“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” -Acts 2:42,45-47

What would it be like if the Christian Church looked like this? Acts 2:41-47 isn’t a set of commandments, but it does describe what’s possible for a community of people who follow Jesus! Do we want to live this way?

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” -Acts 2:37-39

Everyone saw something amazing the day that the Holy Spirit was given to the church. They knew that they had experienced something new and powerful, but what was it? What did it mean? What should they and we do now?

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” -Acts 2:1-4

How can a crew of 120 people be Jesus’ witnesses to the whole world? They can’t! At least not on their own. But in today’s passage, the Holy Spirit empowers some amazing ministry. What does it mean for us? We’ll see today!

“So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed and said, ‘Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.’ And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.” -Acts 1:23-26

How can we know God’s will? Jesus’ disciples prayed and then “cast lots” (flipped a coin). Is that really how you do it? What do we do when we know that we’re called by God but not sure what we’re called to? We’ll explore the question today! 

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” -Acts 1:6-8

Patience isn’t one of the virtues of our 21st century culture. When Jesus’ disciples asked him for a timetable, he told them that wasn’t their business. Wait for the power of the Holy Spirit, he said. How about us? Are we OK with Jesus’ agenda and timetable? What does it mean to wait for God?

Praise Set

Send the Fire (Lex Loizides, William Booth)
Ancient of Days (Gary Sadler, Jamie Harvill)
Blessed Be Your Name (Beth Redman, Matt Redman)
Draw Me Close (Kelly Carpenter)

Prayer of Confession

Prayer Response:  Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) chorus (Kelly Carpenter)

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20

What does it mean to go and make disciples? Have
we really thought it through? Are we ready to do that
as individual Christians and as a church?

“And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.‘ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.” -Luke 12:19-21

It sounds like the farmer in this story is planning ahead. Is there anything wrong with that? What does Jesus mean by “rich toward God”? Must we suffer to do it?

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven…” -Matthew 5:43-45a

Give to, love, pray for whom??? My enemies? Surely that doesn’t really include ____________ (fill in the blank with the right name). We’ll see this morning!

“Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.” -Matthew 5:37

Jesus’ standards in the Sermon on the Mount seem ridiculously high.  What’s up with that.  And what’s wrong with making promises and oaths?  What is Jesus trying to tell us about the value of saying a simple “yes” or “no”?  Guest preacher, Dave Dove helps us understand it all.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” -Matthew 5:27-28

What does Jesus have to say about sex? Adultery? Lust? Divorce? Does he just not want us to have fun? Is what Jesus describes really even possible?

“So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” -Matthew 5:23-24

Jesus seems to be saying that anger, name calling, an disputes between people are on the same level as the Old Testament against murder. What can Jesus possibly be saying? What can we do with it?

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:14-16

Jesus says that Christians are the light of the world and the salt of the earth.  What does it mean to be salt and light?  What about hiding the light under a basket?  So what will we go do? 

“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.”

How did Jesus himself interpret the Old Testament writings, which were the only scriptures available to his disciples while Jesus was alive?  Why does it matter to us today?

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” -John 20:1-2

Where is Jesus? His disciples sure didn’t understand. They knew what to expect from Jesus before, but now, everything’s changed. If Jesus is risen, what now?

Today’s Bible Reading is Matthew 27:11-32.

“So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ … And they said, ‘Barabbas.’ 22 Pilate said to them, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ All of them said, ‘Let him be crucified!’” -Matthew 27:17,21b-22

In the final days of Jesus’ life on earth, the religious and civil authorities found him guilty. Then they gave the people a chance to choose. They chose to release a man called Barabbas and to crucify Jesus. What would we do?

“Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’” -John 11:21-23

Why did Jesus let his friend Lazarus die? Did he really think that a theological statement would be a comforting answer? What does it mean for Jesus to be “the resurrection and the life”? And what can we do with it?

“‘As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him’” -John 9:1-3

Meeting a man who was born blind brought up some theological questions among Jesus disciples. But the real storm started after the healing. Why is Jesus so controversial? What does this healing mean for us?

