Pentecost                Acts 2:1-13
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. . . . And you will be my witnesses from one end of the earth to the other.”  (Acts 1:8)
 
“No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”  (1 Corinthians 12:3)
 
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit upon His disciples. Ten days later, as they were gathered together with other followers of Jesus, it happened! The Holy
Spirit came upon them with some miraculous signs: the sound of loud wind, tongues of fire on the heads of the apostles, and everyone heard them witness God*s truth to them in their very own languages.
 
The Holy Spirit’s performed three miracles on the day of Pentecost:
  • He caused the disciples to witness the word of God in many languages;
  • He gave them courage and faith to witness His word;
  • He caused many people (3000 that day) to believe and to be baptized.
v. 1-13
  • The promise to send the Holy Spirit upon the disciples was to enable them to make disciples from all nations.
  • This outpouring of the Holy Spirit was accompanied with external signs: the sound of a loud wind, tongues of fire set on the heads of the apostles, and they were able to witness in other tongues (known human languages).
  • The Spirit of God had been active in Old Testament times, indicated by words such as: “the Spirit of the Lord was upon him.” But now the word would not be confined to God*s Old Testament people in Israel.
  • It was to spread through all the world. Therefore, the emphasis is not on the gift of speaking in tongues, but on the preaching of the Gospel in words that people could hear in their own languages.
 
APPLICATIONS
In the explanation to the third article of the Apostles Creed we confess: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or effort believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel...”
 
How thankful we are that our unbelieving hearts did not turn from the Gift of God which is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. With the Holy Spirit present in God*s word, He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies us and the whole Christian Church on earth... and He keeps us in that saving faith through the word until Jesus comes again in glory to take us Home.
 
 
Exploring God’s Word                 Pentecost                Acts 2:1-13
 
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. . . . And you will be my witnesses from one end of the earth to the other.”  (Acts 1:8)
 
“No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”  (1 Corinthians 12:3)
 
We learned that Jesus had picked some men to do special work. After these apostles had seen Jesus ascend into heaven, they stayed in Jerusalem praying and praising God while they waited for the Holy Spirit to come to them.
 
Today we will learn what happened when Jesus kept His promise. Ten days after Jesus ascended, the city was crowded with visitors from all over the world. They had come to praise God on the church holiday called Pentecost.
 
The apostles were meeting together in a house. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit came to them with some wonderful signs. The sound of a rushing, mighty wind came from heaven and filled their house,
 
Next, a fire-like flame sat on the head of each apostle. Then, the Holy Spirit led them to speak God’s Word in languages that they never knew before.
 
Many people in the city heard the strange sound and hurried toward the house where the apostles were. How surprised they were to hear the good news about the forgiveness of sins in the language of their country!
 
 
Dear Holy Spirit,
Thank You for opening our hearts to believe in Jesus as our Savior. When we tell others about Jesus’ love for them, work in God’s Word to open their hearts to believe also. Come to each of us when we study Your Word to keep us ready when Jesus calls us to heaven. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
 
 
Who had gone up into heaven? Jesus
Who did Jesus promise to send? The Holy Spirit
What were the disciples doing while they waited? Praying and praising God
What sound was heard? Wind
What came on the heads of those in the house? Flames like fire
What were the disciples able to speak? Other languages
Why did they need to speak other languages? Many people from around the world were in Jerusalem
 

Theme Verse:                     1 Corinthians 12:3
“No one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.”
 
 
 
 
Play It!
Game 1: Listen Up (Jesus Sends Power from God)
John 16:13-15, Acts 2:1-21
Energy Level:  Low Energy
This game will help kids remember to listen for the Holy Spirit.
Supply List:
  • Wire clothes hanger for every two kids
  • Five-foot length of string for every two kids
  • Chair or table
The Game
Help kids form pairs.  Give each pair a wire clothes hander and a length of string.  Demonstrate how to tie the middle of the string to the hook of the hanger.  Show kids how to wrap one end of the string several times around one index finger, and the other end of the string around the other index finger.  Show the kids how to place the ends of their index fingers lightly in their ears and bend over carefully.  Then let the hanger hit lightly against the chair or table.  Surprisingly, the sound you will hear will be that of church bells or an old-fashioned clock.
Ask kids what they think they’ll hear when they perform the experiment themselves.  Then let partners take turns doing the trick.  After everyone has had a turn, collect the supplies.
Post-Game Discussion Questions
After playing the game, ask your students to sit down in groups of four and discuss:
  • Did you hear what you expected to hear?  Explain.
  • Does God always communicate with you in the ways that you expect?  Explain.
  • How can you be more open to hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit?
Say:  Sometimes God speaks to us in unexpected ways.  God sends the Holy Spirit to remind us of what Jesus said, to comfort us, and to help us.  We can all be more open to hearing what the Holy Spirit has to say.

 
 
 
Play It!
Bible Game: Great Commission Tag
 
Object
Students will run around the room trying to dodge the “Shark” and the “Octopus” who are trying to tag them.
 
Introduction
Today we celebrate the Pentecost. The Pentecost is when the disciples were given the gift of the Holy Spirit. They took that gift and shared it with others who then joined in on the faith and shared their faith with others.
 
The Holy Spirit touched one person who touched another person with the Holy Spirit who touched another and so on and so forth. Faith was multiplied, and we should continue to multiply it even now, 2,000 years later. Right now, we’re going to practice our multiplying by playing a game.
 
 
Instructions
1. Pick one student to be the shark.
2. When you say “Go!” students will start to run around the room.
3. The Shark will chase the students and try to tag them.
4. Once a Shark tags a student, they will drop to the floor and become an Octopus.
5. The students who are Octopi will then swing their arms back and forth as they try to tag the other students who are running around.
6. They may not move from their spot on the floor or get up.
7. Once all students are Octopi except the Shark, the game is over.
 

We’re used to thinking of sharks as big and scary things—but not this time! This time, we can compare the shark to Apostle Peter at Pentecost, who tagged people with the good news of the gospel. Then in turn, those people tagged others. Jesus said in the Great Commission, “Preach the gospel to every living creature,” (not that we share the gospel with sharks and octopi and hamsters and dogs.)  This week, let’s remember our Great Commission, to touch others with our good works, our kindnesses, and our love, so they will see God in us!
 
 
 
 
 
Closing
 
Gather children around you.
 
Pray: Dear God, thank you for loving me and taking care of me. Thank you for sending Jesus to be my Savior.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.