Scripture Focus:  Acts 2:1-21, 40-41

Today’s scripture focus is about the sending of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. In last week’s story, Jesus had told the disciples not to leave Jerusalem until this promise was fulfilled. About 120 of them spent the next ten days in constant prayer together. We don’t exactly where they were during this time. Possibilities include the room they had rented for the Passover meal (the Last Supper), the home of Mark’s mother (where Peter later went after escaping prison), a synagogue, or a room in the Temple itself. Great crowds had gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost, one of the three major feasts of the Jewish people, which took place fifty days after Passover. Pentecost celebrated the giving of the Law to Moses. There could not have been a more perfect time of place for the message of the good news to be revealed to people from “every nation under heaven.”

We’ve been talking about the recipe for revival. A revival is a special movement of God that brings the church into complete focus on our mission of spreading the good news. Many wonder why we don’t see revival very often in our day. When we look at the events that preceded the sending of the Holy Spirit in today’s scripture, we must ask ourselves if we have met the requirements. Have we obeyed Jesus commands? Have we prayed? Have we remained together? If we can honestly answer “yes”, then we must leave the rest up to God’s perfect placement and timing. When it seems like God is not moving, we can be assured that He’s preparing us for something big!

Once again we find God doing three things. There was a sound like a mighty wind, a sight like flames of fire over each of their heads, and speaking in foreign tongues. Scripture records two reactions from the crowd of God fearing Jews who had gathered in Jerusalem for the feast – bewilderment and mocking. Peter stood up under the power of the Holy Spirit, and his sermon greatly affected the crowd, for 3000 of them responded to the good news and were baptized. The chapter closes by describing the program of the early church – daily meeting together, both publicly and privately for worship, fellowship, and prayer.

We often read Acts 2 and wonder why God doesn’t move that way in our time. Today, 3000 people in China will become Christians. They have a “Pentecost” every day! Without formal recognition by the state, their program is very simple – they meet together in their homes for teaching, sharing of food, and prayer. God is still moving mightily among our generation today, in Asia, Africa, South America, and even in parts of Europe. His desire has always been and continues to be to pour out His Spirit on His children.

CrossGroup Discussion Questions

1. What’s the most exciting thing that happened in your life last week?

2. What part of the ten day waiting period do you think was the hardest for the disciples? Why?

3. Is there any part of this scripture that jumps out at you?

4. Is there any part about which you have questions?

5. What do you think it would take to see 3000 people a day come to Christ in America?