in power this day of Pentecost and everyone heard it.
We also find that the Holy Spirit came in fire. Not only did they hear the Spirit come, but they saw it. They saw fire appear and a little flame came to each of them and rested on them. The fire meant something very important. We find in Exodus 3, that when God appeared to Moses in the burning bush—it meant that Moses was in the presence of God. It means the same thing here. The very Spirit of God was among them and was about to take up residence in their hearts. They actually saw the fire come to each of them. They saw that God was there and was about to anoint them to do the work of the church.
We find that the Spirit came and allowed those who were there to speak in tongues. What an amazing miracle for the beginning of the church! And really, if you think about it—the Holy Spirit was providing exactly what the apostles and other’s needed to proclaim the Gospel. The rest of the passage after verse 5 tells us that there were Jews from 14 different nations around the world. That’s at least 14 different languages that had to be learned so the Gospel could be preached. Through the power of God, these apostles were given the gift to speak and be heard by everyone in their native language. All the thousands and thousands of Jews who were in Jerusalem would be able to hear the Gospel and understand it. Amazing and wonderful!
So, the church was born. The Holy Spirit had now come to rest on the followers of Jesus and they could now go out and do as He had asked them to do—spread the Gospel.
ILLUSTRATION… What is the church?
Russ Blowers is a minister who is active in his local Indianapolis Rotary club. At club meetings each week a member gives a brief statement about his job. When it was his turn, Russ said: "I’m with a global enterprise. We have branches in every country in the world. We have our representatives in nearly every parliament and boardroom on earth. We’re into motivation and behavior alteration.
We run hospitals, feeding stations, crisis pregnancy centers, universities, publishing houses, and nursing homes. We care for our clients from birth to death.
We are into life insurance and fire insurance. We perform spiritual heart transplants. Our original Organizer owns all the real estate on earth plus an assortment of galaxies and constellations. He knows everything and lives everywhere. Our product is free for the asking. (There’s not enough money to buy it.)
Our CEO was born in a hick town, worked as a carpenter, didn’t own a home, was misunderstood by his family, hated by enemies, walked on water, was condemned to death without a trial, and arose from the dead--I talk with him everyday."
This new beginning of the Church began with the turning point of the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given to believers. This was a significant event that was prophesied in Isaiah 44, Ezekiel 39, and Joel 2. The Church was not only born in this new beginning, but they had power!
II. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
ILLUSTRATION…Power for the Church by unknown
Power can be used in at least two ways: it can be unleashed, or it can be harnessed. The energy in ten gallons of gasoline for instance can be released explosively by dropping a lighted match into the gas can or it can be channeled through the engine of a Datsun [Corolla] in a controlled burn and used to transport a person 350 miles. Explosions are spectacular, but controlled burns have lasting effect, staying power.
Acts 1:8 begins the book of Acts, describes the new beginning of the church, and speaks of power. The Holy Spirit works both ways I just described. At Pentecost, He exploded on the scene; His presence was like “tongues of fire” (Acts 2:3). Thousands were affected by one burst of God’s power. And yet, He also works through the church—the institution God began to tap the Holy Spirit’s power for the long haul. Through worship, fellowship, and service, Christians are provided with staying power.
We see the working out of this power with Stephen in Acts 6:8-15. Stephen was a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit (Acts 6:5) and was the first Christian killed for His faith. Stephen was a teacher and wonder worker for Christ and was so persuasive that no one could refute his arguments (verse 10). Some of the Jews began to resent him and his teaching and brought false accusers (verse 11) to get rid of him. These Jews wanted him condemned for preaching about Jesus (verse 14).
When asked if these charges against him were true, Stephen preaches a wonderful persuasive sermon on the identity of Christ and does so by way of the Old Testament Scriptures. He called them “stiff-necked people” and made them see clearly that they had ignored Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. Even in the midst of this trial and all of this hate and doubt, Stephen had the composure and confidence to preach this powerful sermon. Not only that, but had the compassion for them to ask God to forgive them while they stoned him. We see the power of the Holy Spirit in Stephen’s life.
We see the working out of this power with Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:29-35. Philip, like Stephen, was a man of faith and full of the Holy Spirit. He was a man sensitive to the desires of the Spirit. Philip started out down the road and knew not what laid ahead of him. He met a man who “happened” to be reading from the Old Testament and “happened” to be reading a passage prophesying about Jesus. Philip was able to explain to this man all about Christ and how He fulfilled the Old Testament promises and this man was saved. In fact, this man was baptized that hour when they traveled together and came upon a pool of water. Philip was in the exact place God needed him… all because he listened to the Holy Spirit. Philip knew what needed to be said to this man because he listened and was guided by the Holy Spirit.
We see the working out of this power with the Apostle Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10:44-48. Acts chapter 10 records for us the Apostle Peter preaching to Gentile (non-Jewish) believers in the house of a man named Cornelius. Peter is convinced that God wants him to preach about Jesus to these people (Acts 10:34-35) and he does so. Peter states that he is a witness to all of the things that Jesus said and did and that Jesus was the Messiah. While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit came upon these Gentile believers and they spoke in tongues and praised God.
It was the power of the Holy Spirit that showed Peter and other Christians that Jesus was available to anyone, not just Jews. Christians are found in all nations and in all languages and it is a free gift to anyone who accepts it. Peter saw, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus was the Savior and Lord of all people and not just the Jews. Peter baptized all these people and they were added to the number of the Jewish Christians.
