Pentecost

Read Acts 2:1-21.

Today is a special day in the church year.  Today is the Day of Pentecost.  The disciples were celebrating a festival called Pentecost, when a very special guest showed up.  The special guest was God’s Holy Spirit.  Some pretty amazing things happened when the Holy Spirit came.  First, there was a sound like a mighty wind.  Then flames appeared above the head of the disciples, but they weren’t burned.  The disciples had received the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus promised.  The disciples were able to speak in different languages – languages that they didn’t even know!  The disciples shared the Holy Spirit with others and began the Christian church.

Let’s watch this video together:

Today’s Bible story comes from the book of Acts in the Bible.  In Acts, we hear about the disciples and their adventures.  We also learn about the Holy Spirit, who helped the disciples spread the good news of God’s love to others.  These new believers in God started Christians churches all over the world with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the Christian church because it is when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, God’s Word spread throughout the world.  So Pentecost is a day to celebrate!  Some people celebrate by flying kites, because the Holy Spirit came with wind.  Some eat red foods (like cookies or cupcakes with red frosting) because the color red reminds them of the flames that rested on the heads of the disciples.  Some people plant red flowers.

The amazing thing about Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit came to the disciples, just as Jesus promised, but we are also filled with the Holy Spirit.  When we are baptized, we are filled with Holy Spirit and become part of God’s family forever.  We are part of the Christian church and we, just like Jesus’ first disciples, can help spread God’s Word and God’s love in our own homes, in our neighborhoods, and in our world!

Discuss

• Who came to the disciples at Pentecost?
• What could the disciples do after they received the Holy Spirit that they couldn’t before?
• Have you ever felt like God was giving you power to do something amazing?  Tell us about it.

Song

Holy Spirit (sung by Abigail, Nathan, and Peta)

Craft

The video below shows you how to make a pinwheel.  A pinwheel moves by wind.  When the disciples were celebrating Pentecost, there was a sound like a mighty wind and the Holy Spirit came!

Activity

Eat some red food today.  Red is the color of Pentecost because it reminds of the flames that appeared above the disciples’ heads.  Red also reminds us of red hearts.  The Holy Spirit helps us spread the good news about God’s Word and God’s love.

What red foods could you eat?  What about watermelon, red jello, strawberries, tomatoes, red peppers?  Can you think of more?

Discuss

On Pentecost, Jesus’ friends and followers received the Holy Spirit.  You and I receive the Holy Spirit through baptism.  The Holy Spirit is always with us.  The Holy Spirit guides us.  The Holy Spirit gives us energy to be about God’s work in the world.

• How do you know when the Holy Spirit is leading you?
• How can you be about God’s work in the world?

Closing Prayer

For our closing prayer today, put your arms in the air and pretend that they are being blown in the wind.  Pray:  Come, Holy Spirit, come.  You are welcome here.  Show us what we can do.  Amen.

Pastor Dan Fugate, Assistant to the Bishop for Discipleship in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA, put this lesson together for Sunday School @ Home.  There will be a new one for each Sunday while we are unable to gather together physically in our congregational buildings.  Contact him at dfugate@iksynod.org.