When you think of “sinners” who might be excluded from God’s kingdom, does anyone come to mind? If so, you may be entering dangerous territory. The Pharisees were certain of their own seat at God’s table, convinced that the tax collectors and prostitutes had no such place. But Jesus came precisely for the people the religious crowd wrote off. He welcomes the broken, the fallen, the forgotten with open arms the moment they repent and turn to Him. God’s grace reaches farther than our judgments, and we may be surprised by those who are on heaven’s guest list!

Holy Spirit: Pentecost and Spiritual Gifts
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The outpouring of the Holy Spirit occurred at Pentecost. The power of the Holy Spirit in union with the spoken word of the gospel of salvation resulted in the addition of 3000 souls and the beginning of the church at Pentecost. Each individual believer indwelt by the Holy Spirit is given at least one spiritual gift according to the grace of God for the purpose of (a) equipping of believers for serving fellow believers, (b) building up the body of Christ and, (c) glorifying God. Each believer is tasked of being a steward or manager of their spiritual gift/s; the expression of their gift being in love.


