What does it mean to hear and believe the Good News?
Pentecost Sermon Preview: June 9, 2019
On this Pentecost Sunday we once again ask what has become a familiar question:
Are you smarter than a third grader?
Prove it.
Answer this: what does it mean to hear and believe the Good News?
Pentecost tells the story of how the first disciples were overcome by the Holy Spirit and were led to tell the story of Jesus in a multitude of languages. Pilgrims from around the world were able to hear and believe the news of Christ. The seventh sermon in our summer series will discuss how the Holy Spirit equips us to hear and believe the Gospel in our world today.
Scripture
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.
“Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?'”
–Acts 2:4-8 (NRSV)
Sweet Truth #7
Hear and believe: when we have herd the Good News about God’s wonderful grace in Jesus Christ, then God wants each one of us to believe and have faith in him. Faith simply means belief or trust.
We use faith all the time. Right now, you have faith that the chair you are sitting in will hold you. If a parent drives a child to school in a car, then the child has faith that the adult will get them there safely.
God wants us to have faith (belief and trust) that we are loved, forgiven, and very blessed in Jesus Christ. Do you believe that? It is important that you do!
From 16 Sweet Truths by Rev. David Nash
Pastor, First Christian Church (DOC), Sikeston, Missouri
Used with permission.
