Putting Prayer on the Agenda
Eric Lemonholm
September 18, 2011
Begin The Word Spreads Series on the Book of Acts
First Reading The Holy Spirit Comes Acts 2:1-21
Psalm Psalm 145:1-8
Second Reading Philippians 1:21-30
Gospel Matthew 20:1-16
Putting Prayer on the Agenda (outline for the sermon)
The first two chapters of Acts…
Acts challenges our perspectives – whether liberal or conservative, mainline or evangelical, Roman Catholic or Pentecostal.
It’s a God thing. It’s about God. We can’t manipulate the Holy Spirit.
Acts begins with the risen Jesus teaching his disciples about the risen Jesus for 40 days.
Acts 1:8 – The Promise: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.
And: you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Jesus spells out the agenda of the early church – and our church.
Acts 1: 14 – They were “constantly devoting themselves to prayer.”
Acts 2:1 – 10 days later on the day of Pentecost (the spring barley harvest), They were all together (praying) when the HS came
All of them were filled with the HS and began to speak in other languages
The result of the HS’s work? Acts 2:41-47
- Growth
- Devotion to: apostle’s teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
- All who believed were together, had everything in common
- Spent much time together in the temple, broke bread and ate with glad and generous hearts
- Praising God & having the goodwill of others
- The Lord added to their numbers
What does it mean to be an Acts church?
They probably spent more time together than one hour a week or two hours a week.
That’s a start, but it’s not enough time.
Putting prayer on the agenda – and devotion to apostle’s teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread.
Opening ourselves to the in pouring and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Remember the promise: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you!
