LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Acts 1:12-2:1, following the ascension of Jesus into heaven, the eleven remaining apostles gathered together in Jerusalem just as Jesus had instructed them. They were joined by Mary, the mother of Jesus, other women, and the brothers of Jesus, totaling about 120 believers all praying together in an upper room. During this time, Peter addressed the group about the need to replace Judas, who had betrayed Jesus and had since died. Two men were nominated, Joseph called Barsabbas and Matthias, and after prayer the group cast lots, trusting that God would guide the outcome. Matthias was chosen and added to the eleven, restoring the number of apostles to twelve.
In Acts 2:1-41, on the day of Pentecost, a major Jewish feast that drew thousands of worshipers from nations all over the world to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit arrived just as Jesus had promised. The apostles heard what sounded like a rushing wind filling the house, and what appeared to be tongues of fire rested on each of them. Empowered by the Spirit, they began speaking in languages they had never learned, and the crowds gathered outside were amazed to hear their own native languages being spoken. Peter stood and preached the first gospel sermon, explaining that Jesus, whom the people had crucified, was both Lord and Messiah. The crowd was deeply moved, asked what they should do, and Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. That day, about three thousand people were baptized and added to the believers, marking the birth of the church.
PLAY ROOM 8:45-9:00
Children will be dropped off in the playroom between 8:45-9:00 a.m. Allow them to play freely as they arrive. Transition them to the classroom at 9:00 a.m.
OPENING ACTIVITY 9:00-9:15 | Pentecost Flame Fork Painting
Items Needed:
- Red, orange, and yellow paint
- Plastic forks
- Black cardstock or construction paper
- Foil sheets or paper plates for easy cleanup
Set up paint stations with small amounts of red, orange, and yellow paint on foil sheets or paper plates. Children use a plastic fork to blob paint onto black cardstock and then swirl, pull, and drag the fork through the paint to create flame shapes. As children work, leaders can walk around and say, today we are going to learn about a very special day when flames of fire came down from heaven. You are making something that looks just like what the apostles saw.
BIBLE STORY 9:15-9:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Acts
Question 2: Is Acts in the Old Testament or the New Testament? New Testament
Object Lesson: Blow up a balloon and then release it without tying it so it flies around the room.
Say: Did you see that? You could not see the air inside the balloon, but you could SEE what it did! Today we are going to learn about something like that. You cannot see the Holy Spirit, but you can SEE what the Holy Spirit does.
After Jesus went up to heaven, His friends, the apostles, were waiting in Jerusalem. Jesus had told them to wait there because He was going to send them a very special Helper.
They waited and waited and waited.
One of Jesus’ twelve friends was missing. His name was Judas. Judas had done something very wrong. He had not been a good friend to Jesus.
So the apostles needed to pick a new friend to join their group. They prayed and asked God to help them choose the right person.
[Fold hands together] Can you fold your hands like you are praying? [Wait for response]
God helped them choose a man named Matthias! Can you say Matthias? [Wait for response]
While they were waiting, they heard a sound like a great big WIND blowing through the house!
[Cup hands around mouth] Can you make a wind sound with me? Whoooooooosh! [Wait for kids to make wind sounds] WHOOOOOOSH!
Then do you know what they SAW? They saw what looked like little flames of FIRE that came down and sat right on top of each of their heads!
Can you point to the top of YOUR head? [Wait for response] Right there! A little flame of fire, just like a candle!
That was the Holy Spirit! Jesus had sent His special Helper just like He promised!
Can you say Holy Spirit?
Now, something else happened that was SO amazing. The apostles started talking, but the words coming out of their mouths were in languages they had NEVER learned before, They never went to school to learn those languages. They never practiced. They just KNEW them because the Holy Spirit helped them!
Do you know what that is called? It is called speaking in tongues! Can you say tongues? [Wait for response]
Outside, there were LOTS and LOTS of people from many different countries, and when they heard the apostles talking, they could understand every single word in their OWN language!
One of the apostles stood up in front of ALL those people. His name was Peter! Peter said, Jesus is the Son of God. He died for your sins. He came back to life returned to Heaven, and He loves you very much!
The people listening felt something happening inside them. They felt sorry for the wrong things they had done. They asked Peter, what do we do?
Peter said, say you are sorry and be baptized! And you will also receive the GIFT of the Holy Spirit!
[Open your hands like you are receiving a gift] Can you hold out your hands like you are getting a gift? [Wait for response] The Holy Spirit is a gift from God!
Do you know how many people were baptized that day?About three thousand people!
THAT was the very first day of the church! It was like the church’s birthday!
[Sing the first line of Happy Birthday softly] Happy birthday to the church!
The Holy Spirit came, and the church began. And guess what? The Holy Spirit is still here today. He lives inside everyone who loves and follows Jesus and has made the decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That means if you love Jesus, and you make him the Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit is YOUR helper too!
