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Pentecost The Spirit-filled Church Acts 2: 1-21 Acts 2: 42-47

Explore the impact of the Holy Spirit on the Church, contrasting Pentecost with Babel. Delve into the goals and characteristics of a Spirit-filled church, emphasizing unity, fruitfulness, and vibrant community. Discover the transformation the Spirit brings to individuals and the collective body of believers. Learn from Acts 2:42-47 about devotion to teaching, fellowship, and communal prayer in building a radiant and contagious church. Uncover the contrast between God's descending grace and human efforts to ascend, reflecting on the significance of Pentecost and the Trinity's representation.

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Pentecost The Spirit-filled Church Acts 2: 1-21 Acts 2: 42-47

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  1. Pentecost The Spirit-filled Church Acts 2: 1-21 Acts 2: 42-47

  2. Representation of the Trinity Fidget spinner

  3. Matthew 16:18 • And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will buildmychurch, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

  4. The New Testament Church • ἐκκλησία: gathering of people who are called out (église, iglesia, eglwys …) • Κυριακóς: of the Lord (church, Kirche, kerk …) • ἐκκλησία Κυριακή: pleonasm ? complementary !

  5. Contrast: Pentecost vs Babel • Genesis 11:1-9 • 1 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. • 2 As people moved eastward,they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. • 3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. • 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

  6. Contrast: Pentecost vs Babel • Genesis 11:1-9 • 5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. • 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. • 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” • 8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. • 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

  7. Contrast: Pentecost vs Babel Language binding together – Language as a hindrance Unity – Dispersion, scattering God descending as Man – Man trying to ascend to God Gift of the Holy Spirit – Man trying to grasp God Divine gracious gift – Man’s own strength

  8. Focus today on the impact of the Spirit not in our individual lives: • Work of the Spirit • Brings peace (John 14:27) • Teaches us about God (John 14:26) • Helps us to pray (Romans 8:26) • Convicts us of sin (John 16:8) • Gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12, Ephesians 4 …) • Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5, Ephesians 5 …) • But focus on the impact of the Spirit on the Church

  9. What makes us a church ? • What is the goal of the church ? • What makes a church an • attractive • healthy • living • vibrant • fruitful • radiant • appealing • contagious • relevant • Spirit-filled church ?

  10. Church – formal & minimalistic view • Worldwide – local – home & underground churches • A structured group of believers • Some may require baptism as a acceptance criterion • Regular gatherings – worship services • Read, study the word of God • Take Holy Communion • Celebrate ‘milestones’ (dedications, baptism, marriage blessings, funerals) • Is this a guarantee for making a church a fruit-bearing community ?

  11. Why ? The goal of the church • 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, • 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. • Ephesians 3:10-11

  12. Acts 2: 42-47 (New International Version) • 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. • 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. • 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. • 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

  13. Acts 2: 42-47 (New International Version) • 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

  14. The fruit bearing church1. Devotion to the apostles’ teaching - worship in Spirit and Truth • They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching … Acts 2:42 • The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth John 4:23-24 • Both are needed! No instruction without inspirationNo inspiration without instruction • Renewal ?

  15. The fruit bearing church2. Devotion to fellowship • A. Fellowship in the broad sense • They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship … Acts 2:42 • 4 There are different kinds of gifts …7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.1 Corinthians 12:4-7 • Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.1 Corinthians 14:12 • 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.1 Peter 4:7-11

  16. The fruit bearing church2. Devotion to fellowship • B. Fellowship in the narrow sense • Κοινωνία • financial support for famine stricken Christians: • Romans 15:26 • 2 Corinthians 8:4, 9:13 • Grace – good works

  17. The fruit bearing church3. Devotion to breaking of bread • Unspiritual ? • Liturgical ? • Acts 2:46: a real meal • Also Acts 20:11, Acts 27: 35 • An ordinary meal, yet never without recognizing Jesus’ sacrifice and looking forward to his coming again

  18. The fruit bearing church4. Devotion to prayer • Prayer is all over the place in the New Testament and certainly in the book of Acts! • Continuously and at special occasions • Inside and outside • In the temple and at home • In a Roman palace and at sea, at the beach • In prison and for prisoners • Spontaneously and as part of the apostles’ responsibility • At noon and midnight • At meal times and when fasting • After conversion and until death

  19. The fruit bearing church4. Devotion to prayer • Prayer is all over the place in the New Testament and certainly in the book of Acts! • Matter of discipline • 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. • Acts 4:29-31

  20. The Spirit-filled fruit-bearing Church • 8 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.’ • Acts 1:8 • This happened!

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