Discussion Guide for Pentecost

In order to do this lesson as a family, set aside 15-20 minutes and grab a Bible, whether that's looking at the biblical text with older kids, or at the Spark Story Bible that we use for younger kids.  And while it's obviously not the same as going to church, I'd encourage you to think about ways to help make your home a worshipful space: light a candle, say a prayer, sing a hymn or a Chapel song, or maybe take a moment of silence and some deep breaths.  Everything listed below is meant to be optional -- you can pick and choose what will work best with your family.

Opening Your Time Together:

  • Checking In - This lesson is jumping ahead a bit in our church calendar (Pentecost is actually on May 31) but we love to end our Sunday School year with this lesson because it reminds kids that all of us have been given gifts by the Holy Spirit to share with others.  During your check-in time, you could perhaps ask your kids about what their favorite gift they ever received was - and share yours as well.  We'll spend some time talking about gifts - in particular, God's gifts to us through Jesus and the Holy Spirit - but you can just kick it off with birthday or Christmas presents!
 
  • Opening Prayer - Amazing God, the Day of Pentecost is a reminder that you are so generous to us - not only caring about us and our lives, but giving us the gift of your Holy Spirit to help us and our world.  Just as those earliest disciples realized that they could perhaps do more than they imagined, so may we spend timing thinking about how you have given each of us special gifts that can be used to build up your church and your people.  We pray this in Jesus' name.  Amen. 
 
  • Opening Hymn - They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBHJobmBdK0 - I've always been a big fan of this hymn, particularly during the season of Eastertide and the growth of the early church:
    • Verse 1 - We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; we are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord; and we pray that all unity may one day be restored; and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
    • Verse 2 - We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; we will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand; and together we'll spread the news that God is in our land; and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
    • Verse 3 - We will work with each other, we will work side by side; we will work with each other, we will work side by side; and we'll guard human dignity and save human pride; and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
    • Verse 4 - All praise to the Father, from whom all things come; and all praise to Christ Jesus, God's only son; and all praise to the Spirit who makes us one; and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes, they'll know we are Christians by our love.
 
  • Opening Chapel Song - Doxology - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUco1i7fEns - the link is to a piano version, which is exactly what we play at the start of Chapel each Sunday.  See if your kids remember the hand motions that go along with this hymn - they might be able to teach you too!

Reading the Bible:

  • Open up to the passage, whether in the Bible or the Spark Bible.  Ask your kids if they are familiar with this passage and, if so, what they remember.  
  • Read the passage together.  Bible - Acts 2:1-13    Spark Bible - pages 502 to 503
  • (Optional) You can also practice something called lectio divina, which basically means you read through the passage once, asking kids to listen for a word or phrase that jumps out at them.  After reading, everyone shares their answers and then you read the passage again, listening for new insights!

Discussing the Passage:

  • For Younger Kids 
  • The Day of Pentecost is sometimes called "the birth of the Church" - so this would be the church's birthday!  How might you celebrate the church's birthday differently than a friend's birthday?  What type of presents might you give or share?
  • Jesus' disciples realized it was important for them to be the ones to share God's love with others.  What are some ways that you show other people that you love them?  How could you show someone else that you love them today?
 
  • For Older Kids ​
  • The Day of Pentecost is hard to wrap our minds around, both from the visual of flames over everyone's heads, but also all of the languages that would have been spoken!  Have you ever learned a different language?  How can learning a new language help you see things in a different way?
  • We always sing about the Fruits of the Spirit on Pentecost Sunday: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Which of these fruits do you feel like are easy for you to practice?  Which ones do you find to be hard?
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Closing Your Time Together:
  • Closing Prayer - Holy God, we've come to the end of another Sunday School year.  We're grateful for all that we were able to learn this year, but we're sad that we haven't been able to be there in person the last few months.  We miss our friends.  We miss our church family.  But we know that you are here with us whether we're at home, or whether we're at church - and the Day of Pentecost reminds us that your Spirit will be helping us and our world every step of the way.  As we get ready for summer, may you guide and protect us - and may you continue inspiring us to be a part of your church and inspiring us to show your love to everyone we meet.  We love you!  Amen.
 
  • Closing Hymn - Lord, Prepare Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N1IeaBqvSE - this hymn is one of Miss Katy's favorites!  This simple piano instrumental should be easy enough to sing over - just follow along using the words below.
    • Verse - Lord, prepare me - to be a sanctuary - pure and holy - tried and true - with thanksgiving - I'll be a living - sanctuary - for you.