◆“The Mission of the Church” (Acts 2:1–13) June 8, 2025

Today is the Day of Pentecost. Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Church, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. That’s why it is also known as the Day of the Holy Spirit’s coming. Although this event occurred over 2,000 years ago, the Christian Church remembers and celebrates it in worship every year.

As we heard in today’s reading, this event happened just as Jesus had foretold even before He was crucified. For example, in John 14:15, Jesus said, “The Father will give you another Advocate to be with you forever,” and He called this Advocate “the Spirit of truth.” In John 16:8, He said, “When He comes, He will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment.” Jesus explained that the Holy Spirit would be the one to proclaim the good news through us?that sins are forgiven and our relationship with God is restored.

Based on this foundation, Acts 1:8 tells us: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Until that moment, Jesus had told them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4). And finally, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the Church.

The word “Holy Spirit” translates the Greek term hagios pneuma?hagios meaning “holy,” and pneuma meaning “breath,” signifying life energy. Jesus, the Son of God, came to earth, chose disciples, preached the gospel, taught prayer, and empowered them to perform miracles. All of this was like the gestation period for the Church?like a baby developing in the womb.

When a baby is born, the way life is sustained changes. In the womb, life is maintained through the umbilical cord, but after birth, the baby cries out and begins to breathe. From then on, breathing sustains life and makes all activity possible. In the same way, the Church received the breath of God at Pentecost. Though Jesus was no longer with them in visible form, the Holy Spirit?His Spirit?was now with the Church. This means the Church would not be sustained by human strength, but by the power of the Spirit?guided, corrected, and empowered by God.

So, what did the Church do? They proclaimed the gospel. At the time, Pentecost was a major Jewish festival, and people from across the Roman Empire had gathered in Jerusalem, speaking many different languages. The disciples, though untrained in those languages, began to speak to the visitors in their native tongues. As Acts 2:4 says, “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” This was the work of the Holy Spirit.

How should we understand this today? Could we also speak other languages without learning them if the Holy Spirit works in us? It’s possible?if the Spirit wills it. But usually, we study at language schools, and the Holy Spirit helps us through that process. Yet, there’s a deeper message here: the gospel is meant for everyone, regardless of language or cultural background. Language is deeply tied to culture, and the gospel is open to people from every cultural context.

We don’t need to overthink this. Think about your coworkers, your old school friends, or even family members who don’t yet know Jesus. Each person lives within their own unique background. Some may be fortunate, others may struggle. Some may be open to new ideas, while others may be skeptical or slow to accept change. But the gospel is open to all, and it is the Holy Spirit who uses those of us who already know the gospel to share it with others.

In verse 14 and following, we see that the disciples did not merely share information?they challenged people. Representing the group, Peter proclaimed that the Jesus whom they had crucified was in fact the Messiah, the long-awaited Savior. He also declared that though Jesus had died, He had risen again and now stands as Judge. Verse 35, “Until I make your enemies your footstool,” refers to Jesus, who is now exalted.

The people didn’t receive this information calmly. They were shaken. In verse 37, they asked, “Brothers, what should we do?”?wondering how to escape judgment. Peter responded with another step: verse 38, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven.”

He called on them to acknowledge their sin, to understand that Jesus took their sin upon Himself, that they had been forgiven, and to express this personal belief through baptism. This completes the message. Peter didn’t stop halfway. Some may think, “Isn’t it enough to believe in your heart?” or “Baptism is optional, right?” It’s true that the criminal crucified next to Jesus was saved without baptism?he had no time or opportunity. But that was an exception.

Ordinarily, belief and baptism go hand in hand. And there is more. Verse 41 tells us, “About three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” So those who repented and were baptized joined the Church and began a life of faith together. That is the full picture.

Let us now summarize today’s message. What is the mission of the Church? What is the mission of Tama Migiiwa Christ Church? What is the mission of each one of us who gathers here? It is to make disciples. Jesus said in Matthew 28:19?20:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

In Japanese, this may sound like three or four separate commands: Go. Make disciples. Baptize. Teach to obey. But in the original Greek, there is only one central command: “Make disciples.”

In other words, we are to invite people to walk with Jesus. We are to proclaim a life of hope and trust in Him. And we are to train and support one another to live in this way.

Serving the homeless with food, reaching out to troubled youth in the streets of Shinjuku, or sending donations to disaster areas?these are all good deeds. But if we lack the perspective of sharing the gospel, we are not fulfilling the mission of the Church.

Let us reaffirm this foundational truth through the events of Pentecost. Let us proclaim the gospel to people from all kinds of backgrounds, and share the blessing of walking with the Lord together.

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Sermon script modified based on proofreading and translation with ChatGPT.