W.N.B.C. Race, Faith, Unity

Van Der Linden: Well sir, you said integration is the law of the land, and it’s morally right, whereas segregation is morally wrong, and the president should do something about it. Do you mean the president should issue an order that the schools and the churches and the stores should all be integrated?

King: I think it is one of the tragedies of our nation, one of the shameful tragedies, that eleven o’clock on Sunday morning is one of the most segregated hours, if not the most segregated hours, in Christian America. I definitely think the Christian church should be integrated, and any church that stands against integration and that has a segregated body is standing against the spirit and the teachings of Jesus Christ, and it fails to be a true witness. But this is something that the Church will have to do itself. I don’t think church integration will come through legal processes. I might say that my church is not a segregating church. It’s segregated but not segregating. It would welcome white members.

Brooks: I think at this point I’ll have to interrupt. I see that our time is up. Thank you very much, Dr. King, for being with us. We’ll be back with “Meet the Press” in just a moment, but first, this message.

How far have we really come?

Youth Day

How Scott found out about the old Youth Days that we once had while he was a youth minister in Temple.

How easy it is to be lulled into things that make you comfortable.

Explain what youth day was. Might be a time to reintroduce that we are seeking to begin again.

Arcadia Story

Cultural example

Voice’s Story

Church segregation and acceptance on both sides.

Why does it matter?

Acts 2:1–12 CSB

1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” 12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

Day of Pentecost

50th day

Jews were back in Jerusalem for 1 of 3 big annual festivals.

This festival celebrated “the feast of harvest” - refers to the first fruits of crops that are planted in the field.

7 weeks after passover and the next day was the celebration

7X7=49 then 49+1=50

The people who “belong” to God have come together to celebrate a new thing.

Jesus promises that there is going to be a new thing happening among the people of God. He tells them to wait in Jerusalem because the Holy Spirit was coming. Something new was going to happen.

Point:

2-3

When God comes through the Holy Spirit it is in a disruptive manner.

“violent rushing wind”

“filled the whole house”

“tongues like flames of fire”

Point: God is not overly concerned with our human comfort when His business is concerned!

V7-12

“aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?” V7

The people there knew that they should not have been able to understand them but God at this point in time wanted them to understand each other.

Parthians (Iranian people), Medes (Northwest Iran), Elamites (Iran), Mesopotamia (Syria region), Judea, Cappadocia (Turkey), Pontus (Turkey S. of Black Sea), Asia, Phrygia (W. central Asia minor), Pamphylia (S. Asia), Egypt (Africa), Libya (N. Africa), Rome, Crete (Greece), Arabs

They all heard the SAME thing in their own language

V12 “What does this mean?”

The Tower of Babylon

Summary: The whole earth had the same language and vocabulary and the people of earth settled in the same place. They began to come up with a scheme together. They wanted to build themselves a city with a tower to the sky. They wanted to make a name for themselves. God saw what they were doing and he said in verse 6 “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.” God confused their language so that that they would not be able to understand one another’s speech. And God then scattered them throughout the earth.

God separates and confuses the people of earth when they are about their own selfish business and lifting themselves up for their own purposes. God knew that if we ALL SPOKE the same language there was NOTHING that would be impossible for this unified same language speaking group of people!

What is is going to stop God’s people when they begin to speak the same language again?!

14-41: Peter stands up to speak a message that can be understood by all people. He uses the words of the prophet Joel to explain that God is about to do something miraculous in ALL people through the Holy Spirit. It will be bigger than gender, it will be bigger than social classes, and it will be the great equalizer of people. These actions will give birth to the salvation of all people! He lets them know that Jesus was proven through signs and wonders to be the actual son of God. The one who would save all mankind and overcome death. He recalls the word of David that speak of one of his descendants not being able to be contained in Hades. He speaks of the power of Jesus to save! He tells them that their hands are bloody and guilt resides within them. But his message is not one of doom and gloom. V37 The people feel guilt about their part and ask what it is that they can do. V38 Peter tells them to repent and be baptized.

V40- “Be saved from this corrupt generation!”

Being saved and becoming a part of the body is not enough. What is the point of having the universal unifying language of God only to pick up and create your own dialect? One so thick that we have come to the point that we cease to understand each other again. One that is so thick that it causes a separation that is clear for the a segregated world to see.

acts 2

Acts 2:41–47 CSB

41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and signs were being performed through the apostles. 44 Now all the believers were together and held all things in common. 45 They sold their possessions and property and distributed the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

V41 “those who accepted his message were baptized”

Everybody is not going to be on board with God’s plan

God’s Plan

V42-

Devoted to God’s teaching

Fellowship- an association involving close mutual relations and involvement. Participation. Having in common.

Cannot be the person who says if it’s not my way then I won’t be involved.

Breaking of bread- refers to regular meals but at the close of each meal, they probably paused to remember the Lord by observing what we call “the Lord’s Supper”.

Prayer- to speak or to make requests of God.

V44-46

Unified

V47

Magnified “enjoying the favor of all the people.”

Multiplied “Every day the Lord added to their number those who were being save.”