Life Church Vision and Mission (Part 2)

Pastor Rocklyn Clarke - Sunday January 17, 2010

© 2010 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.LifeChurchMinistries.org/

Notes Introduction Bible Reading 1/10 - 1/16: Gen 23 - 34; Mat 8 - 11; Psalm 9:13 - 14:7; Proverbs 3:1 - 20 Review Life Church Vision and Mission (Part 1) Preparation - Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2 Expository Preaching Select the Passage - Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2 Study the Passage NIV Hebrew Study Bible KJV The Message NASB RSV Discover the Exegetical Idea God's river of life makes things fruitful. Analyze the Exegetical Idea Explain It: What does this mean? The river originates from God's Sanctuary From the south side of the altar. The altar points to the sacrifice of Jesus. The river grows as it flows. The river makes fruitful things even more fruitful (i.e. the trees). The river makes dead things alive (i.e. the Dead Sea). The river supports swarms of living creatures. The river represents the life of God poured out to others. The curse is over - Revelation 22:3 God's rule is settled - Revelation 22:3 God's presence is "locked in" - Revelation 22:4 We will walk by the light of God's revelation - Revelation 22:5 We will reign - Revelation 22:5 Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it? Yes - God's sanctuary changes lives. Yes - God's sanctuary changed my life. We are seated with Christ - Ephesians 2:1-10 We are reigning in this life - Romans 5:12-17 If we endure we will reign - 2Timothy 2:11-13 We reign on the earth - Revelation 5:1-10 Apply It: What difference does it make? So What? If we meet the conditions God can use us to: Make broken lives whole Make weak lives powerful Make barren lives fruitful - Psalm 1 Mold individual lives into communities Make dying communities thrive Make the impossible possible The Conditions: Establish and acknowledge the sanctuary Celebration Cell Groups Identify and stay beside the river Be available to others Meet the needs of others Reign in love Establish and Acknowledge the Sanctuary You must be a follower of Jesus. You must draw your purpose, direction, and strength from Jesus Grow Beside the River Phase 1 (the 1st 1000 cubits): Water reaches ankle depth Phase 2 (the 2nd 1000 cubits): Water reaches knee depth Phase 3 (the 3rd 1000 cubits): Water reaches waist depth Phase 4 (the 4th 1000 cubits): Water becomes too deep for wading Go Fishing This element is not reflected in Rev 22:1-2 Where the river flows everything will live - Ezek 47:9 Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself The Life Church Vision Based on these passages: Ezek 47:1-12; Rev 22:1-2 The standard against which we check ourselves. Sanctuary Check River Check Fruit Leaves River Rules This is where the fruit trees grow. Don't: Walk in the counsel of the wicked Stand in the way of sinners Sit in the seat with mockers Delight in God's Word Meditate on the Word constantly Result: Yield fruit in season Leaf won't wither Prosper in everything Sea Check Be fishers of men - Mat 4:17-19 Laborers for the Lord of the Harvest - Mat 9:35-38; Mat 10:1-16 Life Check If you're not down with the vision you won't last here. Evaluate 2008 “Year of Discipleship” - How did we do? Highlight my personal transition from being too lenient to enforcing commitment to the vision. Proclaim 2009 “Year For Growth”: making the gospel simple so that everyone can share it. Purpose Driven Church: "Catch the wave!" Formulate the Homiletical Idea Fruit grows where the river flows. Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do): Understand the Life Church Vision Understand its connection to Ezekiel 47:1-12. Understand its connection to Revelation 22:1-6. Align with the Life Church Vision Purposeful lives are aligned lives Reign in love. Take responsibility for representing the Kingdom to your world. Be a blessing and a source of life to others. Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose Outline the Sermon Standing Issues From a word Bishop gave me: Make sure people do something with God's message. Make it plain: Use accessible language. Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences: Sitting at a stop light Driving through a green light Approaching a yellow light Being cut off in traffic Going shopping Going to a mall Going to school; sitting in class Going to work; sitting in your office; Keep it simple. Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience. Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises. Introduction - Importance of Corporate Worship We had another party for God this morning! Were you there? Did God enjoy your contribution to our worship today? There is no substitute for your individual experience with God! There is no substitute for your corporate experience with God! Would you turn down an invitation to a party for your parents? God is your Father - don't miss his party! We are called to worship together! Acts 2:42-47 Hebrews 13:15 1Peter 2:4-10 Introduction Nanny went home to be with the Lord on 12/7/2009. Nanny was God's friend. Nanny wasn't very successful in transmitting her faith in Christ to her children. Eva's grandmother was not very successful in transmitting her faith in Christ to her children. Churches often fail to equip saints with "tools for transmission". Transition Israel often failed to transmit faith in and obedience to God. Ezekiel received a vision of judgement including the destruction of the Temple because of Israel's failure to be faithful to God. Ezekiel also received a vision of a new temple which would reflect a time when Israel's failures would be done a way with. God has a solution for our