The Second Week of June

Printable Guide

We Read…

This week is Pentecost Sunday, which marks the descent of the Holy Spirit (which we read about in Acts 2). Genesis 11 explains why people were scattered and given different languages. John 14 shares the story of Jesus promising that God’s Spirit would be with us. And then, in Acts 2, we watch as the Spirit is given to the people, and this separation that existed since Genesis 11 is no longer. God is creating and restoring, God is making all things new, and God is choosing to send God’s Spirit so that we can know God personally and deeply. Pentecost is a celebration of the new life and new fire God gives to us!

Psalm 104:24-34, 35b

24 Lord, you have done so many things! 

You made them all so wisely! 

The earth is full of your creations! 

25 And then there’s the sea, wide and deep, 

with its countless creatures— 

living things both small and large. 

26 There go the ships on it, 

and Leviathan, which you made, 

plays in it! 

27 All your creations wait for you 

to give them their food on time. 

28 When you give it to them, 

they gather it up; 

when you open your hand, 

they are filled completely full! 

29 But when you hide your face, 

they are terrified; 

when you take away their breath, 

they die and return to dust. 

30 When you let loose your breath, 

they are created, 

and you make the surface of the 

ground brand-new again. 

31 Let the Lord’s glory last forever! 

Let the Lord rejoice in all he has made! 

32 He has only to look at the earth, 

and it shakes. 

God just touches the mountains, 

and they erupt in smoke. 

33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; 

I will sing praises to my God 

while I’m still alive. 

34 Let my praise be pleasing to him; 

I’m rejoicing in the Lord! 

35 Let sinners be wiped clean 

from the earth; 

let the wicked be no more. 

But let my whole being bless the Lord! 

Praise the Lord! 

Acts 2:1-21

When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak. 

5 There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. 7 They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? 8 How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” 12 They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?” 13 Others jeered at them, saying, “They’re full of new wine!” 

14 Peter stood with the other eleven apostles. He raised his voice and declared, “Judeans and everyone living in Jerusalem! Know this! Listen carefully to my words! 15 These people aren’t drunk, as you suspect; after all, it’s only nine o’clock in the morning! 16 Rather, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 

17 In the last days, God says, 

I will pour out my Spirit on all people. 

Your sons and daughters will prophesy. 

Your young will see visions. 

Your elders will dream dreams. 

18 Even upon my servants, men and women, 

I will pour out my Spirit in those days, 

and they will prophesy. 

19 I will cause wonders to occur in the 

heavens above 

and signs on the earth below, 

blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. 

20 The sun will be changed into darkness, 

and the moon will be changed into blood, 

before the great and spectacular day of 

the Lord comes. 

21 And everyone who calls on the name of the 

Lord will be saved. 

John 14:8-17

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father; that will be enough for us.” 

9 Jesus replied, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been with you all this time? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I have spoken to you I don’t speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Trust me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or at least believe on account of the works themselves. 12 I assure you that whoever believes in me will do the works that I do. They will do even greater works than these because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father can be glorified in the Son. 14 When you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. 

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. 17 This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you. 

We Think…

• What stands out to you in these verses?

• Does anything confuse you or not make sense?

• How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?

• Why did God mix up languages and scatter the people?

• How does Acts 2 compare to what we read in Genesis 11?

• Why does Jesus say that people will do greater works than these?

We Feel…

• What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?

• Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?

• What has God made new in your life? In your heart? 

• When have you experienced God’s Spirit speaking to you or guiding you?

• How does your life glorify God?

We Believe…

Galatians 3:28 tells us this: “There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free; nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” We believe that God’s Spirit has been poured out on all people, not just certain groups of people. This means that any person can receive God’s Spirit, God’s forgiveness, and God’s gifts. There is no person greater than any other, no gender or race or age that is better able to receive God. That is good news for us! 

We Practice…

Fire is a common image associated with God, and this is especially true for Pentecost. When was the last time you sat in front of a fire? If you’re able (with permission and safely), light a candle and watch as the flame grows (or watch a video of a candle being lit). See how much light and heat come off even a tiny flame. How does this represent God in our lives? Just like fire grows and consumes, God’s fire should grow in our hearts and impact every part of us.