A SPIRITED WITNESS The Feast of Pentecost (Year A)! June 12, 2011

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1 A SPIRITED WITNESS The Feast of Pentecost (Year A)! June 12, 2011 This Sundayʼs Lessons Acts 2:1-21 Psalm 104:24-34, 3b 1st Corinthians 12:3b-13 St. John 20:19-23 Prayer of the Day Pastor David J. Risendal facebook Dave Risendal Twitter: drisendal Saint Peter Lutheran Church 9300 East Belleview Avenue Greenwood Village, Colorado voice: 303/ fax: 303/ facebook Saint Peter Lutheran Church God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you sent upon the disciples the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, look upon your Church and open our hearts to the power of the Spirit. Kindle in us the fire of your love, and strengthen our lives for service in your kingdom; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. filled with the Spirit a witness to the Gospel disciples and us Sermon Christ is risen. R/ Christ is risen, indeed. Christ is risen, indeed. Grace to you and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. When the Day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. The town was filled to capacity. Visitors had arrived from all across the land. Many of them had come for the Feast of Pentecost an old Jewish festival. People came from every imaginable country, speaking every imaginable language. Jesus followers only had to stand near a window or a door to hear the cacophony of voices it was total chaos in the streets that day. It had been fifty days since they last sat at table with him. During those fifty days, they had stayed together. At first they prayed, cried, and told stories about him. They remembered what he had taught them. They remembered the wonders he had performed. And they remembered those last days. The crowd turning against him. The darkness of that Friday afternoon when the sun dimmed for a time. Mostly they remembered the unpredictable events that took place in the seven weeks that followed. His body was no longer entombed by death, but he was alive again. A number of times he appeared to them the final time ascending into the heavens before their very eyes. They also remembered that he had given them instructions. They were to carry word of his life and death and new life to all corners of the earth. They were to baptize in the name of the Father and of

2 The Day of Pentecost Year A (June 12, 2011)! 2 the Son and of the Holy Spirit. They were to make disciples, by teaching others what he had taught them. Through their words, others were to hear the proclamation that he was risen; he was risen indeed. They remembered those things on that day, gathered safely in an upper room, listening to the chaos of the festival crowd outside. They knew they shouldn t be hiding inside. They knew others would learn about Jesus only if they went outside and began to tell the story. But it was a daunting task. These simple, Palestinian fishermen were hardly a match for the sophisticated traders and land owners and travelers who had come to Jerusalem for the celebration. The disciples weren t as well educated. The disciples weren t familiar with various religious and philosophical systems of thought. The disciples didn t even speak the same languages that many of them were speaking in the streets. So they stayed inside, believing that the task was too great for them. That the time wasn t right. Disappointed that if only God had given them more to work with, they could have made a difference for many of those lost and lonely people out there. If this story was strictly a human story, it might have ended right there. They might have gone back to their boats or tax booths or other occupations. Sure, they might have remembered Jesus and what he did with them. But that would probably have been the end of it if this was strictly a human story. Of course, we know that it isn t strictly a human story. It is also God s story. And because it is God s story, it doesn t end there. Instead, as these disciples huddle together in that closed room, they are surrounded with the sound of a great wind. Tongues that look like fire dance between them and rest upon them. They are filled with God s Holy Spirit, they rush into the streets, and they begin to do what in their wildest dreams they had never imagined being able to do: they share the story of their crucified and risen Lord with that whole crowd. Breaking through the barriers of language and culture and social status and education, they share the story. And even more miraculously, their listeners believe! A power moves through them that day, and it is the power of the Holy Spirit. That power enables those simple disciples to make a witness of their faith and hope, and through their testimony some three thousand people are added to the number of the faithful. Today we remember that story, and celebrate the reality of God s Holy Spirit. On the Feast of Pentecost, God s Spirit moves powerfully through a group of timid believers. It fills their hearts and sends them out with strength and confidence and the unrealistic belief that they can make a difference for those people in the street. The Feast of Pentecost is a time to remember that the Holy Spirit is the means by which God works through people of faith, to accomplish what they never could accomplish on their own. It is a time to remember that the church s story is not just a human story. It is a story about the power of God s Holy Spirit: a power that moved visibly on that first Pentecost Day, and a power that continues to move today, in the lives of God s faithful people. A woman pauses outside the door and offers a prayer: Lord God, I need your help. I believe in you, and I put my trust in you. But I m new at this, and I don t understand much about my faith. Help me, as I go through this door, to share a lesson with these young people in a way that makes a difference in their lives. As your good news was shared with me, if it is your will, allow me to share that same good news with them. Amen. A couple sits at the breakfast table, with a stack of papers in front of them. They are newly married, with a small child. They have two automobile loans, one school loan, and a home mortgage. They are making more money than ever before, but they seem to be spending it just as quickly as they did when they only made half as much. Now the church wants their support. They want to grow in giving. They know God is calling them to consider tithing as a helpful way to increase their trust and faith. Yet they wonder if they can make that first step. They wonder if they have the courage to make the pledge. And they wonder if they ll have the ability to stay true to it.

