Acts 2:1-21

The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Peter Addresses the Crowd
14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by 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 men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Prayer for the Day

Holy Spirit, come do your work among us; otherwise we will not be able to do any work that is to God's glory. In Jesus’ name I ask it. Amen.

Micro-Group 
Moment

Considering building up the Body of Christ
as a case for participating in Weekly Groups

The church is the body of Christ, intended to be a unit – loving and serving one another (and the world on Christ’s behalf). Public worship is the larger body experiencing God together – His Word, His Spirit, His grace, His gifts, His meal – His very presence. Your presence (or absence) makes a difference.

The Small Group is a tighter-knit cross section of any given part of Christ’s body, much more adept at knowing each other’s situations and caring for each other’s needs. It serves as a great springboard for fulfilling the “one another” commands of Scripture. Here worship excels in the midst of relationship. It still starts with God ministering to us – a form of “divine service.” Through His people, God uses His Word, His Spirit, His grace, His gifts – His very presence here too – and it is quite powerful. You can’t do the “one another” commands without being in relationship with others.

That brings us to the micro-group relationships of our lives, groups of 2-4 people that make up some of the tightest-knit bonds we ever experience at any given time in life. Here God often heals and helps, encourages and inspires, challenges and chastens – if we will let Him do so. Some of these last a lifetime, other for a season. Both are godly and grace-filled. Early on, it helps to have some guiding steps to get started (which Hope is happy to provide). But once matured, these relationships rarely need any guidance other than the Holy Spirit Himself. Let’s finish with this biblical reminder of the call to relationship in our godly lifestyle: