Grow Guide | May 19, 2024
Community in Christ
Reading: Acts 2:1-8, 22-24, 37-39
Connecting Question
Is anyone in your family bilingual? Whom do you know whose native language is not English?
What language would you like to know?
Prayer for Illumination
On this day of Pentecost, may the moving of your Spirit not be to us a chasing after the wind, but a warm breeze of hope. May the Church act as one body to bring love, joy, and your holy truth to every generation and people. And may we also have the wisdom to receive these things graciously. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Context
Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen indeed, Alleluia. We are learning to be, Community in Christ, learning about the formation of the early Christian community from Acts and 1 Corinthians. How did they build community when they had diversity and conflict? Let us look at what we can learn from them. Being in one building will help us live as one community and focus our attention and resources on being community and on being good neighbors. Being community in Christ is BOTH growing in faith and carrying on the work of Jesus Christ. So glad you are here!
From Pastor Sarah Henrich at EntertheBible.org:
After Matthias is chosen by God to take the place of Judas among the Twelve, the Holy Spirit comes upon the Jerusalem gathering on the day of Pentecost. The coming of the Spirit leads to new believers and an ideal way of living together in community.
Look at the Book
Open to Acts 1:8. What’s the larger plan God appears to be working?
Find Acts 2. Pentecost was a harvest festival and one of three festivals that encouraged people to pilgrimage to Jerusalem. What have been some pilgrimages you have gone on? What have been some “holy places” you have travelled to? For example, a cemetery of a loved one or a baseball stadium.
Tell about a hard journey you took. What made it hard? Physically, emotionally?
The earliest church began in Jerusalem. Why do you think it began there and not someplace else?
"Ruach” means spirit, wind, and breath in Hebrew. Which word are you drawn to? Why?
There was wind over the waters of creation in Genesis 1, and now here again at Pentecost. The wind filled the house. What is something that fills your life right now?
In verse 3, we hear about fire resting on each disciple. Why was fire chosen? What does fire do?
The “tongue” rested on each person. Everyone was given the gift. Why is that important to understand? How is that a blessing for the church?
Read verse four. What gifts were they given? How does this verse connect to Acts 1:8?
Our focus words this week are: unite, share, accompany. Which word are you drawn to? Why?
In verse six, what do people in the crowd hear? What’s their response? Why does it matter that we try to learn other people’s heart language?
Read John 3:16-17. What is God’s heart language?
In Acts 2:24. What does God do? How is this Good News for us today?
Read Acts 2:39. What is the Good News in this verse? When do we think and plan about future generations? When do we not?
What would you like to talk about that we have not yet?
Taking it Home
Pray for a young person today.
Who needs to be reminded that everyone has a gift to contribute to the lovingkindness of God’s kingdom? Who might feel excluded?
God of the promise, you call your people together into your one mission in Christ’s name. Make us brave, grant us peace, challenge our expectations, and empower us to truly follow your Spirit’s lead. You are our one God who calls us together as one people, and we thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.