January
13 Sermon – “A River & a Beach”
Acts
8:14-17
-
Laying
on of hands & the Holy Spirit. This started the tradition of pastors laying
hands and blessing confirmands when they join the church
-
Who
were the Samaritans? Jews who remained in Israel during the exile to
Babylonia. When exiled Jews returned,
there was great friction between the two groups.
-
This
is a rehearsing of the Day of Pentecost!
-
We
believe that baptism and the giving of the Holy Spirit are connected.
-
When
we remember our baptism, we remember that God has given us the Holy Spirit.
-
Who
is the Holy Spirit? The presence of Jesus in the world.
Luke
3:15-17, 21-22
- John
the Baptism was baptizing as a way of challenging people to be God’s people,
the light of the world, the sign of God’s presence in the world.
-
John
is preparing the people for the 2nd great exodus story, not from
Egypt, but from slavery to sin. He points to Jesus, not Moses as the one who
would lead them.
-
During
that time, Herod, who was working for the Romans was rebuilding the 2nd
Temple. He saw himself as the “King of the
Jews.” John the Baptist pointed people to
Jesus who was the true “King of the Jews.”
- The people were attracted to John and his message because of their longings for
renewal.
- The water is symplic of the renewal we long for in our lives and in our church.
- The people were attracted to John and his message because of their longings for
renewal.
- The water is symplic of the renewal we long for in our lives and in our church.
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