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Scripture Text (NRSV)
Acts 2:1-21
Day of Pentecost
2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2:2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it
filled the entire house where they were sitting.
2:3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of
them.
2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages,
as the Spirit gave them ability.
2:5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.
2:6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard
them speaking in the native language of each.
2:7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking
Galileans?
2:8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?
2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia,
Pontus and Asia,
2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and
visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,
2:11 Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of
power."
2:12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this
mean?"
2:13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."
2:14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them,
"Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to
what I say.
2:15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the
morning.
2:16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
2:17 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon
all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see
visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
2:18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
2:19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood,
and fire, and smoky mist.
2:20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of
the Lord's great and glorious day.
2:21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'
Comments:
AHOC in MA
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We are doing children's Sunday for Pentecost.
Once I had done an Easter Service that was a
family service with every part of the service
intentionally inclusive of children. I would like
to do the same for Pentecost. Any ideas, for
example of children's books, poetry to be read etc
that would make up a similar service?
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
A W-G rocky coast ME
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I will be preaching on this Pentecost Sunday in
a
church I have not been to before. I heard it was a
difficult situation with some dark event in their
history. I have been thinking about how the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit changed everything
that once was into a new day. God showered those
gathered together with the gifts of the Holy
Spirit, but the people had the responsibility to
accept these gifts and use them for the good of
the Community of Faith. All I can do is invite
them to receive what God has for them.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Sally
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A W-G:
I once heard an excellent sermon based on this
text (though not on actual Pentecost Sunday) for a
church that was just sort of stuck. It was having
to transition from a country family chapel-type
church to an ex-urban church (people moving out of
the city, but not a suburb).
However, the refrain that the preacher used many
times was, "A breath of fresh air." The
Holy Spirit gave the wind and essentially aired
out the place they were gathered. THEN the gifts
came.
That preacher used it differently, but it seems
like it could apply, IMHO, to this church.
Sometimes we need to air out, or clear the air,
before the tongues can rest on us.
It's likely the theme I'll be preaching -
especially trying to help the church transition to
my successor. I'm trying to keep them from the
natural tendency to think of the new preacher,
"Maybe THIS is the one," by keeping
their eyes on the Savior they already have.
I also am trying to encourage the many people
who've told me they've considered leaving b/c
they're fed up with the factions into sticking it
out. I don't want my leaving to be associated with
their leaving because I did everything I could to
avoid aligning with factions.
A lot to pack into one sermon, ain't it?
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Sally
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A W-G: when I said it could apply to this
church -
I meant the one you'll be preaching at, not the
one I'm in... just to be clear.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Jean
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I'm a new post-er. Your comments, Sally, make
me
think of the church I'm currently serving in and
preparing to leave. It is my "home"
church as a new 2nd career pastor and I've been
serving as an associate for 4 years. I've been
trying to think of how to tie in the breath of the
HS with my leaving and the fact that they have had
to have a budget cut. They will be expected to
step up much more to contiue programming and
building maintenance. I'm trying to encourage
them to take charge of their church much as Peter
and the other disciples did following the
ascension of the Savior. Through the efforts of
those disciples, the church spread and grew in
ways it could not when it was led by one single
point person. We continue to have our
point-person in heaven, Christ, but now have to
depend on the H.S. to continue the message and the
work.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
PH in OH
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For Christians, what exactly is prophetic
preaching? One commentary I read said that
prophetic preaching is taking our present
circumstances and looking back into scripture to
find where God speak about it previously. But
that sounds a lot like proof texting to me. But
that is what Peter did in his Pentecost sermon.
He had to explain why the disciples were speaking
in foreign languages and came up with the Joel
passage. Any ideas?
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Dogwood Dave
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Do you think those early Disciples really
wanted
to change, to be open to the Spirit's leading?
Who in your congregations might be wanting to be
changed and open? Who might not?
Because both are at worship, is it wrong to only
preach to some and not to all?
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Brian in MN
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Dogwood Dave, Is it not impossible to preach to
everyone on any given Sunday?
Also, I'm petty sure what they want is not how one
decides what one preaches to anyone -- except
maybe for those who are already perfect and then
have no reason to change...
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Storyteller
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This is my absolutely favorite text in the
entire
bible!!!
