We Are The Church - Part 2

WeAre . . . The Church (2)

OKAY…

WELCOME to CHURCH…

WELCOME to Maple Grove…

WELCOME to week 2 of our new series of Sunday morning conversations, CHURCH…

BUT – before we dig into part 2 of our introductory discussion, ‘WeAre… The Church’ - we need to take a brief commercial break.

Freedom Sunday Video

NOW – this past week in our FCFH readings we have been reading the book of ACTS, WOW - what an exciting book.

It begins with Jesus hanging out with His people for a period of 40 days after His resurrection.

MAKING SURE - that they were 100% convinced that He was alive… TALKING TO THEM - about the kingdom,

TELLING THEM about their ONE JOB (to be His witnesses everywhere), and

COMMANDING THEM – to wait for His power to show up…

I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

– Luke 24:49

AND SO – they do just that, they waited for that power to show up… AND - as they waited… they did a lot of praying…

They all joined together constantly in prayer… - Acts 1:14

AND THEN – on the day of Pentecost God’s power, and His promised Spirit showed up… as tongues of fire fell down from heaven, as the loud sound of rushing wind surrounded them, as the 12 apostles began speak of the wonders of God and as those gathered from all around the world heard them speak in their own language…

NOW – we need to understand that one of the most important events in human history was unfolding, the church was being born. A birth that was taking place at the perfect time, during the feast of Pentecost… 50 days after the Passover.

A TIME – when God’s people celebrated the harvest.

A TIME – when new life was springing up everywhere.

A TIME – when what had appeared to be dead was bursting forth with life…

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say.15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!

16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

AND THEN PETER – begins to tell the huge crowd (in the 1000’s) that was now gathered, using both the OT Scripture and their own knowledge of Jesus (the miracles He did, the death He died and the grave He conquered)…

He begins to tell them, show them, prove to them…

That Jesus was the Son of Living God and their long awaited Messiah.

36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

YEAH – the guy you murdered just a few days back on the Passover… was God son, your Messiah.

37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

OKAY – now, I think we would agree that this is a very HUGE question, right? SO – no doubt the people all leaned in to hear Peter’s answer.

THE ANSWER – to the question, what do messed up people do in order to be right with God…

HOW – do fallen people respond to the Gospel.

AND LISTEN – this was the very first time was ever asked or answered after Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.