Introduction and Prayer
Read Acts 1:8 together But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
According to this verse, what happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon people?
Try and commit Acts 1:8 to memory
Pray
Read Acts 2:1
On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place.
What is Pentecost?
Why were the believers all together in one place?
What does this verse tell us about how the disciples were living within 2 months of the resurrection?
Read Exodus 23:14-17
14 “Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor. 15 First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear before me without an offering. 16 “Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest, when you bring me the first crops of your harvest. “Finally, celebrate the Festival of the Final Harvest at the end of the harvest season…
Why do you think God God instructed His children to celebrate these festivals?
Why do you think that God connected these festivals to various times of seedtime and harvest?
How did these festivals help the Children of God build relationships with God? How did these festivals help build community?
Read Acts 2:2-4
Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Was the Spirit of God for everyone?
What was the evidence of the Spirit of God?
Did these disciples earn this gift, and if so, how?
Read Acts 2:5-12
5 At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, 8 and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! 9 Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” 12 They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
What did the people hear and what was their response?
How do you think you would have responded in that situation?
13 But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” 14 Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. 15 These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.
What were the different responses from the crowd?
How do the modern day crowds respond to the Spirit of God?
How well do we accept things we don’t understand?
Think On This…
The Spirit of God moved in their lives to bring glory to God. How could the Spirit of God moving in your life this week bring glory to God?