Acts 2:1-21 Multiculturalism...
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Object:
Acts 2:1-21
"Multiculturalism" has been a big buzz word for years in my native Canada, as well as here in the US. In the spirit of cultural tolerance, we emphasize that everyone's culture is valid and acceptable, and that together, each separate culture can come together and enrich all of us. And that is true. Our church has members in it from China and Hungary, as well as relationships with other churches and organizations in Belgium and Belize and Canada. It is wonderful having all of these different cultures and perspectives come together.
What is important for us to remember as Christians is that Christ is for all of us, Jew and Greek, slave and free. Pentecost illustrates this perfectly, as the Holy Spirit allowed the apostles to proclaim the gospel to people scattered over the entire known world (see vv. 8-11) and all the various cultures therein. The Holy Spirit can still empower us to reach across cultures, fulfilling the prophecy of Joel: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (v. 21).
Craig K.
Acts 2:1-21
Recently Sandy purchased a CD of bird songs. She wanted to identify the various birds in her yard by their songs. After listening to the CD she was able to hear the chirp of the oriole amid the chatter of the sparrows. "I was once oblivious to the different songs," she reflects, "but know I know which birds are nearby -- even if I do not see them."
One day Sandy wondered if it was possible to hear God's voice like she heard the various birds in her yard. She wondered if it was possible to train ourselves to hear the voice of God amid the chatter and noise of the world. This question led her in a spiritual quest, to carefully listen for God's voice, "the voice that tells us to stop and help a child, or reach out to a stranger, or send someone a note of encouragement." Sandy concluded that it is possible to hear God's voice in your life.
God speaks in many ways -- through scripture, sermons, other believers, books, and also in the silence. Too often we are too busy or preoccupied to hear God voice. When we pause to hear God's voice we realize that we are never far from God.
The apostles were waiting and praying as they had been instructed when suddenly the Holy Spirit dramatically descended upon them. "And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting." The first gift of the Holy Spirit was speech, as the apostles took the message of salvation out into the street. The commotion drew the attention of passersby. Each heard the message in his own native language. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the ability to speak in such a way that all people would understand. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage they needed to take the gospel into the entire world.
Tim S.
Romans 8:14-17
When a family has problems, everyone suffers. If one member becomes ill, the illness does not only affect that person. The rest of the family goes through the process of caring for him or her, even at risk of catching the illness themselves. If two family members are feuding, the feud does not only affect them; it affects the way the entire family acts toward those people and how the family as a group operates. Despite the hardships that come with being a family, there are also good things. When someone in the family is successful, everyone can share in the pride of that individual's accomplishments. When someone in the family gets married or has a baby, everyone comes together to celebrate life and happiness.
Leah T.
Romans 8:14-17
Margret Sangster relates an illustration about an invention that the Japanese came up with many years ago. She said that they have small dry wisps of wood or straw that are dropped into a bowl of water and like magic begin to spread into all shapes and sizes. One moment they are dry, waterless, dehydrated, and dead. The next moment they expand, blossom, change into a beautiful decoration.
When the Holy Spirit fills an individual the human soul that has been chilled, dried, barren it is then bathed in a flood of spirituality that warms, enthuses, and hydrates. His power regenerates and cleanses the heart and makes it completely available to God to do with as he pleases. In that moment the impulse to grow in grace germinates and with nurturing and careful attention the process of spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness of character and personality develops.
Are you ready to change, expand, and blossom? Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your life!
Derl K.
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
One of my favorite Disney movies growing up had to be The Lion King. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to find a Disney movie made since then that would top it. I like the story so much that I even went to see the Broadway musical based on it. Probably my favorite moment in the story came when Simba had to decide whether or not to go back and reclaim his kingdom. The decision was made when he saw his father's reflection and realized that his father's spirit lived on, in him.
Jesus also defined his existence in his relationship with the Father: "I am in the Father and the Father is in me" (v. 10). And now, with the Helper among us, we can know that his Spirit lives in us.
Craig K.
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Years later Scott recalls the terrible day when his father died of a sudden heart-attack. Scott was fourteen years old at the time. It was a terrible shock for his entire family. A month later, Scott along with his mother and sister moved to his mother's hometown. "I remember the fear of those first weeks of grief and separation," Scott says of readjusting to a new life. His greatest fear was that his mother would die leaving him and his sister "alone in a world that we did not know and could not trust." He experienced stress and anxiety over the thought of becoming an orphan thrust into the care of strangers.
As Jesus met with his disciples' hours before his arrest he sought to comfort them. Jesus knew what would happen to him, namely that he would die on the cross. He also knew that the disciples would be left without a leader. That night Jesus reassured his friends, "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you." They would not be left alone, Jesus was sending the Holy Spirit that would empower them to continue as well as expand the ministry he began. "I will ask the Father," Jesus said, "and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever."
