We pray and reflect about becoming like family as a church community scattered and gathered.
Loading Content...
Share a Link to this Message
The link has been copied to your clipboard; paste it anywhere you would like to share it.
CloseRyan Sim - May 13, 2014
Tuesday - Study It - Pioneer Spirit
The book of Acts was written by Luke, a medical doctor who took an interest in the teachings of Jesus through his mentor, Peter. He’s examined the evidence for Jesus’ life in his earlier letter, the Gospel of Luke, and this time he’s looking at what happened to those who decided to continue following Jesus. Jesus has given his followers a huge mission – we learned this last week – to share his good news with the entire world. To the ends of the earth! He gave this mission to twelve central disciples and a hundred or so people who may have gathered around them in this story. It would be hugely daunting, with no modern communications, travel options. They were in uncharted territory, and needed a guide. Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit, and said to wait for him to arrive. Here’s what happened on the day of Pentecost, a Jewish festival. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” (Acts 2:1-13 ESV) How could they know if this was truly the Holy Spirit, their guide for this mission they’d been assigned? They experienced three phenomena that only God could produce. Wind It sounded like wind, but wasn’t. It was the Holy Spirit. Not a bad attempt at a physical description of God’s Spirit – we know we can feel the wind, see its effects, but also that we can’t ever pinpoint or control its source. It’s out of our control, and in the case of a sailboat, we have to admit this if we ever want to get anywhere, by adapting ourselves to the reality of the wind’s direction and strength. Flames It looked like fire, wasn’t. This phenomenon didn’t burn them or produce heat. It just appeared and rested on them. They were on fire! Tongues These people sounded like they were speaking languages they knew, but they weren’t. They were speaking other people’s languages. Tomorrow we’ll see the meaning of all this, particularly the languages or tongues. Why all these odd signs of the Spirit? John the Baptist said Spirit would come with wind and fire. God has used these signs before – in Exodus God appeared as a pillar of fire to guide his people. But why now? Question: What do you think God is trying to teach these disciples through wind, fire and speech? What’s he showing them about the Holy Spirit?
Related Topics: Ascension, Early Church, Jesus, Pioneer | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio
From Series: "Pioneer Story"
We read through the Book of Acts as a Pioneer Story for the church.
More Messages From Ryan Sim...
Friday - Reflect - Structured Rest | September 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Structured Rest | September 10, 2015 | Interview | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Structured Rest | September 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Structured Rest | September 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Structured Rest | September 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Inner Rest | September 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Inner Rest | September 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Inner Rest | September 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Inner Rest | September 1, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Monday - A New Idea - Inner Rest | August 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Finding Rest | August 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Finding Rest | August 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Finding Rest | August 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Finding Rest | August 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Finding Rest | August 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - We Need Rest | August 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - We Need Rest | August 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - We Need Rest | August 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - We Need Rest | August 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - We Need Rest | August 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Working Well | August 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Working Well | August 13, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Wednesday - Change It - Working Well | August 12, 2015 | Extra | Watch | Listen | |
Tuesday - Study It - Working Well | August 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Working Well | August 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - Working Badly | August 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - Working Badly | August 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - Working Badly | August 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - Working Badly | August 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - Working Badly | August 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Friday - Reflect - We Need Work | July 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Thursday - Act On It - We Need Work | July 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Wednesday - Change It - We Need Work | July 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Tuesday - Study It - We Need Work | July 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
Monday - A New Idea - We Need Work | July 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Friday | July 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Thursday | July 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Wednesday | July 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Tuesday | July 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
2015 Status Update - Monday | July 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Friday | July 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Thursday | July 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Wednesday | July 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Tuesday | July 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Nehemiah - Monday | July 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Friday | July 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Thursday | July 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Wednesday | July 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Tuesday | July 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Esther - Monday | July 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Friday | July 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Thursday | July 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Wednesday | July 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Tuesday | June 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ezekiel - Monday | June 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Friday | June 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Thursday | June 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Wednesday | June 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Tuesday | June 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Son of Man - Monday | June 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Friday | June 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Thursday | June 18, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Wednesday | June 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Tuesday | June 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: God in the Fiery Furnace - Monday | June 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Friday | June 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Thursday | June 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Wednesday | June 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Tuesday | June 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jeremiah - Monday | June 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Friday | June 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Thursday | June 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Wednesday | June 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Tuesday | June 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Jonah - Monday | June 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Friday | May 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Thursday | May 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Wednesday | May 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Tuesday | May 26, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Isaiah - Monday | May 25, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Friday | May 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Thursday | May 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Wednesday | May 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Tuesday | May 19, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David & Goliath - Monday | May 18, 2015 | Gladwell | Watch | Listen | |
EPIC: David Anointed King - Friday | May 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Thursday | May 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Wednesday | May 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Tuesday | May 12, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: David Anointed King - Monday | May 11, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Friday | May 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Thursday | May 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Wednesday | May 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Tuesday | May 5, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ruth and Naomi - Monday | May 4, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Friday | May 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Thursday | April 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Wednesday | April 29, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Tuesday | April 28, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Ten Commandments - Monday | April 27, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Friday | April 24, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Thursday | April 23, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Wednesday | April 22, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Tuesday | April 21, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Red Sea - Monday | April 20, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Friday | April 17, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Thursday | April 16, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Wednesday | April 15, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Tuesday | April 14, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Cloud & Fire - Monday | April 13, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Friday | April 10, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Thursday | April 9, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Wednesday | April 8, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Tuesday | April 7, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: The Passover - Monday | April 6, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Friday | April 3, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Thursday | April 2, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Wednesday | April 1, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Tuesday | March 31, 2015 | Watch | Listen | ||
EPIC: Moses & Pharaoh II - Monday | March 30, 2015 | Watch | Listen |