May 18 Virtual Worship
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Worship Team: Sarah Haas, Marc Hayden
Music Ministry Team: Kristin Petty
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Key Notes from the reading & sermon:
Scripture Lesson
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-5
Sermon: New Life, A New Baptism
Acts 1:1-5
In the first book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. After his suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 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; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Key Idea of the Sermon
Now that we have studied the resurrection appearances of Jesus, we are shifting to the stories of the way the first generation of disciples responded to this unexpected, good news. The account of this response is called the Acts of the Apostles (a sequel to the Gospel According to Luke). Acts begins with the disciples waiting for the fulfillment of the promise of the Father, which is described as a baptism with the Holy Spirit. Though this promise lacks details it brings to remembrance the baptism of Jesus where the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove (Luke 4:22). The reasonable inference is that just as the Spirit of God empowered the ministry of Jesus, so the disciples must wait for the same Divine gift before they can continue the ministry of Jesus. This required waiting suggests that the ministry to which they are called is more than they can do on their own; it can only be fulfilled by the work of the living Spirit of Christ within them. The same applies to us.
Questions for Reflection
There are over one hundred verses in the Bible related to “waiting on the Lord”. Here are a few to look up and read: Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 25:4-5, Michah 7:7, James 5:7-8, Romans 8:25, Philippians 3:29 and Jude 1:21. What is it about waiting that is so central to trust in God?
• How have you experienced the fulfillment of a Divine promise through waiting with hope and trust?
• Name a time when the living Spirit of Christ empowered faithfulness beyond what you imagined possible.
A Spiritual Practice to Try
Identify a dilemma you are facing. Rather than seeking resolution on your own, invite Christ’s living Spirit to guide you, and then patiently wait and listen before taking action.
If you need some guidance or support, you may reach me at pastormarc.friedensucc@outlook.com
