the Vine with Chris Green

In a day when churches have fallen into a type of "chronological snobbery" where the relevancy of such ancient practices as preaching are called into question, Peter's sermon, the first sermon of the church, reminds us what the soul of preaching ought always to be.

In a day when churches have fallen into a type of "chronological snobbery" where the relevancy of such ancient practices as preaching are called into question, Peter's sermon, the first sermon of the church, reminds us what the soul of preaching ought always to be.

Now that we have a basic understanding of the identity and history of the Holy Spirit, what happened on the day of Pentecost there in the upper room? The key to understanding this lies in Genesis 11 and the story of the Tower of Babel. Pentecost was the reversal of Babel.

As we read we begin to understand: we still need Pentecost because we still have Babel.

Now that we have a basic understanding of the identity and history of the Holy Spirit, what happened on the day of Pentecost there in the upper room? The key to understanding this lies in Genesis 11 and the story of the Tower of Babel. Pentecost was the reversal of Babel. 

As we read we begin to understand: we still need Pentecost because we still have Babel.

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree." - Michael Crichton

When we read the disciples' first encounter of the Holy Spirit in Act 2 we might be tempted to think that this is the first time the Spirit shows up. We would be mistaken.

Today on the podcast, Chris takes us through a brief history of the Holy Spirit to show His actions and the images used to describe the Spirit from the very beginning up until today.

Useful links:

"If you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that doesn't know it is part of a tree." - Michael Crichton

When we read the disciples' first encounter of the Holy Spirit in Act 2 we might be tempted to think that this is the first time the Spirit shows up. We would be mistaken. 

Today on the podcast, Chris takes us through a brief history of the Holy Spirit to show His actions and the images used to describe the Spirit from the very beginning up until today.

When they gathered together because of Jesus and devoted themselves to prayer, their eyes were no longer fixed on their differences. They didn’t feel they had the luxury of time in which to debate theological points. They knew Jesus had spoken, had told them that they would be witnesses to him, had commanded them to wait for the promise from the Father. So they did. 

Uncommon, radical unity was not formed for some idealistic principle, or some pragmatic need. Uncommon, radical unity was formed around devotion to Jesus, expectation of the promise, and waiting in prayer. So must it be found in our day.

When they gathered together because of Jesus and devoted themselves to prayer, their eyes were no longer fixed on their differences. They didn’t feel they had the luxury of time in which to debate theological points. They knew Jesus had spoken, had told them that they would be witnesses to him, had commanded them to wait for the promise from the Father. So they did. 

Uncommon, radical unity was not formed for some idealistic principle, or some pragmatic need. Uncommon, radical unity was formed around devotion to Jesus, expectation of the promise, and waiting in prayer. So must it be found in our day.

Renewal doesn't mean stepping back in time or trying to recreate the "good ol' days." Renewal is the discovery and radical recovery of first things. The book of Acts is the story of the "first things" of the church. Today we begin a journey of discovering those first things. Oddly enough, this journey doesn't begin by taking steps. It begins by waiting.

Renewal doesn't mean stepping back in time or trying to recreate the "good ol' days." Renewal is the discovery and radical recovery of first things. The book of Acts is the story of the "first things" of the church. Today we begin a journey of discovering those first things. Oddly enough, this journey doesn't begin by taking steps. It begins by waiting.