The Day of Pentecost

Intro

Other Tongues

Search online to find the word hello in different languages. Write each one on a separate index card.

Have students draw a card and attempt to pronounce the word. Then discuss the following:

It’s hard trying to speak a language you have never used or been taught!

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was poured out and gave the 120 Jews who were gathered in the upper room the ability to speak in all manner of languages.

For some people in the crowd, although seeing and hearing this was initially confusing, it quickly turned into confirmation of what God had done.

Even though God started with the 120 who had waited and tarried, 3,000 more were added the same day.

Lesson

The Day of Pentecost

The days following Jesus’ ascension probably felt uncertain.

He ascended toward heaven. But before He did - He commanded them some things…

Don’t go anywhere.

Stay in the city.

Wait for the Father’s promise.

This wasn’t the sort of command they were used to. They were ready to do something! And tell about Jesus and what He had done. But He told them to stay and wait.

Acts 2:1 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

WAITING

Anyone have any idea how many days it was between Jesus going up and when Pentecost happened???

One day passed… then two… then five… then ten.

These people were together in an upper room in Jerusalem, with just a promise and a few instructions. They knew something good was coming, they just didn’t know exactly what.

But in that waiting, God was working. While they were praying for it, Heaven was preparing it!

And this is the kind of waiting that God wants from His people. They weren’t just sitting around—they were expecting something to happen! It was intentional, not idle!

In some ways, that upper room makes me think of the fiery furnace. Those guys were fully dependent on God to do something! In the upper room, Jesus had made them a promise. So they stayed, they prayed, they believed.

In a world that runs at ever-increasing speeds, the early church teaches us that the greatest power often comes to those willing to wait. If we are really going to live this, it’s going to require some things that are difficult.

Fasting

Sacrifice of time—which is devoted to God

Instead of allowing social media to cause you to neglect your Bible, it’s going to be allowing your Bible to cause you to neglect social media.

You have to be willing to stand against what wants to rob your time with God.

So here’s something to remember about the Day of Pentecost: Pentecost was a huge festival. And people had come into Jerusalem from all over—people who spoke all sorts of languages.

Here the disciples and others are in the upper room, waiting. No one in there was even sure what was supposed to happen. But they came there day after day and prayed for it. And Heaven had been counting down to this moment since the beginning of time!

Then, it happened.

The first thing that took place was the sound as of a rushing mighty wind (think the sound of strong winds on your house).

Then, they noticed the room had gotten a little brighter—when they looked up from their prayer, there was what looked like fire above each person’s head!

And… they all began to speak in other languages as the Spirit gave them that ability.

This was the moment when the Holy Ghost was first poured out. As they spoke, it was clear they were speaking in real languages.

Crowds were gathered now. They were amazed to hear about God’s greatness in their own languages. Some mocked them but then Peter stepped up.

People had questions about what they were hearing and what was happening (much like they do today). Peter told them that God had poured out His Spirit just as Joel prophesied.

Just like God breathed life into Adam, He now gives us new life through His Spirit. What began in the upper room still happens today!

We cannot do everything God calls us to do without His Spirit.

It’s available for anyone who will seek, wait, and make space for God to do it in their lives.

It’s not optional—it’s necessary!

If we want to be filled, we have to seek Him like His followers did: together, with prayer, worship, and hunger for it. When we do, God WILL send His Spirit!

The Full Cup

Bring two cups—one full of water to the brim and one empty.

Try to pour more water into the full cup. It will overflow and waste the new water.

Sometimes, our lives are “too full” of distractions, fear, sin, or self to receive anything new from God.

It’s not that we can’t receive anything—it’s that we have to make room for it.

It’s not that God won’t give such things—it’s that He looks for people who have made room for it.

The disciples in the upper room had to empty their fears, doubts, and plans before they could be filled with the Holy Ghost. And that waiting wasn’t wasted time—it was making room.

That brings us to another important point: To live a Spirit-filled life, we have to live a Spirit-centered life.

The Holy Ghost isn’t meant to be a momentary experience but the daily center of everything we do!

The disciples didn’t just have an encounter—they were transformed, empowered, and given new direction by the Spirit.

If it’s daily, then we have to make room for God’s Spirit, not just on Sunday, but every day.

Alright… when we’re filled with the Spirit, there are things in us that change. What changes?

How we think

How we talk

How we respond

Our actions

What’s happening is that we are allowing it to change us. Being filled with the Spirit is only the goal—being led of the Spirit it the goal!

The disciples were filled in Acts 2, but they were led by the Spirit in Acts 3-28.

The same Spirit that filled them empowers us to live boldly, love deeply, and reach others.

The Spirit transforms priorities into purpose.

When God comes first, everything else finds its right place.

The Gospel and Our Response

So… people are speaking in languages they had never been taught. That’s hard to explain!

But people from every known corner of the world had gathered around and they knew that there was something supernatural happening; how could all these different languages be spoken?!

Some were mocking, but many were stirred up about it.

And then Peter—no longer the timid fisherman, but Spirit-filled and bold—stood and preached Jesus!

He told the crowd that the same Jesus they had crucified was both Lord and Christ.

And all of the sudden, conviction hit their hearts.

Acts 2:37 NKJV

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

And that question is still important today: What do we do when we realize Jesus died for us and we are not right with God? Peter gave the answer very clearly:

Acts 2:38 KJV 1900

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

I want you to notice that Peter didn’t give them vague suggestions. He told them that the gospel requires a response!

The message still hasn’t changed!

Today, conviction still grips us and births a hunger for God as our soul cries out: What must I do?!

And the response is still the same: Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of your sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost!

For sure, Peter was speaking to those who were gathered, but what he was preaching was for EVERYONE!

Acts 2:39 NKJV

For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

So this was not some one-time offer. It wasn’t for a select number of people (cessationism). It was the beginning of something new and ongoing!

That’s why Peter connected it to the prophecy of Joel:

Joel 2:28 NKJV

“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.

Every time the someone gets the Holy Ghost, the promise is fulfilled! And no matter how far we go away from God, we can still be renewed in the Holy Ghost.

Conclusion

There comes a point when hearing is not enough anymore. We must respond.

It’s when we no longer as, “What shall we do?” Because now we know.

Now, the only questions are, “Will I do it? Will I repent? Will I be baptized in Jesus’ name? Will I open my heart and ask for the Holy Ghost to fill me?”

The same God who filled hungry people on the day of Pentecost is ready to fill us! If we seek Him, He will do it!

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