Rivulets by Nathan Hart

A note from Nathan

Dear podcast subscribers: From now on, my sermons will be available only on the Stanwich Church podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stanwich-church-audio/id913011936] (iTunes link [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stanwich-church-audio/id913011936], RSS [http://www.stanwichchurchaudio.org/sermons/feed/]). Please subscribe to that one to keep listening. Thank you! Nathan

The Word Spreads

[http://nathanhart.org/rivulets/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Screen-Shot-2019-06-25-at-5.01.13-PM.png]1 Thessalonians 1: Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.4For we know, brothersloved by God, that he has chosen you,5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.8For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.9For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

The People Gather

Acts 2:42-47: 42And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.43And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.44And all who believed were together and had all things in common.45And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.46And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The Spirit Descends

Acts 2:1-21 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.15For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Ruth

Ruth 3: Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?2Is not Boaz our relative, with whose young women you were? See, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor.3Wash therefore and anoint yourself, and put on your cloak and go down to the threshing floor, but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.4But when he lies down, observe the place where he lies. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down, and he will tell you what to do.”5And she replied, “All that you say I will do.” 6So she went down to the threshing floor and did just as her mother-in-law had commanded her.7And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.8At midnight the man was startled and turned over, and behold, a woman lay at his feet!9He said, “Who are you?” And she answered, “I am Ruth, your servant. Spread your wings over your servant, for you are a redeemer.”10And he said, “May you be blessed by the Lord, my daughter. You have made this last kindness greater than the first in that you have not gone after young men, whether poor or rich.11And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.12And now it is true that I am a redeemer. Yet there is a redeemer nearer than I.13Remain tonight, and in the morning, if he will redeem you, good; let him do it. But if he is not willing to redeem you, then, as the Lord lives, I will redeem you. Lie down until the morning.” 14So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, “Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.”15And he said, “Bring the garment you are wearing and hold it out.” So she held it, and he measured out six measures of barley and put it on her. Then she went into the city.16And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her all that the man had done for her,17saying, “These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said to me, ‘You must not go back empty-handed to your mother-in-law.’”18She replied, “Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.”