[Acts 2:40-47]
And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
{Rev. Charles Han}
I'm hoping this message will give us a perspective on why this is important to our church in this moment of our church. Picture this. In 30 years, Christianity went from a sect of Judaism to spreading across the entire known world. This is not just a historical thought. This is where we are now. God moves in this passage, just as He works now in His church. From Acts, we can take our cues on fellowship, on community, on how the church should look like.
The passage tells us two things:
The evidence of what a spirit-filled church looks like.
The actions of a church that puts themselves in a place where the spirit will move.
1) Learning Community
2) Worshiping Community
3) Sacrificially Caring Community
4) Missional Community
Learning Community
Paul testified to the people. And when he did so, it cut people to the heart and 3,000 people joined the church. It went from 150 people to 3,000 people. Can you imagine the logistics? Insanity for those who were dealing with administrative things.
What were they devoted to? The teachings of the apostles. They were a learning community devoted to learning. Learning about how their lives should be lived in light of the gospel. 3,000 spiritual babies devoting time & energy to learning.
Reasons to be intensely devoted to the word: The gospel grows richer as we devote more time to it. The mundane practice of daily reading, group bible studies, and preaching are all there for God to challenge & grow us.
"What is interesting to me is that the means God appointed to help the children of Israel were to remember what was important. In his dealings with Moses, God had established a set of repetitive processes by which the Israelites would be constantly reminded of all that God had done for them. Thus, for example, in Exodus 12, God establishes the Passover Feast, the performance of which is designed in part to provoke later generations to ask the question of why this is done. This will then require parents to tell their children about God’s great act of saving grace in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt even as this was by means of an awesome and terrifying judgment against the Egyptians.
The Passover is just one example of many rituals outlined in the Torah which functioned on one level as reminders of who God was, who the Israelites were, and how they related to each other. Thus, when we come in to the Promised Land and we find the Israelites suffering persistent recurrences of amnesia, it does not take a genius to assume that part of the immediate cause of this was their abject neglect of the means which God had established for keeping his name and his acts fresh in their minds.
What this kind of amnesia tells us is that we need constant reminders of who God is and what he has done if we are to stay on the straight and narrow; and that these are provided by the routines and rituals which God specifies in Scripture. For the Christian, under the terms of the NT age, these are the Word of God, read and preached and heard, and the sacraments, or, if you are a Baptist, the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These things are given to remind us of who God is; and the neglect of them will only help to accelerate any proclivities towards forgetfulness that our instinctive rebellion of God encourages.
To spend the week voyaging at the far reaches of intellectual seas of scholarship, and then the weekends listening to some person standing in a pulpit and simply expounding the text or serving bread and wine? What is the value in that? One can imagine the Israelites in the Book of Judges raising similar questions. Do we need to do that Passover thing again? Do we not all know what it means? Do we really need the law read to us so often? Surely once we know what it says, we can move beyond it? The net result in Judges is, of course, that the values of Sodom come to flourish within the very boundaries of the Promised Land and within the very practices of the Lord’s people, with fatal consequences for at least one young woman. Neglect of the boring, day-to-day routines led to absolute disaster.
This is why church is vitally important...
It is the same today. I have yet to come across a student who struggled with, or even abandoned, the faith, who did not, at some early point in their struggle, abandon the mundane routines of the Christian life: regular attendance at the preaching of the word, prayer, etc. etc. Boring they may be, but they are God’s means of preventing amnesia; and we forget them at our peril." - Carl Trueman, Lest We Forget
Daily neglect is how sin works in our lives. When we neglect the mundane everyday practices, keep us close to God.
Worshiping Community
This 3,000 person church gathered in two ways. They gathered in one corporate body. They also gathered in smaller groups in their homes. In both of these gatherings, they are characterized by "awe came upon every soul" and "glad and generous hearts."
So for us, how do the meetings with fellow Christians look like? Do you encounter the awesomeness of God? Is there intimate joy in your heart when you leave these meetings? This is what the early church looks like. Consider the nature & quality of the community we are in...
Sacrificially Caring Community
"they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need." How much did they care for one another? The rich among them sold their wealth and provided for those who were struggling. This looks like communism to some. But there's a significant difference. There is no forceful coercion.
The people were not individualistic. There was a communal consideration for each other. They were all members of the body. But for us nowadays, we ask... is it enough to give 10% regularly to the church. What is the biblical answer? Our standard of measure is the Cross. God gave everything to us, can we withhold anything from his body?
Missional Community
And the LORD added to their number, people who were being saved. This church was in the world, but they were not of the world. They were not small, ingrown, self-centered enclaves. They were on mission with God to reach people. They saw incredible numbers come to Christ. What does this look like? Let's take a step back. In our history, Renewal has grown by being an attractional church. We set up events and invite people in. But the problem is that non-Christians have stopped coming to us. The visitors are usually Christians looking for a church. So what does it look like for our church to engage the skeptics and the non-believers? How do we encounter and engage those outside the Church?
