Pentecost Marks New Gains for the Lord
Peter’s sermon was powerful. It yielded thousands for the Kingdom. The verses immediately following Peter’s sermon are very important to you and me today. Why? Because the words provide direction for our spiritual lives. Let’s read Acts 2:42-47.
Read Acts 2:42-47
- They (Jerusalem congregation) were getting off on the right foot! Read verse forty-two and list the activities of the congregation
- _________________________
- _________________________
- _________________________
- _________________________
- How does this list compare with the church today? Is it different? Same? Explain your position
- The apostles were Spirit-filled and did mighty things for the Kingdom. How does Luke define their accomplishments? And how did the congregation members react?
- This new congregation did not have a meeting place of their own. So we are told that they gathered in the Temple courts every day. Verse forty-seven tells us that their witness was successful. What phrase is used by Luke to describe the success of their witness? __________________________
- Notice who gets the credit for the witness! It is not the people but the LORD. And that is the same way it is today. We are only ambassadors for Christ.
Math Summary: They began with 120. Three thousand were added on Pentecost. Now, the LORD “added to the number daily.”
Did you ever wonder what the total number of Christians is worldwide today? When this course material was written, there were 2.1 billion Christians worldwide. Moving forward, according to Pew Research, the projected worldwide Christians are expected to reach 2.92 billion in 2050. While these numbers show increase, the real percentage of total worldwide population indicates that the number of Christians will remain constant at 31.4%.
Here are some additional data concerning U. S. Christian congregations (Source: Hartford Institute for Religious Research) based on 2010-2011 data:
- Estimated 300,000 congregations
- 59% of the congregations have fewer than 100 participating adults; 35% have 100-499.
- Median attendance: 75 participants
- 50% worshipper attendance occurs in 10% of the largest congregations.
- 53% of all U. S. congregations were founded prior to 1945.
The table below provides membership data for the 25 largest U. S. denominations.
| Rank | Name | 2012 Membership | Change from 2011 |
| 1 | Roman Catholic | 68,202,492 | Down 0.44% |
| 2 | So. Baptist | 16,136,044 | Down 0.15% |
| 3 | United Methodist Church | 7,679,850 | Down 1.22% |
| 4 | Mormon Church | 6,157,128 | Up 1.62% |
| 5 | Church of God in Christ | 5,499,875 | No report |
| 6 | National Baptist Convention | 5,197,512 | Up 3.95% |
| 7 | Ev. Lutheran Church (ELCA) | 4,274,855 | Down 5.9% |
| 8 | Natl Baptist Convention Amer | 3,500,000 | No report |
| 9 | Assemblies of God | 3,030,944 | Up 3.99% |
| 10 | Presbyterian Church USA | 2,675,873 | Down 3.42% |
| 11 | African Methodist Episcopal | 2,500,000 | No report |
| 12 | Natl Missionary Baptist Conv | 2,500,000 | No report |
| 13 | LCMS | 2,278,586 | Down 1.45% |
| 14 | Episcopal Church | 1,951,907 | Down 2.71% |
| 15 | Pentecostal Assemblies | 1,800,000 | Up 20% |
| 16 | Churches of Christ | 1,639,495 | No report |
| 17 | Greek Orthodox | 1,500,000 | No report |
| 18 | Afr. Methodist Episcopal | 1,400,000 | No report |
| 19 | American Baptist USA | 1,308,054 | Down 0.19% |
| 20 | Jehovah’s Witness | 1,184,249 | Up 1.85% |
| 21 | Church of God (Tennessee) | 1,074,047 | Down 0.21% |
| 22 | Christian Churches/Ch of Christ | 1,071,616 | No report |
| 23 | Seventh Day Adventist | 1,060,386 | Up 1.61% |
| 24 | United Churches of Christ | 1,058,423 | Down 2.02% |
| 25 | Progressive Natl Baptist Conv | 1,010,000 | No report |
| Total | 145,691,446 | Down 1.15% |
Read Acts 3-4:4
- Getting back to God’s Word, we see what mighty deeds the Lord is accomplishing in this growing Christian Church. Pay particular attention to Peter and John’s actions.
- Beggars are commonplace today just as they were in Bible times. What does Peter and John’s response show to you and me regarding “value?”
- Verse sixteen is an interesting statement about the source of man’s healing. In the name of ________________and the _________________that comes through Him.” Would it have been easy for Peter and John to take the credit personally? Why is this incident so important to the growth of the very early church?
- Peter and John were jailed for their actions. Remember, the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection, and for Peter and John to be proclaiming Christ’s resurrection must have been devastating. What does Acts tell us about the growth of the church from this incident? (4:4)
Math Summary: They began with 120. Three thousand were added on Pentecost. Now, the LORD “added to the number daily.” …And about 5,000 men believed (Acts 4:4).
Going back . . .
Go back to the first question. Acts 2:42 reminds us of what we are to do today. Think about the excitement of the resurrection from the apostles’ perspective. Do we stand in today’s “temple courts” and proclaim the Good News of Jesus and Him crucified? What are some of our fears that keep us from talking about Jesus?
Heavenly father, you have shown us that the Church continues to grow day-by-day. Help us to see that each of us is an important cog in the wheel. Bless my witness, increase my faith so, like Peter and John, I can proclaim the name of Jesus with all boldness and without fear of reprisal. In your blessed name. Amen.