IPHC Disciple3

Step Two: Focus the Church

From Easter to Pentecost:
Preparing for the Release of the Spirit in 2004/2005

From Easter to Pentecost was Bishop Joseph H. King's premier theological treatise detailing the Pentecostal Holiness Church's understanding of Christ's provision of justification by faith, sanctification, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Joseph King served as Bishop of the IPHC from 1917-1946. For over sixty years this book was the theological expression of IPHC theology and preaching.

The themes Bishop King emphasized are timeless scriptural truths with profound applications to contemporary discipleship. His book title gives us an opportunity for IPHC churches to focus annually on the most significant period in the church calendar: Easter to Pentecost.

At Easter, the great drama of salvation is portrayed on the Cross as the Lamb of God is sacrificed for our sins. Christians remember this reality in terms of Holy Week, culminating with Good Friday and the victory of Christ over death on Easter Sunday.
At Pentecost, the reality of Christ's death and resurrection are brought to bear upon the life of the new community formed by His life: the birth of the church at Pentecost.

But in between, the eight weeks from Resurrection (Easter) Sunday to Pentecost Sunday is an annual opportunity to focus on the person and work of Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The early church understood the connection between:

• Easter and Pentecost
• New Life and Life in the Spirit
• Evangelism and Discipleship

Now it's our time to rediscover this biblical connection and bring people back to truth and experience as known in the early church.

JESUS BETWEEN EASTER AND PENTECOST
Acts 1:2, 3 tells us that following His resurrection, Jesus spent forty days with His disciples. Among other things, He “presented Himself alive . . . by many infallible proofs” (1:3, NKJV). Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus gave commandments to His apostles (1:2). Jesus specifically taught the disciples “things pertaining to the kingdom of God” (1:3).

The Gospels provide additional insight into what Jesus did and taught during the forty days before His Ascension:

He gave the disciples the Great Commission regarding evangelism and discipleship (Matthew 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15-18).
He joined the disciples for meals (Luke 24:30, 42, 43; John 21:12, 13).
Jesus restored a fallen disciple (John 21:15-19).
He taught how He fulfilled the Law and the Prophets (Luke 24:44-48)
He instructed them to wait for the Promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49).

BIBLICAL THEMES RELATED TO PENTECOST
Exodus 23:16 - The Feast of Harvest (Pentecost) was celebrated 50 days after the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Easter, the celebration of the deliverance from Egypt, Exodus 12:1-28, 43-49; 13:3-9). Here the focus is on:

giving to the Lord in worship the “firstfruits of your labors which you have sown in the field.”
Pentecost commemorated the firstfruits of the early harvest (see Numbers 28:26-31).

Leviticus 23:15-22 - Pentecost Sunday is celebrated with:

a “new grain offering to the Lord.” In other words, the theme of “newness” is part of the Pentecost paradigm.
It is a day of no “customary work.” That means it is an opportunity for change, a shift in how the people of God do the work of God.
Pentecost is a reminder that God loves the poor and strangers and commands that provision be made for them.

Deuteronomy 16:9-12 - This final Pentateuch passage provides key insights into the biblical meaning of Pentecost:

The work of “harvest” is central. There is a limited time to “put the sickle to the grain” (16:9).
The hard work of “harvest” always concludes with a “freewill offering” that we give in response to the blessings of the Lord (16:10).
Worship focuses on “rejoicing” and is worship that does not exclude anyone (16:11).
Pentecost means the Lord is looking for a place where His name and His Presence will abide (16:11).
Pentecost, with its themes of newness, calls us to remember we have been redeemed from sin and therefore are free to observe the law of the Lord (16:12).

FIFTY DAYS: THE JOURNEY FROM EASTER TO PENTECOST
Many IPHC churches focus on the Easter season with cantatas and special sermons. Some even focus on the church season known as Lent and Holy Week. But other than emphasis in adult Sunday school lessons, Pentecost Sunday is seldom emphasized among Pentecostal churches.

For over a thousand years, Christians around the world have recognized the importance of the period between Easter and Pentecost. They have also recognized that the months following Pentecost are the longest period of church emphasis regarding Christian growth, maturity, and discipleship. This period covers the summer months and early fall of each year.

We believe it is imperative for IPHC churches to recognize the importance of the seven weeks between Easter and Pentecost during this two year emphasis on Making Disciples, as well as in the coming years. These seven weeks provide opportunities for IPHC churches to:

Teach and preach about the victory of Christ over sin, death, and hell.
Teach and preach about the Holy Spirit.
Lead people to grow in knowledge of and personal experience with the Holy Spirit.
Lead people to experience the liberty and joy of victory over self, deliverance from oppression, and consecration to Christ through sanctification.
Lead people to recognize and release the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
Lead people to recognize the purpose of the church, the body of Christ, in their community, city, and world.
Lead people to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in other tongues.

The following two tracks will help pastors and lay leaders use these fifty days effectively and focus the church on Easter to Pentecost as a time of numerical growth and maturing disciples.

