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Celebrating Pentecost – A Sermon for Pentecost Sunday
Text: Acts 2:1-4, 12 LSB
And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3And there appeared to them tongues like fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance… 12And they all continued in astonishment and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
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Tertullian, the Trinity, and the Charismatic Life
I’ve been taking a class at Pentecostal Theological Seminary – “Tertullian, Trinity, and the Charismatic Life” with Dale Coulter. Tertullian (155-220) was a third century Christian theologian located in Carthage, Northern Africa. He is recognized as the first to use the Latin term trinitas (trinity) in reference to God.
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This is My Beloved Son – Video
God is Neither Male or Female
The gods and goddesses of the ancient world were sexual beings. Images of these mythological deities emphasized their genitals and myths emphasized their sexual exploits. The creation of the heavens and the earth were sexual acts. The gods and goddesses of the ancient world often had sex with humans. It is here that the uniqueness of the God of the ancient Hebrews is revealed.
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Did Peter Deny the Trinity?
The Apostle Peter is notorious for his threefold denial of Jesus (Mark 14:66ff). But did Peter also deny that God is Holy Trinity? Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost is a model of apostolic preaching and doctrine. In that sermon, Peter declared,
Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).
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Does Theology Really Matter?
A recent study sponsored by Ligonier Ministries and conducted by Lifeway Research sought to discern what Americans believe about God. It revealed that American Christians are confused about core Christian doctrine. It appears that 71% of American Evangelicals agree with the statement “Jesus is the first and greatest creature created by God.” The answers to other questions seem to demonstrate that most American Christians hold to some form of beliefs that do not reflect orthodox Nicene Theology. That many pastors don’t know what “Nicene Theology” is may demonstrate the source of American theological illiteracy. But the real question is “Does it matter?”
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