THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT (PART 2 OF 10)
by Tony Nester
The Gift of the Spirit
Rediscovering Church, Part 2 of 10
Text: Acts 1 & 2, excerpts
Tony R. Nester
One of the things I've learned as a pastor is that even
people who don't attend a church want the church to be
something special. People who are outside of the church
want the people who are inside to be serious about living
spiritually based lives. Those who don't worship God still
want the church to worship a holy, marvelous, and awesome
God.
Frequently these unchurched people will come to church.
They show up at weddings, funerals, Christmas, Easter,
baptisms and confirmations. And they are disappointed if
the church doesn't show them something holy and spiritual.
They don't need the church for anything else - they got it
covered (or at least so they think).
This attitude is especially prevalent among young people. A
recent Gallup poll described how the millennial generation
(those 19 and younger) looks at the church:
"Essentially, what they have to see is a place where lives
are transformed. They think, 'Is there a supernatural
transaction happening here? If not, it's just another
social service agency."(1)
There is a supernatural transaction happening in the
church. The Bible has a name for it - it's called the Holy
Spirit. The Spirit was there when the church was born. From
the beginning the Church has been experiencing the holy
presence of God and its people have been spiritually
transformed. Today I want us to rediscover the gift of the
Spirit.
Let's begin by going back to where we were last Sunday with
Acts 1:4-5. I want you to read these two verses aloud with
me.
(Acts 1:4-5 NRSV) "While staying with them, he ordered them
not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise
of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard
from me;{5} for John baptized with water, but you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.""
What was this "promise o ...
Rediscovering Church, Part 2 of 10
Text: Acts 1 & 2, excerpts
Tony R. Nester
One of the things I've learned as a pastor is that even
people who don't attend a church want the church to be
something special. People who are outside of the church
want the people who are inside to be serious about living
spiritually based lives. Those who don't worship God still
want the church to worship a holy, marvelous, and awesome
God.
Frequently these unchurched people will come to church.
They show up at weddings, funerals, Christmas, Easter,
baptisms and confirmations. And they are disappointed if
the church doesn't show them something holy and spiritual.
They don't need the church for anything else - they got it
covered (or at least so they think).
This attitude is especially prevalent among young people. A
recent Gallup poll described how the millennial generation
(those 19 and younger) looks at the church:
"Essentially, what they have to see is a place where lives
are transformed. They think, 'Is there a supernatural
transaction happening here? If not, it's just another
social service agency."(1)
There is a supernatural transaction happening in the
church. The Bible has a name for it - it's called the Holy
Spirit. The Spirit was there when the church was born. From
the beginning the Church has been experiencing the holy
presence of God and its people have been spiritually
transformed. Today I want us to rediscover the gift of the
Spirit.
Let's begin by going back to where we were last Sunday with
Acts 1:4-5. I want you to read these two verses aloud with
me.
(Acts 1:4-5 NRSV) "While staying with them, he ordered them
not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise
of the Father. "This," he said, "is what you have heard
from me;{5} for John baptized with water, but you will be
baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.""
What was this "promise o ...
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