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b'Service Video (link)TEXT: Acts 2:1-13,37-39\\n\\n\\n\\nLast week I noted that we often focus on two of the significant parts of what God did in Jesus Christ: the Incarnation and the Crucifixion. Jesus was God come among us and he died for us and our salvation.\\n\\n\\n\\nIn the past seven weeks or so we have focused on two more significant parts of what God did in Christ, though these two get less attention, and often less understanding: the Resurrection and the Ascension. But those are the two things that have to do with our lives now, defining our identity and new life in Christ.\\n\\n\\n\\nToday \\u2013 Pentecost Sunday \\u2013 we focus on one more very significant act of God, one promised by Jesus as he ascended. Last week we heard his final words to his followers, that he would send his Spirit to empower his followers to be witnesses of God and what God has done in Christ. And that is exactly what happened on Pentecost. In today\\u2019s text we see three human responses to that power and witness. Like those disciples, God empowers us to bear witness in the world. And people still have responses today like those all those years ago.\\n\\n\\n\\nPOWER (vv. 1-13)\\n\\n\\n\\nFirst, in verses 1-13, in response to the power of the Holy Spirit, displayed through \\u201ctongues of fire\\u201d and hearing the disciples speak in multiple languages, there are two distinct responses.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nAmazed and astonished (vv. 7-12) \\u2013 Many of those present on the day of Pentecost heard the Galilean Jews speaking in their own language. A long list of nationalities is included in the passage. We read in v. 7 that some \\u201cwere amazed and astonished\\u201d and continued \\u201cin amazement and great perplexity.\\u201d They asked each other what it all meant. I\\u2019d call this a holy curiosity.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nDoubtful, even mocking (v. 13) \\u2013 Others were neither amazed or astonished, rationalizing and writing it off to drunkenness on the part of the disciples. Some pressed even further and made fun of the disciples.\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nI\\u2019ve seen both reactions. I\\u2019ve had both reactions. We see something we don\\u2019t understand and we have to decide between the natural and the supernatural explanation. And some of us are probably more open to mystery and miracle than others, which is understandable. Having said that, to descend into outright mockery of the divine or of faith is another thing altogether. I\\u2019ve come to realize that making fun of God or followers of God usually is a cover for something else that is often between that person and God.\\n\\n\\n\\nNonetheless, what occurs to me, especially knowing what is coming, is that there is no shortage of God\\u2019s power here in this passage, and yet it is not at this point that people respond in faith. I\\u2019ve often heard \\u2013 and thought myself \\u2013 that if God would just unleash a few good tangible and measurable miracles, that many would believe. But this makes me question that. Probably it would just scare us and the best we\\u2019d manage is to either write it off or to be amazed without understanding.\\n\\n\\n\\nAnd this is where the way that God has arranged things begins to make more sense to me. Why is it that God chooses to involve us in witnessing to His power? It is because we respond to story; we respond to incarnation \\u2013 to fleshed-out reality. The WITNESS is an integral part of belief and it is how we participate in what God is doing in the world.\\n\\n\\n\\nWITNESS (vv. 37-39)\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nBelieving, pierced to the heart (v. 37) \\u2013 So after Peter shares the story of Jesus, we read that those present were \\u201cpierced to the heart.\\u201d\\n\\n\\n\\n\\nIn our scripture reading, Peter\\u2019s message is just referenced as \\u2018this\\u2019 \\u2013 \\u201cNow when they heard this\\u201d (v. 37). What Peter had done in verses 14-36 was what Jesus told him to do: he gave witness. Here are the Cliffs notes to Peter\\u2019s sermon: Peter talked about God\\u2019s promise to send his Spirit. He talked about God\\u2019s plan to send Jesus into the world. He talked about history and hopes and the great themes and stories of incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. He talked about and gave witness to Jesus as Lord.\\n\\n\\n\\nAnd the people h'