Spirit and community – the early church_8th Sept 2024

Acts 2 v1-21 & John14 v25-29

We are almost at the end of our Bible Course series. Here’s a quick recap of some of the big themes and stories. So far we’ve we seen the story of Abraham in Genesis, and then Moses who gave the law, then Judges like Deborah, and kings like David, then we had the era of the prophets like Isaiah & Jeremiah, followed by the exile where we encounter Daniel, and finally we have the arrival of the Messiah himself – Jesus – whose birth, death, resurrection and ascension is the hinge of the whole bible story. 

In this session we’re thinking about the early church and how the Holy Spirit filled ordinary people with the presence of God, forming new communities, enabling and equipping them to share the good news of Jesus throughout the world.

Our story begins in the book of Acts, which is the sequel to Luke’s gospel, telling us what happens next. In the gospel of Luke, Jesus preached the good news of God’s kingdom and healed the sick. In the book of Acts, his followers heal the sick and preach the good news of Jesus to all the world. 

But how can ordinary people like you and me do the things that Jesus did. How is that possible?

If I asked you to write like Shakespeare, paint like Picasso or compose like Mozart you’d say you can’t do it. I certainly can’t. The book of Acts tells the story of ordinary people carrying on the ministry of Jesus right up to the present time. You might say I can’t do that. But what if the same Spirit who empowered Jesus should come and live in us – the Spirit of Jesus. That’s the story of the early church we read about Acts.

In Acts 1, just before Jesus is taken up to heaven, he promises to send the Holy Spirit upon his disciples. He says "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The Greek word for power is dunamis from which we get our English word dynamite. The Holy Spirit empowers Jesus' followers to continue his ministry in the world - to share the good news of Jesus.

And this starts with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The Feast of Pentecost was a big harvest festival when Jewish pilgrims from all over the ancient world came to the city of Jerusalem. Today we celebrate it as the birth of the Christian church.

In our reading from Acts 2, we see the fulfilment of Jesus’ promise as the Holy Spirit is poured out on 120 disciples. A great wind fills the house they're in and something like flames appears over each persons’head. The Holy Spirit fills them with the presence of God and together they start praising and telling stories of God's mighty deedsin different languages. The multicultural, multi-lingual pilgrims who have come to Jerusalem hear the disciples praising God in their own languages. They are amazed at what they are hearing; but some make fun and say they’re drunk.

At this point Peter, filled with the Spirit, stands up and addresses the people. He says the disciples are not drunk. Its only 9 in the morning. He then explains what’s happening, pointing back to the OT promise in Joel, now being fulfilled in their presence. 

Peter continues with a powerful message of God’s saving purposes in Christ Jesus, urging them to repent and turn back to God.

After Peter’s speech, 3000 were baptised and became followers of Jesus (2:41). The Holy Spirit was powerfully at work in people’s lives, bringing transformation. These early Christians formed new communities – the church. They met as small groups in peopleshomes and in larger groups at the temple. Community is at the heart of Christianity. And it is the Holy Spirit who joins us together, forming us into the people of God to fulfil the mission of God in the world.

In the OT God's presence primarily dwelt in the temple. But now God's presence comes to dwell in his people as the Holy Spirit is poured out on all. All who trust in Jesus as Saviour are filled with the Spirit and joined to the family of God. The Holy Spirit joins us intoone multi-cultural, intergenerational, global community of Jesus followers.

The rest of the book of Acts records the life and witness of the early church as the Spirit empowered them to live radical, counter-cultural lives that demonstrated the power and presence of God. We read how they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. They practised radical generosity– providing and caring for the poor among them. The Holy Spirit brought a new boldness. Ordinary people did extra ordinary things. They healed the sick and boldly preached the good news of Jesus wherever they went.

Of course, this brought them into direct conflict with the religious leaders and political powers. 

Its no different today. Jesus’ mission and ministry through his church is always opposed by those who do not want to follow him. 

After Pentecost, the book of Acts records the expansion of the church. We notice a pattern that goes like this: The Holy Spirit works miracles through his people. People want to know what’s going on. God’s people explain what’s happened and share the good news of Jesus. Many accept Jesus as Saviour. But the opposition don’t like this and begin to persecute the believers. Persecution causes many of the believers to flee to other places – towns and cities far away. 

They form new communities of generosity, worship and celebration.

And so the church of God expands as more people hear the good news and experience God's generosity and healing presence.

Miracles > Preaching > Persecution > Expansion. We can see this pattern in chapters 3-4, 5-6,7-8.

Ordinary people, filled with the Spirit, did extra ordinary things which led to the expansion of the church across the world. Imagine a dandelion flower being blown all over the place. That’s the picture we see in Acts and down the centuries right up to the present day. 

The early church shared their lives, shared the gospel and they persevered under persecution. And they did all this through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. 

So to conclude: The same Holy Spirit who empowered the disciples at Pentecost and sent them out to form new communities, sharing God’s love in word and deed, is still at work today. And the amazing thing is that God wants to work through you and me to share the good news of Jesus with others so that they too might belong in his family, the church. Like the early church, we too need the help and empowerment of the Spirit to live out our faith in word and deed. So let us expect great things from God and attempt great things for God as Bishop William Carey put it in 1792.

And we need one another as we journey together as Jesus disciples so that we can bless, strengthen and encourage each other through the joys and sorrows, particularly when we face opposition – persecution even – for being Jesus followers.

Amen.