failures to expand his Kingdom. Read the Passages - Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2 Exegetical Idea God's river of life makes things fruitful. Homiletical Idea Fruit grows where the river flows. What does this mean? The river originates from God's Sanctuary From the south side of the altar. The altar points to the sacrifice of Jesus. The river grows as it flows. The river makes fruitful things even more fruitful (i.e. the trees). The river makes dead things alive (i.e. the Dead Sea). The river supports swarms of living creatures. The river represents the life of God poured out to others. The curse is over - Revelation 22:3 God's rule is settled - Revelation 22:3 God's presence is "locked in" - Revelation 22:4 We will walk by the light of God's revelation - Revelation 22:5 We will reign - Revelation 22:5 Is it True? Do I believe it? Yes - God's sanctuary changes lives. Yes - God's sanctuary changed my life. Something happens when God's life enters the picture! Apollo 1 Fire - velcro is not a fire hazard under normal conditions, but it explodes into flame in a pressurized pure oxygen environment. What difference does it make? So What? If we meet the conditions God can use us to: Make broken lives whole Make weak lives powerful Make barren lives fruitful - Psalm 1 Mold individual lives into communities Make dying communities thrive Make the impossible possible The Conditions: Establish and acknowledge the sanctuary Celebration Cell Groups Identify and stay beside the river Be available to others Meet the needs of others Reign in love Establish and Acknowledge the Sanctuary You must be a follower of Jesus. You must draw your purpose, direction, and strength from Jesus Grow Beside the River Phase 1 (the 1st 1000 cubits): Water reaches ankle depth Phase 2 (the 2nd 1000 cubits): Water reaches knee depth Phase 3 (the 3rd 1000 cubits): Water reaches waist depth Phase 4 (the 4th 1000 cubits): Water becomes too deep for wading Go Fishing This element is not reflected in Revelation 22:1-2 Where the river flows everything will live - Ezekiel 47:9 Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself The Life Church Vision Based on these passages: Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2 The standard against which we check ourselves. Sanctuary Check River Check Fruit Leaves River Rules This is where the fruit trees grow. Don't: Walk in the counsel of the wicked Stand in the way of sinners Sit in the seat with mockers Delight in God's Word Meditate on the Word constantly Result: Yield fruit in season Leaf won't wither Prosper in everything Sea Check Be fishers of men - Mat 4:17-19 Laborers for the Lord of the Harvest - Mat 9:35-38; Mat 10:1-16 Life Check If you're not down with the vision you won't last here. Evaluate 2008 “Year of Discipleship” - How did we do? Highlight my personal transition from being too lenient to enforcing commitment to the vision. Proclaim 2009 “Year For Growth”: making the gospel simple so that everyone can share it. Purpose Driven Church: "Catch the wave!" Determine the Sermon's Purpose (what listeners should do): Understand the Life Church Vision Understand its connection to Ezekiel 47:1-12. Understand its connection to Revelation 22:1-6. Align with the Life Church Vision Purposeful lives are aligned lives Reign in love. Take responsibility for representing the Kingdom to your world. Be a blessing and a source of life to others. Our Vision: Why We Exist Vision Statement Our vision is to build a network of churches, ministries, and businesses through which God’s river of life can transform people, their communities, and the systems in which they participate. In short: purposeful lives making a powerful difference! Vision Explained God’s river of life is the “river of the water of life” referred to in the first two verses of chapter 22 of Revelation — the last book of the Bible: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2) It’s a picture of God entering the lives of those who are willing to receive him. By letting him in we can live the way he wants us to live — the way we would choose to live if we knew what he knows about us and about the world we live in. Vision Narrative God wants to live inside of you! Then, from the inside he wants to transform your life into something beyond your wildest dreams. While he’s doing that, he wants your life to be a springboard that allows him to reach many others as well. We want to support this process. If you think of God’s life as a never-ending river, we want to bring that river to you. It begins when you hear the life-changing message of what God has done and is doing through Jesus Christ. You may or may not remember when you first embraced the message but after you do, you notice your life changing. The changes may seem small at first, but the longer you stay in the river, the bigger they get. You notice a new love for God in your heart that you never experienced before. You find yourself connected to others who are having the same experience. Some of them never expected to have anything to do with God but now they and you know him intimately. You also notice a new love for others — even your enemies — that you never experienced before. God’s life on the inside is making you a better person, a better mother, father, sister, or brother. You’re becoming a better student, a better employee, a better businessperson, a better leader. Others notice the changes in your life as well. Your family relationships and friendships are transformed into healthy nurturing life-giving bonds. You realize that you yourself have become a branch of the river and through you God’s life is reaching and transforming others. Because