Today, we begin a new sermon series titled “Live It Out”, which also serves as the theme for this year’s Vacation Bible School. Our focus today is on the coming of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, a dramatic and transformative event known as Pentecost.
There is a lot to talk about in the sermon this week. If the preaching moment is effective, we will explore three key areas: the origin of Pentecost, connections between specific places and God’s actions as recorded in scripture and the potential significance of these insights for our lives today.
First, Pentecost was an annual festival in Jerusalem. In Judaism, this day—also known as Shavuot—commemorates the giving of the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) to Moses on Mount Sinai. It also marks the early barley harvest, making it both a spiritual and agricultural celebration.
It was during this joyful festival that the disciples, gathered together in the Upper Room, were filled with the Holy Spirit. They experienced a rushing wind, saw tongues of fire, and spoke in different languages. This moment was more than a miraculous sign—it was a continuation of God’s eternal work. The same Spirit who arrived at Pentecost was present at creation, revealing the unity of God’s purpose from the very beginning to the birth of the Church.
In Genesis 1:2, we see the Spirit of God hovering over the waters before creation begins. That Spirit brought order out of chaos, life out of emptiness, and light into darkness. Now, in Acts 2, that same Spirit breathes new life into Jesus’ followers. Where once the Spirit animated the cosmos, now He empowers the Church—giving it purpose, power, and a voice to proclaim the wonders of God.
Jesus foretold this moment in John 14:8–17. When Philip asks to see the Father, Jesus responds by affirming His unity with the Father and promises the coming of “another Helper”—the Spirit of truth. He tells the disciples that this Spirit “lives with you and will be in you” (v.17). That indwelling becomes reality in Acts 2: the Spirit who once hovered over creation now resides in the hearts of believers.
So, the Holy Spirit is an eternal entity—God’s active presence in creation, redemption, and transformation. See you in worship or online!
Peace,
Pastor Todd