Your Trinity Podcast Team

“The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming’ (who is called Christ). ‘When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am he, the one who is speaking to you.’ … Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I have ever done.’” -John 4:25-26, 39

Jews didn’t talk to Samaritans, especially not this Samaritan woman. But Jesus did. He learned her secrets, she learned about him, and lives were changed! Learn more today.

“Jesus answered Nicodemus, ‘Very truly, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’” -John 3:3

Theologians have been battling over the precise meaning of the phrase “born from above” for some time now, but the main issue is, “How can WE know we have been ‘born from above’?”

“Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.” -Matthew 4:10-11

The Spirit led Jesus out into he wilderness where, after forty days of fasting, he was tempted by the devil.  Was his choice really a big deal?  How did Jesus resist?  Does his victory mean that we too can resist temptation? How can we do it and what will it mean in our lives when we do?

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” -Matthew 5:11-12

Jesus says that all kinds of people in tough situations are actually blessed! How can this be? What do those in pain, out of power, and the persecuted except suffering? What does it even mean to be blessed in those situations? We’ll discuss it today.

“As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea– for they were fishermen.  And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” -Matthew 4:18-20

What will it mean when Jesus calls?  For these fishermen, it looked like giving up everything in exchange for uncertainty, downward mobility, and discomfort.  What made them decide to follow?  Will we decide to follow too?

“…for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns that can hold no water.” -Jeremiah 9:13

Have we been looking for life in all the wrong places?  Are our lives empowered by living water or are we storing everything we have and everything we are in cisterns that hold no water at all?  How would we know?  What can we do about it?

“And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’” -Matthew 3:16-17

Why was Jesus baptized at all?  And why did God choose this time to sing Jesus’ praises?  John the Baptist’s objections look pretty reasonable too.  All in all, the baptism of Jesus can be confusing.  What did it mean then, and what does it mean for us today?

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’  When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.” Matthew 2:1-3

When the Wise Men followed the star and arrived in Jeru-salem looking for Jesus, they came to King Herod to ask how to find him.  Herod wasn’t as helpful as he appeared.  Where are we getting our guidance?  From Herod or from God?

Today’s scripture is Hebrews 1:1-4.
“He is the reflection of God’s glory.”

In this Chrismas season, we are reminded that we are all children of God and come to Him as children, full of questions and wonder, hoping in the truth that ‘nothing is impossible’ with God.

Christmas is the season of miracles, but for many of us it is a time when we focus on how far our lives have fallen short of our expectations…even in our faith walk.  Can we, like our sister Elizabeth, really believe that ‘nothing is impossible’ with God?

“But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.”
-Luke 24:13-14

Guest speaker Dave Dove preaches on the 400 years of world history between the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
-Matthew 24:42-44

Jesus said that he would be back, but when?  What will happen to the world in the meantime?  Is it destined to get worse and worse?  How are we supposed to act in the world?

“[The Holy Spirit] will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you.  All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” – John 16:14-15

What is the Trinity?  Can 1+1+1=1?  How can God be three and one at the same time?  If I do  manage to understand the Trinity, what  difference will that make in my life?

“If you can comprehend it, it is not God.“
- Augustine of Hippo, 4th Century

Deuteronomy 6:4
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.”

Genesis 1:1-2
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

John 1:1-3a
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.”

Perichoresis
peri = around
choresis = dance

Genesis 1:27
“So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

John 14:20
“On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.”

“The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.  In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.” – Luke 16:22-23

Do heaven and hell exist?  If so what and where are they?  How do you end up in one or the other?  Should we be worried?  Is there any way to be sure of our eternal fate?

“Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me?  Seven times?’
‘No, not seven times,’ Jesus replied, ‘but seventy times seven.’”

Does God really expect us to forgive like that?   Won’t that make me a doormat or an enabler of someone caught in sin?

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!  Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. But even the hairs of your head are all counted. Do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

How much does God protect us?  Can we count on it?  What about the things we’ve seen that God hasn’t protected us from?  Where is God then?