We see in the Book of Acts that God’s people have a new beginning in Him. Jesus Christ did His work and now it was time for the people of God to follow after Him and finish His work. This new beginning leads us to two very important questions.
III. TWO IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
In his new book, Deep and Wide, Andy Stanley challenges readers to think about the church, similarly to what we are doing this morning. In one of the first chapters on talking about the church, he mentions two very important questions. He says, “It’s critical that we find common ground around two important questions: 1. What is the church? 2. Who is it for?” I personally think the two questions he raises at the start of his book weigh heavily on this new beginning for God’s people described in the Book of Acts. These questions give us movement! I am currently reading this book and I have been thinking and praying over these two questions ever since I read them.
QUESTION ONE: WHAT IS THE CHURCH?
Based on what we have already read and talked about today, the Church is something very special… or rather I should say… some people that are very special. The Church is made up of believers in Jesus Christ who are powered by the Holy Spirit to share the Good News about Jesus Christ to those who do not know. We are to be witnesses around the world and across the street.
Witnesses about Jesus Christ’s identity.
Witnesses about what Jesus has done in our lives.
Witnesses about God’s care for the poor, downtrodden, and those needing justice.
Witnesses for God when others around us have faith questions.
I hope you notice in the Book of Acts that when describing the new beginning God’s people experienced that I did not mention any buildings. I rather mentioned Stephen and Philip and Peter and Cornelius and the Holy Spirit and amazing wonders. You see the Church is NOT a building. The Church is NOT land or vans or programs. THIS CHURCH is not this building, but rather each one of you gathering here connected by faith in Jesus Christ and connected by the Holy Spirit. The Church that began in the Book of Acts was and is a gathering of people who are bound together in faith and by the presence of the Holy Spirit.
QUESTION TWO: WHO IS IT FOR?
Of the two questions asked this is the one that challenges me the most because it causes me to think hard about our fellowship here. Who is the Church for? Who do we exist for? Why are we here? Who are we here for? I hope you realize that the Church in the first century existed for one reason and one reason only… to spread the message about Jesus… FOR those who did not yet know.
* Jesus told them they would be His witnesses in Acts 1
* Peter preached and 3,000 accepted Jesus as Savior in Acts 2
* Peter and John loved a crippled man and shared Christ with him in Acts 3
* Peter and John told the government authorities all about Jesus in Acts 4
* The Disciples were providing food for poor widows in Jesus’ Name in Acts 6
* Stephen preaches his heart out to those hostile to Jesus in Acts 7
* Philip was active in “sharing Christ” and even did so by the side of the road in Acts 8
* Saul has a vision of Jesus Christ on the road and is given the mission to share the Gospel in Acts 9
What do all of these people have in common? What is the constant theme about which they were speaking and working and putting in effort? Who did they exist FOR? They all existed FOR those lost children of God who did not know that Jesus Christ came to die for their sins and He offers grace and forgiveness and mercy and eternal life.
APPLICATION/CHALLENGE
The new beginning described in the Book of Acts challenges each of us on a personal level and on a congregational level.
First, each of us as believers is challenged to be witnesses for Jesus Christ in our personal lives. Now I know some of you might say that we should live out our lives as examples, but I would challenge you that your words must accompany your deeds and lifestyle. For some reason Deuteronomy 6:5-9 pops into my head as a wonderful example of how to be a personal witness for Jesus Christ. I am going to fiddle with it a little and frame our witness along with this Old Testament command:
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. The truths of the Gospel that you believe are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children and your grandchildren. Talk about faith when you sit at home and when you walk along the road with friends and neighbors, when you lie down and when you get up. Be ready to give an answer when someone asks about the faith you have. May the truths of Scripture be tattooed on your heart and may you live them out in front of others.
* That is our challenge. To offer a new beginning to others in Christ.
Second, each of us as part of this congregation is challenged with this particular task to create a Holy atmosphere where everyone can be a part and develop an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ. This means that we absolutely must create a welcoming atmosphere where people feel comfortable. That is THE reason we now have critical greeters outside in the parking lot… to help folks get inside without fear or questions. That is THE reason we send out folks on Mondays with cookies and make a short face-to-face visit. That is THE reason we do “name tag Sundays.” That is THE reason we now have 100, 200, and 300 level Sunday School classes so that not-yet Christians and new folks in the church can learn and grown. Our challenge is that we absolutely want to be a welcoming warm church which enables someone to meet Jesus.
This also means we leave our judgmental attitudes in the car in the parking lot… whether someone is here for the first time or they are returning after a long absence. Our challenge as a congregation is to offer fellowship to anyone who is seeking God. This may mean they come from a shattered background or have an addiction or are homeless or maybe have better morals than we do! It does not matter what walk-of-life someone comes from… we are God’s witnesses to them. Our challenge is that we absolutely want to be a place of non-judgmental attitudes and offer much grace.
* That is our challenge. To offer a new beginning to others in Christ.
I have a bit of homework for you to do as we conclude our time together this morning. On the back of the sermon notes, you have a page of questions that I would like you all to prayerfully consider. Perhaps talk about them as a family. Take this little sheet with you when you go to lunch with folks and make that a topic of your conversation. Take this sheet and talk about it next Wednesday or in your Sunday School class next week. Make it a matter of prayer and thought that we answer these key questions about what our church should be doing!
* This is our challenge. To offer a new beginning to others in Christ.
CONCLUSION