3 The Day of Pentecost Year A (June 12, 2011)! 3 The teenage girl pulls up to the house and gives a tap on the horn. Her friend waves from the window, and indicates that he ll be out in a minute. As she waits, she remembers the conversation they had just last weekend. He had shared with her that he didn t believe in God. He had never belonged to a church. His parents never spoke about those kinds of things. There seemed to be so much pain and disappointment in the world that it was hard for him to imagine that a God actually existed. She stumbled with her words, trying to say something coherent, but was more shocked than helpful that evening. But now she had been thinking for a few days, and was anxious to talk with him. She still wasn t sure what she was going to say. But she knew it was important to let him know how central her faith was to her. As she watched him walk toward the car, she wondered: will he be able to listen to me? Will he dismiss my thoughts as foolish and naïve? Or will he see that there is something different about me because of my faith? Will I be able to help him glimpse what I ve got, that could be his too? Today s celebration of Pentecost has its roots in Biblical times. It is grounded in the history of our church, and reminds us of phenomenal events that took place centuries ago. But it is a celebration that is lived out in the present, as the Holy Spirit continues to move in the lives of those who believe today. It is through average people like you and me that God moves to make miracles happen today. A Sunday School teacher guides her students to a new understanding of an old Bible story. A young couple gives their very best in support of the church s ministries. A teenager offers a simple witness, and a friend begins to glimpse the reality of her faith. The Spirit continues to move in powerful ways today. Our lives are no longer strictly human stories, but instead, stories that witness what can happen when the Holy Spirit blows through our lives. And so we celebrate together on this Festival day. But let s not celebrate by gathering here in the safety of this room, and remembering what God has done in the past. Let s leave this place, filled with bread and wine and word and Spirit. Let s leave this place with words of hope and promise to share in the darkest of situations. Let s trust that God can work through us just as sure as God worked through those disciples so many years ago. Pentecost blessings to you all. May the Spirit inspire us for faithful witness. Amen. Amen. David J. Risendal, Pastor Gospel Lesson; English Text: When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. 2 Gospel Lesson; Greek Text: Οὔσης οὐ ν ὀψίας τῃ ἡµέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ τῃ µιᾳ σαββάτων καὶ τω ν θυρω ν κεκλεισµένων ὅπου ἠ σαν οἱ µαθηταὶ διὰ τὸν φόβον τω ν Ἰουδαίων, ἠ λθεν ὁ Ἰησου ς καὶ ἔστη εἰς τὸ µέσον καὶ λέγει αὐτοι ς εἰρήνη ὑµι ν. 20 καὶ του το εἰπὼν ἔδειξεν τὰς χει ρας καὶ τὴν πλευρὰν αὐτοι ς. ἐχάρησαν οὐ ν οἱ µαθηταὶ ἰδόντες τὸν κύριον. 21 εἰ πεν οὐ ν αὐτοι ς [ὁ Ἰησου ς] πάλιν εἰρήνη ὑµι ν καθὼς ἀπέσταλκεν µε ὁ πατήρ, καγὼ πέµπω ὑµα ς. 22 καὶ του το εἰπὼν ἐνεφύσησεν καὶ λέγει αὐτοι ς λάβετε πνευ µα ἅγιον 1 A list of Bible lessons for the coming weeks is available at 2 St. John 20:19-23, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

