Empowered by Resurrection: Our Call to Witness
Summary
Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a profound reminder of the victory over death and sin that believers share through faith. This victory is not just a historical event but a present reality that empowers us to live transformed lives. The resurrection is a call to action, urging us to ask, "Now what?" after acknowledging that Jesus is no longer in the tomb. The answer lies in the first major act of Christ after His resurrection: the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, as described in Acts 2.
Pentecost marks the moment when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples, empowering them to be witnesses of Christ to the world. This event is a confirmation of the resurrection, as dead people cannot send gifts, and the Holy Spirit's presence is evidence that Jesus is alive. The outpouring of the Spirit was not just for the establishment of the church but for its empowerment to proclaim the gospel to all nations.
The significance of Pentecost is further highlighted by its timing during the Feast of Weeks, a celebration of the first harvest. God chose this moment to gather the first fruits of His church, symbolizing the beginning of a spiritual harvest. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be bold witnesses, proclaiming the mighty deeds of God and calling others to repentance and faith in Christ.
As believers, we are the new temple of God, filled with His Spirit, and called to be His witnesses in the world. This calling is not limited to church leaders but extends to every believer. The ministry of proclaiming the gospel belongs to the whole church, and each of us is empowered to reach the people in our unique spheres of influence.
The resurrection and Pentecost remind us that we are not just recipients of God's grace but also participants in His mission. We are called to go into the world, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring in a harvest for God's kingdom.
Key Takeaways:
- The resurrection of Jesus is a victory over death and sin, empowering believers to live transformed lives. It is a call to action, urging us to ask, "Now what?" and to live in the reality of this victory. [47:14]
- Pentecost is the confirmation of the resurrection, as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is evidence that Jesus is alive. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses of Christ to the world. [53:06]
- The timing of Pentecost during the Feast of Weeks symbolizes the beginning of a spiritual harvest. God chose this moment to gather the first fruits of His church, empowering believers to proclaim the gospel. [57:36]
- Believers are the new temple of God, filled with His Spirit, and called to be His witnesses in the world. This calling extends to every believer, not just church leaders, and we are empowered to reach people in our unique spheres of influence. [01:00:31]
- The resurrection and Pentecost remind us that we are participants in God's mission. We are called to go into the world, proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to bring in a harvest for God's kingdom. [01:32:11]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Celebrating the Resurrection
- [02:00] - The Significance of Resurrection Sunday
- [05:00] - Refocusing on the Resurrection
- [08:00] - The First Major Act After Resurrection
- [12:00] - Understanding Pentecost
- [15:00] - The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
- [20:00] - The Empowerment of Believers
- [25:00] - The Spiritual Harvest at Pentecost
- [30:00] - The New Temple of God
- [35:00] - The Call to Be Witnesses
- [40:00] - The Role of Every Believer
- [45:00] - Proclaiming the Gospel
- [50:00] - The Mission of the Church
- [55:00] - Closing and Communion
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Acts 2:1-4
- John 16:7
- Ephesians 4:7-8
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Observation Questions:
1. What significant event took place at Pentecost, and how is it connected to the resurrection of Jesus? [53:06]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers after Pentecost? [57:36]
3. What is the significance of the timing of Pentecost during the Feast of Weeks, according to the sermon? [57:36]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of believers being the new temple of God? [01:00:31]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does the sermon emphasize the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a confirmation of Jesus' resurrection? [53:06]
2. How does the sermon interpret the role of the Holy Spirit in empowering believers to be witnesses of Christ? [57:36]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the responsibility of all believers, not just church leaders, in proclaiming the gospel? [01:32:11]
4. How does the sermon connect the events of Pentecost to the mission of the church today? [01:32:11]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on the idea that the Holy Spirit empowers believers to be bold witnesses. How can you personally rely on the Holy Spirit to share your faith more confidently? [57:36]
2. The sermon highlights that believers are the new temple of God. How does this understanding affect the way you live your daily life and make decisions? [01:00:31]
3. Consider the sermon’s call to action for all believers to participate in God's mission. What specific steps can you take to reach out to someone in your sphere of influence with the gospel this week? [01:32:11]
4. The sermon mentions the importance of proclaiming the mighty deeds of God. Can you identify a recent experience where you witnessed God's work in your life, and how can you share that with others? [01:05:05]
5. How does the sermon challenge you to view your role in the church and the world differently? What changes might you need to make to align more closely with this calling? [01:32:11]
6. Reflect on the sermon’s emphasis on the resurrection as a present reality. How can you live more fully in the victory over sin and death that Jesus provides? [49:33]
7. The sermon encourages believers to be bold in the face of opposition. What fears or obstacles do you face in sharing your faith, and how can you overcome them with the help of the Holy Spirit? [01:36:50]
Devotional
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Quotes
``All around the world, we are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We're celebrating the third day in which after they thought they killed him, after they thought they ended the definite plan of God, he resurrected to new life with all power in his hand. And he resurrected to defeat death and sin. And the beauty, the beauty of that is that each of us who have confessed faith in Jesus Christ get to share in that marvelous truth that because he rose, we get to rise. [00:42:41] (41 seconds)
We forget the power of the resurrection when we're faced with temptation and when we want to go our own way. We forget the defeat of the enemy when we feel helpless by his attacks on us. And when we get to celebrate a day, it is meant to realign and refocus us to remember whatever this essential truth is so that it would have benefited us in a certain way. [00:46:32] (25 seconds)
So essentially, when we talk about the pouring out of the Spirit, when we talk about the presence of the Holy Spirit in his church, that is the confirmation for us that the tomb was empty. Why? Because dead people can't send things. [00:51:04] (17 seconds)
For he said, I will send you the Spirit when I ascend. And so the presence of the Holy Spirit is in you is the primary confirmation that Christ is alive because, again, dead people can't send you things. And so Pentecost is an event that demonstrates to the unbelieving world that Christ is alive. [00:51:35] (20 seconds)
Essentially, when we look at now Pentecost and the outpouring of the Spirit of God onto the people of God, this is what we see. We see the empowering of the people of God to become the witnesses of Christ. How do we know that? Well, interesting enough, if you just look at how dope God is, Pentecost, which means 50th, so 50 days removed from Passover, and they're celebrating the Feast of Weeks. [00:53:26] (29 seconds)
Let me make it a little bit more clear than you. 3,000 people were gathered. A harvest, the first fruits, the first harvest of the church was gathered unto Christ on this significant day where they focused on thanking God and celebrating the first fruit of the grain. God says, I'm going to use this same moment to gather the first fruits of my church. [00:54:43] (24 seconds)
He died for the world that the world would have an opportunity to believe on him. But then he empowered us as his people to go out and proclaim the goodness of the news, the good news, the gospel to the world that others that he had in mind would come to him. Go get my harvest, is what the Lord said. [00:57:23] (23 seconds)
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