They Were All Together in One Place

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Let me give you some background.

After Jesus rose from the dead, he stayed on earth and taught the disciples for 40 days.

The last day he is with them, Jesus tells them this.

I want you guys to wait in Jerusalem until the Father sends the Holy Spirit.

Then guys are going to be my witnesses and tell others about me.

First you’ll do it in Jerusalem.

Then in the surrounding area, and Samaria.

Then to the whole world.

After he said this, Jesus suddenly rises into the air and floats up into heaven. Can you imagine this? He just teaching them like normal then suddenly he rises into the air. Higher and higher and hirer, until he disappears into the clouds

Then he doesn’t come back.

- That’s where we find ourselves in this story today.

o They are just waiting.

o It’s been 10 days and they have no idea what comes next.

o Jesus told them to wait here until the HS comes, but what will that even look like.

§ “Do you guys remember when he was baptized, and the Holy Spirit looked like a dove and landed on his shoulder?” “Will it be like that”

§ Maybe they spent their days looking out the window for doves.

o So it’s 10 days later and they all get together because it’s a Jewish Holiday, Pentecost.

o Suddenly a rushing wind fills their house. And before their eyes these flames appear and divide and a flame lands on each of their heads.

o This would be crazy enough, but after the flames land on them, they begin to speak in other languages.

o Remember, this was on the day of Pentecost and they were in Jerusalem, so people from all over the region were in the city that day.

§ They were all able to hear the disciples speaking in their own language.

§ So people decided that they must be drunk (I guess those who weren’t listening closely). But as Peter points out it was only 9am, they weren’t drunk.

o Some after seeing the Holy Spirit work and hearing Peter’s explanation wanted to know what they should do. So Peter tells them to be baptized in Jesus name.

§ He tells them that they will also be given the gift of the Holy Spirit

o Then 3000 people were added to the church that day.

- Why am I telling you this story today.

o One reason is that this Open Table community feels a lot like this early church to me.

o Like the disciples I feel like I’ve just been waiting and waiting in the midst of this pandemic. Wondering when we might be able to get rolling again.

o This also reminds me of Open Table, because this was certainly a Fresh Expression of the church. It can’t get any more fresh than being the very first church.

o Whenever I read this passage I also always think of Open Table because this is the passage that we model our community around.

§ This idea of gathering together around food to worship and hear stories about Jesus. That’s the very core of what a Dinner Church is.

§ I hope at starting something new by going back to the very beginning.

o These are some of the reasons I wanted to share this story today. But there is one more significant reason I wanted you to hear this story today.

§ When I was reading the first verse several weeks ago, these words stuck me. “They were all together in one place”.

§ There was something about these followers of Jesus gathering together that day that sparked the following events. That sparked the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the church.

o It’ been pretty hard to “come together” lately, hasn’t it?

§ Our kids are sitting in front of computers all day instead of coming together with their friends at school each day.

§ Many of us are still working from home. Doing staff meetings over Zoom.

§ Most of the events that we were looking forward to this summer were just canceled.

§ And Open Table, we haven’t met together since March.

§ It doesn’t feel like we’re all together most of the time. Finding community has been really difficult.

o Community is important. It was how Jesus designed his church to function. We become the church when we gather together in His name.

§ Through God works through community to bring healing and transformation.

§ He uses community to help us grow in our knowledge about him and the Bible.

§ And it’s in community that we’re able to make the biggest impact in our neighborhoods.

o So how can we find community in the midst of this pandemic and specifically our Open Table community.

§ Well I hope this is a good start.

§ We know that there can be lots of problems with meeting and eating together inside right now.

· So we’re hoping to mitigate some of those issues by meeting outside and serving dinner a little differently as I’m sure you noticed today.

§ We’ll plan on meeting together like this once a month on the last Wednesday of each month. With a free community meal, worship music from Emily, and a story about Jesus or the early church.

§ But even if we can’t be together every week, we will plan of coming together every week, even if it’s not in person.

· Each Wednesday at 6pm Emily and I will be live streaming on Facebook. We hope, that if the technology in your house allows it, you might turn on this live stream as your family eats dinner together either on your phone, laptop, or TV if you have one close to the dinner table.

o Like when we normally meet together inside we’ll:

§ Hear worship music from Emily

§ Discussion questions to talk about around the table

§ And a short story

o I am so excited that God is at work here on our neighborhood and I hope you’ll invite your friends and neighbors the next time we meet together here at the end of October.

o Would you pray with me?