On the evening of that first Easter, the resurrected Lord appeared to his disciples in an upper room, perhaps the same place they had celebrated Passover just a few days before. He offered them his peace. He showed them his hands and side. He even ate a piece of fish to demonstrate his real, bodily presence.
And then, John tells us, Jesus breathed on his followers and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” From the time Jesus was conceived by the power of the Spirit, to his anointing in the Spirit in his baptism, to his testing in the wilderness led by the Spirit, to his kingdom signs done in the power of the Spirit, Jesus is the one who receives, and bears, and then pours out the Holy Spirit.
The Great Fifty Days between Easter and Pentecost is a times of joy and celebration in the Christian Church. This year at St. Luke, we will be walking through this “week of weeks” with a focus on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The word “Pentecost” means “fifty” and was celebrated already in the Old Testament as a spring harvest festival. We know Pentecost as the day the Holy Spirit came in power on the disciples and made them witnesses to everything Jesus had done and said.
Over these 7 weeks and on into Trinity Sunday, we will explore different ways the Bible describes what the Holy Spirit is up to in the life of Jesus and therefore in the life of individual believers and the whole Christian Church. Part of the Holy Spirit’s job description is to conform us to the image of Christ, and we will see how Scripture talks of the Spirit shaping us to look like Jesus in his death and resurrection, in his wilderness testing, in his humble service, heart for outsiders, and life of prayer. As we pray, “Come, Holy Spirit,” we look for the ways the Spirit is active in our lives to connect us more and more to the story, the mission, and the future of our Easter Savior.
Adult Sunday Bible Class and Post-Easter Home Groups
The last four weeks of our 9:45 a.m. Sunday Bible Class will parallel the “Come, Holy Spirit” sermon series. An overview of the book Sculptor Spirit by Dr. Leopoldo Sanchez will give us a deeper understanding of the models of sanctification we cover in worship. Pastor Justin will be leading the teaching and conversation around the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Jesus and his followers. The class ends on May 19, but the sermon series continues through June 16. Please join us!
Taking Worship Home will also be returning after Easter. Whether you are connected to a
