Grow Guide | May 24, 2026
Text Study for Sunday, May 24, 2026
Series Theme: Continue to Believe
Reading: Acts 2:1-8
CONNECTING QUESTIONS
What noise do you enjoy? What noises do you not enjoy? What noise do you miss?
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
God of life, we celebrate the good news that Jesus has been raised from the dead. Make us confident in the truth of Christ’s resurrection and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
CONTEXT
Our sermon series will examine how the disciples and early believers CONTINUE TO BELIEVE. What did it mean for them and what can we learn from their experience of being sent into the world? As Christians, we carry the peace of Jesus in our hearts and are compelled to share it. We are to share Jesus with everyone! Through our kindness, to be bold in our knowledge of Jesus' resurrection, whether we've seen it not. We are to honor the many gifts we each have for the good of the kingdom. We are to stand side-by-side with those who are not like us. We are to lean into the holy spirit's guidance and CONTINUE TO BELIEVE!
From Dr Karoline Lewis 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?
What was one take-away from listening to the Carry On Cast podcast that connects with this Grow Guide?
Open to Acts 1. What two key events happen before Pentecost? (Acts 1:6, and Acts 1:12)
In Acts 2, Pentecost was being celebrated. It was a harvest festival and one of three pilgrimage festivals for the Jewish people. What are “festivals” that you have organized your life around?
Notice, what was the community doing in verse one? Being together is an essential part of Christian experience. Can you follow Jesus on your own? What if people were wired to be on their own?
Notice the detail of sound in verse two. Have you experienced a weather event like that? What was it like?
What is one shared experience that you think is essential for followers of Jesus? Notice, everyone was in the room together to experience the “rush of the violent wind.” What experiences are important that we share together at Easter?
Fire is an important image in the Bible. What are the uses of fire? Why might that be an image used here in the Pentecost story? (Examples: Moses and the Burning Bush, the pillar of fire leading the Israelites across the Red Sea in Exodus)
In verse four, who was given the gift of the Holy Spirit? Why does that matter? Would children be included in that gift? Why or why not?
Why are languages lifted up as a key gift given at Pentecost? Google how many languages are spoken in ISD 196 schools. What might a wider definition of languages look like? (Example, you may know a lot about baseball.)
In what ways can Easter Lutheran Church learn “new languages” to share the love of God more clearly to our neighbors? How might God be calling us to do so?
How is Jesus good news for us this week?
What would you like to talk about that we have not yet?
TAKING IT HOME
Invite a conversation with someone whose first language is not English. Ask them about their life, learning English and how they experience community. What did you learn?
Sending Prayer
Holy God, you reveal your glory in Jesus Christ and make your people one in his name. Transform us through him and shine your light on the whole world, that we would move into the future you have for us with confidence and joy in his holy name. Amen.