August 17, 2021 — Acts 2:37–3:10

“Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at homeand ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Acts 2:38-47

3000 people are cut to the heart by Peter’s preaching and they are baptized – they were added to the numbers of people being saved. This is a pastor’s pipe-dream – that with one long sermon hundreds or thousands of new believers will want to be baptized. And remember, this is the same Peter that seemed to blurt out inappropriate things in the Gospels and often spoke impetuously because he often did not understand what Jesus was doing, or saying. But, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Peter has begun a powerful ministry which will continue for some time (even the Catholic Church will claim him as their first official leader.) 

If we ever doubt what role the spirit can play in our lives, we should remember this text from Acts. And we should remember Peter. Three times he denies his Lord – but Jesus does not give up on him. Instead Peter is empowered with the Holy Spirit – the same Spirit we are given in our baptisms. Remember, Jesus never gives up on us.

Let us Pray,

Lord, you speak to me in sermons, in your word, in your presence throughout my life. I pray today your spirit will cut me to the heart that I may repent of my sins and welcome you into my heart. Amen

Pastor Dave

August 16, 2021 — Acts  2:14 – 36

 “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. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:‘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. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ “You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know—this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power.” Acts 2:14-24

The fulfillment of Old Testament scripture is important to the author of Luke, and John, and of course Matthew (and I can’t leave out Mark). But this is also true for the book of Acts. Here again the author of Luke/Acts reaches back to an Old Testament prophet: “This is what was spoken through the prophet Joel.” It seems that Luke believes that all scripture is divinely given and therefore binds together the Old and New Testament teachings. The prophecies of Israel’s scriptures seem to write the script for Luke’s narrative in both Luke and Acts.  So, it should seem to us that scripture, especially the teachings from and about Jesus are not only the way of salvation, but the way G-d intended for the Kingdom of G-d to come to earth. With this caveat: it just didn’t happen like they thought it would.

The spirit has inspired the Word of G-d, and the spirit will also, or should also inspire our proper understanding. As Luther taught us, when we are seeking interpretation of scripture, the first place we reach out to is…well, “scripture”. From Old to New Testament, from the Prophets to the Gospels, it is the word that will help us understand the Word.

Let us Pray,

Lord, open your word to me today. Help me to hear your still small voice in the words you speak, in the words I speak, and in the things I do in response to your love. Amen

Pastor Dave