The Day the Church was Born

My newborn granddaughter, 2007

Jesus said to him, “Peter, upon this rock I will build My CHURCH and the gates of Hades will not overpower it!” (Matt. 16:18)

            Then the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting!

            And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

            Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised His voice and declared (to the crowd that had gathered), “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

            So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,  to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved!  (Acts 1:12,2:1-4,14,38-42,47)

Jesus, the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:14,20)

Oh come, come, come, come,

            Come to the CHURCH by the wildwood

                        Oh, come to the CHURCH in the vale

                                    No spot is so dear to my childhood

                                                As the little brown CHURCH in the vale!

Illustration by Donny Finley, for my new book in the making