Opening Discussion

• Tell a story about a time when a language barrier made it hard for you to communicate with someone. Or when you were trying to communicate in a different language and said something you didn’t mean to.

Read and Discuss

Acts 2:1-8 CSB

1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they [the disciples] were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were Jews staying in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under heaven. 6 When this sound occurred, a crowd came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were astounded and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 How is it that each of us can hear them in our own native language?

• What was the significance of the Holy Spirit appearing as fire above their heads?
• Why did the Holy Spirit give the disciples the ability to speak in different languages?
  • How was God bringing healing to the brokeness started back in Genesis? (See Gen. 11:5-9)
  • Genesis 11:5-9 5 Then the Lord came down to look over the city and the tower that the humans were building. 6 The Lord said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let’s go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So from there the Lord scattered them throughout the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 Therefore it is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lordscattered them throughout the earth.
• Why was the crowd astounded?
• What is the purpose of the Holy Spirit?
• What are some ways you listen to the Holy Spirit?

Acts 2:32,36,37-42

32 “God has raised this Jesus; we are all witnesses of this.

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

• Why were the hearts of the people in the crowd pierced?
• Why were the crowds listening now, when they hadn’t listened to Jesus?
• What does it mean to repent?
• Why does Peter tell them to get baptized?
• What does receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit look like?
• What did the people do after repenting and being baptized?
• If you’ve repented of your sin and been baptized, how is your daily life different than what it was before?
• If you’ve repented of your sin and not been baptized, what is keeping you from being baptized?
• If you haven’t repented of your sin, what holds you back?

Apply it!

• What is something you can do each day to listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance?

Memorize it!

Acts 2:38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer TACOS

Thank God for providing a way for us to get back to Him despite our disobedience.

Adoration- Worship the Lord for giving the Holy Spirit

Confess to the times when you haven’t listened to the Holy Spirit

Others- Pray that the Lord would put someone in your life this week in which you can share about His love with them

Self- Ask the Lord to help you listen to the Holy Spirit every day and follow His guidance.