The Promise of the Holy Spirit – Acts 1:1-11

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while stayingwith them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

 The Ascension

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

 

True Spirituality: Physical, Public and Pneumatic – Luke 24:36-53

PneumaticIt’s either this or it’s that, but it can’t be both, right? Some things really are life or death, black or white, good or bad, apples or oranges. Dichotomies can be helpful. Dichotomies can also be unhelpful or false. God’s people have been known to make unhelpful distinctions between their “spiritual life” and their “home life”, “social life”, etc. When I recently asked a friend of mine in the Carolina’s what he thought Christians meant by their “spiritual life” he said, “Quiet times, prayer time and Sundays”. Is this really what constitutes Biblical spirituality? Is true spirituality just the private time we have with God? Is spirituality only about those specific times we gather with others to do religious things and focus on the desires of the soul? Or, is spirituality about the body AND the soul? Does it concern the private AND the public life? And finally is spirituality wholly a work of man OR fully the work of God?

[quote name=”” center=”true” float=”right” size=”one-third”] The answer appears in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension as recorded in Luke 24:36-56.[/quote]The answer appears in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension as recorded in Luke 24:36-53. Luke’s record turns us to the answer that true spirituality is physical, public and pneumatic. Christ has bodily risen as the Lord of all creation: True Spirituality is Physical. Just as Jesus is raised flesh and bone, he is about the business of redeeming us body and blood. Christ calls his disciples to preach repentance from sin in all areas of life: True Spirituality is Public. Just as we are to be a part of the movement to call people to pray and read their Bibles we also are to call for proper use of money, excellence in engineering, and justice in warfare. Ascending to the Father Christ will pour out his Spirit upon his disciples: True Spirituality is Pneumatic. Just as the disciples are given understanding regarding their mission they are told to stay put till they are clothed with power. Without the grace of the Spirit of Christ they could do nothing and neither can we.

Here’s the rub: if we see spirituality as only applying to the reasonable soul (Plato), the private world of values and not the public world of facts (Enlightenment), and a work of only man or only God (Pelagius or Hyper-Calvinists) we ultimately fail to grasp the goodness of the gospel. False dichotomies are like Pied Pipers leading us to the wrong places for help. When we don’t see that Christ came to redeem the body we will tend to look to others for that need. If we think that Christ’s authority doesn’t extend to the workplace or our bank accounts we will look to other guides as our ultimate hope. We may even grasp the bodily and global implications of the gospel and yet fail to see how God promises to empower us to live out the implications. Thinking we can accomplish it on our own will only lead to pride; thinking it is completely God will only lead to confusion. Jesus won the promise of the Father for us through his death and resurrection. We have not earned or deserved the forgiveness or power we receive by the Holy Pneuma (Spirit). Yet, by his presence in our lives we are being restored and are a part of God’s work to bring restoration to his good creation.

If you are interested in reading more along these lines there are intriguing reads like Creation Regained by Al Wolters, Living at the Crossroads by Goheen and Bartholomew or anything by Christopher J.H. Wright.

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Questions for Conversation

[box icon=”info”]Which dichotomy do you see as most problematic for you:

  • Christianity is about the reasonable soul NOT the physical body
  • Christianity is about the private religious life NOT the public life.
  • Christianity is about my doing spiritual things for me NOT me being empowered to respond to the resurrected Christ.

[/box]

[box icon=”info”]What is the biggest problem you are facing in life right now? How are you dealing with the problem? Is your way of dealing with it working? How does the resurrection give clues as to how you might better respond?[/box]

Regional Prayer Focus

Give thanks for the unprecedented harvest of new believers across Africa, Asia and Latin America. There are now Christians living and fellowshipping in every country on earth. World mission, globalization and high migration rates have dispersed the Church into every corner of the world, both to previously unevangelized areas and back to traditionally Christian regions where the Church is in sharp decline. For more information visit www.operationworld.org.

 

On the Road to Emmaus – Luke 24:13-35

[button url=”http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2024:13-35&version=ESV” newwindow=”true” color=”red”]Luke 24:36-53[/button]

Sermon Series – Jesus in the Gospel of Luke

Sermon Series on the Gospel of Luke

Sermon Series on the Gospel of Luke

This will be updated soon. UNDER CONSTRUCTION[

Crossroads Spring Choir

The Crossroads Spring Choir will have weekly rehearsals Thursday’s at 7:00 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club. All singers 13 and older are welcome! We will work on several beautiful anthems to share for worship in late April and into mid-May.  If you are interested in joining the choir,  please let Linda know! lindaneice@crossroadspca.net

Crossroads Trivia Night & Talent Show – Saturday, April 27th

CROSSROADS TRIVIA NIGHT & TALENT SHOW

Fellowship Event & Mission Trip Fundraiser

Saturday, April 27th: 6-9pm

Dumfries Boys & Girls Club

Theme: World Tour (including clothing, sports, political geography, and sightseeing)

What is a Trivia Night? Gather in teams to socialize, eat good food, and compete against the other teams in rounds of trivia. Between rounds, enjoy talent exhibitions from your fellow congregants! Teams also compete for best decorated table.

How can I sign up?

  • Fill      out the back of this form and place it in      the offering plate or return it to Dorothy Carroll.
  • Email Dorothy Carroll: dorothy.r.carroll@gmail.com.
  • Requested min. donation (collected at the      event): $10/person; $35 for families of 4+.

How can I help?

  • Sign up to attend,      and bring      your family,      friends, neighbors!
  • Donate your talents for the Talent Show!
  • Donate items or baked goods to the World Fair!
  • Donate funds to this year’s mission team!

If you plan to attend Trivia Night, please consider hosting a table. Check the box below and return this form in the offering plate (or give it to Dorothy Carroll) if you are interested.

 ¨ I will host a table of 8! (This means you will find the other 7 people to fill your table. They can, but do not have to be, other people from Crossroads.)

 If you are hosting a table and know what your table’s theme will be, please write it below. Pick a country or a major international city or landmark as your theme.

Questions? Contact Dorothy Carroll (dorothy.r.carroll@gmail.com).

 

Veggie Tales Live – April 27th at Hylton Memorial Chapel

Veggie Tales Live, Happy Birthday Bob and Larry, with be coming to Hylton Memorial Chapel in Woodbridge at 2:00p.m.

Ticket Prices: Individual $15, Group 10+ – $12

Purchase Tickets: call 1-800-861-0850 or online at eventtickets.net