5/23/2021 - The Holy Spirit Gives Power to Our Words

SEASON OF PENTECOST

The focus of our attention during the three great festivals of the church - Christmas, Easter and Pentecost - is the life of Christ. With his ascension into heaven and his sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, the focus of our lessons and services makes a decided turn. From now until Advent, the focus of our worship services assumes we believe in Christ, and therefore now focuses on the life of the Christian.

THE DAY OF PENTECOST

I will pour out my Spirit. Fifty days after the Passover, God’s Old Testament people celebrated the gathering of the harvest at the Festival of Weeks. Fifty days after Easter, God sent the promised Counselor on the day we call “Pentecost” (Greek for “fifty” from the Septuagint translation of Leviticus 23:15). This day marked the birthday of the New Testament Church and celebrates the harvest of souls won by the Son and gathered by his servants empowered by his Spirit.

Pentecost is the third great festival of the Church and has been commemorated since at least 217 AD. The Church dresses in red to remind us of the tongues of fire that marked the Spirit’s gift and the blood of the martyrs which was the seed of the Church.

This day culminates the season of Easter when our risen Lord now empowers his people to be witnesses of his resurrection for the world.

God bless your worship!

READINGS:

First reading: Ezekiel 37:1-14 The Word of the Lord makes these bones live!

Second reading: Acts 2:1-21 The Pentecost account

Gospel: John 15:26-27, 16:4-11 Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit

Sermon text: John 15:26-27, 16:4-11

Sermon theme: We Desperately Need the Holy Spirit

Watch live on our YouTube channel Sunday at 10:45am.

Download or view the service folder for Sunday, May 16, 2021.