Wind and Fire

For June 27, 2012


All scriptures are from The Message Version

Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Passover, was one of three pilgrimage feast to which all Jews able to do so were to worship at the temple. It celebrates the harvest and giving of first fruits to God. During Jesus’ time some associated it with the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, the birth of Judaism.

This post is intended to help the reader personalize the words and thoughts in the scriptures. It works well if shared between two or more people as a conversation but there is much to be gained by just considering the questions for yourself. Commentaries for the lectionary scripture can be found on Textweek through this link Textweek.com

For Christians Pentecost was a time when God’s Spirit descended upon the disciples just as it did at the time of Jesus’ baptism:

Luke 2: 21-22 After all the people were baptized, Jesus was baptized. As he was praying, the sky opened up and the Holy Spirit, like a dove descending, came down on him. And along with the Spirit, a voice: "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life."

As we contemplate the scripture for today a question for all of us is when did the Spirit become a part of our lives? Was it sudden as in this story? What difference has it made?  Let’s look at the disciples story:

Acts 2:1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.
5-11There were many Jews staying in Jerusalem just then, devout pilgrims from all over the world. When they heard the sound, they came on the run. Then when they heard, one after another, their own mother tongues being spoken, they were thunderstruck. They couldn't for the life of them figure out what was going on, and kept saying, "Aren't these all Galileans? How come we're hearing them talk in our various mother tongues?
Parthians, Medes, and Elamites;
Visitors from Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene;
Immigrants from Rome, both Jews and proselytes;
Even Cretans and Arabs!
"They're speaking our languages, describing God's mighty works!"
12Their heads were spinning; they couldn't make head or tail of any of it. They talked back and forth, confused: "What's going on here?"
13Others joked, "They're drunk on cheap wine."

• What catches your attention in the first four verses? What words are important? What do you imagine the disciples felt as they began to speak in “different languages.”

• How do you imagine the scene as the disciples began to speak? What was their tone of voice? Was any of the communication one on one? The reaction of some was that the disciples were drunk, what does that tell us about the event?

• Have you ever found yourself, as part of a Christian group, being caught up in an something unexpected? Was there a sense of the presence of the Spirit in the doing of it? Did your experience have any of the elements of this story?

• Can concern about the reaction of others a constraint to seeking or acting on the Spirit’s leading? How does this play out in our lives or the actions of a faith community?

• What were the disciples speaking about? What is the reaction of some to the description of God’s mighty works? What had been accomplished by the disciple’s reaction to the Spirit’s presence? What seemed to be the reaction to what the crowd saw and heard?

• Have you ever been so enthusiastic about your faith that you spoke to someone else about it? What were the circumstances and reactions? How important is it for us to be able to share our faith in ways that others can understand and relate to?

• What is Luke trying to tell us about the Spirit by these events; what are some attributes and what does the Spirit bring?

• What can we learn from this story about sharing of faith as a congregation? What does the story tell us has to be present?

• Do you think that this is an accurate description of what took place? Does anything seem contrived?

14-21 That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren't drunk as some of you suspect. They haven't had time to get drunk—it's only nine o'clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
"In the Last Days," God says,
"I will pour out my Spirit
on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
I'll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me, men and women both,
and they'll prophesy.
I'll set wonders in the sky above
and signs on the earth below,
Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord arrives,
the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help
to me, God, will be saved."

• Many of the listeners would have been familiar with Joel’s words. How might they have set the stage for answering the question asked by many, “What does this mean.” How might we use Peter’s strategy in the sharing of our faith?

• What words catch your attention in Joel’s prophecy? What is Peter telling the crowd about the disciples and the events they are witnessing? What does Joel’s prophesy tell us about God’s Spirit?

• What is Peter telling the crowd the event initiates? Who will be affected? Will it all be joy and peace? Who will be saved? Do you think that we today are in the Last Days?

• What are we told prophets do and who is to be a prophet? Do you see evidence of prophesy in our midst? Have you ever felt that some element of prophesy is part of your faith life?

• Are there any portions of Joel’s prophecy that you would like to see take place in your life and the life of your faith community? What is preventing it from happening?

Closing Prayer

Enter my heart, O Holy Spirit, come in and set me free.. Throw open the locked door of my mind and cleanse the chambers of my thought for your dwelling. Light there the fires of your holy brightness that I might find a new understanding of truth. Amen.

From George Appelton, Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 6:1-8, Psalm 29, Romans 8:12-17, John 3:1-17

Resurrection Christians

For February 13, 2011

All scriptures from The Message

An amazing transformation took place among the disciples after Jesus’ crucifixion. All through their travels with Jesus they had many occasions when they failed to understand who Jesus was and what he was about and at times seemed to have hopes of personal prestige and rewards by being with him. Worst of all they waivered and became fearful during the days leading up to Jesus’ execution and even after the resurrection some accounts have them going back to their previous lives and occupations. Fear and discouragement seemed to prevail, even after Jesus’ resurrection.