(i know i know i iknow ... i say that to the
children about every text we read in on any given
sunday)
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Storyteller
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This is my absolutely favorite text in the
entire
bible!!!
(i know i know i iknow ... i say that to the
children about every text we read in on any given
sunday)
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Dogwood Dave
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Brian
You make a good point. I think I was trying to
say, Preach to those who like the text and do not
fear those that do not?
I did not say that earlier.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
AF
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Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival that
marked the fiftieth day after Passover. In time,
the festival came to celebrate the covenant made
at Mount Sinai. Still later, Luke associated the
outpouring of the Holy Spirit with Pentecost as
the fiftieth day after the resurrection, a new
covenant sealed in the body and blood of Christ.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
| WLB |
In Acts 1:4, Jesus commands the disciples to
wait
in Jerusalem for the "promise of God."
During this time, other Jews have gathered in
Jerusalem to commemorate the Hebrew observance of
Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks.
Initially this was a festival to celebrate the
first harvest. After the destruction of the
temple in 70 CE, the feast was transformed from an
observance of the first harvest to the giving of
the law on Mount Sinai. Pentecost literally means
"fiftieth." This represents the number
of days that passed between the Passover and the
arrival of the Israelites at Sinai (Exodus 19:1).
For the disciples on that first Pentecost after
Jesus' resurrection, this feast of the giving of
the law takes on a new significance. The writer
of Luke and Acts understands Jesus to be the
fulfillment of the law given on Mount Sinai. (See
Luke 16:16.) Peter's proclamation, echoing the
prophet Joel, is a key to understanding this new
significance: "In the last days it will be,
God declares, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all
flesh'" (Acts 2:17). The early church
understands the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost
to be like the coming of the law. Something of
God's relationship with humankind is revealed in
both events.
These first followers of Jesus seek to interpret
and explain their experience in terms of their
Jewish faith. All hear the words of the disciples
in their own dialect. All hear of the way of God
that Jesus represents. Later in the book of Acts,
the good news will be heard beyond Jerusalem and
even beyond Judaism.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Brian in MN
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Confirmation Sunday -- a confirmand described
the
H.S. as the link b/w us and God. Heretical, since
the H.S. is God as much as God is, but still a
useful understanding. The Acts story describes
the downlink part and Romans 8 describes the
uplink part; hope and prayer.
DW Dave; the answer to your initial question was
probably 'no,' right? My sense of the answer to
the second question is actually, 'way more than
think they are.'
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Sally
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Dogwood Dave - actually, your post spoke to me.
I'm always so tempted to preach to those i think
need to change but not so keen on affirming those
who are lookng for a change. Maybe those who think
they don't need to chhange either really don't
need to change, or will be more open to the
message when they don't feel like they're getting
pulled into unknown territory.
Also, it's not fair to lump everyone into one
category. That's been a mistake of mine - to take
the opinions and attitudes of a few and apply them
to the whole group.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
PBG in IL
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I attended the Festival of Homiletics in
Atlanta
this year. Will Willimon ended his sevice dealing
with the Holy Spirit with this
benediction....People of God, the Holy Spirit is
with you-Watch out! What a great image for
Pentecost. You never know what the Holy Spirit
has in store--if we knew what Holy Spirit was up
to, we wouldn't need the Holy Spirit!
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
RevAmy in TN
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For the last several years (over two different
appointments) I have made a big deal of Pentecost.
I've asked people to wear red to represent the
tongues of fire, we've had red helium balloons
attached to the ends of the pews as some years
even birthday cake to celebrate the birthday of
the church. All of this to help folks remember
and recognize that this day is special, different,
set aside... memorable. Trappings, I'll admit...
but if they help prepare the way for God's
movement, then so be it. The one thing of all of
that that I will be doing again this year is the
scripture reading. I will have the Acts 2 passage
printed on bulletin inserts and ask the
congregation to stand and join together as we read
of the first Pentecost. But I have 4 or 5
different translations (1 each in a bulletin) so
as the people begin to read they quickly notice
that others are saying something different. Many
stop reading. Some will continue, but without
much confidence. Since I've experienced this
several times, I've learned that I need to let
some folks know what will happen and ask them to
keep reading. This is a great way to look at the
confusion of the many tongues speaking at once.