Tim S.
"Multiculturalism" has been a big buzz word for years in my native Canada, as well as here in the US. In the spirit of cultural tolerance, we emphasize that everyone's culture is valid and acceptable, and that together, each separate culture can come together and enrich all of us. And that is true. Our church has members in it from China and Hungary, as well as relationships with other churches and organizations in Belgium and Belize and Canada. It is wonderful having all of these different cultures and perspectives come together.
What is important for us to remember as Christians is that Christ is for all of us, Jew and Greek, slave and free. Pentecost illustrates this perfectly, as the Holy Spirit allowed the apostles to proclaim the gospel to people scattered over the entire known world (see vv. 8-11) and all the various cultures therein. The Holy Spirit can still empower us to reach across cultures, fulfilling the prophecy of Joel: "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (v. 21).
Craig K.
Acts 2:1-21
Recently Sandy purchased a CD of bird songs. She wanted to identify the various birds in her yard by their songs. After listening to the CD she was able to hear the chirp of the oriole amid the chatter of the sparrows. "I was once oblivious to the different songs," she reflects, "but know I know which birds are nearby -- even if I do not see them."
One day Sandy wondered if it was possible to hear God's voice like she heard the various birds in her yard. She wondered if it was possible to train ourselves to hear the voice of God amid the chatter and noise of the world. This question led her in a spiritual quest, to carefully listen for God's voice, "the voice that tells us to stop and help a child, or reach out to a stranger, or send someone a note of encouragement." Sandy concluded that it is possible to hear God's voice in your life.
God speaks in many ways -- through scripture, sermons, other believers, books, and also in the silence. Too often we are too busy or preoccupied to hear God voice. When we pause to hear God's voice we realize that we are never far from God.
The apostles were waiting and praying as they had been instructed when suddenly the Holy Spirit dramatically descended upon them. "And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting." The first gift of the Holy Spirit was speech, as the apostles took the message of salvation out into the street. The commotion drew the attention of passersby. Each heard the message in his own native language. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the ability to speak in such a way that all people would understand. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage they needed to take the gospel into the entire world.
Tim S.
Romans 8:14-17
When a family has problems, everyone suffers. If one member becomes ill, the illness does not only affect that person. The rest of the family goes through the process of caring for him or her, even at risk of catching the illness themselves. If two family members are feuding, the feud does not only affect them; it affects the way the entire family acts toward those people and how the family as a group operates. Despite the hardships that come with being a family, there are also good things. When someone in the family is successful, everyone can share in the pride of that individual's accomplishments. When someone in the family gets married or has a baby, everyone comes together to celebrate life and happiness.
Leah T.
Romans 8:14-17
Margret Sangster relates an illustration about an invention that the Japanese came up with many years ago. She said that they have small dry wisps of wood or straw that are dropped into a bowl of water and like magic begin to spread into all shapes and sizes. One moment they are dry, waterless, dehydrated, and dead. The next moment they expand, blossom, change into a beautiful decoration.
When the Holy Spirit fills an individual the human soul that has been chilled, dried, barren it is then bathed in a flood of spirituality that warms, enthuses, and hydrates. His power regenerates and cleanses the heart and makes it completely available to God to do with as he pleases. In that moment the impulse to grow in grace germinates and with nurturing and careful attention the process of spiritual development and improvement in Christlikeness of character and personality develops.
Are you ready to change, expand, and blossom? Allow the Holy Spirit to fill your life!
Derl K.
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
One of my favorite Disney movies growing up had to be The Lion King. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to find a Disney movie made since then that would top it. I like the story so much that I even went to see the Broadway musical based on it. Probably my favorite moment in the story came when Simba had to decide whether or not to go back and reclaim his kingdom. The decision was made when he saw his father's reflection and realized that his father's spirit lived on, in him.
Jesus also defined his existence in his relationship with the Father: "I am in the Father and the Father is in me" (v. 10). And now, with the Helper among us, we can know that his Spirit lives in us.
Craig K.
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Years later Scott recalls the terrible day when his father died of a sudden heart-attack. Scott was fourteen years old at the time. It was a terrible shock for his entire family. A month later, Scott along with his mother and sister moved to his mother's hometown. "I remember the fear of those first weeks of grief and separation," Scott says of readjusting to a new life. His greatest fear was that his mother would die leaving him and his sister "alone in a world that we did not know and could not trust." He experienced stress and anxiety over the thought of becoming an orphan thrust into the care of strangers.
As Jesus met with his disciples' hours before his arrest he sought to comfort them. Jesus knew what would happen to him, namely that he would die on the cross. He also knew that the disciples would be left without a leader. That night Jesus reassured his friends, "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you." They would not be left alone, Jesus was sending the Holy Spirit that would empower them to continue as well as expand the ministry he began. "I will ask the Father," Jesus said, "and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever."
Tim S.
