First Reading: Romans 8: 14 - 17

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba!m Father!" 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ--if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

New Testament Lesson: Acts 2: 1 - 4, 12 - 21

2 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

17 ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.  18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.  20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day.  21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

Sermon: The Spirit of Adoption

It was the feast of Pentecost. Jews from every nation on the face of the earth gathered for the festival in Jerusalem.  The Feast of Pentecost is mentioned a good deal in the Hebrew Scripture. It is a harvest festival that became a time of Covenant renewal.

Then, with a mighty wind, the Holy Spirit shook the foundation where the followers of Jesus were gathered.  The Holy Spirit came upon them, empowering them to speak, to hear, and to serve Jesus.   And thus the church was born.

Acts begins with Jesus promising, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit  comes upon you" (Acts 1:8). That promise is soon fulfilled.  But what is the church empowered to do and to be?

The church once taught that this power was called Extra ecclesiam nulla salus.  In English: "apart from the church there is no salvation"  This early church teaching was modified by Augustine (De Baptismo contra Donatistas) saying that without Baptism into the Church there is no salvation...

This is the height of ecclesiastical arrogance, putting way too much emphasis on being an heir (as if the church could make that decision) - The idea that we're inside and you are out, sorry about you...  I think today that the church has really come to the understanding that salvation is Jesus' call.  We come to church to "practice discipleship" (to be a disciple).   Our involvement in church helps us to live with a living, righteous, and loving God, and also helps us to learn the practices that are commensurate with discipleship.

The church does not dispense salvation.  We embody, practice, and enjoy the Christian way of life, here and now.  We practice "open hospitality," confession and embrace forgiveness, we practice living a life that is generous, and we witness to the "good news" that changed our lives.