Sermon 1011 Acts 2:1-21 The Holy Spirit Pouts Out His Pentecost Gifts 1. Gifts to build God s church 2. Gifts to share God s church Pentecost ILCW A 177 (1-4), 176, 486 (1), 188, 477 (5) May 24, 2015 St. John Lutheran Church Frankenmuth, Michigan 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to 1
Judaism); Cretans and Arabs we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues! 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, What does this mean? 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, They have had too much wine. 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: Fellow Jews and all of you who are in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 In these last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders ion the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Introduction: How does God build His church? Certainly variety of opinion on how to build a church not bricks and mortar, but membership. Some: Maybe aggressive marketing campaign smorgasbord of ministries to draw crowds and keep engaged (Like a book of building plans for a house just about anything one could want or imagine). Certainly, there is nothing necessarily wrong with different types of ministries to accompany the gospel ministry. But please note: I didn t ask, How do we build a church? Or, How do we grow 2
St. John s membership? Rather, How does God build His church? No doubt this question was on the minds of early Christians that first Pentecost. When the people witnessed these special events of the day, they asked, What does this mean? Peter explained how these events demonstrated the way in which God built His church and continues to build His church today. Luke records in Acts 2 that: The Holy Spirit Pours Out His Pentecost Gifts 1) Gifts to build God s church A. Luke records this special Pentecost 10 days after Jesus ascension; 50 after rising: vv.1-4. 1. OT=Festival of Ingathering the peoples first fruits of grain to God (Exodus 34:22) 2. NT=Birthday of God s Church; HS gifts church: sound of mighty wind; cloven tongues of fire special birthday candles! B. Peter explains the meaning tying together Old + New Testaments 1. Spoken through prophet Joel: (quote Acts text vv.17ff) 2. God s enemies, nonetheless, try to gum things up, throw something out there to hinder the building: They re all drunk. The people replied: How is it that each of us hears them in his own native language (v.8). Peter testified: These men not drunk (v.15f) 3. The purpose of this building: Everyone who calls will be saved. 3
Appropriation: So, how does God build His church today? He gives us the blueprint. Are we following it? Is the building plan of God s church today to crusade for social justice: racial equality; feed to hungry; build bigger building? Nothing necessarily wrong these acts of Christian living (fruits of faith) have their place as concerned Christian citizens. But the church s main purpose is to save souls to use the tools (gifts) HS gives: word and sacraments. Through these Means of Grace God builds His church. Powerful miracle in baptism-wash sins away and brings a little child into His kingdom. (Gift of grace doesn t depend on receiver, but GIVER). The gospel ministry uniquely unlike anything else proclaims WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US IN JESUS: perfect life, innocent, sacrificial death and victory resurrection. Transition: In fact, God wants us to nurture in faith (grow our church internally), but likewise reach out externally The Holy Spirit Pours Out His Pentecost Gifts 2) Gifts to share God s church A. Luke records in Acts 2 Peter s use of the word (Shows our sin): Hammer of the Law - hit thumb with hammer = ouch 1. And you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing (v.23) 2. Law-sin (Romans 3:20: Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. ) 4
B. Luke records in Acts 2 Peter s use of the gospel (Shows our Savior): Nails of the Gospel Jesus nailed to the cross and shed His blood (Galatians 3:13; Colossians 2:14). 1. But God raised him from the dead (v.24). What does the resurrection mean? He was delivered over to death because of our sins and was raised to life because of our justification (Romans 4:25). 2. Gospel-forgiveness (John 3:16) Appropriation: The Holy Spirit entrusts us, God s church, with the law and gospel today as the only tools which bring people to faith. Does the law make us uncomfortable? It should. Remember Peter s cutting words later delivered in this day s Pentecost sermon? You with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross (Acts 3:23). And the law did its work: When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, Brothers, what shall we do? (v.38). Not until one sees and confesses sin, gospel doesn t do any good. The law isn t a barrier or hindrance; rather it paves the way to the wonderful promise of God ( The foundation must come before putting up a building for it to stand ). Peter didn t say, however, to perform some work righteous act to receive God s favor. Instead, Peter instructed: Repent and be baptized, everyone one you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the fit of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children. (v.38-39). 1) Forgiveness is for all=elderly and CHILDREN; 2) Means of Grace for all to share. 5
The Holy Spirit s Pentecost gifts (WORD; Means of Grace) give us purpose: 1) Who am I? A redeemed child of God through Jesus BIG 3; 2) Why am I here? To live for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15: And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. ) is my purpose; 3) Where am I going? To the heavenly mansion prepared by my ascended Savior (John 14:1-7: In my Father s house are many rooms going there to prepare a place for you I am the way and the truth and the life ). Conclusion: So, what s the purpose of God s church how does God build His church? Pentecost reminds us that we are living in the last days. With this sense of urgency, as we await the Lord s final return, we don t need to worry about calculating a date. The Holy Spirit gives us a privilege a wonderful responsibility to build God s church using the gifts freely provided. Amen. 6