Sermon Outline

ME

  • There’s no place more intense and exciting than a delivery room.
    • It’s one of the few places everything happening in life stops.
    • On May 10, 2021 we woke up not knowing that would be the day Haven was born.
      • I remember at around 11AM Dawn said calmly, we’re going into labor today. I vividly remember asking her what she wanted me to do, she said there was no rush and she was going to get herself ready to go but it could be a long time. With her reassurance I went for a run, when I got home a little while later she said, go get the boys. This is happening.
      • We arrived at the hospital to a line of other pregnant women and Dawn saying, any second now.
      • I got a nurse and said, we’ve got to go back, my wife is having a baby now.
        • We got back to triage, she said, “that’s what everyone says.”
        • She did her triage exam and found out in fact a baby was about to be born.
      • It was only 27 minutes from the moment we pulled up to the hospital door until we had Haven in our arms.
      • When it happens it happens and it’s like everything that’s happened for so long all comes to a point in one moment of time.
    • The birth of the church in Acts 2 was thousands of years in the making, and then it happened in a moment.

WE

  • Acts 2 occupies a special place in the life of the church. It is the birth of the church and what ushers in the age of the church we still live in.
    • Verse 12 of Acts to ask a question we seek to answer today
      • “They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.” Acts 2:12 NLT
    • So many things come together in this moment and we’re going to get into those in a moment, but before we do I want you to ponder the question the crowd asked about the events.
      • What would the birth of the church mean for the world?
      • What has it meant for you?
        • Imagine a world without christ-centered communities of faith.
        • Imagine a world where we build our lives and when we die, that’s it. It’s just the great unknown.
      • That is however not the world we live in.
        • We have hope, and we have this thing called church, that though imperfect because it contains imperfect people God still uses it.
    • The crowd sees the birth of a new age of humanity and they ask the very question we will seek to answer today. “What can this mean?”
  • Let’s pray

GOD

  • Pentacost
    • One among three pilgrimage feasts on the jewish calendar.
      • Passover
        • Jesus was crucified at the passover week.
          • Technically on the day of preparation.
        • This is the allusion to the blood of the lamb that was offered in Egypt, Exodus 12, and Jesus was the final and perfect sacrifice for that offering.
      • Feast of Weeks AKA Pentecost
        • 50 days after Passover.
        • Pentecost is a celebration of the first harvest. Many people would attend Pentecost in Jerusalem to bring an offering to the temple.
      • Feast of Tabernacles AKA Sukkot/Booths
        • In the jewish life this was a feast of harvest.
        • Many theologians believe it to be alluding to when God gathers all of his people at the 2nd coming of Jesus.
    • At this junction however we find ourselves in Jerusalem, just like when Jesus is crucified, on a festival week. The city would have been overflowing with people.
      • The disciples about 120 of them have been gathering in a room to pray, what we call the upper room. And like so many things in life everything came together in an instant that had taken for the disciples days, in the narrative of creation, thousands of years.
  • All In One Place, All In One Accord
    • “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them.4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.” Acts 2:1-4 NLT
      • This is the birth of the church! A new covenant and a new existence between God and humanity has begun and it’s attended by three phenomena
        • Audible: “Sound…as of a rushing mighty wind”
          • In scripture the word used for wind is used to portray both the breath of life and extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit.
        • Visible: “Tongues as of fire…rested on each”
          • Representing the manifestation of God himself.
          • Many times throughout scripture we see God display his presence through fire.
            • Moses sees a burning bush.
            • When the law is given it’s recorded Mt. Sinai looked like it was on fire.
            • When Elijah challenges the priest of Baal God displays himself through fire on an altar.
        • Spoken: “They spoke with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance.”
          • Acts 2 records known dialects being spoken
            • “At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.” Acts 2:5-6 NLT
            • To be clear Acts 2 notes 15 distinct languages from North Africa to Modern day Iran, to Italy.
          • But note a contrast
            • Note the contrast: 1 Cor 12–14 glossolalia (prayer/praise to God, needs interpretation) vs. Acts 2 (sign to outsiders; attention-getting, not preaching content).
            • Atypical moment: Unrepeatable birthday phenomena, but ongoing Spirit-empowered mission.
    • Transition
      • Here’s where I want you to imagine yourself. All of these things have been observable and many people form a crowd to inquire what in the world is going on. There’s rushing wind, and people speaking in languages they’re not familiar with which leads to
  • The Crowds Response
    • “They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!...13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”” Acts 2:7-8, 13 NLT
    • Somewhere between V5 and V14 a crowd forms and the disciples start to filter out of the upper room. Mind you it’s still early in the morning. Around 9AM.
    • What do they go outside to? Questions and ridicule
      • Specifically they encounter
        • Question: How are these Galileans speaking all our languages?
          • A listing of much of the known world is listed and apparently every language is heard.
        • Mocking: They must be drunk.
      • Which still doesn’t explain the languages.
      • Everytime we have an experience in the presence of God it should not surprise us when we go back to life and encounter challenges.
    • I can imagine the disciples standing outside of the place they just praised confronting a crowd for the first time.
      • Think about this for a second. The last time they saw a crowd of this size, at Passover, Jesus was crucified.
      • After the mount of transfiguration there was a crowd.
      • Both times Jesus steps forward to lead, but now someone else is going to have to step up.
    • I wonder what is going through Peter’s mind at this moment. Maybe it was Jesus’ last words directly to him in John 21:18-19. The ones where Jesus told him at the end of his life he too would be crucified. Maybe he steps forward thinking, “it’s as good a day as any.”
    • He steps forward and addresses the crowd.
      • Did he do it to die like Christ? I don’t think that’s what he hoped for, but his faithfulness overcame whatever fear he might have felt.
    • Peter, the man who has failed so many times among many things says this as he preaches
      • “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ 22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” Acts 2:21-25 NLT
        • Can you hear him preaching? Can you hear him leaving behind his failures? Can you hear him no longer a denier of Christ but declaring Jesus as the cornerstone the Kingdom of God is built upon?
        • He quotes Joel, he quotes Psalms, but it’s not just quoting its declaration.
        • “I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.”
    • Transition
      • So often when we, as people a part of an Assemblies of God church, refer to this passage we focus on speaking in tongues. And certainly that is a big deal, but we shouldn’t forget this is more than the gift of tongues, it's the birth of the church. How does this still apply to us today?

