Acts: The Fire at Pentecost

Begin with Communion.

In keeping with the tradition and practice of the early church, we’re going to repurpose our Together Group meals as a time of communion. Use these steps as a template to help structure your time:

1. Pass out the elements. Make sure everyone has a cup of juice and bread. Consider just having one piece of bread that everyone can take a small piece from. If you don’t have bread and juice this week, that’s okay. Just make sure everyone has something to eat.
2. Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Once everyone has the elements, have someone read this passage out loud.
3. Pray over the bread and juice. After the reading, have the Leader or Host bless the food and pray over your time together.
4. Share a meal. Share the rest of the meal like you normally would beginning with the communion elements.
5. Practice Dayenu. As you eat together, invite everyone to share their gratitudes. Dayenu (Hebrew meaning “it would have been enough”) was a way for people to intentionally express thanks for all the things God has blessed them with.

Overview of Teaching

One of the most powerful themes throughout the book of Acts is that God’s people are empowered to bear witness to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s presence with us through the Spirit allows us to do what we could not do on our own, like share our faith boldly, know Jesus intimately, and do the work of the gospel powerfully. In Acts 2 we see how the Holy Spirit first came to all believers during Pentecost, and learn how the Spirit empowers us today. In the Holy Spirit, God reveals himself to others through his people, God removes the obstacles to knowing him, and God receives all those who respond to him with faith and repentance.

Discuss

1. What stood out to you from the teaching on Sunday?
2. How has your practice of hospitality been going?

 Have someone read Acts 2:1-13. Then discuss the following questions together:

3. What stands out to you from this passage?
4. What do you notice about the way the Holy Spirit comes upon the apostles, and what does the Spirit enable them to do?
5. What is the significance of Luke pointing out all the nations represented at Pentecost in verses 9-11?

If you have time, read Peter’s sermon in verses 14-36 and the peoples’ response in verses 37-40. Then use these questions to guide your discussion:

1. What stands out from this teaching from Peter?
2. Why is it significant that Peter calls them to repent and be baptized?
3. What is repentance, and what is baptism?

Practice

This week, mark out some time to re-read Acts 1 and 2. As you read, reflect on some of these questions:

1. What distractions, behaviors, or attitudes do I need to repent from in order to allow the Spirit to move in my life?
2. Who in my life might God be inviting me to be a witness to?
3. What would it look like to rely on the Spirit more than on my own willpower when it comes to practicing hospitality? Put another way, what obstacles am I facing in practicing hospitality that

Pray

As you end your night, spend some time praying for and encouraging one another.