Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Bobby's Pentecost Sunday sermon from Acts 2:1-12.
Lindsey Blair and Bobby Gilles recap and discuss Bobby's Pentecost Sunday sermon from Acts 2:1-12.
Lindsey: Welcome to the Midweek Checkup. My name is Lindsey Blair. And with me, I’ve got Bobby Gilles, who preached the gospel of God’s Kingdom from Acts Two. He asked, “How is God leading you to be a minister of reconciliation?”
This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, when we remember the finished work of Christ, the glory of His Resurrection, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as he empowers us to reach the lost and do the work of the kingdom. We have the same Holy Spirit given at Pentecost, and the Spirit that will help us and empower us to do the work that God is calling us to do; the work of being ambassadors of peace and ministers of reconciliation.
Bobby, anything you want to add or reiterate from the sermon?
Bobby: I said that our present reality must be a way of life that acknowledges Galatians Three, Twenty-Eight: There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Some say this is a lofty statement about what heaven will be like, but read Galatians — it’s clear that Paul expects us to live like this now.
But for anyone who missed the service, let’s do a quick recap.
Lindsey: We began by noting that miscommunication is at the heart of many issues between family members, neighbors, coworkers, church members and all of society. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. God created a diverse, harmonious world where women and men would fill the earth and govern it, representing God as stewards of his creation. The story of the Tower of Babel illustrated our rebellion. We didn’t want to spread out; we wanted to go up. God confounded their speech so they couldn’t understand each other, which forced them to separate.
Bobby: God’s presence remained with one tribe, who were supposed to win all nations back to God by showing them what life is like where God is king - a kinder, more just society. But Israel failed so God sent them into exile, until he took on flesh himself to regather his family, sacrifice himself for all sin, and send the Holy Spirit to empower his people to continue his work of reconciling all people to God and each other.
Lindsey: At the Tower of Babel, the people said, “We don’t want God’s name.” On the day of Pentecost, Peter said, “Be baptized in Jesus’ name.”
At the Tower of Babel, humanity was shouting, “Look what we can do.” On the day of Pentecost, the Church was shouting, “Look what God has done.”
At the Tower of Babel, the mightiest men on earth were saying, “We’re afraid to spread out.” On the day of Pentecost, the Spirit was empowering all people for a mission that will stretch to the ends of the earth.
Bobby: The ancient prophecy was coming true, and God continues to call us into it today: :Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” We have the same Holy Spirit given at Pentecost, so they can be Christ’s body on this earth, battering down the gates of hell. We do that by participating together in his work to reconcile people to God and each other.
Lindsey: What happened on that first Pentecost Sunday was a sign of the in-breaking of God’s kingdom. The king is coming, and we are advance ambassadors. So we must ask ourselves, “How are we reaching across communication barriers? How are we asking God to help you understand his communication to us? How are we seeking to understand those he places in our path, whether they are in our path for a season or a moment?
Bobby: Some will reject your efforts as Christ’s ambassador. That’s between them and Christ. But the Spirit’s effort to make you more like Jesus will not fail.
Lindsey: This Sunday we’ll celebrate Trinity Sunday together. And in Bible Fellowship we’ll discuss Psalm 22.
Bobby: And you’ll be back with us at the 9 am Bible Fellowship!
Lindsey: That’s right; so join us, and bring a friend.