Wait?

Welcome to Tom and Leping this morning. It was great to have you all in our class. Everyone, please continue to keep Wayne in your prayers as he manages the loss of his grandfather.

As you have probably figured out by now, I will try to send out notes and references from our class and discussion when it seems appropriate, and if I can manage the time to get them "written down" before my Sunday afternoon crash. Funny, I used to make fun of my parents for napping on Sunday afternoon, but I can't seem to avoid it any more.

BTW, my homework from last week is available here on my blog Consistently Inconsistent. If any of you wrote a paragraph per our instruction/exercise, I'd like to hear about it.

Couple of business items.
1. I'd like for us to plan a weekend retreat for Late Spring or Summer as a class.. with kids. I am thinking that we would do a short trip maybe a retreat center, or a State/National park... We could camp or cabin it, and spend some time together outside of class. We may not get everyone, but we will do our best to schedule to accommodate as many as possible. An overnight would be preferable and we will be discussing a plan in coming weeks. Maybe we invite a special "facilitator" to take us on a tour and even integrate a family learning and fun time into our schedule. More to come on this...I am open to your ideas/suggestions. There is so much that we can do within driving distance of Richmond, it shouldn't be too hard.
2. I'd like to begin a rotation of teachers as soon as possible. We have a ton of talent in this group and we will all benefit from the diversity of style and approach to the lessons. Upcoming lessons are listed below... look for a telephone call from me and be thinking about how you might like to participate. Team teachers are welcome, and this isn't a long term committment unless you choose for it to be. We all have something to share, and this is a chance for you to "witness" in a safe, secure environment. Remember, we learn from each other and all of us have something to share. We must choose to do so.

An Unforgettable Church
April 6 -- Unfinished Business Acts 1:15-26
April 13 -- Unimaginable Power Acts 2:1-21
April 20 -- Unfeigned Devotion Acts 2:37-47
April 27 -- Uncompromising Witness Acts 4:23-31


Lesson today was on the Luke passage on the Upper Room and the beginning of Pentecost. My question was... What now?
Jesus' imperative to the apostles was to wait for the power, and then to go out to the world and share. "Witness"
Bert-- Christ's Presence is corporeal, visceral, innate and learned. Love is not an intellectual exercise...It must be experienced not just
discussed and simply studied.



Luke 24:36-53: (THE MESSAGE)
36 -41 While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you." They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. He continued with them, "Don't be upset, and don't let all these doubting questions take over. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it's really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn't have muscle and bone like this." As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true. 41 -43He asked, "Do you have any food here?" They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. He took it and ate it right before their eyes.
44Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled." 45 -49He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."
50 -51He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising his hands he blessed them, and while blessing them, took his leave, being carried up to heaven.
52 -53And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy. They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes.

Wonder, Worship Witness--- HOW..
What did Jesus do in the story?
What does he command us to do?

Why Wait?

-- From the online resources: Often when we feel we most need a fresh encounter with God's Spirit, we are made to wait. In a culture that demands immediate results, it's no wonder that we cry foul and get frustrated. What we fail to realize is that a season of suspense is anything but passive. It is instead preparatory.We often balk at God's inefficient policy on Spirit-sending and Spirit-leading. When we do, we run the risk of pulling our team out prematurely and missing a great blessing--a blessing that does not come easy, but always at the right time and in the right season.

Questions for Discussion
• How can Pentecost happen in such crowded lives and schedules? Who is even paying attention?
• How can we prepare ourselves for Pentecost while we await its arrival?
• When was your last Pentecost? Did you discover the significance of your wait?
• Are we to wait alone and figure it out by ourselves? How significant is friendship to the practice of waiting for Pentecost?

Matrix.. Oracle tells Neo that he will know when/if he is the one. The power is within us. Neo had to choose to embrace it.

Listen: God is speaking all around us, working all the time. Question is only whether we join him. It is our choice. We are not the drivers, we are the vessel. (August Rush)

GREAT COMMISSION: WITNESS imperative -- DO THIS!
Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age. (Message)

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV)

Explore how each of us can do this.. through our own lives, abilities and experiences.