4 The Day of Pentecost Year A (June 12, 2011)! 4 23 ἄν τινων ἀφη τε τὰς ἁµαρτίας ἀφέωνται αὐτοι ς, ἄν τινων κρατη τε κεκράτηνται. 3 First Lesson; English Text: 2.1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs in our own languages we hear them speaking about God s deeds of power. 12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, What does this mean? 13 But others sneered and said, They are filled with new wine. 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 1 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 17 In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord s great and glorious day. 21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. 4 First Lesson; Greek Text: 2:1 Καὶ ἐν τῳ συµπληρου σθαι τὴν ἡµέραν τη ς πεντηκοστη ς ἠ σαν πάντες ὁµου ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό. 2 καὶ ἐγένετο ἄφνω ἐκ του οὐρανου ἠ χος ὥσπερ φεροµένης πνοη ς βιαίας καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν ὅλον τὸν οἰ κον οὑ ἠ σαν καθήµενοι 3 καὶ ὤφθησαν αὐτοι ς διαµεριζόµεναι γλω σσαι ὡσεὶ πυρὸς καὶ ἐκάθισεν ἐφ ἕνα ἕκαστον αὐτω ν, 4 καὶ ἐπλήσθησαν πάντες πνεύµατος ἁγίου καὶ ἤρξαντο λαλει ν ἑτέραις γλώσσαις καθὼς τὸ πνευ µα ἐδίδου ἀποφθέγγεσθαι αὐτοι ς. Η σαν δὲ εἰς Ἰερουσαλὴµ κατοικου ντες Ἰουδαι οι, ἄνδρες εὐλαβει ς ἀπὸ παντὸς ἔθνους τω ν ὑπὸ τὸν οὐρανόν. 6 γενοµένης δὲ τη ς φωνη ς ταύτης συνη λθεν τὸ πλη θος καὶ συνεχύθη, ὅτι ἤκουον εἱ ς ἕκαστος τῃ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ λαλούντων αὐτω ν. 7 ἐξίσταντο δὲ καὶ ἐθαύµαζον λέγοντες οὐχ ἰδοὺ ἅπαντες οὑ τοι εἰσιν οἱ λαλου ντες Γαλιλαι οι; 8 καὶ πω ς ἡµει ς ἀκούοµεν ἕκαστος τῃ ἰδίᾳ διαλέκτῳ ἡµω ν ἐν ᾑ ἐγεννήθηµεν; 9 Πάρθοι καὶ Μη δοι καὶ Ἐλαµι ται καὶ οἱ κατοικου ντες τὴν Μεσοποταµίαν, Ἰουδαίαν τε καὶ Καππαδοκίαν, Πόντον καὶ τὴν Ἀσίαν, 10 Φρυγίαν τε καὶ Παµφυλίαν, Αἴγυπτον καὶ τὰ µέρη τη ς Λιβύης τη ς κατὰ Κυρήνην, καὶ οἱ ἐπιδηµου ντες Ῥωµαι οι, 11 Ἰουδαι οι τε καὶ προσήλυτοι, Κρη τες καὶ Άῤαβες, ἀκούοµεν λαλούντων αὐτω ν ται ς ἡµετέραις γλώσσαις τὰ µεγαλει α του θεου. 12 ἐξίσταντο δὲ πάντες καὶ διηπόρουν, ἄλλος πρὸς ἄλλον λέγοντες τί θέλει του το εἰ ναι; 13 ἕτεροι δὲ διαχλευάζοντες ἔλεγον ὅτι γλεύκους µεµεστωµένοι εἰσίν. 14 Σταθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος σὺν τοι ς ἕνδεκα ἐπη ρεν τὴν φωνὴν αὐτου καὶ ἀπεφθέγξατο αὐτοι ς, ἄνδρες Ἰουδαι οι καὶ οἱ κατοικου ντες Ἰερουσαλὴµ πάντες, του το ὑµι ν γνωστὸν ἔστω καὶ ἐνωτίσασθε τὰ ῥήµατα µου. 1 οὐ γὰρ ὡς ὑµει ς ὑπολαµβάνετε οὑ τοι µεθύουσιν, ἔστιν γὰρ ὥρα τρίτη τη ς 3 St. John 20:19-23, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart). 4 Acts 2:1-21, New Revised Standard Version Bible ( 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America).

5 The Day of Pentecost Year A (June 12, 2011)! ἡµέρας, 16 ἀλλὰ του το ἐστιν τὸ εἰρηµένον διὰ του προφήτου Ἰωήλ 17 καὶ ἔσται ἐν ται ς ἐσχάταις ἡµέραις, λέγει ὁ θεός, ἐκχεω ἀπὸ του πνεύµατος µου ἐπὶ πα σαν σάρκα, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑµω ν καὶ αἱθυγατέρες ὑµω ν καὶ οἱ νεανίσκοι ὑµω ν ὁράσεις ὄψονται καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ὑµω ν ἐνυπνίοις ἐνυπνιασθήσονται 18 καί γε ἐπὶ τοὺς δούλους µου καὶ ἐπὶ τὰς δούλας µου ἐν ται ς ἡµέραις ἐκείναις ἐκχεω ἀπὸ του πνεύµατος µου, καὶ προφητεύσουσιν. 19 καὶ δώσω τέρατα ἐν τῳ οὐρανῳ ἄνω καὶ σηµει α ἐπὶ τη ς γη ς κάτω, αἱ µα καὶ πυ ρ καὶ ἀτµίδα καπνου. 20 ὁ ἥλιος µεταστραφήσεται εἰς σκότος καὶ ἡ σελήνη εἰς αἱ µα,πρὶν ἐλθει ν ἡµέραν κυρίου τὴν µεγάληνκαὶ ἐπιφανη. 21 καὶ ἔσται πα ς ὃς ἂν ἐπικαλέσηται τὸὄνοµα κυρίου σωθήσεται. Acts 2:1-21, The Greek New Testament, Aland, Kurt, Black, Matthew, Martini, Carlo M., Metzger, Bruce M., and Wikgren, Allen, ( 1983, Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft Stuttgart).