Dig Deeper - Sunday 24th May
Sermon Reflection Questions - Courage for the Journey: Courage Through the Spirit
Acts 2:1-13
Link to service
Dig Deeper notes from Sunday 24th May service:
Summary
The festival of Pentecost is when Jewish people from all over gathered together in Jerusalem to celebrate the first wheat harvest of the year. This particular Pentecost happened to be 50 days since Jesus had risen from the dead, and 10 days since He had ascended to heaven. The disciples were gathered together, waiting. Just as Jesus had told them to do.
Jesus’s disciples needed power. They couldn’t change the world in their own power, they needed help! The Holy Spirit gave them courage and gave them the ability to talk to other people in different languages, so everyone could hear the amazing message of Jesus. And, through the power of the Holy Spirit, given to each of us when we give our lives to Jesus, we can continue that mission of going, making disciples, baptising them, and teaching them! We can all play our part with courage, strength, and power that comes from God.
The Holy Spirit is also the continual presence of God. When Jesus went back to heaven, the disciples might have felt like they had been left - that they were on their own and abandoned. But the Holy Spirit was the gift of God always being with them…and with us! Whatever situations we’re going through in our lives, we know that we never walk through them alone. His dwelling place is in each one of us. He doesn’t come to dwell in a building, but in His people. And the fire appeared above each one of the disciples to show that His presence, through His Spirit, was coming to His people. Jesus sent the Spirit as our friend, our advocate, our helper, our guide, and our comfort. Through the Spirit we can understand things, we can be transformed, we are empowered to serve and use the gifts we have been given…
Pentecost is also when we celebrate the birthday of the Church! Not just St John’s, but the global church! We read about the first kind of church later on in this chapter of Acts…Christians met together, prayed together, devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, generously giving to the poor, and sharing everything they had.
Over the years, many people and circumstances have tried to stop the Church. There have been times of great persecution where people are beaten or imprisoned or even killed for being a Christian…during Covid, churches had to close their doors for months on end - but the Church still lives on, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Questions to pause for reflection/group discussion:
1. When you think of the Holy Spirit, what comes to mind?
2. When have you experienced God’s power helping you to do something you never thought you would be able to do?
3. How have you experienced the Holy Spirit in your everyday life?
4. What are you thankful for about St John’s? Where do you see similarities to the early church? Where are there differences?
5. Have you ever been to a church service in another country? How do you feel knowing we’re part of something much bigger?
A Short Prayer
Jesus, thank you for sending the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can live with your continual presence, we can be sent out in your power, and we can be transformed. We thank you for the church, and for how it has continued for so many years, even when times have been hard. We pray for those around the world who can’t attend a physical church because of persecution, and we pray that you would strengthen them. We thank you for this church, for all those who have gone before us, and all those who will come after us. We pray that we would be a light in this community and that we would continue to be bold in telling others about you. Amen.
