Why Pentecost still matters today!

Happy Birthday!

as a believer you actually have 3 birthdays.

your physical, Your spiritual, your organizational .

John 3:3 NASB95

Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:5–6 NASB95

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

today I want to talk about the 3rd birth

the birth of the church. the bride of Christ.

the bride of Christ.

In the Bible there are 5 main images of church; they are: 

A Family

A Body 

A Bride 

A Temple

A Lamp stand

Not a building…you don’t go to church, you are the church

Not a business…although some think it should be run as one.

A Family A Body A Bride A Temple A Lamp stand

Definition:

“c”hurch vs “C” hurch

church: local

many of the books of the NT are names after churchs. Galatians, Ephesians, Phillipians,

7 churches of Revelations

Church: universal

Every believer throughout time. from Acts to the end of time

Let’s take a look at Pentecost!

Shavuot “shuh·voo·owt”

Leviticus 23:15–16 NASB95

‘You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. ‘You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord.

Initially, Shavuot was a festival for expressing thankfulness to the Lord for the blessing of the harvest.

And because it occurred at the conclusion of the Passover, it acquired the name "Latter Firstfruits."

The celebration is also tied to the giving of the Ten Commandments and thus bears the name Matin Torah or "giving of the Law."

Jews believe that it was precisely at this time that God gave the Torah to the people through Moses on Mount Sinai.

Let’s talk about how the church began

Acts 2:1–13 NASB95

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? “And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? “Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”

Acts 2:

Peter goes on to preach the 1st sermon every preached in the church.

Acts 2:37–41 NASB95

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

Acts 2:37-

Acts 2:36–41 NASB95

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.

:36

What did the early church do?

Acts 2:42–47 NASB95

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 2:42-

A Family A Body A Bride A Temple A Lamp stand