In conversation with a young adult I’ll call Sophie, we talked about the suicide of a friend of hers I’ll call Tommy. “He was the life of the party!” Sophie said, “He lit up the room. Everyone felt like his best friend.” Clearly this Tommy’s relational life thrived. “But he didn’t know what to do … Continue reading –>
Further Thought: The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost revealed a crucial truth about what happened in heaven and about how God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice for the sins of the world. The outpouring of the Spirit showed, too, that Christ’s work in heaven in our behalf, based on His sacrifice on earth, was … Continue reading –>
You can view an in-depth discussion of “Pentecost” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. (Adobe Flash Player version.) A Youtube version of this week’s lesson at Hope Sabbath School is below. You can download the video, the MP3 audio, and the lesson outline from the HopeTV Sabbath School Site. You … Continue reading –>
Peter’s hearers were cut to the heart by his words. Some of them might have been among those who asked for Jesus’ crucifixion a few weeks before (Luke 23:13-25). But now, persuaded that Jesus of Nazareth was indeed God’s appointed Messiah, they cried out in sorrow: “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Read Acts 2:38. What are the … Continue reading –>
My apologies that the hymns are late for this week. Sunday – The Holy Spirit descended to the brand new church and so we ask for that now: Hymn 269, “Come, Holy Spirit” and Hymn 268, “Holy Spirit, Light Divine”. Monday – Hymn 250, “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and Hymn 81, “Though I Speak … Continue reading –>
“Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear” (Acts 2:33). In the third part of the speech, Peter went back to the issue of tongues, which had attracted the people in the … Continue reading –>
The charge of drunkenness gave Peter the opportunity to explain what was happening. In his speech, the apostle first pointed to Scripture (Acts 2:16-21), describing the outpouring of the Spirit as the fulfillment of prophecy. Compare Acts 2:17 with Joel 2:28. How did Peter understand the time of fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy? Joel’s prophecy was about the future age … Continue reading –>
Pentecost. Let’s start with a puzzle. How is the word, “Pentecost,” related to the number, 50, and the term, “Feast of Weeks”? How did the observance of Pentecost change from a Jewish festival to an exuberant celebration of the Christian church? What thrilling event took place on the first observation of Pentecost by Christians? Do … Continue reading –>
In Acts 2:4, the gift of the Spirit was manifested through speaking in tongues. Yet, this gift was only one of many different manifestations of the Spirit (Acts 10:45-46; Acts 19:6). Others include foretelling the future (Acts 11:28), visions (Acts 7:55), inspired speech (Acts 2:8, Acts 28:25), healing (Acts 3:6, Acts 3:12; Acts 5:12, Acts 5:16), and qualification for service (Acts 6:3, Acts 6:5). The gift of tongues … Continue reading –>
Key Thought: At Pentecost, when the disciples were gathered in one accord in study and prayer, God poured out the Holy Spirit upon them… Lesson 2, July 8 1. Have a volunteer read Acts 2: 1-3. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is. What elements … Continue reading –>
In obedience to Jesus’ command, the believers waited in Jerusalem for the promise of the Spirit, and they waited amid fervent prayer, sincere repentance, and praise. When the day came, they “were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1, ESV), probably the same large upper room of Acts chapter 1. Soon, however, they would move to … Continue reading –>
Read for This Week’s Study: Acts 2:1-4, John 14:16, Acts 2:5-13, Joel 2:28-32, Acts 2:22-39, Ps. 110:1-3. Memory Text: “This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you both see … Continue reading –>
