2. Gateways for converting to Christ and receiving the Spirit Peter at Pentecost…  Repent and be baptized  Receive the gift of the Spirit Samaria…  Philip – evangelized and people converted  Peter & John – prayed and people received the Spirit

3. CREATE THE SPIRITUAL CONTEXT

4. Reality-shaping prayer “Words fail to express how necessary prayer is, and in how many ways the exercise of prayer is profitable.” John Calvin, Institutes 3.20.2

5. Reality-shaping prayer  Prayer is the spiritual groundwork that levels mountains, fills in valleys, and prepares in the desert places a highway for the Lord.  Before trying to change people’s understanding and openness to the work of the Spirit through teaching and practice, we first need to prepare the way through prayer.

6. Balanced Biblical teaching The breadth of the Gospel includes…  Forgiveness  Reconciliation  New life  Adoption  Immigration  Liberation  Cleansing  Purpose

7. Balanced Biblical teaching Different personalities respond to…  God’s love and compassion  God’s power to rescue and resurrect  God’s truth and purpose

8. Balanced Biblical teaching Include the Holy Spirit in…  Systematic teaching  Drip-feed within sermons  Testimony … normalize the Third Person of the Trinity

9. Balanced Biblical teaching Include the breadth of the Spirit’s activity N. New Life (or ‘incorporation’) S. Sanctification (or ‘transformation’) E. Empowerment W. We (or koinonia, fellowship)

10. OPEN THE GATEWAY INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD Present the challenge and opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as Savior and follow him as Lord

11. Present the challenge and opportunity to become Christians Jesus: “Follow me” Mark 1:17 Peter: “Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Acts 2:40

12. Seize the opportunities in the seasons of church life  Christmas, Easter & Pentecost  New Year & Harvest  Renewing Membership promises  Communion  Baptisms  …and Spirit-prompted kairos moments !

13. Acknowledged profession of commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord “Whoever then, acknowledges me before people, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33, NET “…if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9-10

14. OPEN THE GATEWAY FOR THE SPIRIT’S ANOINTING

15.  Peter at Pentecost – Acts 2  Peter & John in Samaria – Acts 8  Ananias with Saul / Paul – Acts 9  Peter with Cornelius – Acts 10  Peter himself on several occasions - Acts 2:4, 4:8, 4:31

16. “…you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39  Ensure people are not deprived of this promise!

17. Take people to where the fire is burning Events and opportunities  Conferences  Other churches The value in visiting other places  It may be the only current option !  Greater openness in an anonymous setting

18. Bring the flame into the local church Events and opportunities  Church ‘Away Day’ events dealing with the Holy Spirit  Lay Witness Movement  Ignite The significant value of “outside input”  It temporarily imports the First Foundation  The same teaching, but a fresh voice

19. Fanning the flame in everyday Church life Opportunities for prayer  In response to preaching  Baptisms and ordinations  Practise the purpose of Pentecost

20. Lay hands on people and pray for them to receive the Spirit “When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 8:15-17  Do we ?