It was just another day...until it wasn’t.
Today we continue exploring the critical yet often overlooked role of the Holy Spirit in our church and lives as Christ followers. First with the Day of Pentecost, when a group of people begin suddenly and inexplicably speaking in other languages. We also consider the broader context of two central figures echoing in the story, Abraham and Moses, and the key events underlying God's plan surrounding that day.
Then we look more deeply at the Spirit's role that day, and even still in our church and lives today, so that we can see more clearly the Holy Spirit as a long-awaited gift to us, whose purpose is not to divide us, but to unite together in Jesus.
Are we seeing the Holy Spirit do anything in our lives that would cause unbelievers in our community to stop and ask, “What's happening with that church?”
Let's unpack this and more in today's message…
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Acts 2:1-13 (CSB)
When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites; those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts), 11 Cretans and Arabs — we hear them declaring the magnificent acts of God in our own tongues.” 12 They were all astounded and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean? ” 13 But some sneered and said, “They’re drunk on new wine.”
