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Teaching Text: Acts 2: 1-24

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead,freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.

Themes

Consider these themes and ask your group what else they see in the passage:

Pentecost

Formation

Thoughts and notes you can use for discussion:

What is life?
- An unchosen gift where we find ourselves experiencing existence and possibility in a relational world.
  - Unchosen - your life is something you received, not something you began
  - Existence - your awareness of being alive comes with certain natural and spiritual laws outside of your control.
  - Possibility - inside of your existence you have many meaningful choices to make
  - Relational - Human life cannot begin or survive alone. It can barely be sustained alone at any time. Life thrives most in relationship.
  - World - The physical/natural world is full of immense beauty and danger and so is the world made by human cultures.

A Relational framework:
- God - Self - Others - World

Impacts: Identity, Relationships, Physicality, Emotions, Community, Culture, Resources, Work, Power
What if God wants to be known?
What if God wants to heal and restore all that was lost in our disconnection?
What if God wants the renewal of all things?

How?
- The gradual and love soaked disclosure of a God who is FATHER, SON, HOLY SPIRIT
  - Father - YHWH
    - Working in covenant for repair and renewal
    - Hints at other members of Trinity
    - God defines reality
  - Son - Promised Messiah + Kingdom Bringer
    - Lamb who takes away the sin of the world
    - “I have called you friends”
    - Life, Death, Resurrection
  - Holy Spirit - makes people alive spiritually by uniting them to Jesus
    - Our experience of friendship with God
    - Filling and leading a redeemed life
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly”
– Acts 2: 1-2
- This day has been coming for centuries.

The unifying translator - our primary problem is relational brokeness at the places of most importance
Making sense of the impossible
The Spirit who brought order our of chaos in creation does so again
Are these people drunk? What is happening?
The Spirit helps locate them in the story of the ancient promises. This is happening NOW!
The Spirit lifts up Jesus.
The Spirit translates God’s rescue to our hearts.

Cut to the Heart - gets to the very center and nature of reality and our lives
Repent and be baptized - reorient your entire lie around this new reality and be immersed into relationship with God