A Series on Acts - #4
Speaker Notes
Jesus Instructs His Disciples - Go Out, Baptize, Teach
Acts 1:1-5
1.1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 28:18-20
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-18
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
Thomas Merton Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Merton
“Christianity is not so much a Body of Doctrine, as the Revelation of a Mystery. A Mystery is a Divine Action, something which God does in Time in order to introduce Man into the Sanctuary of Eternity. Being a Religion of Mysteries, Christianity is a Religion of Fact: Divine Fact, Divine Action. In celebrating the Mysteries of Christ as they recur in Time, the Church, first of all, announces these events: Christ is born, Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again.”
Luke 24:46-48
46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnessesof these things.
John 20:21
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”