Transformative Transitions: Divided to Devotion
Transformative Transitions: Divided to Devotion
Sermon Synopsis
Every person knows transitions. Transitions in family life, work, finances, relationships. The list goes on. Living as a Christian is no different. The Lord is always moving us forward in transitions. As we walk with Jesus, we are constantly being taken from “here” to “there”, one depth of relationship to another as we grow to be like Him in increasing ways.
Luke writes in the book of Acts to a specific audience: “O Theophilus”. Probably referencing one follower of Christ, Luke is writing to the broader “Theophilus” or “Lover of God”. He opens his first book – the Gospel of Luke – writing to Theophilus to provide “certainty concerning the things [he] had been taught”. Luke’s second book to the Lovers of God, Acts, is written in transition. It is a record of what happens to Christians – to the Church – who have been captured by Jesus and are propelled by Him into what is next. The Book of Acts challenges us in the “transformative transitions” that come in a community of believers who are founded in Christ then compelled by Him to witness with all their lives.
Acts 2:1-4
2:1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:14
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
Acts 2:42-47
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Deuteronomy 16:9-12
9 “You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you. 11 And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the Lord your God will choose, to make his name dwell there. 12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
Psalm 133
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.