Scripture:

Acts 2:1-12 & 38-41

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.  When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?  Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?  Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"

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.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." 

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Download | Duration: 00:35:09

        

These are Paul’s final words to Timothy and as Paul prepares for his impending death, he is concerned about the future of the Jesus movement.  Will future generations be committed to faith in God?  Will there be preachers, teachers and evangelists?  Will Timothy rise to the occasion?  We could probably apply Paul’s words to ourselves.  Will our generation and future generations  live their lives as an expression of worship, not just one or two hours a week, but throughout their week?  Will the Gospel be proclaimed in season and out of season?  Is Christianity dying or on the decline in ...<< MORE >>

Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:1-8

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instructions.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.  For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

 

Download | Duration: 00:22:35

        

The point of my sermon this week is that as followers of Christ, we are to anticipate, prepare for and expect suffering for our faith convictions.  To live lives of witness and service in grateful response to the Gospel message means that we live against some of the cultural values - Values that tell us that we shouldn’t have to suffer - Values that tell us that we should live our lives in the pursuit of pleasure.  Paul’s second letter to Timothy seems to call us to prepare for suffering much like an athlete prepares for the great athletic event.  With the summer Olympics coming this summer, I wonder how many of us think that we have an opportunity to participate in the Olympic Games without any training.  Training for these games is full time work and essential to qualification.  So as we witness and serve in the name of Jesus Christ to this world, how should we train for that work?  Should it include training for suffering?  How do you react to the statement that suffering is not something separate from the Christian faith, but suffering is a part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

A portion of the Scripture that we didn’t talk about today is the last portion of the reading verses 11-13.  One of the most challenging sayings in this reading is “if we deny him, he will also deny us.”  Many scholars refer back to Matthew 10:33 where Jesus says: “Whoever denies me before men (others), I also will deny before my father who is in heaven.”  Jesus’ challenging words seem to be as present for Timothy as they should be for us.  But how do we reconcile these sayings with the promises of Christ?  Robert W Smith in his commentary on (Matthew ACNT) says that this line points to a future possibility of apostasy by those being baptized…this use of denial is a remote and almost unthinkable action…the verb denial appears elsewhere in the letters to Timothy and Titus but here alone, drawing from a baptismal hymn, does it apply to

apostasy from Christ.  The last part of this hymn juxtaposes a saying of faithfulness against one of denial, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.  Some commentators attempt to separate apostasy from unfaithfulness; however it seems that Paul’s intent is to set this hymn with a warning against apostasy with a more Hebraic understanding of

God’s faithfulness which endures even through our unfaithfulness.  Do you see this juxtaposition or do you see Paul setting apostasy apart from unfaithfulness? 

        

Scripture:

2 Timothy 2:1-13

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.  Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.  No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer.  Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.  The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops.  Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.  Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.  
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.

 

Download | Duration: 00:28:52

        

Scripture:

2 Timothy 1:1-14

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,

To Timothy, my dear son:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.  Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy.  I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner.  But join with me in suffering for the gospel, bu the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.  This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.  And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher.  That is why I am suffering as I am.  Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.  Guard the good deposit this was entrusted to you - guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Download | Duration: 00:33:45

        

Scripture:

Acts 4:32-37

All the believers were one in heart and mind.  No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.  With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.  There were no needy persons among them.  For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

Download | Duration: 00:24:44

        

Scripture:

Matthew 28:1 - 10

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.  Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Download | Duration: 00:22:20

        

Scriptures:

Malakai 3:8-10

"Will a man rob God?  Yet you rob me. 
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings.  You are under a curse - the whole nation of you - because you are robbing me.  Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it."


Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Download | Duration: 00:27:14

        

Scripture:

Genesis 3:3

And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

John 4:21-24

Jesus declared, "Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

Download | Duration: 00:28:11