Try to enter this story; stand there with the ones who have witnessed the baptism of the Spirit and have heard the shocking proclamation that Jesus is Christ and Lord.
Acts 2:37-41
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off–for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
Questions:
- What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
- What motivates the question asked by the people?
- What does Peter tell the crowd to do?
- What promises are associated with their response?
- How do you “save yourself from this corrupt generation”?
- How important is baptism? (Romans 6 is helpful to understanding it better.)
What else is on your mind this week?
32 comments:
first I would like to say. I got a job, I got a job. God has blessed me with a sweet paying job. second I would like to give the person a hug who ended last week blog on churchy answers. Happy Mother's day to all mothers and congratulations to those who graduated from one step of life just to enter into another step of life.
Congratulations on your job Gino. Happy Mothers Day everyone. Well its back to bed for me.
Annette
Thanks Annette, hearing that from you just a smile on my face. This morning service was wonderful. The passage of Iron sharpening Iron. I felt that the whole talk was about Allen and I because of the many colorful conversation that Allen and I have. Especially in the last couple of months. Allen claims that we are a like but I disagree because I'm normal and Allen is weird (laughing). What I like about Allen when it comes to talking with him, is that he doesnt get offensive. He makes me feel that I can talk to him about anything and not feel uncomfortable. I made it clear to Allen, if he sees me doing something wrong, to come and talk to me about it. Not to sugarcoat it but to tell it to me as it is. Sometimes we do things that is not pleasing to the Lord and we don't always see it (something someone mention about in class). Well I need to go and put gasoline in the car. Hope all goes well.
I’m adjusting to a new computer, so please be patient with me this week, especially in the area of email. Getting a new computer used to really excite me, but now I don’t get all that excited. The moving of information and programs from one to the other is a pretty big job, plus just getting used to all the new stuff takes a while. Don’t take me wrong! I’m not complaining. Todd is absolutely wonderful in all this. He just picked the computer I needed and took care of a lot of things.
Why I am getting a new computer? Because my other one is broken. The (laptop) screen is about to fall off. Everything else is fine, so we are going to set it up at home for everyone to use. It will be fine if we don't have to constantly raise and lower the screen.
I owe Annette and her daughter Ashley I big apology. I completely “spaced” Ashley’s graduation party on Saturday afternoon. When it was mentioned later that night I felt so guilty. Ashley is a really neat person and has down remarkably well. I have watched her grow up and have always enjoyed her friendly personality. I am proud of her for completing her study and having a job.
Yesterday was Rebecca’s 14th birthday. Hard to believe! I told her a few times yesterday, “I’m so glad you were born.” I told her one last time right before going to bed. She giggled slightly and said, “Me too.” She really enjoys living, and if there was a way to harness the power of young teen girls giggling, then we would have the energy thing figured out.
It looks like we are going to go back to a 6 p.m. start for Sundays, starting in June. We may then go back to 5 during the school year; we’ll see. The 5 thing started really well, but now the attendance has dropped back to the pre-5 days. I’m not sure why, but I am at peace.
Yesterday I briefly mentioned that much of my life has felt like the old entertainment act where a person spins plates on poles. He starts one and then another and then another. He then has to go back and spin the first one again to keep it from falling. Then he goes and starts another and then another. Then he has to rush back to keep the first ones spinning. To read about it and to see a picture click HERE. You can learn more, and even buy the products to do it HERE. I don’t really recommend it however. Ha ha.
The reason I mention this is because someone told me that most young people would have no idea what I was talking about. Oh well... People say that most Sundays. Ha ha.
Lester starts a new pharm-tech job today at CVS in Bedford. The plan is for him to work about 20 hours a week, but Ryan T. started at the same place doing the same thing a few weeks ago and works a lot more than that. I really appreciate Lester having this opportunity. Paul S., a pharmacist, pointed out that it will really help Lester (and Ryan-also a pharmacy student) in their studies, especially when it comes to pharmacology.
I am really happy for Gino and proud of him. Here’s praying that all goes well.
Big ups for Lester and Ryan, I am so happy for you both.
Don't worry about it Allen, many people forgot ( it must have been one of those kind of days) but it turned out beautiful, even though throwing parties is not my forte, it turned out very well, I paid for it and Ashley planned it, ha ha. A big thank you to Gary for letting us use his room upstairs.
