August 16, 2009 - LifeWORDS:

You Will Receive Power! (Matthew 28:18-20)

Key Focus:

• Even while the apostles had seen, heard, and touched the resurrected Jesus and had this incredible testimony to share with the world, they were not ready to to begin Jesus' world-changing movement we call the Kingdom of God. They were told to go to Jerusalem and wait.
• What they lacked is what Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Joel had promised would be the key sign of God's New Covenant, the Messianic age. This key sign, this promised gift was the coming of the Holy Spirit to all people who belong to God.
• In Acts, the Holy Spirit empowers Jesus' followers, opens the door of unbelievers' hearts, guides the mission teams, and helps church leaders come to unity and clarity about including all nations. So if they, the very ones who witnessed Jesus had to rely on the Holy Spirit to do the work He commissioned them to do, how can we dare imagine we can do the work of God without the Holy Spirit?

• Our need for the Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us to be a Front Porch People
• Back to School: Gaining momentum, looking for visitors, inviting friends
• Coordinated Emphasis with Adult Classes on Being the Front Porch People of God

• Acts 1:4-8 tniv

4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

• Luke 24:45-49 tniv

45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Drama, Media, & Connecting Pieces:

• Pre-video:
• Video Piece: The Spirit of God
  • This would be great to use as the call to worship video after the pre-video and a song.
  • It would be followed by the song, "Holy Spirit Dwell in Me"
  • Another good older song to consider, "Spirit of the Living God, Fall Fresh on Me"
• A Humorous Drama piece about the microwave not working while waiting to pop pop corn could be fun
  • First nothing happens - pop corn put in the microwave, button turned, but nothing
  • Second time, same thing, but this time someboday imitates the humm of the microwave and dings the bell, but of course nothing happens
  • Third time, realize it is not plugged in to the power source and we hear the popcorn begin to pop and the we read the verse about staying in Jerusalem until they received power from on high!
• Scripture readings
  • We will use the following as our congregationally read Scripture
    1. Romans 8:14 & 16 - Thoughts about use

       For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

    The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
    

Time in the Word Focus:

• The Crucial Importance of Waiting on the Holy Spirit
  • Key Ideas
    • To live our lives for Jesus - we need to receive the Spirit (Acts 2:38-39; Titus 3:3-7; cf. Luke 11:13)
    • To live and serve using the gifts of the Spirit, we need be filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:17-21)
    • To pray and open our hearts to Scripture we need the intercession and leading of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26; Ephesians 6:17-19; 1 Corinthians 2:10-15)
    • To be transformed to have the character of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18; Galatians 5:22-26)

Daybreak Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Names)

Refresh Focus: (See emphasis above! Team Working on Planning Order - Wade H, Amanda P, Hailey M, P Ware)