Theological Questions:
- Who is the Holy Spirit and where did He come from?
- Why did God send the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ friends?
Life Application Questions:
- If the Holy Spirit is our helper, what are some things He might help YOU do?
- How can we talk to God when we do not know what to say?
Prayer: Dear God, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to be our helper, just like You promised. Help us to listen to the Holy Spirit every day and to tell our friends about Jesus. Amen! [Lead children in saying] Amen!
WORSHIP IN SONG 9:25-9:35
Prior to playing Holy Spirit by Jesus Culture, give every child a white or red balloon that’s blown up. As they listen to the words of the song, they should try and keep the balloon in the air.
PRAYER 9:35-9:45
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for the people in our lives who do not yet know about Jesus, just like the crowds at Pentecost who heard the good news for the first time. Ask God to help us be brave enough to tell our friends and family about Jesus, and thank Him for the gift of the Holy Spirit who helps us and is always with us. Allow kids to pray out loud as they feel led.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 9:45-9:55 | Holy Spirit Parachute
Items Needed:
- A play parachute
- Soft balls like water squish balls or tennis balls
Gather children and leaders around the edges of the parachute and have everyone hold the edge firmly. Wave the parachute rapidly together to create a rushing wind, just like the mighty wind that filled the room when the Holy Spirit arrived on Pentecost. Play a round of Spirit Says, a variation of Simon Says, where the teacher calls out commands such as Spirit Says wave it fast, Spirit Says put it over your head, or Spirit Says shake it low. Then place several balls on top of the parachute and work together as a group to bounce the balls without letting any fall off. Remind the children that the Holy Spirit came like a mighty rushing wind and that God gives us His Spirit so we can work together and help each other, just like we have to work together to keep the balls on the parachute.
BIBLE CRAFT 9:55-10:10 | Pentecost Headband
Items Needed
- Pentecost Headband
- Crayons or Markers
- Stapler
Pre-cut the headband and allow children time to decorate it. Teachers staple or tape the band to fit each child. When children wear their headband, they have a flame sitting on top of their head just like the apostles did on the day of Pentecost. As children create, talk about how the Holy Spirit is a gift that God gives to all believers.
If time allows after they have made the craft, considering teaching them how to sing “God is so Good!” in different languages while they wear their hats.
SNACK TIME AND BIBLE STORY VIDEO 10:10-10:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks while they watch the Bible story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Flame Color Mixing Experiment
Items Needed:
- Clear plastic jar(s)
- Water
- Red and yellow food coloring
Give each child a clear cup of water (or have just one jar and let the teacher demonstrate). Drop in red food coloring first, then yellow, and watch the colors swirl together to make orange, the color of fire. Talk about how the tongues of fire that came down on the apostles were a sign from God. Just like mixing these colors makes something new and beautiful, the Holy Spirit changes people from the inside and makes something new in them.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Acts 2:1-4, 14, 22-24, 36-38 (ESV)
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.”
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know, this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: God sent the Holy Spirit to help us
What I Learned Today: Today I learned about a very special day called Pentecost when God sent the Holy Spirit to be a helper for all people who love and follow Jesus. The Holy Spirit came with the sound of a mighty wind and what looked like little flames of fire that rested on each of the apostles. A man named Peter stood up and told a huge crowd about Jesus, and three thousand people decided to follow Jesus that very day. That was the very first day of the church, and it is like the church’s birthday!
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological Questions:
- Who is the Holy Spirit? (The Holy Spirit is God. He is the Helper that Jesus promised to send to everyone who believes in and follows Jesus.)
- Why did God send the Holy Spirit? (God sent the Holy Spirit to help us, to be with us always, to teach us, and to give us power to tell others about Jesus.)
- What happened when the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost? (There was a sound like a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire appeared above the heads of the apostles, and they could speak in languages they had never learned.)
- What did Peter tell the people to do? (Peter told them to repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus, and they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.)
- What is the church? (The church is all the people who love and follow Jesus. It is not just a building. The church started on the Day of Pentecost.)
Life Application Questions:
- The Holy Spirit is like wind. You cannot see Him, but you can see what He does. Can you think of a time when you felt like God was helping you? (Answers will vary. Encourage children to share simple examples from their own lives.)
- How do you think the apostles felt when the Holy Spirit came? (Excited, surprised, amazed, maybe a little scared but also happy.)
- If the Holy Spirit is our helper, what is something He might help you with today? (Answers will vary. Being kind, telling the truth, being brave, knowing what to say.)
- Peter was brave and stood up in front of a huge crowd to talk about Jesus. What is one way you could tell someone about Jesus? (Answers will vary.)
- The church started with just a small group of people waiting and praying together. Why do you think it is important for us to go to church and be with other believers? (Answers will vary. We learn about God, we pray together, we help each other, we celebrate together.)