Annette
What stands out first this morning is the phrase "and those who accepted..." After the stage direction up top (Prepare yourself to read as one who has just seen and heard), I hope I would be one who's heart would be opened to breaking, ready to act on what I had seen and heard, ready to do anything. It's scary to think that there were those who stood and physically witnessed the apostles' experience, but mentally, emotionally locked themselves out of being moved to some sort of action. Maybe that's part of "saving ourselves from this corrupt generation"-- Allowing our hearts to be bruised and sorrowful for what happens in the world, for what others cause and what we cause. Maybe, not having a hardened heart, not turning a blind eye?
I think baptism is essential, not because the act itself saves. God knows us, humans. He knows we need to do physical, visual things to remind us of our spiritual selves. I think he asks us to do this because we NEED it, we need to become vulnerable, submit it to water, to remind ourselves we need cleansing, go under a minute where we can't breathe (and who can deny the comfort and the lesson in the arms and hands that lift you back up out of the water?). And I think it's meant to be a visual announcement to the world of our friends and family. Does God need us to that so HE can save us? no. Do we need to do that so we can remember and show others? methinks.
Well last night was my first night to work and it was greeeeeat. When the boss let me know that he was a christian, I wanted to cry (laughing). We talked about God almost every chance we got especially during the break and lunch time. There are a lot of people there who are believers. We have two pastors that work in a different area. I havent got the chance to talk to them yet. I gave my favorite bible (dropping tears) to the guy who trained me. He was telling me why he doesnt go to church and he said that he didnt read the bible because he couldnt understand the king James version. When one of the other guys seen me give him the bible he came and asked what it was and when the guy showed it to him, he shot out of the area like a bat out of hell. I thought it was funny because if a person claim they don't believe in God, they wouldnt have the attitude or respond as if they were being rebuked. We have a guy there who dad didnt do to great in raising him and he said the only way he could ever forgive his dad, is if his dad paid him. After telling him about my life with my mom and stepfather and how hold it was for me to forgive them, he started asking so many questions. People around him was surprise that I could answer all of his questions. I love why questions because that is how I learned a lot of the things myself. Well I need to get going, I am a little sleepy and need to go to sleep. I have to be in at 8 tonight and won't get off until 6 tomorrow morning. Hey Allen, we get 30 minute lunch break, not an hour and I will be working close to 58 hours this week not counting the lunch break.
PS. so busy talking about God that I forgot to mention what I do at Liner Product. I do not do janitor work as I was told I would be doing. with the pipe liner, I help make them, stack them, inspect them and pack them. Those baby cost a $100.000 a pop. The job is easy because we work as a team and I mean everyone is pitching in (finally). I wont have to ask Lester to tie my tie anymore. The boss man worked with me for about five minutes and I had that baby down pack. I'm bragging now but I'm sure when I get to work tonight, I probably won't remember what to do. well I am going for now. I have to go and replace my favorite bible. I miss it already.
that hold is suppose to be hard. Laughing
Jillena, wonderful post, thanks. Gino, congratulations on your new job. Take Him with you wherever you go and He will help you in all ways. Congratulations to all the graduates and those who are preparing in many ways for the rest of their lives. As I read Acts 2 this morning it made me curious about signs and miricles that were done by the apostles in the beginning. Can you imagine the stir in the city and the excitement as the church began and how everyone took notice. Can you imagine the feeling and the excitement among the first Christians after all they had seen and heard. I wonder what the signs were, were they a rainbow, a burning bush, probably not-but I just wonder. I will ask that question when I get there. We had a wonderful time with our family at Brent and Tracy's Saturday where Tracy made a huge delicious meal and Brent barbequed. Jason, Jenny and Aaron were there and I could not have had a better celebration for Mother's Day and to top it off Maddy came home with us and spent the night. She and I went out for movies and a frosty and then she and Grampy went to the cruise in at the Kmart lot. On Mother's day Bill took me to lunch where we ate with Steve & Linda and then we came home and I planted over 200 annuals. Planting seeds tonight and might just dig a new bed for them. We have had a glorious past week weatherwise. I hope all of you have a wonderful week and pray for rain. Our plants at the building need a good drenching. Thanks to Teresa Birtles who gave us the beautiful black-eyed Susans and everyone who helped and still helps to keep it all alive. Have met so many neat people who love to garden and share my passion. Sherron
I was thinking about the passage this morning and the question, how would I feel/respond. what got me thinking about it is the ties I still have with the people I did my masters program with. I've been done with it for about a year. The work was amazingly difficult, intense and rewarding. I miss it very much and I still have moments when I think, "I wish I had asked this teacher this when I was working with them" I wish I had spent more time working on "x" while I still had direct access to such wise feedback." I can still write and ask questions of any of my teachers. They are very generous, but they are also very busy. the relationship has changed because of distance and other obligations (and these folks are just human). These are small questions about writing and poems. With Jesus, the stakes are so much higher. How frustrating to realize I had Him here to talk to, to ask my questions of, just to be in the presence of and worship and I missed it; not only that, I sent Him away; not only that I killed Him. What tremendous loss and failure.What desperation and searching in the words "what can I do?" But...well, don't I still send Him away sometimes?
