Part 1
Part 1
Pentecost
On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out on God’s people. Like a strong wind from heaven with tongues of fire that touched each person, the Holy Spirit came and indwelled believers. Proclaiming the wonders of God, they were inexplicably able to speak in the native languages of the many foreigners present. The ascension of Jesus and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in His disciples marked a new era for the Church. This occurred just as Jesus and the Prophets had promised. God, through His Holy Spirit, was unambiguously within and amongst His people.
Read: Acts 2:1-8
Further Reading: John 16:12-15, Deuteronomy 16:9-11.
As a group, read aloud Acts 2:1-8 three times, with different people taking turns to read. What strikes you about this passage? What stands out as you hear it read? Share your thoughts with each other.
Discuss
- Why might God have chosen to release the Holy Spirit upon His believers in this way? What scriptures from the Old or New Testament reflect this?
- Read Exodus 32:28. What was the significance of three thousand people being saved on the day of Pentecost? How does this connect back to the time of Moses and Aaron and the worship of the golden calf?
- Throughout the Bible, yeast is representative of sin. What is the significance of eating unleavened bread for communion today? What might it represent? How does it connect back to Jewish traditions of Jesus’ time (and still today for Jewish people)?
- Read Acts 2:1-4. The Holy Spirit came upon believers in three forms – wind, fire and unifying languages. What is the significance of wind? What does fire represent?
- Read Genesis 11:1-11. Regarding the day of Pentecost, what is the significance of believers being able to praise God in the many different languages understood by visitors to Jerusalem? How does this relate to the story in Genesis 11?
- What does the day of Pentecost mean to you? Why is it significant for the Church?
Respond
Disciples have the privilege and joy of a close relationship with God every day, wherever they are, through His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, indwelling within each person who accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior. As disciples, we risk taking this connection to God for granted. What is one thing you can do this week to appreciate your connection with Jesus through the Holy Spirit? Who can you be praying for this week, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to receive a touch from God? .