The disciples were considered crazy and drunk when they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Do disciples today come across in the same way?

Acts 2.14-41

Reference: v.15 "These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning!" (NIV Bible)

Explore: Have you ever been to a new place and felt perplexed about what happens there? I can remember going to a theatre restaurant for the first time. I had no idea what was going to happen and how crazy these waiters/actors were going to get. At Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples and they spoke in different languages, people thought the disciples had been on the turps. So Peter had to stand up and explain to the on-lookers that they were not drunk but had been filled with God's spirit.

Application: Often, when a new person comes to church, they feel the same way about the regular attenders. The way the people associate with each other and how the service runs is so different to anything they've ever experienced. And unfortunately it's not because the congregation members are so filled with the Holy Spirit that they seem different! It's usually because the church has locked itself into a particular way of functioning and no one outside of the church knows how it works. As Christians we need to be relevant to our communities (as mentioned in yesterday's REAP ) but also be willing to stand up and explain why we do the things we do.

Prayer: Lord, you were so willing to connect with people that you even sent your Son to live on this earth. So often we would much rather hang out in our Christian clubs than connect with all people. Help us to break down the walls of our church and be welcoming of all people. Amen.