When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Acts 2:1-11

Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”  Acts 2:12-13

To accomplish all that God has called us to do, we must…

______________________________________ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

_____________________________________ the name of Jesus with power.

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: Acts 2:14-16
 
‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17-18 
 
I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. Acts 2:19-20

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Acts 2:21
 
 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,[d] put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him: “‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’ “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Acts 2:22-32
 
Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. Acts 2:33 
 
For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” Acts 2:34-36

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Acts 2:21
 
and yet he said, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand Acts 2:34
 
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:39

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “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. Acts 2:37-38
 
The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:39-41

Message Summary:
Acts 2:1-41 explores how the Holy Spirit transformed the early believers at Pentecost. Peter preached Christ's death and resurrection, and through the Spirit, thousands repented and were saved. This passage in the Book of Acts calls for surrendering control to the Spirit for true spiritual transformation and revival.

Key Scripture(s):
Acts 2:38 (NIV): "Peter replied, '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.”
Acts 2:21 (NIV): "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Additional Scriptures:
• Joel 2:28-29
• John 14:26
• Romans 8:14
• 1 Corinthians 12:13
• Galatians 5:22-23
• Ephesians 5:18
• Titus 3:5

Start Talking
Find a conversation starter for your group.
• Growing up, what did you think about church? How has this thinking influenced you an adult?
• Describe church in one word. Do you think someone outside church would agree or disagree with your choice? Explain.
• Based on what you know about the Book of Acts, in what ways does our church accurately reflect what God’s Word says it should be?

Start Thinking
Ask a question to get your group thinking.
Ask a volunteer to read Acts 2:1-4
• If you had been present, how do you think you would have responded to the sudden arrival of the Holy Spirit? Why?
• When people see the Holy Spirit at work today, what different reasons might they have?
• How does the Holy Spirit reveal His presence in your life? How does having the Holy Spirit’s power make a difference in how you serve God?
Have a volunteer read Acts 2:36-41
• Name the three major components of the conversion in these verses. How would you explain these three components of salvation to someone who doesn’t know Christ?
• How do we sometimes allow barriers of race or culture to keep us from sharing the gospel? What can we do to overcome these barriers?
• What would you do differently if you really expected God to add thousands of new believers to the church today?

Start Sharing
Choose a question to create openness
• What fears do you have when you think about sharing the gospel? What have you learned from Acts 2 that can help you more fully rely on the Spirit as you witness?
• What’s one way you can rise up this week to make a difference in our community? How can our group encourage you in this?
• What are some practical steps you could take this week to develop relationships with non-christian friends for the purpose of sharing Christ with them?

Start Praying
Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit today. Help us surrender control, trusting You to transform our hearts. Empower us to proclaim Christ boldly, live out the Gospel, and make a lasting impact in our community. May Your Spirit lead us into deeper faith and repentance. Amen.

Start Doing
• There’s still time to make the commitment to join the new “Witness Challenge” with all of us at the Bridge Church over the next 30-days. Simply text the word “WITNESS” to the number (775)
363-0660 to start receiving daily text/email/video challenges that will help you to begin to share your faith in powerful ways with those around you this month.
•Start the Book of Acts 5 Day Bible Reading Plan (which will lead you through the first five chapters of the Book of Acts). by scanning the QR code below on your phone
• Continue our Book of Daily Bible Reading Plan (which will lead you this week through the first chapters 6-11 n the Book of Acts) by scanning this QR code on your phone: