God is already out ahead of the church

Sunday April 6^th, Acts 2: 38 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." Welcome to the brave new world, the new Peter style.  No more hiding behind the locked doors and blaming Thomas for your own fear, no more looking over the shoulder to see if the Romans were coming, but out there, bold and on fire for the Lord, sort of.  It really was not much of a speech, and yet, thousands were baptized.  Peter had learned that the trick is not in eloquent speech, but in God speech.  The trick is not in wonderful programs, but in God’s program.  God is already out ahead of the church and you and I just waiting for us to respond with the message of, and offer of, forgiveness for the masses of hurting people.  The biggest obstacle is helping them face the hurt they and we have shoved down so deep into our psyche we don’t even know it is there.  What the church needs then is the voice of honesty, not our personal or institutional agendas.  So step out in boldness and follow where God already is and where God has already set the stage and worked the soil for you, and here, preach the good news of forgiveness.