YOU

  • Pursue Unity
    • “On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.” Acts 2:1 NLT
      • If the disciples had not been in one place and in one accord, it’s doubtful we would have this scripture. Whatever differences they had after Jesus ascended into heaven, they set aside to pursue Jesus.
    • Jesus prayed for this kind of unity before He went to the cross:
      • “I pray that they will all be one, just as You and I are one.” John 17:21 NLT
    • Paul later reminded the church to protect this same unity:
      • “Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” Ephesians 4:3 NLT
    • And the psalmist said:
      • “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity… for there the Lord bestows His blessing.” Psalm 133:1, 3 NIV
    • The Spirit moves where God’s people move together. The mission-driven church always outlasts the method-driven church, because unity around mission invites the presence and power of God.
      • Here’s the key: Don’t find identity in what you do, but who you do it for.
    • Transition
      • When the people of God unify…
  • Prepare for Pushback
    • “They were completely amazed. ‘How can this be?’ … But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, ‘They’re just drunk, that’s all!’” Acts 2:7–13 NLT
      • Whenever God moves, opposition and misunderstanding follow. Some will be curious, others critical. The Spirit-filled life does not insulate you from criticism — it empowers you to endure it.
    • Jesus told His followers:
      • “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first.” John 15:18 NLT
    • Peter, who was mocked that morning, later wrote from experience:
      • “Don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through… Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering.” 1 Peter 4:12–13 NLT
    • And Paul explains why the world doesn’t always understand:
      • “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18 NLT
    • When you walk with the Spirit, pushback often comes with progress.
  • Proclaim the Truth
    • When Peter steps forward, he doesn’t defend himself — he declares Jesus.
      • “But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Acts 2:21 NLT
      • “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.” Acts 2:32 NLT
    • The same Spirit that filled Peter fills you — not to make you loud, but to make you bold.
    • “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses…” Acts 1:8 NLT
      • And Peter would later write:
        • “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15 NIV
      • Don’t just explain what God is doing — proclaim who He is. The Holy Spirit empowers us to speak with conviction, clarity, and compassion.
  • I want to take us back to the original question we read today.
    • “They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.” Acts 2:12 NLT
      • It means God’s power is now personal
      • It means the mission of God that Jesus began now continues through you and I.
      • It means the birthday of the church is the beginning of your calling.
  • Let’s pray

WE