of you and the other changed people in the river with you, your community experiences new life and vitality. You begin to imagine a day when you’ll read your local newspaper and find that all of the bad news comes from somewhere else. The new life within you is unstoppable. It gives you a hunger to see your city, your nation, and even the whole world renewed. Together with your new brothers and sisters in Christ you give birth to new cultural expressions. Your collective talents and gifts are woven together to create new music, new dramatic performances, renewed culture. All this and more is what we see as we bring God’s river of life to a thirsty world. In order to achieve this vision we have made a commitment to remove any possible obstacle. That’s why we’re transforming the way church is done! Come on in and join us — the water’s fine! Understand the Life Church Vision Understand its connection to Ezekiel 47:1-12. Understand its connection to Revelation 22:1-6. Align with the Life Church Vision Purposeful lives are aligned lives We are seated with Christ - Ephesians 2:1-10 We are reigning in this life - Romans 5:12-17 Reign in love. Take responsibility for representing the Kingdom to your world. Be a blessing and a source of life to others. If we endure we will reign - 2Timothy 2:11-13 Conclusion We reign on the earth - Revelation 5:1-10 New Material Preparation Expository Preaching Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers. Select the Passage Study the Passage NIV Hebrew Study Bible KJV The Message NASB RSV Discover the Exegetical Idea Subject Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why Complement Analyze the Exegetical Idea Explain It: What does this mean? Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it? Apply It: What difference does it make? So What? Formulate the Homiletical Idea Determine the Purpose of the Sermon Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose Make it plain Use accessible language and modern parables. Make sure people do something with God's message. Keep it simple. Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience. Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises. Outline the Sermon Life Church Vision and Mission (Part 2) Preparation - Matthew 4:12-25 Select the Passage - Mat 4:12-25: Jesus' Validation Jesus' Validation Jesus' Ministry - Mat 4:12-25 His Message - "Repent . . ." - Mat 4:12-17 Implicitly assumes God's existence. Implicitly assumes that God wants a relationship with you. Implicitly assumes that a relation with God must be on his terms. His Disciples ("Follow Me") - Mat 4:18-22 His Results - Mat 4:23-25 Follow Jesus! Study the Passage NIV Hebrew Study Bible KJV The Message NASB RSV Discover the Exegetical Idea Jesus wants people to follow him. Analyze the Exegetical Idea Explain It: What does this mean? Jesus called on people to change their way of life. Jesus called on people to rearrange their lives around him. Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it? The gospels are the authentic historical source documents for what Jesus said and did. Apply It: What difference does it make? So What? He said "follow me". This affects your entire life (it requires repentance). This can't be done casually. This is personal - Jesus invited people personally. Formulate the Homiletical Idea Follow Jesus. Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do) Follow Jesus Understand the Life Church Mission Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them. Love God with everything you've got. Genuinely love your neighbor. Take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom wherever you go. Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose Outline the Sermon Standing Issues From a word Bishop gave me: Make sure people do something with God's message. Make it plain: Use accessible language. Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences: Sitting at a stop light Driving through a green light Approaching a yellow light Being cut off in traffic Going shopping Going to a mall Going to school; sitting in class Going to work; sitting in your office; Keep it simple. Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience. Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises. Introduction Transition Life Church vision is based on the vision of the River of Life found in Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Revelation 22:1-2. It is a vision of a revolutionary movement with these key elements: its people relate to God on his own terms by following his Son, Jesus christ, its people are known far and wide for living fruitful lives that nourish and heal their families, networks, and communities, it seeks and welcomes unchurched people who have been transformed by God's life and power into new followers of Jesus. One place where healing is needed is Haiti. Haiti earthquake Disasters don't correlate directly with judgement - Luke 13:1-5 It is hypocritical to highlight a supposed "pact with the devil" on the part of slaves yearning for freedom and to ignore the sin of the slave holders. We have to approach other cultures with humility. Biblical slave regulation - Deut 15:12-18; Deut 23:15-16; 1Tim 1:2-11 Many who call themselves Christians advocate against policies that would help the poor. Christians should be helping the poor. What kind of Christians are we going to be? How will we represent Jesus to the world around us? Churches often fail to equip saints with "tools for transmission". Nanny went home to be with the Lord on 12/7/2009. Eva and I had grandmothers who were Christians, but who weren't very successful in transmitting their faith in Christ to their children. Barna