JOHN 8: TO THE JEWS WHO HAD BELIEVED HIM, JESUS SAID, “IF YOU HOLD TO MY TEACHING, YOU ARE REALLY MY DISCIPLES. 32 THEN YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.”

THE CHURCH IS: 1. A place where truth is told.

JOHN 8: To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

ACTS 2:1-4 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

ACTS 2:5-7 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God- fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?

THE CHURCH IS: 2. A place where truth is told about Jesus.

WHAT TRUTH? 1. Jesus is the living son of God.

ACTS 2:22 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

WHAT TRUTH? 2. Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

ACTS 2:23 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

WHAT TRUTH? 3. Jesus rose boldly from the grave.

ACTS 2:24 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

ACTS 2:32 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

WHAT TRUTH? 4. Jesus must become our Lord and Christ.

ACTS 2:36 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

THE CHURCH IS: 3. A place where truth is told about salvation.

ACTS 2:38 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, 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.

TWO REQUIREMENTS: 1. Repentance. WHAT IT MEANS: A change of mind. A change of behavior. A change of allegiance.

TWO REQUIREMENTS: 2. Baptism. TWO BLESSINGS: Forgiveness of sins and a gift of the Holy Spirit.

BAPTISM IS: 1. A removal of our past. 2. Power for our future.

THE CHURCH IS: 4. A place where truth is told about community.

ACTS 2:42 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

WHAT DID THEY DO? They studied the bible together. They did life together. They ate together. They prayed together.

THE CHURCH IS: 5. A place where the truth is told about us.

ACTS 2:47 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

TWO MARKS: They were authentic. They were generous.

TAKE HOME: Not criticism and conformity, but compassion and cultural contrast.

JOHN 15: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.