Today we will look at some scriptures which trace their personal spiritual resurrections and consider some of the amazing changes that took place in their willingness to speak out about their faith. Several Scriptures from Acts will trace the nature of that transformation.

The first scripture sets the stage and prepares them for the winds of change which will blow over them:

Acts 1:2-5 After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."

· Put yourself in the apostle’s place, how would you have felt if were present that day after everything they had been through during Passover week? What would you have thought as you say Jesus’ presence and heard these words after seeing him hanging on the cross?

· What questions would you have had? What might being “baptized in the Holy Spirit” have meant to them?

· Reflect again on the disciples behavior and confusion before Pentecost, can you relate to feeling this way during your spiritual journey? Have there been times when you had questions about your faith, failed to take an opportunity to share your faith, felt badly about the priority you have given to strengthening and living your faith? If you don’t feel you have had experiences like this you fall into a very select group to say the least.

· What has given you hope as you struggle with the reality of living as a person of faith while living in a real world with competing priorities for our time and energy? What has enabled you to stay on the path of faith? What are some things that have encouraged you and sustained you on your faith journey?

Let us look a the few sentences which speak to one of the most momentous occasions in the Christian faith:

Acts 2:1-4 When the Feast of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Without warning there was a sound like a strong wind, gale force—no one could tell where it came from. It filled the whole building. Then, like a wildfire, the Holy Spirit spread through their ranks, and they started speaking in a number of different languages as the Spirit prompted them.

· What must it have been like in that place? How do you envision the wind and the spreading of the Holy Spirit “through their ranks?” Would you have liked to have been there?

· What is the first result of the presence of the Spirit? What must it have been like to move from the sound of a strong wind to these hearing the choirs of different languages being spoken?

· How would you feel as the commotion died down after this astonishing experience? Think of being present on this day, how would it impact your faith and willingness to tell others about it?

· Can you name one or two events that have made a significant positive impact on the quality of your faith life? Have you had any experiences that you felt transformed you spiritually in a small or major way? How did they affect how you felt and acted immediately afterwards?

The immediate reaction of the disciples was to speak in foreign languages but the real change, the real impacted included this transformation of the faith community:

Acts 2:43 43-45 Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.
46-47 They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

· What did people see that energized them and how did they respond? What characterized life in this congregation, how did they see that they were to live as a faith community? Would you like to have been present among them or do you have some reservations?

· It is probably not practical for this kind of communal living to occur today. How would you like to see the spirit of “holding everything in common” be lived out in your faith community? What keeps it from becoming a reality?

· Notice where they worshipped, they were both different and then in some ways connected to their previous religious practices. What would it have felt like to meet at the Temple after your faith convictions had been so strongly rejected by the Jewish community? What does it tell us about living out our faith today in a world in which many reject religion and religious practices?

· Have you ever been part of a faith community which displayed some of this kind of enthusiasm and growth? Remember – where did it start, what brought about this dynamic community, what provided the driving force?

· What does this tell us about what we need to ensure we are in touch with we go about living as a faith community? What can we do to encourage the growth of the Spirit in congregational life? Can you think of any examples you have experienced?

Our last scripture looks at the change in Peter, who denied Christ three times:

Acts 5: 25-26Just then someone showed up and said, "Did you know that the men you put in jail are back in the Temple teaching the people?" The chief and his police went and got them, but they handled them gently, fearful that the people would riot and turn on them.
27-28Bringing them back, they stood them before the High Council. The Chief Priest said, "Didn't we give you strict orders not to teach in Jesus' name? And here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are trying your best to blame us for the death of this man."
29-32Peter and the apostles answered, "It's necessary to obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, the One you killed by hanging him on a cross. God set him on high at his side, Prince and Savior, to give Israel the gift of a changed life and sins forgiven. And we are witnesses to these things. The Holy Spirit, whom God gives to those who obey him, corroborates every detail."

What is causing the conflict in this passage? Who are the adversaries and what does each insist upon? What change does it seem has occurred in the people who demanded Jesus’ execution? What must have been their perception of the new faith community?

· Why do the apostles insist upon their right to continue teaching? Do you think that the high priests thought they were also obeying God through their actions? What particularly grates against the High Priests, how do they feel that they have been unjustly accused by the disciples?

· What has occurred to cause the previously fearful and seemingly clueless disciples to act in this way?

· What would have to happen for you to be willing to risk everything you have – relationships with friends, job, financial goals and security – in order to live as overt a spiritual life as the members of this congregation and the disciples did? Do you know of anyone who has been willing to take risks and live out their faith in such a dedicated way? This is the choice they made, this is the impact of the Spirit actively being at work among them.

· What would you like take from this first congregation and incorporate into your faith community and your personal life? Where might we begin?

Closing Prayer

Embolden us to grow as witnesses, O God. Free our words and deeds to the Spirit’s leading. Make us bold to tell the good news of the risen Christ, inviting others to join with us as followers in Jesus’ way. Amen.

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18, Psalm 119:33-40, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23, Matthew 5:38-48