Sermon Tone Analysis

Is the church dying?

We hear it often and we seem to be believing it?

Is the church of America dying, and is TPC dying?

Intro

What is the church?

It is opposite of a dead religion that many believe it to be, or stem from.

People of God

But the church does not consist of a building; it consists of people, living souls with the Lord in their midst.

Lloyd-Jones, M. (2000).

The God Who Acts.

In Authentic Christianity (1st U.S. ed., Vol. 1, p. 22).

Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.

In America there is no doubt that churches are closing their doors.

Why?

Even here at TPC we are concerned with closing the doors.

I believe this is a trick by Satan to really attack the people of God:

We believe the church is a building

We deny the fact that the people of God will always be and cannot be thwarted

We don’t have faith in God

God begins building a church full of redeemed people who are baptized by the Holy Spirit

Drama

Pentacost

The Jewish Feast of Weeks

Gathered the firstfruits of the wheat harvest and brought them to the Temple as a tithe

, ,

Renewal of the covenant made with Noah and Moses Ex 6

A time where They came together and rad the law and re established their covenant with God

Wind/Spirit

Breath - Like Jesus breathing on His disciples

HS like a wind you feel but you cannot see

OT refers to God coming like a wind in other instances

God spoke to Elijah

God spoke to Job

God spoke to Ezekiel

Fire

A picture of a tongue with fire and vigor

As the 120 were empowered by the HS others came and some heard

The gospel was now going to have power and would change men’s souls

The efficacy of the Word of God is what is meant by this

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.

But if I go, I will send him to you.

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

Doctrine

God gathers his church (people)

2:1 - “together in one place”

A foreshadow of the Great Harvest when Christ returns

Why we gather on Sunday,

Preparation for our final place in heaven

2:5 - “devout men from every nation under heaven.”

Most unlikely of people

From various cultures

Illus: #metoo

A female actress stated on TV the other day that women all over the world were going to rise up unified in this movement and would come together over this

It is an inward attempt to fulfill the longing we have inside of us a image bearers to commune, yet will fall short due to sin

It actually divides them more than unite them

But, God unites his people

God gives life to his church (people)

Baptizes them with his HS

Breath of life

Tongues of fire

Therefore, the Lord doth show that their voice shall be fiery, that it may inflame the hearts of men; that the vanity of the world being burnt and consumed, it may purge and renew all things.

He continues to breath life into his church through His Word

It is only the gospel message and Word centered people that God will use

A people on fire with the gospel

App: When is the last time you shared God’s word with someone in Thomson?

God grows his church (people)

Unity

What appeared to be confusion was God actually unifying

One language

A symbol of heaven on earth

Illus: Isle of Misfit toys from Rudolf

Rudolf, Yukon, and Herme the elf

They find a place on this island as they too are misfits

App: A people that looks out of place to the world

God’s church is one that looks out of place in the world, not like it

To witness (Purpose)

to a working God

We should be talking about What God is doing in the church

Satan has us when we only see what God is not doing

Living and active

A people excited about what God is doing

changing peoples lives with the Gospel Message

Some will receive

Some will reject

App: Right now in such a tolerant world, I have never seen such reception to God’s Word

People may not like to hear it, but they are mostly tolerant

Some, will outright reject it

Illus: Prayer in school - we complain

Yet, at every Navy ceremony we have prayer

At every civil function we have prayer

Opportunities abound for us to share the good news

Doxology

A living and active God created and is sustaining a living and active church

A people Baptized by the HS and have a passion and tongue for the Word of God and sharing of the Gospel

brought and sustained in faith by fire

Invitation?

Focused on teh Wo

Do you want to see God grow this church?

Start sharing the gospel.

Start talking to people about what God is doing.

Look around you.