While studying on our text I came across Isa 44;3-5. I have always been facinated by the sins of the parents continuing on through their children and if it still applies. Several places the bible says the blessings of the people will continue to come through their offspring.
Here in v 5 seems to predict the fractioning of Gods people into Christian and Jews. The last part of v 5 ...still another will write on his hand 'The Lord's' and will take the name of Israel...it seems to imply a third fraction but I can't figure out what it would mean other than Jewish Christians which doesn't seem to fit. Unless its just referring to nations of people. Any one have any insight?
3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
5 One will say, 'I belong to the LORD ';
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,'
and will take the name Israel.
Annette
Another interesting bit I found was a footnote in my bible on baptism...water baptism is the outward sign of repentance and forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness is through faith in Christ, not through the act of baptism. The Spirit is a gift to all who believe, not a reward to some.
Why do some people seem to get more from the Holy Spirit than others? Is it a 'gift' or is it acquired by seeking? Or some of both? I wonder. I know that when I sat under Kim P I certainly learned by leaps and bounds, but also came under many more spiritual attacks and as it happened eventually fell away for a while. (Food for thought on my part in looking back.) I must say that was a wonderful time of intense growing even though the attacks weren't fun, they were expected and you were more attuned to the fact that it was spiritual attacks and you acted/prayed accordingly.
Annette
Hey, I am having a few computer issues, so please forgive my temporary absence. You guys go on without me. I'll be back soon.
A few quick questions:
How do we experience the feeling that those original hearers experienced, the feeling of impending doom? Imagining ourselves going to hell? If so, do people take hell seriously anymore?
Another thought, and a few more quick questions:
I think it is really hard for us to imagine the relief–the good news–that Peter presents, unless and until we feel the tension of being lost. Do people feel that today? Should they? When and how?
I’m starting to work back through your comments. Thanks for all of them. I love Sherron’s zeal for the earth. I share it. Here are some other things that I noticed in particular:
Jillena’s comment about the hardness of heart of those who rejected the message really struck me.
It's scary to think that there were those who stood and physically witnessed the apostles' experience, but mentally, emotionally locked themselves out of being moved to some sort of action.
Hardness of heart really scares me. I see it in myself at times, and I see it in others.
Jillena’s description of baptism is beautiful. I have copied it into my sermon prep notes.
Regarding Annette’s question: I think this is a hint of Gentile inclusion into God’s plan. It represents a hint of the coming diversity. I really think it is more about unity rather than division. God has ALWAYS had a people who participated in his life for the sake of others, beginning with the Original Pair. This is, in part, why I find some of the anti-church movements troubling. If people simply break off into affinity groups (people you like and people like you), then where is the true test of God’s love that is required to love those who are not like you and those you don’t like. Read carefully Ephesians 2-4 and 1 Corinthians 12 & 13 (and many other places).
I was just thinking a little more about the unity/diversity thing. I thought about Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Jesus really crossed several lines to demonstrate the heart of God for inclusion. The early church, of course, fulfills the dream of God as they move out of Jerusalem into Samaria and beyond.
I am presently reading Gail O’Day’s The Word Disclosed - Preaching the Gospel of John. She has wonderful insight into several of John’s stories, including the woman at the well.
O’Day is going to be one of the featured speakers, along with Duke Divinity School’s Richard Hayes, at Rochester College’s Sermon Seminar. I am really looking forward to learning from her. She is Johannine scholar and a professor of homiletics at Emory. I leave Sunday afternoon for the seminar. Yippee!
