The Pentecost Church

What does Christian community really mean? Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community by Dietrich Bonhoeffer gives insight into what Christians relationships were designed to be like. The main theme Bonhoeffer explores is Christ in the Christian community under the Word of God. Bonhoeffer explains God’s gift of community by arguing the following: “It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brethren” (Bonhoeffer, 1978, p. 20). In addition the author adds, “Christian community is like the Christian’s sanctification. It is a gift of God, which we cannot claim. Only God knows the real state of our fellowship, of our sanctification” (p. 30). Overall Life Together is biblically

Author Dan Yarnell suggested seven characteristics of a Christ-honoring church in the 21st century: worship, fellowship, interaction with Scripture, discipleship, community, living sacrificially, and living missionally. However, Yarnell contradicted himself when he stated that the church originated at Pentecost (Acts 2) and proceeded to provide examples of the effects of cultural development and new missional opportunities on the church prior to Pentecost. While the term “church” or “” is unique to Acts and the following New Testament writings, its concept and precepts existed from the time of Genesis. In fact, Yarnell did not reference any Old Testament passages or practices. Therefore, Yarnell contradicted himself and ignored Old

(Acts 1:3, KJV) Through their obedience they were able to receive the promise, the “Holy Spirit.” For the Bible declares, “But the Comforter, which will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14: 26, KJV) In the article written by Steven C. Hawthorne he stated, “Their work of bearing witness

In his new book Becoming the Gospel Michael Gorman provides an interesting look at the life and letters of the apostle Paul. Gorman wants his readers to consider that more than knowing the gospel and its power to save, Paul want his recipients of his letters to live out the gospel in their lives. Thus Gorman’s central argument in this book is that “Paul wanted the communities he addressed…to become the gospel, and in so doing to participate in the very life and mission of God” (Gorman 2). Gorman explores this idea by taking the reader through a look at the letters of Paul using a “missio Dei” lens, to provide a new view of what Paul is teaching to these early Christian communities.

Wilhoit, while teaching and having dialogue with his students pertaining to their spirituality formative influences which lead to conducting interviews with a number of church leaders, he realized, through these stories and interviews there has been a “sea of change in our formational structures and their effects will take a generation to fully manifest themselves.(13)” This establishes the basis for writing this book, to make a “call to intentionality about our formation and to repentance about how we have tried to engineer formation more than we have prayerfully opened our lives and our churches to God’s grace(14)”.

Reading Lohfink was an experience in climbing an inviting ladder of which some of the rungs were missing when you got there. His description of how the community of believers lived their faith and the impact they had is truly inspiring. It leaves me to reflect on the life of our own community: Have we indeed left everything to follow Jesus? Are we living toward each other with the kind of love that is uncommon in the world? Are we a people of peace, light to the world, flavorful salt in how we live? Reading the accounts of how the early church lived among the pagans and loved sacrificially, there is a call for me as a leader to teach, practice and exemplify that kind of love among our people, along with making opportunities for us to practice it together. On the other hand, Lohfink’s polarizing reaction to “individualism” failed to recognize that a contrast-community consists of individuals who have been transformed by the cross of Jesus and the power of His Spirit. Lohfink argues that no missionary effort is needed because the church as contrast-society will gather people to itself by attraction. He quotes Bronx, saying: “…if it is possible at all to speak of the ancient church's missionary theory the most that can be said is this. The twelve apostles preached the

The primitive illiterate life of believers required an interdependence that few experience in North America today. Sharing homes, foods, water, and relying on one another for work was the structure of life at the time. The benefit of this life was the “forced” community it created. While today many believers are independently secure and provided for, the sense of community is less apparent. Reclaiming communal aspect of discipleship will be beneficial because it is the biblical design of discipleship as the Acts narrative and epistles

The church as presented in Acts 2 (42-47), was an enormous church that had all come together at once. The church became devoted to what God had said, and through the apostles they did great things. The people sold their possessions and belongings to help the people and form their church. Showing just how much this church meant to them and how devoted they were. Everyday they went to the temple and heard God's word and came together as one to pray and honor God.

Since the Old Testament, the Spirit of God was promised to come to the people of God. The prophet Joel wrote: "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." (Joel 2:28 NIV) Nine hundred years later, the Spirit of the living God was poured upon His church in an event named Pentecost. The purpose of the following research is to show the Pentecost as a major point in the life of the apostles, as well as the beginning of the church of Christ.

The subject of the baptism of the Holy Spirit has driven a wedge between Pentecostals and Evangelicals. However, both parties fail to understand the original meaning of spirit baptism. Therefore, this paper analyzes Lee’s argument that Spirit Baptism is about the restoration of God’s covenant community. First, I will examine the articles main point along with the information he used to support his argument. Next, this paper addresses the author’s assumptions that are in his article. This paper concludes by briefly assessing the article.

Perceptibly, in Acts 13-20, “The Uttermost Part”…. is the turning point of the Book of Acts, where from this point forward Paul replaces Peter as the influential figure of his depiction of the spread of Christianity. The Book of Acts involves the history of the early church after Jesus’ martyrdom, furthermore the importance of the day of Pentecost and remaining a vested effectual witness for Jesus Christ. Acts annals the Apostles as Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the entire enveloping world. In its entirety, the Book casts light on the reward of the Holy Spirit, who empowers, guides, teaches, and serves as our Mentor.

The reality of full churches and choir stalls, lively Sunday schools, and overflowing basements is dead in today's Church. The unexpected has happened. Christ's followers, gripped by fear, are now scattered, or remain silent. Parishes, at worst, carry on blindly, or at best, look for comfortable compromises and expediency. They ignore cultural diversity in general. The rhetoric of denial continues to pour out of parish bulletins, newsletters, and diocesan and national journals. It is status quo.

This site is a still a historical site today for those in the Pentecostal faith. This is the location William J. Seymour leads an interracial congregation. Consequently, the media gave negative feedback which caused the crowd of people to increase steadily from one hundred to two hundred and eventually getting to eight-hundred people. This church represented the hope that blacks, whites, and people from all religions were looking for. Everyone was welcome there even those who came as negative critics. Hope for a united people in America had finally arrive in Los Angeles. These people gathered together in the Holy Spirit in joy and some left their prior religions to join the Pentecostal beliefs. Many traveled from overseas to see the William

Relational. The ministry of Jesus was focused on people and meeting their needs. Spending time with others, both individually and through corporate gatherings, is modeled throughout the Bible. Fellowship with other believers in small groups allows individuals to forge relationships and develop accountability at some level. These deeper bonds demonstrate to others their love for God and others by loving God’s Law, obeying it by God’s grace, and allowing it to lead to Jesus Christ for transformation into His image.

fellowship of believers, breaking of bread, prayer and they devoted themselves to Jesus. In Acts