Welcome to Worship
May 28, 2023
8:30am
Pentecost Sunday – Happy Birthday Church!
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever…But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. —(John 14:16-17)
Preparing Our Hearts for Worship: Pentecost: Call to Worship
Welcome to Worship: Rev. Bill Archer
Worship Song: House of the Lord
Memorial Day Video: We Will Remember
Prayer: Rev. Peggy Peek
Redland Happenings and Welcome: Rev. Peggy Peek
Congregational Greeting
Worship Song: Holy Spirit
Ministry and Mission Moment: DeShawn Germain
Musical Meditation: Lord, We Welcome Your Presence
Duet: Cathy Stracener and Don Dunnevant
Scripture: Acts 2
God’s Word for us Today: God Is At Work When We Listen and Respond to the Holy Spirit
Rev. Bill Archer
Sermon Notes:
Every time we approach scripture, it is helpful to ask three simple questions.
What?
So What?
Now What?
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?
12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” —ACTS 2:1-8, 12
Pentecost = Fiftieth
Shavuot = Jewish Harvest Festival
I. The First Act of the Church had a
Mission
“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below…
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ —Acts 2:17-19, 21God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. —Acts 2:32-33
Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” —Act 2:36-39
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. —Galatians 5:22-25
II. The Continuing Act of the Church is Spiritual
Time of Decision and Commitment: I Bow Down
Benediction: Rev. Kevin Freeman