In the world we cannot avoid those who are different than us because we work with them, we do business with them and some are our neighbors or family. We have no choice but to work out differences, accomodate for others choices, live with the occasional abuse in dealing with the public and fellow employees. When we take Him with us wherever we go He shows us ways to work out problems and ways to deepen freindship with those who are different from us and find a common ground to work together. It should be no different with our Christian friends. We all come from different points of view in our lives from how we grew up to our life experience, education, jobs we do, lives we live but we have a common bond and that is Jesus and His salvation and that is a good starting point in deepening our concern and care for our fellow Christians. We all have that and so much more in common. It just takes communication, joining in an activity that glorifies God and putting into practice His teachings laid out for us in His word. It is complicated but simple too. I have alot of work to do in finding common bonds with others because the tendency is to withdraw into my comfort zone and I do enjoy spending time alone. It does take effort and time. I really want to do better. I hope all of you have a wonderful day. PS. Thank you God for the rain. I hope to plant seeds at the flower bed at church this afternoon. Sherron
Do we still believe in hell? I believe in hell, but I don't think enough about it for it to be real to me. we work so hard to avoid pain or even unpleasant jobs. And we have so many little gadgets and distractions to make that possible (here I think of cell phones and ipods, even though I own both in one form or another). I know I am out of touch with what physical hell will be like and should probably "go there" in my meditations more. Emotional or spiritual hell, I think I have experienced at low levels--when a loved one dies and you feel that initial separation again and again. Impending Doom: Steve's grandfather is beginning to slip mentally and is in that stage where he KNOWS he is. Losing control like that might be a kind of hell. My co-worker's mother found out last week that her cancer is back and now it is in her brain. I can sorrow and feel my co-worker's fear, but I haven't been asked to experience that moment where I have to say "I know I am not going to live anymore. I am going to be sick and in pain and then I am going to die." All so scary, especially without God--and that is what hell is. But do I let myself go there? Not enough.
The following came in my Writer’s Almanac email this morning. I love it! I can’t help but think of how God names us as his own. Doesn’t matter what others call us or how they treat us. God calls us “daughter” or “son” and treats us that way.
Poem: "A Twice Named Family" by Traci Dant. Reprinted with permission of the author.
A Twice Named Family
I come
from a family
that twice names
its own.
One name
for the world.
One name
for home.
Lydi, Joely, Door,
Bud, Bobby, Bea,
Puddin, Cluster, Lindy,
Money, Duddy, Vess.
Yes,
we are
a two-named family
cause somebody
way back knew
you needed a name
to cook chitlins in.A name
to put your feet up in.
A name
that couldn't be
fired.
A name
that couldn't be
denied a loan.
A name
that couldn't be
asked
to go
through anyone's
back door.
Somebody way back
knew we needed names
to be loved in.
now you've done it :) Expect poems...and may you find (and be shown) many good things at your conference.
Here is a note from a blog of an old friend, Anthony Parker. He sums up my feelings exactly. I do not like being called “pastor.” I get called that quite a bit. I don’t correct anyone or say anything about it, but... The newspaper especially likes to use that word; they even put it in my mouth once as they quoted me. I never call myself by that term. Am I a pastor? Yes, in the sense that I try to shepherd people. It really is a verb; it is something I do.
Along these lines, I recently asked that my given title, Senior Minister, be removed. I think that title may send a wrong message about power and authority. Jesus is in charge, and I want to humbly follow him.
What do I want to be called? How ‘bout Allen?
Pastor is a Verb
I’ve never been very comfortable with the title “pastor.” The biggest reason is that we just didn’t use it in my Church of Christ upbringing. Another reason was that in Africa it tended to be a title that could only be worn by those who had a certain level of theological education, and was often worn with a certain amount of pride and arrogance. And then there’s the idea that the biblical usage is interchangable with elders and overseers, whereas today it’s usually reserved for a credentialed and salaried church employee. The idea of a “Senior Pastor” or “Associate (junior?) Pastor” just doesn’t seem to fit the biblical usage.
I spent some time yesterday and today looking more closely at the biblical use and it occured to me that, with the exception of Ephesians 4:11, the noun pastor does not appear in the New Testament as a title for anyone. In the Ephesians passage, it’s part of what would be better rendered a hyphenated “pastor-teacher,” or “shepherd-teacher.” As Lynn Anderson says in They Smell Like Sheep, “These leaders ’shepherd by teaching’ or, conversely, ‘teach by shepherding’” (p. 83).
