Listen to This!

Another long but wonderful passage for this week:

Acts 2:22-24, 32,33,37

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Note: Please take the time to read the entire passage, from verse 14-37. We excerpted the most relevant portions, leaving out some helpful material.

Questions:

• As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?
• What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
• What are some points made by Peter?
• Why is there an emphasis on David?
• What point does Peter make about Jesus of Nazareth?
• Just what is Peter hoping to accomplish with this "first gospel sermon?"
• What from this text does our congregation need to hear?
  

What else is on your mind this week?

“What does this mean?”

Here is another long but interesting text:

Acts 2:1-13

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."


As you read this what are the first things that come to your mind?

Other questions for you:

• What in this text strikes you as remarkable?
• Why is there is so much drama associated with the Spirit’s coming?
• Who is filled with the Spirit and speaks with other tongues? [Hint: verse 7]
• Why is it significant that there people "from every nation under heaven" in Jerusalem for this event?
• What are the two responses to the Spirit’s outpouring? [see verses 12 & 13]
• What do these responses indicate about the people’s hearts?
• What from this text does our congregation need to hear?

What else is on your mind this week?

Prelude to The Beginning

Here is our text for the week. Yes, it is rather long.

Acts 1:3-15

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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."

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty). . .

Try imagine what the scenes presented in these words. What strikes you as remarkable?

What do you think of the fact that there are only 120 believers at this time?

How the does the promise of Second Coming affect you?

This passage is the second in a loosely (in process) constructed series that we are calling "Ancient Future Church. " We are wanting to have a better understanding of who we are and what we should do, based on the Ancient Church.

What thoughts do you have about that?

What else is on your mind this week?

Unlocking Doors of Fear

Here is the passage of Scripture that we are considering for the week:

John 20:19-23

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

These verses record what takes place on the Sunday night of the Resurrection. The disciples are confused, afraid, and, apparently, skeptical. Finally they are relieved and joyful as Jesus reveals his identity.

Here are some questions for you:

• What fears do you have?
• How can "seeing" the Lord remove them?
• Do you have the peace that Jesus offers? Why? Why not?
• What does it mean to be sent into the world?
  

What else is on your mind this week? Any thoughts or feelings you want to express?

Weathering the Storms

Here is our text for the week:

Matthew 7:21-27

"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

What do you think about this?

Clearly, not everyone who thinks he/she is going to Heaven is going to make it. What is the criteria for getting to Heaven?

This seems to take us back to where we have been for the last two weeks: Just what are we to do with our lives?

What else is on your mind this week?

[This is Spring Break week and some of our regular contributors are gone, so here is your chance to jump in and share some thoughts.]

Fruit Inspection

Here’s our passage for the week:

Matthew 7:15-20

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

What’s your first impression of these words of Jesus?

It seems that Jesus is talking about two, related, things. First, the credibility of a prophet’s words is backed up by his actions. The false prophet’s walk does not match his talk. The other thing, which is a little broader, is that everyone can be "judged" by his or her "fruit."

Then there is the third part. Those who do not produce good fruit are not acceptable to God.

Questions:

What is the "fruit" that Jesus has in mind?

Can you give some examples of "false fruit" producers?

Is it true that what you do defines who you are?

Who are you, according to your "fruit"?

The Long and Winding Road

Here is our passage for the week:

Matthew 7:13-14

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

These verses seem contrary to the present mind-set in the culture and in the broader Christian community which says, "I’m OK; you’re OK."

What do you think Jesus is talking about?

What does it mean that only a few are going to find "life"?

Why only a few?

Is he talking about eternal life, heaven?

What else is on your mind this week?

Just A.S.K.! (Ask, Seek, Knock)

Matthew 7:7-12

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."

This is a nicely timed passage, as we head into our first full week of 40 Days of Focus, but I wonder if we really believe what Jesus says.

On the surface it appears that if we ask, seek, and knock, and then we’ll get what we want. Is that your experience? If not, then what is your experience?

I am fairly certain that we have some readers who do not pray. If you are one them, tell us why (anonymously is fine).

How are you doing with the 40 Days of Focus?

What else in on your mind this week?