Lake Region Bible Church | Sermons
LIVING AS THE SPIRIT-EMPOWERED CHURCH FOR THE GOSPEL (Acts 2:1-13 ● Message #2/6) 05-23-10
INTRODUCTION. 1. Acts: “the Expansion of the Gospel”. ● Acts 1:8 “Theme verse” (which also serves as an outline of Acts): “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you [Ac 1- 2], and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem [Ac 2-7] and in all Judea and Samaria [Ac 8-12], and to the end of the earth [Ac 13-28].” ● Six summary statements (with this theme): “the word of God spread…” (see Acts 6:7; 9:31; 12:24; 16:5; 19:20; 28:31). ● An *Outline of the Bible: (*Lecture notes on “Acts” by Robert Yarbrough): a) The Old Testament is the Preparation for the Gospel; b) The Gospels are the Manifestation of the Gospel; c) Acts is the Expansion of the Gospel; d) The Epistles [Romans thru Jude] are the Explanation of the Gospel; e) Revelation is the Consummation (completion) of the Gospel. 2. The Promise of the Holy Spirit: see Joel 2:28-32 (Acts 2:14ff). “28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. 29 Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” (Joel 2:28-29). 3. Pentecost: *The Feast of Weeks, also called “the Feast of the Harvest” (Ex. 23:16) and “the day of the firstfruits” (Num. 28:26); in the NT it is called “Pentecost” (Acts 2:1, from the Greek word for “fiftieth”). The purpose of this celebration was to recognize the Lord as the provider of all crops and as the One who deserves the firstfruits of all produce (*taken from the ESV Study Bible: see Lev 23:15-22). **This is why there were great crowds in Jerusalem when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in Acts 2 (on the day of Pentecost). Pentecost comes seven weeks after Easter and is a day to celebrate God’s gift of the Holy Spirit upon all His people. Note: Pentecost it¬self is the Monday following Pentecost Sunday—50 days after Easter (**taken from the Pastor’s Service Manual of the EFCA). 1. SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF PENTECOST. ● Experience God’s faithfulness and power: through faith in Jesus Christ and through the gift of the Holy Spirit (vs1-4). ● Celebrate and proclaim the Gospel: its Universal-relevance, Life- transforming power, & Unifying-mission (vs5-13). 2. SOME "PENTECOSTAL" PRINCIPLES. ● Be witnesses of the Gospel thru the power of the Holy Spirit. ● Give priority to the preaching of the Gospel (God’s word). ● Live in biblical-fellowship with other believers as a local church. ● Worship with reverence for God and live for the glory of Jesus Christ.