URBAN LIFE CHURCH
  • Home
  • About
    • About us
    • Values
    • Values - Spanish
    • What we believe
    • Radstock
  • Blog
  • Communities
    • Urban Life Normanton
    • La Reunion
    • Hangout
    • International Supper
    • Basecamp
  • St Chads Centre
  • Contact
  • Gospel readings

A New Time - Acts 2:1-41

17/5/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
It was a new time. The time Jesus had told them to wait for. A new era. A new beginning. The start of something that would spread from one small place and one small group of people to the entire planet.

In Acts 1 (looked at a few weeks ago) we read how the author, Luke, referred to his first book (the Gospel of Luke) as being about all that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach - even though it finished with his earthly life over.

​The only reason this makes any sense, is because the book of Acts is all about what Jesus CONTINUED to do and teach - because he is alive with with us and in us through the Holy Spirit.

So as a backdrop to all of our weeks looking in the book of Acts, we need to have this question buzzing around the back of our minds: What is Jesus doing and teaching?

Jesus told his disciples in chapter 1 verse 8 that they should wait and that the Holy Spirit would come on them and they would be empowered to reach out in Jerusalem (chapters 1-7), in Judea and Samaria (chapters 8-12), and to the ends of the earth (chapters 13-28). He outlined what the rest of Acts is about.

So on the day of Pentecost, in the middle of the Jewish Festival giving thanks for the first evidence of a new harvest, the Holy Spirit came as the first evidence of a new harvest.

3 questions

1. WHAT HAPPENED?
The Holy Spirit came - sounding of a rushing wind, and in flames of fire (wind and fire - two of the least tameable bits of nature! Surely speaking of the free untameable moving of the Holy Spirit) and previously scared and hidden disciples came out and were declaring God's wonders in many different languages and dialects to the people's amazement. It was absolutely amazing.

The people asked this question:

2. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Peter stood up and spoke and told them.
It means:
- Christ is central to God's plan - and he always was. This was always the plan. The cross was always the plan. Peter then quotes Joel chapter 2 (in the Old Jewish Scriptures) that the Spirit would come on all God's people and live within them, and they would have a vibrant living relationship with him - a new era would come. And this is it!
- Christ is alive - quoting Psalm 16, he shows how King David wrote of one who would not decay in the grave, but rise from death. David's grave was there for all to see - surely well rotted! But Jesus was now alive.
- Christ is over all - quoting Psalm 110v1, often quoted about Jesus (including by Jesus himself in Matthew 22) to note the way that King David there, refers to his descendant as 'my Lord' - his Master. Jesus Christ is Lord over all.

So Peter summarises it all saying (v36): God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!

So having heard this the people asked another question:

3. WHAT SHOULD WE DO?
Repent and be baptized. In other words, change your mind, you world view, your way of living, so that Jesus Christ is at the centre of it. Turning away from what is against his ways, and following him. And then demonstrating this by being baptized, a visual picture of cleansing and forgiveness of sins.
When we do, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit aswell, living in us, giving us power to live for Christ, strengthening us, leading us, and changing us.

3000 people responded to the good news message that day. And many millions more since then. All because they grasped what life is all about. 

It's all about Jesus.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Urban Life  - followers of Jesus living life and bringing life in an urban setting! 

    The blog gives a snapshot of our life together as we post things we are learning about; things we believe; songs we love;  readings and prayers to strengthen and help us; and general information about what is happening in our community.

    So here are updates,  reviews, reminders and support for those who are part of our community, and a chance to 'look in' for those who are interested and wondering what we are all about.

    Archives

    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    Bible
    Bill Hybels
    Church
    City
    Community
    Discipleship
    Humanity
    Jesus
    Justice
    Prayer
    Remembrance Sunday
    Rend Collective
    Social Action
    Songs
    The Story
    Trinity
    UL Values
    Video
    War

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly