Text Study for Sunday, June 08, 2025

Series Theme: Called Together And Sent Out

Reading: Acts 2:1-12

CONNECTING QUESTIONS

Tell about a time when you could not understand someone speaking to you. What happened? What was it like?

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

Everlasting God, the whole universe sings a new song of praise: the rivers clap their hands, the hills ring out for joy. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us voices ready to cry out for justice and proclaim resurrection joy wherever your Spirit leads us. In Jesus’ name we boldly pray. Amen.

CONTEXT

Christ is Risen! Alleluia! As Christians we are “Called Together and Sent Out!” This sermon series explores ways the earliest believers were both brought together throughout diverse settings and sent out into the world to share the good news. We will learn from stories that bridge differences and find common ground in faith. How can Easter learn from these stories to both build community and continue to always look beyond to love and serve?

From Dr Sarah Henrich at EntertheBible.org:

The story of Pentecost is crucial in Acts for several reasons. First, it fulfills Jesus’ promise that the “power from on high” would come upon his followers to empower their witness (Luke 24:49). Second, the Holy Spirit is poured out on all the believers who are gathered together in Jerusalem. It is not a gift limited to the Twelve apostles or to men; it is given to the whole assembly, including women (see Acts 1:13-14). Finally, the Spirit empowers believers to testify in other known languages (“tongues”) to God’s work in Jesus the Messiah. This great gift is like the “deeds of power, wonders, and signs” (2:22) that God did through Jesus and will continue to do throughout Acts. This work of the Spirit is consonant with the work of Jesus, who pours out the Spirit from on high (2:33).

LOOK AT THE BOOK

How is it with your spirit this week?
Easter is a season of new life...in Christ. Where have you seen signs of new life this week?
Open to Acts 1:8. Why is this a defining promise for this book?
How did your church growing up celebrate Pentecost...or not?
From the hymn, “O Day Full of Grace:” God came to us then at Pentecost, His Spirit new life revealing, That we might no more from Him be lost, All darkness for us dispelling. His flame will the mark of sin efface And bring to us all His healing. According to the hymnwriter, what is the Holy Spirit’s goal?
Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival that lasted 50 days. We are now concluding the Easter season. When has there been a new season in your life?
Verse two describes a “weather-like” experience of the Holy Spirit’s presence. What are some other ways you have heard the Holy Spirit experienced?
Martin Luther, in his explanation of the third part of the Apostle’s Creed, entitled it, “On Being Made Holy.” What does it mean to make something holy?
What is something holy in your life? Is it a place, or a moment, an object or person?
What was the gift given in verse four? Is anyone in your life bilingual?
Why were people, in verse seven, surprised that those speaking were Galileans?
How do all the places listed in verses 9-11 connect to the promises in Acts 1:8?
What was the result of all these different languages in verse 11?
Why must the church keep learning the languages of new generations?
What would you like to talk about that we have not yet?

TAKING IT HOME

Ask someone from another generation what having a phone in their hands means to them.

God of the promise, you call your people together into your one mission in Christ’s name. Make us brave, grant us peace, challenge our expectations, and empower us to truly follow your Spirit’s lead. You are our one God who calls us together as one people, and we thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Grow Guide | June 8, 2025