This is the missional church.
The way our church did "missional activity," we would cram our schedule with evangelistic meetings. And this would take us away from our individual communities. Instead, we are trying to clear the schedule. Basically, the only meetings would be meeting together to worship the LORD. Otherwise, we want you to work in your community of non-believers. We want you to scatter throughout the rest of the week. Won't you join us in reaching people for Christ?
Jun 27, 2010
Jun 20, 2010
The Message of the Church on Mission
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
"'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
"'The Lord said to my Lord,Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.'
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
{Acts 2:14-41}
[Dwight Yoo]
This is where Peter is explaining Pentecost. It is also the first sermon of the church.
"The Gospel then, is not something that exists solely for our progress and personal fulfillment (although it does include these things). Rather , the gospel is something to which we are to give ourselves for its progress and fulfillment." - Walt Russell (Talbot Seminary)
Peter answers the questions of onlookers. He explains exactly what does Pentecost mean for those who were there. This is a secondary point, but worth spending time on. We, the church, should be able to answer society's questions. For example, How can you claim that there is only one way to heaven? What is worth living for?
Christianity practiced w/o Christ in the center is not Christian living. Many religions believe in heaven. Good morals. So what is different? Christ's death & resurrection. It is central to the Christian faith.
The gospel requires a response. People will either repent & follow Christ or reject Christ. What does this mean for us? For those of us who are ministering to unbeliever, at some point, we need to ask unbelievers to follow Christ. We need to tell them that those who do not accept Christ's offer of salvation are under the judgment of God. We need to ask people to accept the promises of God through Christ.
"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
"'I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.'
"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
"'The Lord said to my Lord,Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.'
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "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. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
{Acts 2:14-41}
[Dwight Yoo]
This is where Peter is explaining Pentecost. It is also the first sermon of the church.
"The Gospel then, is not something that exists solely for our progress and personal fulfillment (although it does include these things). Rather , the gospel is something to which we are to give ourselves for its progress and fulfillment." - Walt Russell (Talbot Seminary)
Peter answers the questions of onlookers. He explains exactly what does Pentecost mean for those who were there. This is a secondary point, but worth spending time on. We, the church, should be able to answer society's questions. For example, How can you claim that there is only one way to heaven? What is worth living for?
Christianity practiced w/o Christ in the center is not Christian living. Many religions believe in heaven. Good morals. So what is different? Christ's death & resurrection. It is central to the Christian faith.
The gospel requires a response. People will either repent & follow Christ or reject Christ. What does this mean for us? For those of us who are ministering to unbeliever, at some point, we need to ask unbelievers to follow Christ. We need to tell them that those who do not accept Christ's offer of salvation are under the judgment of God. We need to ask people to accept the promises of God through Christ.
Jun 13, 2010
Spirit-Filled Church on Mission
{Acts 2:1-13}
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."
[Rev. Dwight Yoo]
Picture of inner city ministry - http://www.strochcc.org/
Sharing / Testimony of Ben McLeish and Kayti Chung
Background on the Pentecost
Pentecost literally means 50th. That day was the 50th day after the first day of Passover. In Jewish traditions, it was the day of firstfruits. This day was when Israelites started bringing in the harvest. It was one of the great pilgrimages in the Jewish tradition. Also 50 days after the liberation of the people from Egypt was when Moses came down from the mountain with the law.
So why Pentecost? God was probably portraying the harvest. Not the harvest of crops, nor grain, nor fruit. But rather the spiritual harvest, the salvation of souls.
The important point is the giving of the Spirit rather than just the giving of the law. "And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules."- Ezekiel 36:27 So we are no longer just trying to follow rules, but the Spirit works within our hearts. God is changing us to become like Him.
Events
Verse 2 describes the sounds of violent wind. In Greek & Hebrew, ("Ruwah") the word for wind also refers to breath and spirit. So why did God choose to make this sound? For those in the ancient days, wind meant rain. Rain meant life.
Also there were tongues of fire. Jesus said his disciples would be bathed with the Holy Spirit and fire. God presents himself as fire. A burning bush. A pillar of fire. These were not normal flames. These were "tongue" flames. In these passages, the tongues are referring to earthly dialects. We know this because the pilgrims heard of God's works in their own languages.
Application(s)
The event of Pentecost only happened once. So what does it mean to us?
We need to remember that the same spirit is in work in our lives & hearts. The same Holy Spirit is still enabling spiritual gifts.
How is the Spirit working?
We need to remember that the Spirit not only affects us internally. But being spirit-filled also means we share the Gospel. It is not only internal effects, but also has an external effect. It means testifying to God's work powerfully, effectively, and fruitfully.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God." And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others mocking said, "They are filled with new wine."