Track One: Small Group Studies. Develop special small groups and/or Sunday school classes that will study one or more of these resources about the Holy Spirit written by IPHC writers:

Spiritual Gifts: Ministries and Manifestations by B.E. Underwood (LifeSprings Resources, 1984).
Receiving the Promise of the Father: How to be Baptized in the Holy Spirit by Garnet Pike (LifeSprings Resources, 1997).
Your Spiritual Gifts by Owen Weston (LifeSprings Resources, 2002 Revised Edition).
Plugged In to God's Power by Doug Beacham (Charisma House Publishers, 2002).
Rediscovering the Role of Apostles and Prophets by Doug Beacham (LifeSprings Resources, 2003).

The content of these books should be taught as a special emphasis during the Easter-Pentecost season (April 11 - May 30, 2004; and March 27 - May 15, 2005).

Track Two: Sermon Series. Pastors are encouraged to preach about the Holy Spirit during these seven weeks with an emphasis on leading people to the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

We have provided texts and sermon ideas for the eight Sundays starting with Easter Sunday and leading to Pentecost Sunday. The (two-page) sermon outlines are provided by the Executives serving on the IPHC Mission 21 Committee. They are designed to stimulate your preparation, prayer, and presentation as you lead your congregation to greater life in the Holy Spirit. These outlines are provided in the Resource Kit that accompanies this guide.

Easter Sunday: Text: Matthew 28:1-8; Acts 2:22-39; 1 Corinthians 15:12-28. These passages show the victory of Christ over death and sin and set the stage for the emphasis on new life in the Spirit as the church moves toward Pentecost.
• Sermon Outline - Bishop James D. Leggett, General Superintendent/IPHC
First Sunday after Easter: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 11:17-20; John 20:19-23; Romans 6:1-11. These texts center around the reality of
“newness” found in Christ and the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament texts emphasize the “new covenant” and the “new spirit” that God has promised to give to those who turn in repentance. In John 20, Jesus “breathes” His own breath into the disciples and brings deliverance from fear. Romans 6 is the classic Pauline description of what it means to participate in the death and resurrection of Christ through water baptism.
• Sermon Outline - Rev. Donald Duncan, Executive Director, World Missions Ministries/IPHC
Second Sunday after Easter: Psalm 51:10, 11; Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:11; 9:19; Galatians 3:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:2. These texts show the work of the Holy Spirit in delivering us from the carnal nature of sin and separating us unto the holy calling of our lives. They show that sanctification is not about our works of righteousness but about the Spirit's work in our lives by faith.
• Sermon Outline - Dr. Ronald Carpenter, Executive Director, Evangelism USA/IPHC
Third Sunday after Easter: Genesis 41:38; Exodus 28:3; 31:3; 35:31; Numbers 11:17-29; Deuteronomy 4:8; 5:11, 14; Judges 14:6, 19; 1 Samuel 10:6, 10; 16:13; Acts 6:3; 9:17. These passages relate to the work of the Holy Spirit in calling and anointing individuals for service in the kingdom of God. They show various ways the Spirit calls and equips us for service.
• Sermon Outline - Dr. Douglas Beacham, Executive Director, Church Education Ministries/IPHC
Fourth Sunday after Easter: There are various spiritual realities that the Holy Spirit does in our lives. Among them are the Spirit's power to give life (John 6:63; Romans 8; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Galatians 5:16); to reveal truth (John 14:17, 26; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 5:6); to establish His fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22, 23; Ephesians 5:9).
• Sermon Outline - Rev. Edward Wood, Executive Director, Stewardship Ministries/IPHC
Fifth Sunday after Easter: We are warned repeatedly in Scripture not to sin against the Holy Spirit. These warnings include rebelling against the Spirit (Psalm 106:33), grieving the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10; Ephesians 4:30), blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:28-29), resisting the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51), lying to and testing the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3, 9), quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19), and insulting the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:29). These warnings are given because the Holy Spirit is God (John 4:24; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 1 John 5:7), and He is personal.
• Sermon Outline - Rev. Jewelle Stewart, Executive Director, Women's Ministries/IPHC
Ascension Sunday (Sixth Sunday after Easter): The classic Ascension text is Acts 1:4-11. That provides a framework for reflecting on the presence and work of the Spirit in relation to Jesus Christ (Isaiah 11:2; 42:1ff; 61:1; Matthew 12:18; Luke 4:1ff; 10:21; Ephesians 4:1-16).
• Sermon outline - Rev. Jack Kelley, Executive Director, Men's Ministries/IPHC
Pentecost Sunday (Seventh Sunday after Easter): This Sunday can focus on the need for and availability of the baptism of the Holy Spirit in our lives (Isaiah 32:15; 44:3; Joel 2:28; Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Acts 2:4; 8:15ff; 9:17; 10:44ff; 19:2, 6). This includes the reality of Holy Spirit power in our lives (Micah 3:8; Zechariah 4:6; Acts 1:8; 10:38; Romans 15:13, 19; 1 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5).
• Sermon Outline - Bishop James D. Leggett, General Superintendent/IPHC

These passages, which are not an exhaustive study of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, provide a framework for enriching the knowledge and hearts of IPHC congregations around the world.