The disciples receive the power of the Holy Spirit.
Scripture: Acts 2:1-13
Central Truth
Our God is purposeful. He is creative in all He does. Of all days or times, God chose Pentecost to send the Holy Spirit. This wasn’t a coincidence! Pentecost was a time to celebrate God’s provision, but it was also a time to remember when He gave the law to Moses. The Spirit doesn’t cancel the law, but He enables believers to hear God directly and follow the law because He lives within us.
Key Question
What is the difference between following the law and being guided by the Holy Spirit?
Keep in Mind
Many students have a hard time understanding the personhood of the Holy Spirit. Because of the word “Spirit,” they struggle to realize He is a person with emotions, thoughts, and personality traits. The Spirit is a part of the Trinity. He is fully God, but He dwells within the hearts of all believers. Students who are unfamiliar with this term or who haven’t grown up hearing this church language could think this sounds creepy. Helping them to understand that this is a gift is crucial! The Holy Spirit helps them know the mind of God, discern His Word, and live out what it teaches. He enables them to walk in intimate relationship with the Father. We can help students grasp the personhood of the Spirit by using personal pronouns such as “He” or “Him” when discussing the Spirit. This may seem trivial, but it’s a core belief of our faith.
APPLICATION
What is the evidence in your life of receiving the Holy Spirit?
THE WIN
FOR THE STUDENT: Tongues of fire may not land on our students, but when they proclaim Christ as Lord and receive the Holy Spirit, there should be a notable change in their lives. People should be able to tell Christ is living within them by the way they live, talk, act, and treat others.
FOR THE LEADER: Do our students see evidence of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Do they witness Him enabling us to endure hardship, share the gospel, and walk in faithfulness? The same Holy Spirit which descended on the disciples also lives within us today. He still enables us to do more than we could ever imagine!