[Rev. Dwight Yoo]
Picture of inner city ministry - http://www.strochcc.org/
Sharing / Testimony of Ben McLeish and Kayti Chung
Background on the Pentecost
Pentecost literally means 50th. That day was the 50th day after the first day of Passover. In Jewish traditions, it was the day of firstfruits. This day was when Israelites started bringing in the harvest. It was one of the great pilgrimages in the Jewish tradition. Also 50 days after the liberation of the people from Egypt was when Moses came down from the mountain with the law.
So why Pentecost? God was probably portraying the harvest. Not the harvest of crops, nor grain, nor fruit. But rather the spiritual harvest, the salvation of souls.
The important point is the giving of the Spirit rather than just the giving of the law. "And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statues and be careful to obey my rules."- Ezekiel 36:27 So we are no longer just trying to follow rules, but the Spirit works within our hearts. God is changing us to become like Him.
Events
Verse 2 describes the sounds of violent wind. In Greek & Hebrew, ("Ruwah") the word for wind also refers to breath and spirit. So why did God choose to make this sound? For those in the ancient days, wind meant rain. Rain meant life.
Also there were tongues of fire. Jesus said his disciples would be bathed with the Holy Spirit and fire. God presents himself as fire. A burning bush. A pillar of fire. These were not normal flames. These were "tongue" flames. In these passages, the tongues are referring to earthly dialects. We know this because the pilgrims heard of God's works in their own languages.
Application(s)
The event of Pentecost only happened once. So what does it mean to us?
We need to remember that the same spirit is in work in our lives & hearts. The same Holy Spirit is still enabling spiritual gifts.
How is the Spirit working?
- The Spirit works to bring life.
- The Spirit assures us of His Presence, and we experience God by the Spirit.
- The Spirit forms Kingdom character in us, the character of King Jesus.
- The Spirit empowers us to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
We need to remember that the Spirit not only affects us internally. But being spirit-filled also means we share the Gospel. It is not only internal effects, but also has an external effect. It means testifying to God's work powerfully, effectively, and fruitfully.
Jun 6, 2010
The Church on Mission
{Acts 1:1-14}
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
[Rev. Dwight Yoo]
Major Points
The Continuing Mission
In verses 1&2, Luke refers to the gospel book. Then Luke indicates that he plans to outline Jesus' continuing work.. Verse 3 tells of Jesus, the Risen Lord who spends 40 days with the apostles. This is no hallucination. This sounds crazy, but it is not. A single person experiencing hallucinations, very possible. Mass hallucination over an extended period of time? Highly unlikely.
In verse 6, the apostles ask whether the coming kingdom is coming now. They were hoping for instant, nationally minded... kingdom come. Specifically, they were hoping for Israel to overthrow Rome. They were hoping that Jesus would be the King of the earthly kingdom, Israel. Political power. National restoration. Jesus was telling them otherwise...
The Power for Mission
In verse 8, the Holy Spirit will empower us to continue Jesus' mission. It is not enough to just do it in our own power. We need the Holy Spirit to minister. This power changed people from fearful to courageous, from timid to bold.
Preparation for Mission
In verse 14, we see the apostles go back to gather and pray.
There are three things that appear in this community.
Obedience - Even through all these changes, the people are willing to follow. This reflects a spirit of faith and care. People only pay attention, if they care. People only do, if they believe in someone or something.
Prayer - They were ready and willing to chase after God in prayer.
Unity - They loved one another.
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
[Rev. Dwight Yoo]
Major Points
The Continuing Mission
In verses 1&2, Luke refers to the gospel book. Then Luke indicates that he plans to outline Jesus' continuing work.. Verse 3 tells of Jesus, the Risen Lord who spends 40 days with the apostles. This is no hallucination. This sounds crazy, but it is not. A single person experiencing hallucinations, very possible. Mass hallucination over an extended period of time? Highly unlikely.
In verse 6, the apostles ask whether the coming kingdom is coming now. They were hoping for instant, nationally minded... kingdom come. Specifically, they were hoping for Israel to overthrow Rome. They were hoping that Jesus would be the King of the earthly kingdom, Israel. Political power. National restoration. Jesus was telling them otherwise...
The Power for Mission
In verse 8, the Holy Spirit will empower us to continue Jesus' mission. It is not enough to just do it in our own power. We need the Holy Spirit to minister. This power changed people from fearful to courageous, from timid to bold.
Preparation for Mission
In verse 14, we see the apostles go back to gather and pray.
There are three things that appear in this community.
Obedience - Even through all these changes, the people are willing to follow. This reflects a spirit of faith and care. People only pay attention, if they care. People only do, if they believe in someone or something.
Prayer - They were ready and willing to chase after God in prayer.
Unity - They loved one another.
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