I have been sick for several months now -- cold,
allergies, something. And I'm just tired. I have
no idea how to talk about or even experience the
power of the Pentecost when I'm frankly just ready
to get out of town. Come Holy Spirit!
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
allforjesus in ID
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Rev Amy, We always seem to focus on the fire of
Pentecost, but what of the wind? For a refreshing
look, take a look at the Ezekiel passage. Our
church has had so many struggling physically, but
stop and hear the wind! Feel the breath of God on
your face! The Ezekiel passage is another look at
the breath of God filling us with power that is
beyond us -- when we feel all dried up inside,
another look at the same wind that blew into the
room and filled the disciples, who must have truly
felt a little bit alone still. Christ was not
with them in bodily form any more. It was
tempting to wonder how long...how long...HOW LONG
O LORD?! The wind is another illustration of His
love breathing into us, equipping us, helping us,
healing us. The Wind. It blows on and into each
one of His children.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Lynn in Blair
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I don't know if this might be helpful, but it's
a
story I intend to use for Pentecost playing on the
wind and fire images. My first parish was in
Northeastern Montana in a very remote parish. I
served a Rural Parish that the main crop was
spring wheat. One early spring day, before
planting, the wind came up and was blowing at 70
MPH. It was a fierce wind and there was very
little traffic on the road in front of the
parsonage. In mid afternoon, we noticed smoke
coming up from the south. At first we weren't
worried having a road and parking lot in front of
us. But as the hours went on, we came quite
concerned as we could see a field of flames ahead
of us. I finally packed the family in the car and
headed toward the field entry. There were two
other pick-ups in front of my car. On the CB
Radio, I could here the two concerned farmers
talking. One decided to go take a look. Soon he
was back on the CB saying that someone was
purposely lighting the flame. Sure enough, one of
the neighbors wanted to take advantage of the wind
and burn the stubble field. The two farmers
decided to go and have a talk with the farmer who
was having a terrible time keeping the flame
going.
I wanted to use this story because it not only
tells about the constant loud wind noise and the
fire, but the fear that overtook us along with the
need to continually tend the fire.
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Steve: WY
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There is enough symbology in this text to make
all
the good DaVinci Code people happy. Reading
William Loder's reflections on this text I learned
new one for me:
"It also became a time to celebrate the
coming of the divine Law on Sinai. Legend has it
that on that occasion a flame came down from
heaven and divided into 70 tongues of fire, one
for each nation of the world" |
| Posted by |
Comments: |
Pastor Buzz
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I've had this metaphor of fire and ice running
through my mind recently as I pondered Pentecost:
The fire of the Holy Spirit melting the ice of
cold hearts. I'm not sure where else to go with
it, but I have two people called to the mission
field who are returning to the church decades
later to tell how they met God there. I will have
little time for a message, since I am pretty much
letting them share their stories. |
| Posted by |
Comments: |
PH in OH
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Pentecost is the celebration of the bringing in
of
the barley harvest. It was only after 70 A.D.
that Pentecost was associated with the giving of
the law on Mt. Sinai. |
| Posted by |
Comments: |
vvicars
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The gift of the Holy Spirit reminds us that the
Church is more than the building and programming.
Whatever happened to mission and a breathe of
fresh air? Actually mission gives us a breathe of
fresh air and revives us.
vvicars in PA
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
| Tom in Ontario |
PH in OH,
That may be the case but when Luke was writing
Acts it was likely after 70 AD (probably after 90)
and the association of Pentecost with the giving
of the law could have been on people's minds when
they heard or read this. They could have made the
connection and so can we.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Robbie in KS
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Jean,
This is also Confirmation Sunday for my small
class of 7th & 8th graders. Because I wanted
to tie in this event in their lives -- confessing
their faith, being anointed, and full membership
in the church -- I am focusing on how receiving
the Holy Spirit for the earliest Christians meant
having to step out into new territory. As
Christians today, we also have to face new
challenges in order to grow into a deeper
relationship with the Triune God. Whether it's
setting out on a new course in our lives, or a
congregation facing the challenge of doing
ministry in reduced circumstances, to meet the
Holy Spirit face to face we have to face
"Into the Wind" -- not run to catch up
(or even run to keep ahead) of the Spirit.
