More than Marketing – June 9, 2019

When the day of Pentecost came, [the disciples] were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:1-4

More than Marketing

You’re starting up a new restaurant. How do you get business? You let your community know that they have a need (they get hungry); there is a solution (food) and you have the best solution in town (your barbeque beats everyone else’s). Perhaps you hand out free samples at the fair, entice people with coupons or specials, and you hope that word of mouth drives hungry customers your way.

God was starting his New Testament Church. Jesus had died, risen, and ascended to heaven. Now what? How would God gather people into his Church? Through his disciples, he let the people of Jerusalem know that they had a need (for God to forgive their sins) and that there was a solution (Jesus had died for their sins). This was not just a slick ad campaign. Free forgiveness, peace with God, and eternal life through Jesus beat any other deal in the world.

Have you ever marveled that God has delivered this same message to you? You have a need (for God to forgive your sins against him) and there is a solution (Jesus has died for your sins). The same Holy Spirit who filled the first disciples works through the message of forgiveness to give and grow your faith. God continues to build his Church just as he did all those years ago—by the power of his Spirit working through his word.

Prayer:
Holy Spirit, my sin means I have the greatest need—I need a Savior from sin; I need Jesus. Work powerfully through your Word to bring me to daily repentance and free forgiveness. Move my heart and my tongue to thank and honor God with all that I do and say. Amen.