The Day of Pentecost — The Holy Spirit Comes

Memory Verse "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." — Acts 2:4 (NIV)

Learning Objective

Students will learn about the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and how it empowered the early church to begin spreading the Gospel.

Lesson Content

After Jesus ascended to heaven, He told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for a special gift — the Holy Spirit. About 120 believers gathered together in an upper room, praying and waiting for God's promise.

On the day of Pentecost, a Jewish feast day, something amazing happened. A sound like a mighty rushing wind filled the house, and what looked like tongues of fire appeared and rested on each person. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit!

The Spirit gave the disciples the ability to speak in languages they had never learned. People from many different countries were visiting Jerusalem for the feast, and each one heard the Gospel in their own language. They were amazed!

Pentecost was the birthday of the church. God sent His Holy Spirit to give believers the power to live for Him, to be bold witnesses, and to share the good news of Jesus with the whole world. The same Holy Spirit lives in every believer today.

Hands-On Activity

Draw a picture of the upper room with the disciples and the tongues of fire. Around the edges, write the word 'Jesus' in as many different languages as you can find (Spanish: Jesús, French: Jésus, German: Jesus, etc.) to represent the many languages spoken at Pentecost.

Discussion Questions

  • Why did Jesus tell His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit before going out to preach?
  • How did speaking in different languages help spread the Gospel?
  • How does the Holy Spirit help Christians today?
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