Scripture Lesson: Acts 1:1-11
Sermon Title: Prepare
June 1st, 2025
Introduction – Being prepared is essential if you want quality results.
I doubt anyone would argue with that.
But what happens when the results don’t come out the way you intended?
Regardless of church affiliation, we need to laugh at our shortcomings.
The following church flubs, especially in bulletins, are hilarious. Listen to these.
Number 1: A cookbook is being compiled by the ladies of the church. Please submit your favorite recipe, also a short antidote.
Number 2: The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment, and gracious hostility.
Number 3: At the evening service tonight the sermon topic will be “What is hell?” come early and listen to our choir practice.
Number 4: Today’s sermon: How much can a man drink? With hymns from a full choir.
(The last one cracked me up. It has to do with the pastor.)
Number 5: Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She’s also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Nelson’s sermons.
God…help me😊! Okay, a little levity never hurts anybody but preparing well comes down to two simple things: Who drives your preparation? And what are you using for the job? Again, who drives your preparation? What are you using for the job?
I’m thinking about the preparation in the kitchen.
Imagine that you are making dinner for 15 people.
What’s on the menu? Everyone will receive a chopped green salad with all the fixings, juicy tenderloins with yams, fresh greens, and sourdough rolls. A few varieties of beverages will be offered. For dessert—everyone will get fresh apple cobbler and vanilla ice cream. (*I don’t know why I’m doing this when our stomachs are growling, but we enjoy food, so we’re in good company.)
Quite the process for a party of 15. With your company in mind—you gather the right bowls, knives, cutting boards, glasses and cups, and other kitchen utensils relevant for the job.
Next, you select the right choice of meat (again preferably elk tenderloin) along with the right savory seasonings. Steaming off the grill—the aromas will make your mouth water. Next, you gather the right greens and vegetables, cut them properly, and place them in serving bowls. Finally, you cut up enough apples for the cobbler, including the right ingredients so that—when that delicious dessert comes fresh out of the over—it’ll dazzle your guests.
Regardless of the task that God has called you to do—the right preparation is key: Who drives your preparation? And what are you using for the job?
Likewise, in the first chapter of Acts, the author, Luke, explains to a, “Most Excellent Theophilus.”
He was a high Roman official who helped fund Luke’s outreach endeavors and books (the gospel according to Luke and its sequel—the Holy Spirit-filled Acts of the Apostles—they knew who drove their preparation, and they knew what they were using to pass the gospel to someone else.
Okay, enough suspense…who drove the preparation for Luke to write an orderly account of the miraculous life, death, and resurrection of Jesus?
Who drove the preparation of Peter, Paul, Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, and the rest of the Apostles (apostles means “ones who are sent”) to tell others about how the gospel of Jesus Christ applies to everyone?
Even today, whether you’re a child, man, woman, husband, wife, dad, mom, worker, neighbor—who drives the preparation behind the gospel message that God has called you to share with the person next to you?
Luke gives us a huge clue to our Spirit-filled preparation (I already gave it away) listen again in chapter 1:
“Jesus presented himself alive to (his disciples) after his suffering by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which He said, “You heard from me; for John (the Baptist) baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Who drives the preparation?
Yes! The Holy Spirit!
Luke repeats it to make sure Theophilus/we get it.
Just as John poured fresh water on bodies—the Holy Spirit would be poured out on Peter, Paul, Jesus’ mother, Mary Magdalene, Luke, Theophilus—all believers—past, present, and future—to pass the good news or gospel of Jesus to someone else.
Unlike other forms of news (we are inundated with fear-based, bad news) — the gospel of Jesus Christ goes like this: The Holy Spirit came down to us through Jesus (i.e. God made His dwelling with us in the flesh) to forgive our sins through His sacrificial death on the cross and glorious resurrection from the dead. Various media outlets cannot provide you with what only Jesus can provide. What does Jesus provide?
Only through Jesus—crucified and raised from the dead—the Holy Spirit prepares you with the good news that you could never earn or achieve on your own strength, but don’t take my word for it. Hear it straight from the best News Giver ever: “This is love: not that we loved God but that He loved us and gave us His one and only son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:10).”
That’s why we are gathered here to receive the gospel of Jesus and to pass it along to others. Okay but why do we need the Holy Spirit to receive and share the good news of Jesus?
I appreciate the idiom, “Putting the cart before the horse.”
It’s a great analogy because it’s very practical.
Specifically, in the arena of God’s living faith through Jesus, being sinners, we can’t help but put the cart (me, myself, and I…again that’s not a Trinity) above the Trinity—the main thing—the horse.
In the same way, in Acts chapter 1, Jesus reminds the disciples/us about the gospel—the good news of Jesus first—”It is not your concern to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After Sue and Martin’s son, Allan, showed his short video of the Cleats of Faith ministry, he made a profound comment that I’ll never forget. He said, “Don’t let the gospel of Jesus Christ stop with you. Pass it along. Someone else needs it.”
Amen! Brothers and sisters, that’s exactly what Ascension Sunday is about.
The Gospel/the good news of Jesus Christ was never meant to be kept to Jesus’ disciples. They couldn’t help but ponder if this would be the opportune time for the resurrected Messiah to be the political figure of their imagination who would finally wipe out their enemies and make them number 1 in the world.
We have the same delusions today—that we Americans (and we are very grateful to live in America) are number 1…that we are somehow God’s favorites.
But Jesus—His cross/His resurrection—crushed the apostles’/our delusions about what we want Jesus to be like. Rather–through the preparation of the outpouring of His Holy Spirit–God transforms sinners into forgiven, Holy Spirit filled witnesses of Jesus Christ. Do you believe that?
Yes, pray for this nation—and the nations—that the Holy Spirit would prepare hearts to receive the gospel of Christ and to pass it along to the next person. Remember, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is unlimited. He never grows weak or weary of pouring out the Holy Spirit-filled news of Jesus. It’s in His blood. It’s who He is. Being washed in Christ, it’s who you are, too.
Okay, to be prepared to share the gospel, we need the Holy Spirit, but what should we use to pass the gospel along to someone else? Keep it simple.
Say that to your friend next to you, “Keep it simple.”
When you interact with people, what do they like and dislike?
Can you find common interests? Music, art, history, work, food, hunting/fishing, traveling, vehicles?
This past Tuesday I was waiting to get a haircut. The main owner and barber had a lengthy conversation with one of his patrons about Harley Davidson motorcycles. I know nothing about that topic, but it was intriguing to listen to them about what’s in, what’s out, what’s the latest rip off…it was fascinating!
Are you interested in motorcycles? Whatever the tool is–how is the Holy Spirit using it in your life to pass the gospel of Jesus Christ to someone else? Keep it simple.
It starts here in Belgrade, Manhattan, Bozeman—regardless of the name of your community—the Holy Spirit prepares you and me to share the message of Christ wherever we are—in our country, state, country, and world—just as Jesus called His men and women apostles to do: “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea (southern Israel), Samaria (rugged country to the north), and to the ends of the earth.”
Who drives your preparation?
What tools has the Holy Spirit given to you to use to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone else?
I was encouraged when I read about what retired Major League Baseball pitcher and believer Andy Benes said about preparing and passing the good news of Christ to someone else: “People are always watching to see if your actions match your words. I want to make sure mine do (Pg. 17 Life Lessons from Baseball, Steve Riach).”
Amen! Brothers and sisters, Jesus will return and restore His kingdom that has no end. As we wait for His glorious return, I encourage you to ask yourself: What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you today? And how can you use it to pass to someone else? Don’t let the gospel stop with you; someone else needs it.
Let’s pray together.
Holy Spirit–prepare our hearts with your holy, redeeming gospel through Jesus Christ who bled and died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead. Show us the tools that you’ve already given to us in Christ to pass along to someone else—making sure that our words and actions match your way, truth, and life. Through Your Holy Spirit we anticipate that glorious day when you—King Jesus—will make all things new—in your holy name we pray, Amen.