With the exception of this occurence, however, the word pastor, as applied to church leadership in the New Testament, is a verb. In both Acts 20:28 and in 1 Peter 5:2, ”Be shepherds,” as in the NIV, or “(to) shepherd” as in the NASB, is one word in the original text. The KJV translates it as the verb “feed,” and that is certainly involved, but to shepherd or to pastor involves more t han dumping food out. It implies tending, nurturing, treating wounds, rescuing, caring for, and leading, as well as feeding.
Pastor is something to do, and not primarily a title to be worn. Those who do it best will probably never wear the title. And to them, titles are more scorned than sought after. Last night in our class on shepherding I asked those in the class to write down the names of three people that they could go to in a spiritual crisis. I didn’t ask anyone to reveal names, but Sister Tincy, our very sweet octogenarian, wanted to honor those who shepherd her by naming them, and they were all sisters in the church who she could always count on. There wasn’t an “office holder” among them.
Wow Allen, I went clicked on Anthony and happened onto one of Dee's blogs. A grandmother (who still has a 16 yr old at home-so she could well be my age) had a grandbaby (born at the side of a road)and (of whom she didn't even know her daughter was pregnant) brought to her by the police, followed later by the other 3 or 4 siblings (the youngest she had never met) to live with her because her daughter ( a crack addict-hense the baby is too) is in police custody. In the blog they are helping the lady. I really pray the lady is a 'Shawna' and not an 'Annette' because she will have her hands full and I pray everything will work out for that family.
Also, we all need to pray for Shana, a young lady of whom I met at class last night. She is having surgery monday (a hysterectomy)and she has a family history of cancer. My heart really went out to her,she is very very special, I could just feel it in my bones.
Annette
I spent most of the day with Darrin Chastain from Tulip Street. We went to Columbus to check out a place called Love Chapel. OK, please no corny, stupid, or crude jokes! The Love Chapel is a wonderful para-church organization that serves poorer folks in Bartholomew County. We learned quite a bit that should help Capstone Ministries, and I picked a few good ideas for our food pantry as well.
Darrin and I had a lot of time to visit, share concerns, challenge and encourage each other. He is a good man and has ministered at Tulip Street for 14 years. Believe or it not, I am in the early stages of my 10th year at the Mitchell Church of Christ. I find that hard to believe. Most ministers don’t make it that long in one place; the folks at church have been good to me. I would like to say that things are easier, but that would be a false statement.
Patience. Tolerance. Endurance. Perseverance. Faithfulness.
We talked last week about how the Holy Spirit was involved in the preaching of the message on the day of Pentecost, whether in the speaking of the words or the hearing. Do you believe that He was involved in the softening of the hearts of the people who accepted the message? I think that He is more involved in our conversion and daily renewal than just the spoken or written word, although that is a crucial part. I'm not good at explaining this, but I think He works in my heart to convict me. Sometimes just when I hear myself say something that I'm ashamed to even think. Also , I've been thinking of memory lately. Do you think we keep our memories in heaven? It's so much a part of who we are that I wonder if it is a part of our eternal spirit. The only reason that I find it important is that if we keep our memories then it is important for us to make sure they are good ones. That helps me understand why forgiveness (vertical and horizontal) is so important to God. On the question of whether I felt a sense of "impending doom" when I was saved, I was 12 years old when I was and the only thing I had done wrong was to be disobedient to my parents and mean to my little brother. I knew I "had to be baptized to go to heaven", but I had no sense of what a relationship with God meant.From what I thought I had heard all my life, it was more important to be right than to have a "right relationship". Being a child I may have heard wrong, I don't want to judge the good people who were my teachers.I know that children sometimes hear things differently from what we adults mean to say.
What a jewel Noni is, a treasure right here on earth. We went flower/weed scavenging this morning and had a wonderful time. She kept wanting to jump out of the truck to help me and would decide the height was maybe just a little too much, its just so hard not to get your hands in on it, which I understand well. We ventured into some very lovely quiet spots, and Noni would say listen you can't hear anything! It was so peaceful. I stopped by to see her creativity before coming to work, she did a superb job as always. We were so surprised to see daisies out (I think God did that special for Noni because starting out we both said its too early for daisies) they were plentiful everywhere. We even found some white yarrow, Noni said 'thanks to the birds'! Oh what a joy, life can't get much better than this!
Annette
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