Research Article - Churches struggle to define spiritual maturity We want to equip you to transmit your faith in Christ, without transmitting unnecessary cultural baggage. To do this, let's take a look at the beginning of Jesus' ministry. Read the Passage - Matthew 4:17-25 Exegetical Idea: Jesus wants people to follow him. Homiletical Idea: Follow Jesus! What does this mean? Jesus called on people to change their way of life. Jesus called on people to rearrange their lives around him. Four Life Principles: God exists. God wants to have a relationship with you. A relationship with God must be on his terms. God's terms are: follow Jesus! Is it True? Do I believe it? The gospels are the authentic historical source documents for what Jesus said and did. What difference does it make? So What? Jesus is God's approved representative. Introduced by John - Mat 3:1-12 Received God's approval after baptism - Mat 3:13-17 Was victorious in temptation - Mat 4:1-11 He said "follow me". This affects your entire life (it requires repentance). This can't be done casually. This is personal - Jesus invited people personally. Formulate the Homiletical Idea Follow Jesus. Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do) Follow Jesus Understand the Life Church Mission Love God with everything you've got. Genuinely love your neighbor. Take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom wherever you go. Follow Jesus How do I follow Jesus? Hear Jesus’ message: the gospel (i.e. good news). Believe the message. Act on the message. Put the message into practice in your life. Hear Jesus’ message: the gospel (i.e. good news). - Acts 2:22-36 Jesus is the Christ Jesus is the source of eternal life. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. Jesus is the only way to the Father. Believe the message. - Acts 2:37 Lord, liar, or lunatic? Act on the message. - Acts 2:38-41 Repent Be Baptized Be Filled With The Holy Spirit Identification Publicly With Jesus Commit To Start Growing Seek Relationship Over Rules Put the message into practice in your life. - Acts 2:42-47 Devote yourself to the Apostles' teaching. Devote yourself to fellowship. Large group Small group Devote yourself to the breaking of bread (i.e. The Lord's Supper). Devote yourself to prayer. Expect the supernatural. Share with your brothers and sisters. Praise God (i.e. worship). Understand the Life Church Mission Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them. Love God with everything you've got. Meeting together on Sundays Meeting together in small groups (i.e. life groups) Living rich and balanced lives together Genuinely love your neighbor. Meeting together on Sundays Meeting together in small groups (i.e. life groups) Living rich and balanced lives together Take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom wherever you go. Engage the people in your life and in your community. Identify social, political, and economic systems that are ripe for Kingdom influence. Be mature Establish godly habits. Turn godly habits into skills. Turn godly habits and skills into ministries. Conclusion ? Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion Welcome Cards - refer to script Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26 “‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’ Men's Prayer Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures) Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Matthew 4:17-25 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. Discussion Questions / Topics: Are you a follower of Jesus? If not, why not? If so, why, when, and how did you become one? Has Jesus made you a "fisher of men"? Are you willing to become one? Discuss. Acts 2:22-36 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Discussion Questions / Topics: What are the key points that you take away from this passage? Could you use this passage to present the gospel (i.e. good news about Jesus) to someone? Discuss. Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Discussion Questions / Topics: Has anything from the Bible "cut you to the heart" recently? Discuss. Acts 2:38-41 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Discussion Questions / Topics: Have you repented? Discuss. Discuss how and when you were baptized or why you haven't been. Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Discussion Questions / Topics: Are you devoted to the apostles' teaching? Discuss. Are you devoted to fellowship? On Sundays? At life group? Discuss. Are you devoted to the breaking of bread? Discuss Are you devoted to prayer? Discuss? In what ways do you share what you have? How faithfully do you praise God? Discuss. Witnessing Activities Work as a team to develop some questions you can ask the unchurched people you know. The questions should meet the following criteria: They should be natural (i.e. you can ask them without feeling awkward). They should relate in someway to the person's life situation. They should be open-ended (i.e. not be simple "yes" or "no" questions. They should help to deepen your relationship. Use the questions during this coming week and report back on the results. Scriptures For 01/17/2010 Life Church Sermon Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Matthew 4:17-25 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. Acts 2:22-36 “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ “Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Acts 2:38-41 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:42-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. Leviticus 19:18 “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD. Mark 12:28-34 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.