Maybe this helps -- or not! Blessings as you
continue your journey.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
tom in TN(USA)
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I'm liking the 'breath of fresh air" theme.
It seems to have a lot of possibility and may be a
welcomed shift from the ubiquitous image of fire
and flames. But I came onto the site to ask some
clarification (or inspiration) about Peter's
quotation in vv. 17-18. In 17 God says the Spirit
will be poured out on "YOUR sons and YOUR
daughters, and YOUR young will see visions and
YOUR old will dream dreams" but in 18, God
continues, "even on MY slaves, both men and
women will I pour out my Spirit." Does the
shift from "your" to "my" mean
anything? We don't like the idea of God having
slaves, but may we correctly interpret it as
servants who have given themselves to God? Should
the emphasis rather be on the fact that God's
"slaves" include both women and men and
both will be given the spirit? That seems right,
but I was taken by the differentiation of the
"your" and "my," and thought
there might be something noteworthy. If your
linguists know anything, or you prophets discern
anything, please share. Thanx, tom
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
euthman
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Just wondering whether The giving of the HS
signifies, among other the way in which God was
going to move hencec. I mean, earlier in Acts1 :8
Jesus promised that the HS will come and the
Apostles (and us all) will receive power. This
power, being interpreted dunamis in the greek,
whichc discribes an explosive kind of activity,
which cannot be pre-determined, much like the
coming and going of the wind. Thus depicting how
the early church was going to be moving out.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Anna in the City
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Dogwood Dave your question is also stirring
within
me. Sally, why would people be looking for
change? I am preaching Ezekiel but find this
discussion on change an interesting one. The
bones knew they were dead and did not think change
was a possibility until Ezekiel began to preach.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
LF
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I often hear this "Pentecost is the birthday
of the church" theme. Does anyone think
through the implications of that facile statement?
Birth is messy, joyful, painful. It is
goal-oriented; it is complicated. There are times
of sound, and times of stillness. It utterly
changes your life. No more self-centred DINK
lifestyle - you are now responsible for a new
life, with the grief and the joy that brings.
Maybe thinking through the "birth
process" of the church can be useful for
preaching.
For Confirmands: the first sounds they made were
noisy, snuffly cries. (make the relatives
smile!)Now they will be communicating with their
words and deeds, their lives. Their lives will be
a kind of language, (hopefully) communicating
something of the Holy Spirit. Same with all of us.
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
WaynO
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I know some of you in the past have requested
not
using others info but this fits so well with some
thoughts i have read here today. or maybe not!!!
anyway from the weekly illustrations newsletter
from eSermons.com and SermonIllustrations.com. a
free illustration and sermon starter email list:
Attempting to Hear the Ocean in a Seashell
A tourist stood for long periods of time upon the
beach, facing away from the ocean, pressing a
seashell against his ear. The water lapped at his
feet, the sun beamed down upon his head and
shoulders, and the waves crashed just behind him.
Firmly, he pressed the seashell against his ear.
He wanted to hear the powerful surge of the ocean
as it heaved and rolled. See the picture in your
mind's eye: a man standing with his back to the
ocean, attempting to hear the ocean in a seashell.
Although in the presence of the very thing he was
seeking, he was oblivious to the actuality.
Amazing isn't it how we have the Holy Spirit
waiting patiently for us to turn around an
drecognize its presence??????
WaynO in NE
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Sally
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Lynn in Blair - that's the best real-life story
of
Pentecost I've ever heard!
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| Posted by |
Comments: |
Nancy-WI
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I have graduation so i am actually preaching on
another text. So maybe next year I will preach on
the fact they heard each other. Hearing requires
listening... how do we listen to the babel in the
streets and understand... many different
lifestyles have "languages". How can we
learn to listen with joy rather than judgement.
maybe next year. |
| Posted by |
Comments: |
L8 Night Rev
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Woosh! The sound of change happening. Pentecost
is the dawning of God's work through humanity even
through folks who don't usually matter. I'm glad
I came back for one last look because this change
is not a decision that was made by the disciples,
but a change that happened to them. Oftentimes we
get muddled up in decision making and lose our
responsiveness in indecision and not making
decisions. Pentecost when God happens to us.
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