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Step By Step Through the New Testament (Part II). Lesson 2: Acts : Pentecost & Early Church Life. Rev. Christopher J. Respass Antioch Bible Institute Spring 2014. Acts : Pentecost & Early Church Life. The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) A. Feasts —Passover & Pentecost
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Step By Step Through the New Testament(Part II) Lesson 2: Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life • Rev. Christopher J. Respass • Antioch Bible Institute • Spring 2014
Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life • The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) • A. Feasts—Passover & Pentecost • 1. Passover • 2. Pentecost (Feast of Weeks): 50 days after Passover • B. Significance • 1. Passover = Jesus is the sacrifice • 2. Pentecost= Holy Spirit indwells
Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life • C. Sounds & Sights of Pentecost • 1. Sound: Wind (pneuma) • --the Spirit (pneuma) of God • 2. Sights: Fire • --“Divine presence” • --Exodus 3:2-5
Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life • D. Filling of the Spirit • 1. Each believer was “filled” receiving as much of the Spirit as they could hold. • 2. The Holy Spirit filled them with power. • 3. The believers spoke in tongues (languages) unknown to them, but known and understandable by others.
Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life • E. Indwelling of the Holy Spirit • “The event of Pentecost brought the Spirit’s presence into the life of all Christians. The Holy Spirit now teaches, leads, and produces Christian character in all believers.” • (Lea & Hudson, 114).
Acts: Pentecost & Early Church Life • Peter’s Sermon (Acts 2:12-40) • A. Rebuts the charge of Drunkenness (v.14-15) • B. Explained the significance of the Sounds, Sight and Speaking in Tongues (v.16-21)(see, Joel 2:28-32). • C. Presented Jesus’ life, death and resurrection as the apex of God’s divine plan for the salvation and redemption of mankind (v.22-36)
Acts: Pentecost • D. Made and appeal to the people for repentance, faith and baptism (v.37-39). • “[Peter’s] appeal in Acts 2:38 promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to those who expressed repentance and faith as symbolized by baptism.” (Lea & Hudson)
Acts: Pentecost • “Peter did not link the gift of the Holy Spirit merely with the act of baptism, but with baptism as a visible sign of repentance and faith. Christians receive the Holy Spirit by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and baptism is the outward sign of this conversion.” (Lea & Hudson, 114-15)
Acts: Early Church Life • Characteristics of a Spiritual Church (2:42-47) • A. Doctrine—learning about Jesus and the Word • B. Fellowship—commemorating the death of Jesus and hoping in his return. • C. Prayer—praise and fervent intercession. • Evangelism, Discipleship, Ministry, Fellowship, Worship
Acts: Early Church Life • The Church at Prayer (Acts 4:23-31) • Q: How do the prayers of this church compare to the prayers of contemporary churches you have attended? • Similarities? Differences?
Acts: Early Church Life • The Problem of Sin in the Church (Acts 5) • A. When Satan attacks the church he: • 1. brings persecution from without • 2. deception and division from within • B. Ananias & Sapphira(Acts 5:1-11) • 1. God takes hypocrisy seriously • 2. They lied to God • 3. Endured a drastic punishment--Death
Acts: Early Church Life • Caring for Needs of Others (Acts 6) • A. The Problem—Grecian widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. • B. The Solution—Deacons. • The apostles refused to leave the preaching of the gospel in order to make ministry to widows a full-time task. So, they appointed seven men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom as deacons.
Acts: Early Church Life • C. The Result—God’s word increased • Because the Apostles were now able to focus on preaching the word and prayer, God’s word increased and the number of believers grew rapidly.